171 comments

Mr. Money Mustache Turns Six Years Old

Taking down the old sign at the future MMM HQ building last month. Much more has changed since then!

Taking down the old sign at the future MMM HQ building last month. Much more has changed since then!

In early April of 2011, I started a blog. Although I secretly hoped that lots of people would end up reading it, it was partly just a form of personal therapy – a place where I fight back against a world that had obviously lost its mind, by sharing some financial and living advice that should have already been obvious.

This weird hobby ended up being a pretty good idea, as it has blown up my life in many ways and made it even more satisfying. Early retirement is already a great thing, but enjoying a long, youthful retirement where you get to feel like you’re actually helping other people is far better.  This website has served about 25 million unique visitors, and even the regulars are now in the seven digits. On top of that, I’ve had the honor (and sometimes embarrassment) of showing up in several bigger bits of media (some of them listed on this Media page).

But it’s tough to have such a big opportunity and still maintain a mostly-retired life. When you do the math, even a small bit of extra research and work on my part to make these articles more accurate and less haphazard, would provide much more benefit to these people than any inconvenience it would cause me.

Side note: The most powerful media boosts were not those stories in The New Yorker, TV News shows, or the Wall Street Journal like you’d expect, but rather an unscripted and rambling conversation on the Tim Ferriss Podcast – a sign of how much the world is changing beneath the feet of the old establishment.

Logically, this means that I really should be working on MMM project full-time, and have a big team of dedicated helpers. An even bigger site could create plenty of money to allow this and the work is very rewarding. That extra money could benefit a whole lot of people.

But I really don’t like sitting down and typing indoors all day. So instead I constantly choose to slack off by indulging in low-wage DIY construction work and spending time with family and friends. In the time since my last blog article, we bought an old building downtown and embarked upon a major renovation of it. But this construction project has in turn been interrupted by several visiting guests, a four-day snowboarding trip, and a flurry of local meetings. This week, my son and I spent about 4 hours developing some homemade rifle scopes for Nerf guns. There’s just so much to do in life besides the most “important” work.

The self-imposed pressure to always do more is a nag, but it would be ridiculous for me to ever complain about a life like this. So instead, I will just say “Thanks” for this first amazing six years, and here’s to our next sixty years of changing the world together.

And by “together” I mean, “You doing all the hard work of shifting to a a more badass, efficient, wealthy lifestyle while also converting your friends, while I hang out here in Longmont and occasionally type some shit into the computer to egg you on.”

Useful Stuff and News:

1: How to Find Stuff on Mr. Money Mustache or Anywhere else:

Many people send me emails asking for advice, not knowing I’ve already written about the subject in the past. To find past articles, try typing stuff like the following into your web browser:

site:mrmoneymustache.com 401k
site:mrmoneymustache.com car clowns

and so on. You can do this with any web site and find useful information in their old stuff very easily. For example, let’s search the entire “forum” section of this blog (since it has about 1.4 million different posts from over 32,000 registered members) for conversations about scholarships:

site:forum.mrmoneymustache.com scholarships

Or search every city in the entire US and beyond (via Craigslist) for used Nissan Leafs:

site:craigslist.org nissan leaf

Tangential Pro Tip: you can buy a car from someone you trust in another state, negotiate the deal however you like, then then get it shipped directly to you via companies like Uship – typically for under $1000.  A great trick for casting a wider net!

2: Stuff I’ve been doing besides Writing Blog Posts:

Writing the Foreword to the upcoming “Your Money or Your Life”

Through good fortune and the Magic of the Internet, Vicki Robin, the author of the original book that brought Financial Independence into the consciousness of the modern world, has decided to write a new edition of the book and ended up joining forces with today’s happy circle of FI writers. She invited me to write the foreword to the new edition, which is obviously an amazing honor. I’ll let you know when the new version of Your Money Or Your Life comes out – it will surely become the new standard by which all other books on personal finance are judged. You can listen to Vicki’s moving story of a lifetime of activism in her interview on this podcast from our mutual friend The Mad Fientist.

