Collins detailed the importance of building up “f--k you money” — enough saved up to quit a bad job or take extended time off without going into debt — on the path to FIRE, and how that became his driving force.“I don't see it that way. I never felt that I was depriving myself when I took money that I saved and invested it. What I was doing was spending my money on the single most important thing to me, which was my financial freedom.”“One of the things that I push back on is this idea of being cheap or tha ...

As the holidays approach, many people are bracing themselves for an expensive shopping season amid tariffs, inflation, and an overall higher cost of living. As a result, 84% of consumers said they plan to cut back on spending — particularly on dining out, clothing, and big-ticket purchases — over the next six months, according to PwC’s 2025 Holiday Outlook. Even so, respondents expect to spend an average of $721 on holiday gifts (down from $814 in 2024). And more than half plan to lean on credit cards to ...