“We gonna win more. We gonna live more. We the best.” – DJ Khaled
I know what you’re thinking. How do you accidentally get wealthy on purpose. Well guess what? You’re about to find out.
This latest blogger interview comes from Dave of Accidental FIRE.
I reached out to him after seeing his name on like 20,000 blogs.
Here’s how it went down because as you know it goes down in the DM. 🤣
I sent this tweet out after seeing a post Dave published. I thought it had an inspiring title. So I retweeted it.
To my surprise, Dave responded. 😮
So I responded to Dave. 😁
That’s when he told me to hit him up in the DM! 😉
So yes ladies and gents, this post happened from a tweet!
He seems as passionate about writing and blogging as I do!
I was born for this, born for this It’s who I am, how could I forget? – Macklemore
Let’s get right down to it! It goes down in the DM!!! It goes down. It goes down!!! 😂 Yo Gotti – Down In The DM
The blog and the interview was done by Miriam of Greenbacks Magnet, but those lyrics up top are by Yo Gotti.
INTRODUCING
Welcome aboard all! All are welcome!
Welcome to Greenbacks Magnet. Home of attracting Greenbacks like Magnets! 🤣Can I help you find financial freedom?
I want to thank you all for coming along this financial journey with me as I study the self-made and do blog interviews. You know, you are all my copilot’s on this magic carpet ride.
In the illustrious words of #Aladdin Genie, “You ain’t never ever had a friend like meeeee!!!”🤣
Let’s Meet Dave!!!
I actually met Dave at FinCon. He was positive and had a great attitude. That was the thing I remember about him most. He may not have known it but I thought to myself now there’s someone I would not mind working with. 🤔
And here we are today.
Another day, another breath (another breath)
Been chasing dreams, but I never slept (I never slept) – Glorious Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey
I told Dave I thought he was one of the hardest working men in the blog business. I said that because I would go to read a post by a personal finance blogger and he would have already been there and posted the very first comment!
I couldn’t keep up with him! And I work HARD!!!
I remember seeing a comment on one blog post he did and he said, “Oh get out the popcorn. I see an interesting comments section coming on this post.”
Yep, that’s Dave.
What it felt like to meet Dave at FinCon.
He’s a genuine guy. 😉
Let’s talk about how Dave caught on financial FIRE!
DAVE STARTS A FINANCIAL FIRE BLOG
GBM: Hey Dave!! You should let me interview you for the blog! 5 questions tops! If it will get this ball rolling. I know you’re busy, but I promise to keep it short and snappy. Scouts honor. 😉
Dave: Hey Miriam, I will have to ponder these and will get back to you, interesting questions 😉
What is FIRE? It stands for Financial Independence Retire Early.
There are tons of blogs out there on the topic.
I even wrote a post called How do you play with FIRE?
WHAT IS FIRE?
According to Camp Fire Finance, the elevator pitch for FIRE is this, “When your investments generate enough money to cover your annual expenses you’re financially independent (FI). At that point work is optional and you can retire early (RE) if you want to.”
Basically, you have more than enough money coming in to stop working. Usually, this requires anywhere from $1 million to $5 million dollars depending on what you want or need to spend to maintain your lifestyle or that of the one you dream of having.
For example, if you decide you want to withdraw at least $80,000 a year, you would need to have a $2-million-dollar portfolio.
This is how I visualize myself on FIRE! 😂💋
Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games was serving them eye candy with that dress. It was literally ON FIRE!!!
To stay on theme, I will pick this image for Dave. 😉
Let’s get to the interview. 😊
Dave: Hey Miriam, here are my responses.
1. How did you come up with your blog name?
I named my blog Accidental FIRE because I reached FI accidentally – meaning I wasn’t intentionally trying to get to a point where I didn’t have to work anymore. I just wanted as much of a nest egg as I could get because I come from a background and family that has no money. So it was about building security in my life. But when I discovered the 4% etc it then accidentally became about working less too.
Good for you! 👍
It’s great to have goals. I call that a win!
GBM Miriam: Some people may think building a nest egg from the ground up is impossible. I say personal finance is not rocket science. It is about earning, saving, and consistency.
Thanks for keeping it 💯and sharing that.
