Paula Pant

Paula Pant is a financial expert, blogger, and host of Afford Anything.

Paula quit her 9-to-5 job in 2008, long before she’d heard of financial independence. She just couldn’t stand the cubicle life anymore.

Her starting salary was $21,000 per year in 2005, and her highest salary was $31,000 per year in 2008. Despite her lower income, she managed to save $25,000 during her short career. She lived on these savings after she quit her 9-to-5 job, and spent two years backpacking across the world.

When she returned to the U.S. in 2010, she started a self-employed career as a freelance writer. She and her now-husband, Will, scraped together enough money to buy a triplex as their first home. They lived in one unit, with roommates, and rented out the other two units. The rental income they received allowed them to live “for free,” with no out-of-pocket housing costs. This was their first taste of passive income.

Today they own 7 rental units. Last year, their rental properties grossed $125,000 and netted $43,000 in passive income, after expenses. They are financially independent through the income from their rentals.

Paula’s weekly podcast, Afford Anything, has been downloaded nearly 3 million times. Her website, AffordAnything.com, gets 250,000 views a month and her email newsletter has more than 50,000 subscribers. She speaks at FIRE meet-ups such as the Ecuador Chautauqua, Camp Mustache and Camp FI, as well as gatherings such as FinCon and the World Domination Summit. You can find her online at:

Website: AffordAnything.com

Podcast: Afford Anything

Instagram: @paulapant

Twitter: @affordanything

Facebook: /affordanything

YouTube: /affordanything

AFFORDANYTHING.COM

watch playing with fire

A documentary about the FIRE movement and one family's quest to achieve financial independence and retire early. Available on the following:

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book

A perfect follow up on the film to dive deeper into the philosophies and "how-tos of the FIRE movement"
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Reading material

We have assembled the foundational information to get your start on the right foot down the FIRE path to financial independence.

The Role of Frugality in FIRE

Dive into the transformative world of financial independence with a refreshing take on frugality versus being cheap. Embrace the art of living well without living beyond your means, and find out how being frugal, not cheap, can unlock the door to your financial liberation.

Understanding the 4% Rule

Retirement withdrawal strategies are anything but one-size-fits-all. For many FIRE fans, determining how much to withdraw each year requires a balance between ensuring your savings last and meeting your current financial needs.

The Importance of Savings Rate in FIRE

Explore the essential role of savings rate in the FIRE movement for achieving financial independence and early retirement. Learn how to balance frugality, investment strategies, and lifestyle to accelerate your journey towards financial freedom.