Reading the Foreword to “The Simple Path to Wealth”

Yet another friend and all-around-good-guy Jim Collins wrote a great book on how simple stock investing is, and it turned out to be a stunning success. So successful that Jim told me he has been forced to massively increase his charitable giving program, which made me very happy. And so successful that the publishing industry came back to him to do an audio book version of The Simple Path, for use on Amazon’s Audible.com library.

Now, this book also happens to include a foreword from old Mr. Money Mustache. Since Jim is doing his own narration, they asked me to narrate my own foreword. I gladly agreed, and this has become yet another small but important task piled upon my Jenga tower of a life.

Pop-Up Business School Comes to America

On the last group Ecuador trip, I met a high-energy entrepreneurial British fellow named Alan Donegan who runs a school that trains people to start their own businesses – with very little money. He gave an impromptu session to the 25 or so of us on that trip, and we were all impressed and entertained.

So far, it has helped thousands of people in England, and he was thinking of trying it on this side of the pond. If we can get our act together quickly enough, we’ll host him here in Longmont this summer, and maybe in other cities as well. If you want to add your town to the list of stops, or support our effort here in Stashtown, you can find Alan through his Pop-up Business School website.

That’s it for the Birthday Edition. I’ll be back with new, better-than-ever articles just as soon as it’s time to take the next break from real life. I hope your Spring is going just as well.

Related Reading: How to Start a Blog

  • Brainiac April 12, 2017, 1:08 am

    Happy Birthday!
    Been reading for almost the whole time though I have not commented much (once for a suggestion on the website redesign). You have inspired me to push for a better lifestyle…It’s not about efficiency alone but more about being happier in life.
    I know how difficult it is to write so much since I have been trying to write a book but keep getting stuck by the end of the first chapter itself. Trying to incorporate the elements of a person’s journey from “The Goal” of Goldratt, the Financial Integrity site and your messages throughout.
    Am now very close to the retirement phase and can resign but may remain to be a SWAMI and do more outside office. Thanks for giving a clearer path to my life which I could feel for a long time but could not verbalize. Would love to come to one of the Mustachian meet ups but being from India, it is a long term plan.

    Reply
  • Alan Donegan April 12, 2017, 1:47 am

    Happy Birthday MMM! What a fun article and so excited about the last few sentences and Bringing PopUp Business School to the states! So excited. You have made a massive difference in Katie’s and my life especially meeting you at the Ecuador Chautauqua and getting your advice. Keep doing what you are doing. You are an inspiration! Alan

    Reply
  • Sebastien April 12, 2017, 2:56 am

    Hi MMM, Happy birthday – and a (all-new) question !

    To me, this blog is only “two months old” – and yet, it has already changed my life (and my family’s) for the better.

    I’m commenting for the first time even though I’ve read hundreds of posts already ! After reading Start Here, I’ve been going through your blog thanks to the “All blog posts in the history of time” feature.

    And I have a question that has not been addressed before as far as I know (I’ve done the “site:” trick several times with different keywords (even twice this week) and couldn’t find an answer).

    So here I go :

    I’m a French guy. High-income thanks to owning several businesses since the age of 21, but used to be a high-spender too.

    After I found out about you and instantly became a “Mustachian”, my wife and I have bumped our savings rate from ~10-15% before, to now 35.2%. When she gets back to work on September, we’ll save her entire salary, raising our savings rate to about 50%.
    Watching our net worth increase over the last few YEARS on a savings account with a 10% savings rate felt boring but good.
    What’s WAY better is actually having that money INVESTED (in index funds, and currently looking at rental real estate) and seeing both the capital amounts growing much faster thanks to better saving, AND the interest mounting up !
    In the two months since I’ve read your blog, I took an online course to figure out how to actually buy index funds, and my invested funds have gone up +3.3% in less than 2 months (an annualized 28%… which means nothing yet but hey, that’s positive reinforcement for my early efforts I guess !)

