From Island-Hopping to FIRE-Chasing

Hey there, future FIRE enthusiasts and curious cats! Welcome to my little corner of the internet where I’ll be documenting my journey to Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE). Buckle up, because this ride is about to get as wild as my first skydiving experience!

 

Just a little snippet about me.

The Island-Hopper Turned Code-Wrangler

First things first – I’m what you might call a professional island-hopper. Born in Indonesia, I lived there until I was 12, then jumped over to Singapore, and finally landed in Sydney, Australia in 2013. It’s like I was playing a real-life game of Monopoly, only instead of collecting properties, I was collecting life experiences (and maybe a few extra pounds from all the amazing food along the way).

 

I’ve been in Sydney long enough to call it home for the foreseeable future!

 

 

FIRE: Not Just for Pyromaniacs Anymore

From the moment I got my first paycheck, I’ve been obsessed with this crazy idea called FIRE. No, not the kind you roast marshmallows over (though I’m all for that too). I’m talking about Financial Independence, Retire Early. It’s like playing a video game where the final boss is your future self, and the power-ups are smart investments and savings.

 

My current mission? Saving about 50% of my post-tax income. My FIRE target is $1.5 million in investments, aiming for a 7% annual return. But let’s be real, I’m keeping my options open. Chubby FIRE? Sounds delicious. Working a job I love even after hitting FIRE? Why not? I’m all about that “have your cake and eat it too” life.

 

Life in Sydney: Where the Housing Market is Hotter than the Beach

Living in Sydney is amazing, but let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the oversized mortgage in the room. The housing market here is so hot, I’m considering buying a tent and calling it a day. But don’t worry, I’ll be sharing all my “creative” housing solutions on this blog. Cardboard box mansion, anyone?

 

Life Outside the Spreadsheets

Now, you might be thinking, “This guy must be all work and no play.” But hold onto your calculators, folks! When I’m not crunching numbers or dreaming about FIRE, you can find me:

• Playing poker (turns out, “all in” is not always the best FIRE strategy)
• Skydiving (because apparently, watching my investment portfolio isn’t giving me enough adrenaline)
• Taking photos (mostly of my food, let’s be honest)
• Binge-watching sci-fi shows (Dune, Star Wars, Star Trek, Severance – you name it, I’ve probably watched it twice)
• Dreaming about getting my pilot’s license (because why commute on the ground when you can fly?)

Oh, and did I mention I’m a bit of a foodie? My go-to comfort food is fried chicken with a side of Korean deliciousness, all washed down with a soda. It’s a miracle my keyboard isn’t permanently greasy.

 

The Partner in Crime

I’m not on this FIRE journey alone. I’ve got a partner who’s been putting up with my spreadsheet obsession for almost six years now. They’re the peanut butter to my jelly, the yin to my yang, the sensible voice of reason when I suggest we invest our life savings in potato futures.

 

Why This Blog?

So, why am I sharing all this with you? Well, partly because my friends are tired of hearing me talk about index funds (apparently, it’s not great dinner conversation). But mainly because I want to:

1. Document my FIRE journey (and maybe to read back and reflect on the achievement hopefully)
2. Connect with other FIRE enthusiasts
3. Share what I’ve learned (mistakes included – you’re welcome)
4. Keep myself accountable (public shame is a great motivator, right?)

In the posts to come, I’ll be sharing monthly net worth updates – because nothing says excitement like watching numbers slowly (very slowly) go up!

 

Whether you’re a FIRE pro, a newbie, or just someone who accidentally clicked on this blog while looking for actual fire-starting tips, I hope you’ll find something useful here. Or at the very least, a few bad jokes to brighten your day.

 

So grab your calculator, put on your thinking cap, and join me on this wild ride to financial independence. It’s going to be a blast – hopefully not the kind that requires a fire extinguisher!