FRIENDS AND FINANCES FEATURING DRAGONS ON FIRE
Welcome back to friends and finances my featured blogger series that introduces you to some amazing bloggers. The biggest reason I decided to start this new series, is because I believe in getting different perspectives on handling your finances. I also believe that the bloggers featured here each week have a lot to offer the world and deserve recognition. Some of the blogs featured will be other personal finance related blogs and others will not be. The reason I chose to include some other blogs that are not related to finance is simple, we all have a financial story no matter who we are. I believe money is not the only focus we should have when traveling our road to financial freedom, and I think discovering some fun blogs that share something different can be a welcomed break from over focusing on money. So today I welcome Dragon Guy and Dragon Gal from Dragonsonfire.com
What is the goal of your blog?
We are Dragon Guy (DGuy) and Dragon Gal (DGal), a 40-something married couple living in the United States. DGal retired in the summer of 2017, but DGuy continues to work because he needs access to good healthcare due to his chronic leukemia. The themes of our blog are Early Retirement, Health, Money, and Travel. We hope to explore how to be FI while living a healthy life and still enjoying our life’s passion: travel! Visit us at https://thedragonsonfire.com.
1. How long have you been blogging?
We have been blogging since March 2018.
2. What has been you biggest money mistake?
Having too much money in cash. We let our emergency fund built up too much instead of either investing or paying down more of our mortgage.
3. What is your best advice for recovering from or preventing this money mistake?
Making sure you have a plan for each investment or savings account. Understand what the money in that account will be used for. If we had thought more about our cash fund, we would have realized earlier that there was too much in it.
4. Favorite quote or money advice and who was the author?
"I have about concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich thoughts." — Andrew YoungThere is too much focus on “money” as the definition of wealth. People can be rich in many different aspects of life: friendships, family, joy, love, health, etc. Let’s consider that when we talk about prosperity—how to increase our wealth in all aspects of our life, not just money-wise.
5. Favorite money or budgeting related book and author?
No book comes to mind. Most of our money and budget ideas have come from reading FIRE related blogs. Prior to finding the FIRE blogs, Dragon Guy did a lot of money research on Morningstar.com.
6. Favorite money-saving website?
You mean aside from Saving Joyfully? Krazy Koupon Lady and Hip2Save provide up to date information on current coupons and rebates and how to use them to maximize savings. Also at Saver Life you get paid $10 for each month that you save $20 (up to $60 earned total per person).
7. Favorite money-making app or website?
Dragon Gal’s obsession is moneymaking apps such as Bing, Checkout 51, Checkpoints, Coupons, Dosh, Drop, ibotta, Receipt Hog, ReceiptPal, SavingStar, Shopkick, and Walgreens. She’s made close to $300 in six months; however, because we don’t spend a lot of money, she doesn’t make the thousands of dollars on these apps that other people have made. She has gained the most money from ibotta (around $100), Shopkick ($50), and Walgreens ($30). But what she has learned is how a person spends their money determines how successful they are with a particular app. For example, some people make hundreds on the Dosh app, but Dragon Gal has yet to break $15 on the app, even after 6 months. The reason for that is because we don’t eat out a lot or buy a lot of things.Dragon Guy uses Raise for discount gift cards and BeFrugal or MrRebates for cash back on purchases (mostly travel related).
8. Do you have an emergency fund or savings account?
Yes, both!
9. What is your most successful strategy for saving money?
Our most successful saving strategy is “not wanting a lot of things.” We don’t consider shopping a hobby, and we don’t associate any feelings with shopping; for example, we don’t believe in retail therapy, and we don’t get a “high” from shopping (though it’s taken years to develop these beliefs and habits). If Dragon Gal wants to buy something, she always asks herself, “Will I die if I don’t have this item?” and “Haven’t I survived up to this point without this item?” These questions usually curb her discretionary spending.Generally speaking we believe we already have all the material items we need in our life, and we currently spend most of our discretionary funds on experiences. As a couple, we have agreed on what we will spend our money on: travel, cultural and sports events, etc. Whenever we do disagree on spending money on a certain item (which is rare), we stay open-minded while listening to the other person explain their reasoning behind spending or not.
Twitter: @DragonGuyAndGal
Website: www.thedragonsonfire.com
I want to thank Dragon Guy and Dragon Gal for taking the time to be interviewed. Thank you for sharing your insight and financial advice with all of us today. Thank you everyone who took the time to read this post, please stop by their website when you have a chance and let them know Saving Joyfully sent you. See you next time here on friends and finances for another blogger Interview, and an introduction to another great blogger.