    Now becoming a Mustachian has caused sudden problems :

    In the last two weeks I’ve had both of my sisters ask me about this whole “managing money better” issue, which resulted in myself doing THREE 4-hour Skype explanations of all the basics of your blog. (I made them PowerPoint slides and all)
    And now, I’m getting more and more questions from friends and family and I realize that I cannot possibly do all of this teaching and preaching by myself :-)
    I’m not retired yet (!), I love my own field of work… and I don’t want to become a personal finance guru.
    I think you’ve articulated all of those ideas so well. If they spoke/read English (none of them do) I’d just recommend to read your whole blog and everyone would be able to get it straight from the source.

    I need some help !
    So here’s my question in a nutshell :

    Is it OK if I translate articles from your blog into French ?

    Through my work I have the capacity to get it done on a blog that would preserve the “MMM” look and feel. I would preserve all of your links, attribution, even Amazon affiliate links etc…
    I can even sign some kind of contract so you’d be assured that I do not intend on selling personal finance books or seminars from there. And (as per French law) you’re the original author so you still retain ownership of the rights to the content and you can have it pulled if you don’t like what I (or anybody else for the matter) have done with it.

    I’d just like to spread the MMM gospel in a way that preserves your straight-talk and would help my fellow Frenchmen so they can “get it” too.

    Please let me know if that’s OK with you.
    Thanks again for your work, and happy B-day to the blog ! :-)
    Sebastien

    Reply
    • Mr. Money Mustache April 12, 2017, 7:03 am

      Thanks Sebastien, and I’m glad to hear your family is interested!

      Strangely enough, people seem to ask me exactly that translation question quite often – mostly for France and Spanish speaking countries. I have said yes to a few of them, but never heard back or seen any results. But I’d prefer to see an actual blogger who retired early in each country write his or her own story – a lot of what works here in MMM is in the details and cultural match.

      Still, if you want to translate a few key relevant articles like “the shockingly simple math”, go ahead and thanks for reading!

      Reply
      • Sebastien April 23, 2017, 4:38 pm

        Hi MMM !
        I have started the translation : if you look at your Contact Form’s inbox, I have sent you the link of a “proof of concept” of what you sound like in the French language.
        Do you mind having a look ?
        If you like it, I’ll go on. I think it would be awesome for my fellow Frenchmen and women to become Mustachians too :-)

        Sebastien

        Reply
  • Newman April 12, 2017, 3:32 am

    Congratulations from Sweden!

    Thanks to you and Jakob at ERE and my own willingness to change, I was able to semi-retire after just a few years of hardcore saving and reducing my mortgage significantly. It amazes me that though I´ve made some radical changes, I found the whole project to be both very fun and stimulating. And so bloody easy! If people knew…
    I still do all the things that bring me joy: go fishing, take trips occasionally, run in the forest, have a few beers every now and then and so on. Never have I felt that I´ve had to sacrifice anything that´s really important.

    The concept of enough is extremely underrated!!

    So thanks, MMM – your words really make a big difference for those willing to listen and implement!

    Reply
    • Kathy Abell April 12, 2017, 6:33 pm

      re: “The concept of enough is extremely underrated!!”

      Many people are always striving for more, more, more, MORE despite having so much already (I’m not talking to people who go to bed hungry or who don’t even have a bed). “How much is enough?” is a key question during a person’s self-examination. Often the key to happiness is being content with (or learning to be content with) your current situation. Many people make the mistake of thinking having more will make them more happier when often just the opposite is true.

      Reply
  • Piotr April 12, 2017, 4:01 am

    Congratulation and all the best for the next sixty years of running MMM blog! :)
    As for many people – you and your blog changed my life and helped to set me on a correct course!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  • SteadyReadyCrazy April 12, 2017, 5:45 am

    I hate it when I finally see the bottom of cream color rectangle with “all the shit you type in a computer” because that means I’m a few words away from finishing your blog post. Congratulations! You have shaken up my world! Thanks for the colt juice! 7 years away!

    Reply
  • The Tepid Tamale April 12, 2017, 6:13 am

    Wow, 6 years. I have been reading for 3. Thank you, thank you, thank you! In those 3 years I have done more for making my life efficient (far more than $, for example, candlelight dinners), than in the previous 20 years of being an adult. Your blog was a big part of this so thanks! While I have lot’s of work to do, I thank you for your part, and I am curious about the store.

