America’s Decade (Albert Bridge Capital) – This is fascinating: from 1979 to 2009, stock market returns in Europe and the U.S. were almost exactly the same. It’s only in the most recent decade that the U.S. has outperformed.

Does the perfect job exist? (RadReads) – The “perfect” job likely doesn’t exist. However, there are steps you can take and decisions you can make to craft a more enjoyable work situation.

Limiting Beliefs I Overcame to Pursue Financial Independence (The Fioneers) – Corey shares the personal transformation he underwent that lead him to pursue financial independence.  

Money Buys Freedom, But Freedom Doesn’t Guarantee Happiness (Four Pillar Freedom) – Financial security can help you gain freedom, but freedom by itself isn’t enough for lasting happiness.

Visualizing Retirement Savings by Age (Flowing Data) – Some neat charts that show how much the average American has saved for retirement, by age.

6 Things I Wish I Knew at the Start of My Freelance Career (Unemployable) – Freelancing is one of the most popular alternatives to having a day job. In this post, Kat shares 6 things she wish she knew when she started freelancing.

Who You Are is NOT Defined by What You Do (Slowly Sipping Coffee) – A reminder that who you are as a person is not synonymous with what you do for work.

Is It Ever a Good Idea to Work for Free? (Money the Wright Way) – In certain circumstances, it might make sense to work for free in exchange for things like experience and relationships. More often than not, though, you should typically seek to get paid for your time.

Visualizing the Evolution of the Tiny Home Movement (Visual Capitalist) – Tiny homes have become quite popular in recent years. Here’s a nice visual illustration of their rise in popularity.

It’s OK to Change Your Mind (Fiery Millennials) – “Our lives are too short to be stuck in something that isn’t working for us. We are not trees – we can change our situation any time we want.”

You Can STILL Be Anything You Want (Rethink the Rat Race) – The real benefit of financial independence/early retirement is that it gives you the freedom to be and do anything you want.

How to “Lie With Personal Finance [Home Ownership Edition] (Early Retirement Now) – “Whacky math is everywhere around us and some of the whackiest I’ve seen surfaces in the rent vs. own discussion.”

Mapping the Population of Global Millionaires in 2019 (HowMuch) – A neat visual that shows how many millionaires are in various countries around the world.

My Minimalist 30-Day Rule (Mr. Free At 33) – “If I haven’t touched, looked at, or used something within the last 30 days, I get rid of it.” 

Divorce Mediation and Spending Priorities (Otterwize) – The story of how a divorce mediation offered insight into the issue of aligning spending with values.