2. Any favorite finance books? What’s on your nightstand?
My favorite financial book is “The Simple Path To wealth” by JL Collins because it does the best job of boiling the basics down to make a FI path, well, simple. On my nightstand now are two books “War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars”, and “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure”. Also my eyeglasses and a candle.
Well ok ✌That’s some good reading material right there. 👍
GBM Miriam: I am actually reading The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins right now! I guess great minds think alike! 😉
This was me in school. 😂
Even today, if I’m not reading, I like to exercise. 🤣 I like to keep busy. No idle hands.
I still read comic books too! My favorite is Red Sonja.
Fun Fact: The Marvel comic Red Sonja was turned into a film in 1985 starring one of my favorite self-made people to quote Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Don’t focus on getting to $1 million; focus on getting to $2 million.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
I heard that little gem when Mr. Schwarzenegger was doing a radio interview.
I’ve learned to make every dollar count. Focus on turning every $1 into $2. Instead of $1 million focus on $2 million. I learned that from @Schwarzenegger 😉
Just my 2 cents. Smooches 💋
Did this book inspire this post I wonder? 🤔
3. What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume?
I’m a pretty good juggler.
Awesome! 👍That’s pretty cool.
4. What’s in your wallet? How did you start building wealth?
If you mean what kind of credit card I have a US Bank VISA that gives great reward points and that I use for everything. I started building wealth as soon as I started working when I was 16, I’ve always spent less than I made. But I started supercharging my wealth-building after reading a copy of Money magazine in 1995 and putting money in index funds.
Nice! 👌
GBM Miriam: I actually started after reading a Kiplinger magazine around 2007. I also put my money in index funds like the VFINX 500 index with Vanguard, which tracks an index like the S&P 500.
I try to save and invest over 40% of my income.
Although it is now closed to new investors you can put money into the VTSAX which is 80% comprised of the 500 largest companies in the United States.
Your story on how you grew up and got started building wealth reminds me of the song Glorious from Macklemore.
I feel glorious, glorious Got a chance to start again!
I loved it in the Crazy Rich Asians movie trailer.
5. What 80’s film best describes your relationship with money or the lifestyle you would like to have?
I guess I’d pick “Stand By Me” It doesn’t have much to do with money but I love the movie because it reminds me of my childhood – being in a small pack of super close friends and exploring and maybe sometimes getting into thins we shouldn’t have. And I’m still friends with all those guys today so it’s fun to reminisce about when we were younger and our knees didn’t hurt so much!
I hear you! 😉
Love that movie! It had some inspiring words. Love the 80’s. 💖
You know? Dialogue like this. 🤣
GBM Miriam: Seriously, though that film makes me tear up at the end every time. A great coming of age story about friendship.
Why we blog about finances?
I’ll let Skylar Grey answer that:
We gon’ be alright, put that on my life
When I open my eyes, hope I see you shine
Now I feel glorious, glorious
I feel glorious, glorious
Well, we have come to the end of this interview. Hope you had fun.
Here at Greenbacks Magnet we like to have fun. And I had a blast!!!
GBM Miriam: Thank you Dave for stopping by!! I sure hope we will see each other again at the next money meets media conference as FinCon19 is coming to DC! But if not, there is always Twitter and DM’s. 😉
I bid you all farewell. Until we meet or tweet again.
I will give you one of my farewell messages that I tweet as a show of my appreciate for you hanging out with me here at Greenbacks Magnet.
Hope you had fun with me today and my Lipstick confessions. I must bid you all a good night. And go back to my regular identity. May the 80s live on forever in our hearts. Smooches💋 Greenbacks Magnet
Shows over Synergy. #Jem
Are you surprised I sent this tweet? Well, don’t be. I told you I loved the 80’s!!!
Hey Dave!!! Thank you. Appreciate that quick turnaround right there!
ACF Dave: thanks Miriam 👍
Remember how I said I saw Dave on like 20,000 blogs. Well, I guess that is a popular number.
Got 20, 000 deep off in the street like we some warriors
My mama told me never bow your head, woo! – Macklemore
But this time, you can take a bow and bow your head Dave. You were a great guest to have. 👏👏👏
Want more on purpose money advice from Dave of Accidental FIRE?
Visit his website Accidental FIRE and Follow him on Twitter @Accidental_Fire and