    Reply
  • Ian S. April 12, 2017, 6:34 am

    That’s fantastic! I first came across an interview on an Art of Manliness podcast where I heard about you, but it wasn’t until a long road trip where I happened to have that Tim Ferriss MMM podcast downloaded that I really discovered the interest in Mustachianism. Great work!!

    Reply
    • Mr. Money Mustache April 12, 2017, 6:55 am

      Wow, cool story – good to know that all these interview pay off, and thanks Ian!

      Reply
  • John Olaf April 12, 2017, 6:38 am

    Congrats! And Thank You. I needed this.

    I’m trying to decide if I should teach summer school. It is a nice side-hustle, but I also want to live my life a little bit too. This article is helping me decide.

    I know you have old posts, and I sometimes read through them for inspiration, but the new ones are always refreshing and revitalizing. Especially in the Spring time!

    Thanks again!

    Reply
  • Dale April 12, 2017, 6:48 am

    hello and congrats on 6 years!

    on the search site tip#1 – you need to start in the google main page – your links reflect that but the descriptive does not mention it.

    also these links offers many more ideas – search is very interesting…

    https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/134479?hl=en

    https://www.google.com/advanced_search

    Reply
    • Mr. Money Mustache April 12, 2017, 6:54 am

      Thanks Dale – I particularly like the second link for “advanced search”

      Note that the search syntax I suggested works from anywhere if you type those things into the standard address box on the Chrome web browser. Not sure about other browsers (are there still any? :-) but maybe others can provide feedback on what works.

      Reply
  • Alexander April 12, 2017, 6:57 am

    Wow 6 years! Congrats! That is a long time and I think your story is awesome. Really happy for you. Im on my 2nd year of blogging, it really is a great way to “escape” in a sense of just having an outlet to express yourself with no rules. For me, my blog keeps me motivated to reaching my financial goals. I dont plan on stopping anytime soon. :)

    Reply
  • Jamal April 12, 2017, 6:58 am

    Thank you MMM! Your blog has been absolutely transformational for my family since we happened to stumble upon it in 2012. We were voraciously reading everything we could to educate ouselves on how to get out of the spiral of debt and overspending from our twenties.

    Fast forward 5 years later and thanks to the content from you and the entire online FI community, we are financially secure and on a clear path to FI in the coming five years.

    I’m looking forward to next 6 decades!

    Reply
  • Natasha April 12, 2017, 7:06 am

    You changed many lives including mine and I will be forever grateful and continue to share your blog and message with anyone who will listen. This is very important work.

    Thanks for all the face punches and a sincere congratulations on all of your accomplishments. Well done MMM.

    Reply
  • Brian April 12, 2017, 8:13 am

    If it makes you feel any better I learned about Tim Ferriss from the “Mr. Money Mustache vs. Tim Ferriss” post. Are you guys still planning to have a baby together?

    As so many others have said – congratulations on 6 years of this badass blog. It has quite literally changed my life.

    Reply
  • Alcuin April 12, 2017, 8:27 am

    Why not hire a few people to have them do the kinds of things you are talking about, then you could still mostly do your other work – which is important for authenticity of the site and to keep you focused the right way so that your contributions to this site continue to be meaningful.

    Reply
    • Kathy Abell April 12, 2017, 6:42 pm

      re: “Why not hire a few people”

      If you hire people, then you have to manage them. Not to mention all the paperwork involved with paying employer taxes, etc (even independent contractors need you to generated MISC-1099 forms). Why would anyone want to do that when they could be picnicking in the park on a beautiful day instead? ;)

      Reply
  • Ariel Coleman April 12, 2017, 8:33 am

    I’ve paid off 15k of my 30k student loans, stashed 10k in index funds, taught alll my friends how to use Mint, and continue to incorporate more and more of your badass ways into my life all the time. I’ve been a reader since I graduated from college 3 years ago and I’m turning 26 this week. I graduated making 25k a year and now make 55k, mostly through fierce career ambition fueled by the desire to eliminate my debt.

