1500 Days to Freedom LIVE at FinCon | Carl & Mindy Jensen

The Financial Independence Show

In today's episode, Cody and Justin are joined by Carl and Mindy Jensen from 1500 Days. This power couple is a staple in the financial independence space. We had a blast recording live at FinCon and can't wait for you to hear. Discover the origin of the 1500 day blog, the dinosaurs, and why Carl will never be a plumber Listen and read below to get all the wisdom from Carl and Mindy. Episode Summary Carl discovered FIRE after having a bad day at work at age 37 He ended up setting a goal of retiring in 1500 days He met his goal at age 43 Mindy and Carl write over at 1500 days Mindy is also a co-host of the Bigger Pockets Money Podcast They live next to Mr. Money Mustache in Colorado After becoming friends they went in together in a co-working space We start unwrapping Carl and Mindy’s upbringing Carl’s parents weren’t very good with money He also was the first in his family to go to college Carl became a work-a-holic and a money hoarder He would wake up with nightmares about money and getting fired Mindy actually is the one who still works though She loves her job, which has nothing to do with her education Mindy and Carl had their kids before they discovered FIRE They were three and five years old Both kids are still in school With that, Mindy doesn’t miss valuable family time by working We then discuss how the kids perceive them as retired parents Mindy recalls growing up spending all Saturday going to garage sales She said her parents had money but didn’t let the kids know Carl recalls picking individual stocks when he first started working He doesn’t recommend this approach now but got lucky with it Mindy didn’t utilize the stock market until she got married But she did start investing in real estate right away Her first place was a $50k condo She sold it a little later for $75k We go back to hearing how Carl started his blog 1500 days It was based on the days left he had to work after discovering FIRE The blog was a way to keep him accountable Currently, they invest in real estate including a Maine trailer park They also do index funds, solo 401ks, and a syndicate deal They still do live in flips and are about to start a new one We then discuss the things they do for fun Carl’s favorite thing about retirement is the uncertainty The next big project they have is starting a brewery Mindy discusses not moving around even with no job holding them down Then we dial into the final three questions Trust us you won’t want to miss these Hint… Carl gets sprayed with feces Key Takeaways You may not change: Carl was addicted to working and staying busy. Just because he doesn't have to work, doesn't mean it changes that natural instinct to look for the next project. You may work for fun: Most people get nervous about retiring early out of fear. In reality, most people still end up making money in retirement. Just look at Mindy who's killing it at Bigger Pockets Have fun people: Our favorite thing about Carl and Mindy is just how much fun they have with life. Don't stress yourself out. Enjoy the ride. Call to Action The call to action this week is in honor of our guests... DRINK A BEER! Non-Alcoholic is just fine :) Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Contact Carl and Mindy: Via their 1500 Days Listen to Mindy at Bigger Pockets Money Follow them on Twitter In our Facebook group! Learn More About Your Hosts: Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog)