What if a happier life was only a few simple choices away?
A successful entrepreneur living in Southern California, Scott Rieckens had built a "dream life": a happy marriage, a two-year-old daughter, a membership to a boat club, and a BMW in the driveway. But underneath the surface, Scott was creatively stifled, depressed, and overworked trying to help pay for his family's beach-town lifestyle. Then one day, Scott listened to a podcast interview that changed everything. Five months later, he had quit his job, convinced his family to leave their home, and cut their expenses in half. Follow Scott and his family as they devote everything to FIRE (financial independence retire early), a subculture obsessed with maximizing wealth and happiness. Filled with inspiring case studies and powerful advice, Playing with FIRE is one family's journey to acquire the one thing that money can't buy: a simpler - and happier - life.
Based on the documentary One family's journey into the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) subculture as they radically change their spending and lifestyle to reach financial independence Scott Rieckens is an Emmy-nominated film/video producer, serial entrepreneur, and author. Scott has spent his career as a storyteller connecting people with ideas. Along the way, Scott's work has generated millions of views through a feature length documentary, multiple televisions series, short films, and a diverse range of commercial projects for Microsoft, NBC, Facebook, FOX, Taylor Guitars, Wired, and others. Now, Scott has created Playing with FIRE, which explores the growing community of frugal-minded folks choosing a path to financial independence and early retirement. He and his family reside in Bend, Oregon. "With the enthusiasm of a convert and a filmmaker's feel for storytelling, Scott recounts his own and others' journeys in pursuit of FIRE so that readers can try it on for themselves to see if it fits. You'll love meeting the bloggers and writers who've stoked the 'fire' and the ordinary people who've been transformed by it."
- Vicki Robin, coauthor of Your Money or Your Life and author of Blessing the Hands That Feed Us
"Having seen [Scott and Taylor's] success, I now have even higher hopes that more people can reap the benefits of more financially independent lives everywhere. And I think you will feel that same hope creep into your own outlook on life as you read it."
- from the foreword by Pete Adeney a.k.a. Mr. Money Mustache
"The path to FIRE is not linear, and this book perfectly captures the ups and downs many people face along the way. It's rare, however, to get such an intimate view into a family's journey from the very beginning. This book gives you that and is a fantastic behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming documentary. It contains interesting backstory, endearing personal moments, and actionable advice to help you achieve your own financial goals sooner."
- Brandon Ganch,Mad Fientist
"Readers will benefit from the wisdom of saving today in the hope of a brighter tomorrow."
- Library Journal
"To the uninitiated, pursuing financial independence seems exotic, impossible, and/or daunting. But in fact, it is simple and has roots deep in the American psyche. If you wonder what this path is like in real life and in real time, Scott and Taylor will take you along on their journey: not yet finished, a work in progress, and a very engaging tale."
- JL Collins, author of The Simple Path to Wealth
"What if you could change your life 180 degrees, break free of the paycheck-to-paycheck grind, and pursue financial independence? Scott and Taylor Rieckens chronicle their incredible turnaround in Playing with FIRE, and their brilliantly simple advice is applicable to anyone: Spend less than you earn, invest the difference, and create the space in your life to pursue true happiness and lifelong rel
