Why I’m writing this while I build toward financial independence

I started The FIRE Freedom Project because I am building toward financial independence on a modest income while working full-time in a public education environment, and I needed a place where I could be honest about what this looks like while I am still in it, not after the fact when everything was already achieved.

I went through a divorce a couple years ago and it really f**ked shit up for me. I work in a community education setting that I care about deeply, especially the connection to people that comes with it, even though it’s a field where financial pressure and job uncertainty are part of the everyday reality. That divorce shifted a lot of what I thought my future would look like, and since then I have been rebuilding step by step while trying to stay with the work that I am passionate about.

I discovered the idea of financial independence about eight years ago and originally thought I was building toward it in a shared path. That changed. Since then, I have been figuring out what this looks like on my own, with a lower income history than what most people in FIRE spaces tend to talk about. That gap is part of why I am writing this publicly instead of keeping it private.

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Barista FIRE is the direction that feels realistic to me. The idea of reaching a point where I can step out of full-time pressure and return to library paraprofessional work in schools, or similar roles working with children and communities, feels like the life I want to aim for. My goal is to Barista FIRE around age 45. It is an intense goal and one that many might think is unrealistic, considering everything. But it is the big goal I am pushing myself toward.

I am investing in the stock market, doing additional side work, and tracking my progress closely. I am not writing from a place of having reached financial independence. I am writing from the middle of it, from a place of discomfort, not comfort. That is the part I want to document, because most of what I see online starts after the work has already been done.

This Substack exists for a few reasons. It keeps me accountable. It gives me a place to document monthly progress, including savings rate changes, mistakes, and decisions that worked in my favor. It also gives me a way to share resources that have helped me get this far, especially for people who do not see themselves reflected in high-income FIRE conversations.

People usually don’t land in FIRE content by accident. I’m interested in what led you here, and what you’re hoping will be different in your own life. If you feel like replying, I respond to every thoughtful letter.

I’m glad you’re here for this journey.

-LJ

---

The information shared in The FIRE Freedom Project reflects my personal experience, opinions, and investment decisions. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I am not a licensed financial professional. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified advisor before making financial decisions.

Ready to go beyond the free newsletter? Join The FIRE Freedom Project: The Compound. Builders receive deeper portfolio breakdowns, practical wealth-building strategies, and behind-the-scenes analysis that never appears in the public newsletter.