    I honestly wouldn’t haven’t done most of those things without you “typing shit into your computer”. You’ve improved the lives of many mine included. Thank you. Happy Birthday.

    Reply
    • Rae April 12, 2017, 1:26 pm

      Hey Ariel,

      Can we be friends? lol. I’m a couple years behind you -no student loan debt thankfully but only about $5k in the stock market (+5k in RE and maxing out the company Roth on top of that) and earning about 30k/year. How did you double your income in 3 years? Did it involve changing companies, or were you able to negotiate that significant of a raise over 3 years?

      Reply
  • Kristi April 12, 2017, 8:39 am

    I don’t know what stroke of dumb luck helped me find this blog six years ago, but it woke me up and changed my life. I was already in my late 40s, so I won’t retire “early,” but I’ll retire, at least. You’ve provided a great financial education and been a huge motivator. Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
  • Michael from London April 12, 2017, 9:04 am

    Congrats on the 6 years MMM!!!

    I have always been living frugally without making an effort, and have now successfully sold “the dream” to my wife. I find that your tips are obviously very helpful, but what I like the most about your blog is the PASSION and MOTIVATION about the whole retirement thing.

    It’s like “Dude! Go out and do it! The math are just there in front of you!”.

    Our higher-than-average London (UK) salaries help bring the date closer, ~5 years to go. And in case you’re wondering I’m just another software engineer :)

    Reply
  • JP April 12, 2017, 9:22 am

    I think you should change the sign to “Fancy Mustache Boutique.”

    Reply
  • Mrs. Picky Pincher April 12, 2017, 9:25 am

    WHAAAT? Wow, writing the forward for YMOYL is amazing–congratulations! Thanks for getting people (like me!) involved in FIRE–it’s life-changing. :) Also, I can’t wait to see how the brick and mortar location turns out. Dang, this is exciting, MMM!

    Reply
  • The Magic Bean Counter April 12, 2017, 10:01 am

    Congrats MMM! This blog of yours has played a key roll in to setting my family up to enjoy a very early and long retirement within the next 4 years or so. You da man!

    Reply
  • Josephine April 12, 2017, 10:20 am

    Happy anniversary! Can’t wait to see what you’ll do with the HQ in Longmont! I’m a local. Will be dropping by for future events for sure.

    Reply
  • Chris B April 12, 2017, 10:54 am

    It would suck to retire early and not be able to conjure up a life mission more meaningful than luxuriating and being lazy.

    Looking forward to hearing about the next stage to change the world!

    Reply
  • sam April 12, 2017, 11:46 am

    Congratulations on the anniversary MMM. I am very new to your blog and am grateful to find this community. And more than anything, I am thankful for finding out that I am not crazy to be frugal, hating commute and wanting to retire early.

    Reply
  • Lianne April 12, 2017, 12:56 pm

    Happy 6th Birthday MMM blog!

    I discovered your blog about 2 years ago I think and spent the next few days glued to my computer screen reading the whole thing! :)

    I wish we could be more mustachian….We’re in the UK and live on 1 wage with 2 kids and don’t own our own home yet. One day when both kids are at home and I can go back to work we’ll be able to save all of my wage, and hopefully build up our savings. Right now we’re paying off stupid debt from our previous spendy ways. I’d also love to have an electric car, but we live in a block of flats with on-road parking only and no outside electric hook ups.

    One day we’ll own our own home and I’ll be able to get the solar panels and electric car I really want!
    Speaking of solar panels, I saw some in a video the other day that open up like a flower and follow the path of the sun. They fold away at night and in bad weather too! they looked like they may get more energy from the sun as they are not static?

    Here’s to a lot more years of mustachianism! :D xx

    Reply
    • Felix April 14, 2017, 9:21 am

      I saw a short film about a monastery in Canada which endeavoured to lower its energy usage (in part as it was off grid). I think the Monk organizing things had considered panels which orientated themselves to the sun but realized there was a simpler way – they are mounted on the ground and so he just walks out and turns them slightly once a day. BTW I can’t see the advantage of panels that fold away at night.

      Reply
      • Lianne April 26, 2017, 12:42 am

        i was thinking the same thing about them folding at night…but in bad weather e.g. very high winds to protect them is good. :)

        Reply
  • Mack April 12, 2017, 2:09 pm

    The building being right next door to the Mister Money mentioned in the earlier article is cracking me up. I noticed their security camera in the picture. Let’s do this:

    1. Get 3-4 ‘dummy’ security cameras. I have some I no longer need and will (no kidding) mail them to you.
    2. Mount them all very close together on your building, also very close to their camera.
    3. Point every camera directly at their camera.
    4. Laugh when they notice and inspect it.
    5. Laugh more every time you look at them.

    Yes, I am a child. But, the forces of evil cannot be allowed to work unmolested. Congrats on the milestone, MMM – thanks for all you do.

    Reply
  • jlcollinsnh April 12, 2017, 3:24 pm

    Hey Mr. MM…

    Thanks for the very kind words and the shout-out on my book. Not to mention writing, and now recording, the Foreword.

    I’m honored to have this be “…yet another small but important task piled upon (your) Jenga tower of life.” (Great line!)

    Much appreciated!

    Just today I completed recording the the audio for the audible.com version of my book. Now it goes to their editing team to make my hot mess into something listenable. I don’t envy them!

    Not sure when they’ll have it out, but I’ll be announcing that on my blog when it is.

    Since you mentioned my charitable giving, here’s my take on it and how we go about it: http://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/02/08/how-to-give-like-a-billionaire/

    Happy Blog Birthday!

    Oh, and I can vouch for Alan and Pop-up business school!

    Reply
    • Mack April 13, 2017, 12:34 pm

      Jim! I hadn’t seen you pop up here in awhile. You sir, are a badass – I’ve sent many a lost soul to read your investing series. This is not even to mention the Oscar-worthy John Goodman/The Gambler video. If anyone reading has not watched it (it’s funnier if you’ve seen the movie first), do so now:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eikbQPldhPY

      Reply
  • Steph Fowler April 12, 2017, 3:48 pm

    Finding your blog was the kickstart for me! September of 2014 was when I stumbled over here – and spend the next year reading from the very first post. Can’t wait until the day I can email you and say “I retired today :)”

    Cheers to six years!

    Reply
  • Henry April 12, 2017, 5:53 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    I’m so glad I found this blog almost 2 years ago. Applying the things I’ve learned on this blog has changed my financial life for the better.

    Here’s to the next 6 years! (At which point I’ll be 40 and retired as well.)

    Reply
  • Jack P April 12, 2017, 8:00 pm

    Hey MMM, I found your comment about the Tim Ferriss podcast super interesting. That’s how I found you, and ever since that fateful day I first listened to the podcast, I have read all your posts from the beginning. Your writings have changed my life, and the more I read, the more I wanted to face punch myself for not finding you and the rest of the FI community sooner. Thank you for all your amazing contributions!

    Is there anything else you can say about how much more powerful Tim’s media boost was than the other articles you mentioned? Like I said, I found that comment super interesting!

    Happy 6 years! What an incredible journey.

    Reply
  • FIRECracker April 12, 2017, 8:42 pm

    Congrats on your 6-year blogiversary and for being asked to write the forward to the next YMORL! After speaking to Vicki on Skype, I had a feeling that you guys would hit it off (you’re both so passionate about the environment, it’s like you’re cut from the same cloth :). I felt the same way after talking to JLCollins for the first time. So weird when you meet another person who thinks EXACTLY like you.

    Very excited to hear that PopUp Business school will be coming to ‘Merica! Given the number of jobs being lost to machines (I just heard a podcast today about more and more retail stores going under due to the rise of online shopping), it’s going to be IMPERATIVE for people to learn how to start their own businesses. And knowing how passionate Alan and Katie are, I’m sure it’ll be as successful in the States as it is in the UK.

    Reply
  • STACEY April 12, 2017, 11:41 pm

    Pete, congrats on the 6-year pencil mark on the blog wall :)

    I’m so pleased to hear you’re writing the foreword on one of my earliest influential favorites: Your Money or Your Life. Its co-authors, Joe Dominguez & Vicki, paved the way for my love of personal finance and thinking “how long do I have to work for this purchase?” Thru the years I didn’t always stay on track (dang kids!) but it’s always been in my soul.

    Reply
  • Raven April 12, 2017, 11:59 pm

    MMM, Thanks you for bringing this lifestyle to the public. It has always been there, just never spread over this amazing internet. Where like minded people can find each other and work on improving their lives and the world.
    I am 2 months away for early retirement, thanks to twenty years of investing and a military retirement system. Next stop Oregon for many new adventures and it does not include a clown car or house. Thanks again.

    Reply
  • Stephen April 13, 2017, 1:06 am

    Thanks for the continued amazing posts.

    I’ve recently made a significant step towards FI, having paid off the mortgage through downsizing and boosting my investment portfolio with some remaining profits, and much of my wonderful new-found life is down to MMM, Brave New Life and a selection of other blogs and books to have inspired me over the last few years. Hopefully just 12 months more of ‘proper’ working and earning, and I’m managing to do that from home rather than trek my ass through a grinding daily commute, so life feels pretty good.

    Keep on being you, dude. And happy birthday! Where’s the cake???

    Reply
  • The Doffer April 13, 2017, 1:40 am

    Wow, 6 years old. I only discovered this site in the past year but quickly devoured every article. A huge thanks to MMM for the inspiration. You have certainly changed the way I think about a lot of things – not just money- and it has definitely changed my life for the better.

    Reply
  • Heather H April 13, 2017, 4:19 am

    Ciao from Sicily to the MMM family! I love that sign! Happy Anniversary and thank you for all the great content over the years. Can’t recall exactly how I came across the site but have been a regular reader ever since. I think my husband is a Mustachian at heart, has never had debt and always saved although he doesn’t read blogs. Have been living /working overseas for the last two years after living in LA and then Vegas respectively and doing so has allowed me to pay off student loans and now totally debt free and saving for early retirement. Woo-Hoo!! Still enjoy all the fashion blogs and Pinterest but no longer feel the pull of consumerism like I used to. Instead, I’m relishing my FI and traveling Europe.

    Reply
  • Matthew April 13, 2017, 6:24 am

    Congrats on six years!! Do I sense a Crossfit Box opening in your future? Seems to be headed that way. Any ways, keep up the great work!!!

    Reply
    • Mr. Money Mustache April 13, 2017, 8:47 pm

      Bah! Why would you think such a thing!?

      Actually, there’s a tiny hint of truth to it – as you’ll find out in a future article, the new building has two parts. My half of it will be a membership-based coworking and maker-style space for Mustachian entrepreneurs, and it will also have a really kickass complete outdoor barbell set. So, like a crossfit gym but also a coffee shop where the coffee is free, and a bunch of other amenities, and 24/7 keycard access, meetings, classes, after-hours events, pub nights, book club, etc. at about 1/4 the monthly cost of crossfit :-)

      Reply
  • Felix April 13, 2017, 6:31 am

    Happy anniversary MMM. I was wondering if your new project is a low-energy refurbishment? I know you’ve written related posts before but I was wondering how far you might take things, eg to Passivhaus standards?

    Reply
  • Erin April 13, 2017, 8:34 am

    Congratulations on the blog anniversary! Thanks also for all that you’ve done with this. I found you a bit less than a year ago and you (and all of the warranted face punches) have inspired me to made radical changes in my life. So cheers to the next 60 years!

    Reply
  • Jim McG April 13, 2017, 8:56 am

    Credit where it’s due MMM. I don’t really envy you the transition from where you began to broadcasting to millions via the Tim Ferriss podcast, but you’re doing a great job in spreading the message. You’re an inspiration, one way or the other, to so many of us interested in finance and money,who are put off by the relentless corporate and business focus it always seems to take. We can all take control of our cash and ourselves, it’s not hard or complicated, just requires badassity and attitude! Wishing you well from the UK…..

    Reply
  • Lost in Space April 13, 2017, 9:46 am

    As you mentioned somewhere in the forum, the search really sucks which is why you get so many duplicate threads. You might also wa t to encourage people to add to old threads,Who cares when a tnread was started if it’s still relevant. One forum I’m on the tnread was started nearly 10 years ago

    Reply
  • RT April 13, 2017, 9:57 am

    Happy Anniversary, MMM! I discovered your website just two weeks ago while in the process of purchasing a house… when I learned that the house would be a money pit, I walked away from the contract, promptly paid off my student loans with the recovered earnest money, maxed out my monthly ROTH IRA contribution, and am planning to buy Vanguard stock as soon as I have more liquid assets in savings. Many of your blog posts, and various discussions on the forums, convinced me that staying in my current rental situation and investing my money NOT in a house is the smartest financial move for me. You and the Mustachians are an inspiration! Happy spring from New England!

    Reply
  • RJ Bruer April 13, 2017, 10:27 am

    Congrats on all of your success with the blog. I hope you are still finding balance. It’s been a pleasure reading this blog and several other regarding FI. It’s been a blessing to have the company of like minded individuals. I hope they never go away.

    Reply
  • Wilderwes April 13, 2017, 11:18 am

    When I discovered your blog I was living with my young family on a beautiful 160 acre property in Canada about a 45km (28 miles) commute from my job (one way!). We had two efficient vehicles for commuting (’03 Toyota Matrix and ’96 Honda Civic) and the Civic was wearing out from age and the unrelenting commute. Knowing that it was on its last legs I started researching what reliable, efficient vehicle we should buy and that is what led me to this blog (via Top 10 Cars for Smart People). I quickly consumed more blog posts and realized that although our country life had many positives, it came at the expense of a commute that was unsustainable for us financially – even with our conscientious vehicle choices and was eating up too much time. It was a much needed punch in the face and we made the decision to move back into the city. Once in the city, we sold a car and biking and walking became our main mode of transportation. Now my commute to work is a car-free 0.85kms (0.5 mi) and my child’s school is even closer. Additionally, while we are not yet very close to being able to retire, we are financially comfortable and cycling, frugality, nature as entertainment, healthy living and eating, and index-fund investing are all major components of the life of our family. This blog changed our life! (and our friends have caught-on too). Thanks!!

    Reply
  • John April 13, 2017, 2:21 pm

    So glad I read this post… I reserved and read “Your Money or Your Life” from the library last year. Hated the book… I couldn’t understand why so many financial bloggers recommended it.

    Now, I realize that I read a book of the same title but by a different author (Neil Cavuto…ugh). I feel like an idiot (though reading Amazon reviews, found that I wasn’t the only one duped)

    I look forward to reading the real deal.

    Reply
  • Picky Nikki April 13, 2017, 2:42 pm

    Congrats on 6 years of blogging! I found you through my sister in law, The Picky Pinchers, and I’ve loved reading your brand of financial independence.

    Reply
  • JAke K April 13, 2017, 5:47 pm

    Thanks MMM for your “work” ~ Still finding there are MANY people out there that can benefit from even just a few of your articles. A MMM life style is a choice that some people are not willing to accept or try. Hopefully more people will wake up from what the MSM pushes and live a wealthier more satisfying life!

    Reply
  • Mel April 13, 2017, 6:46 pm

    I’m curious – what do you need a headquarters for?

    Reply
  • Ian April 13, 2017, 7:03 pm

    Congratulations on 6 years. Thank you for writing this blog. I was originally looking for information about retiring (Marketplace Money) before my wife and I turned 70, 80, 90… Now we are on the fast track for a great FI life in Austin, Texas and Canada.

    Reply
  • Lost in Space April 14, 2017, 2:45 am

    Alao it might be nice if you exapnd the forum subforums, too many posts and not enough options, say taxes Canada etc

    Reply

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