By Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench
Hosts of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast
One of the most eye-opening parts about the Financial Independence journey is realizing that the habits that GET you to FI don’t have to be the habits you follow forever.
Yes – living below your means is how you get to FI. But once you’ve built the habits, optimized your spending, and found a solid savings rhythm, there’s room for a little fun. Heck, there’s room for a LOT of fun. The trick is to do it intentionally – upgrading your quality of life without blowing up your financial goals.
Let’s talk about a few “stealth wealth” upgrades that feel rich, but don’t derail your FI Journey.
1. Upgrade Your Everyday Comforts (Strategically)
Instead of spending more money across the board, focus your dollars where they’ll actually matter.
The biggest returns come from improving the things you use every single day:
- Your mattress, because sleep is literally the foundation of everything else.
- Shoes or chairs, because comfort compounds when you’re on your feet or sitting for hours.
- A great kitchen knife or coffee setup, if you cook or caffeinate daily.
You’re not “buying luxury” here — you’re eliminating small daily annoyances and investing in durable quality. A $200 mattress topper that helps you sleep better every night is a far better buy than a $200 weekend splurge you’ll barely remember.
2. Add Micro-Adventures to Your Routine
Adventure doesn’t have to mean airfare and hotels.
You can build mini-vacations right into your normal life — and they often feel just as refreshing. Think:
- A Saturday morning bike ride to a nearby lake.
- A day trip to a new trail, town, or local festival.
- A one-night camping getaway 30 minutes away.
These “micro-adventures” cost next to nothing, but they scratch that same itch for novelty, exploration, and fun that keeps life interesting.
Bonus: you don’t need to ask for PTO or pack a suitcase. You just wake up and go live a little.
3. Outsource Your Least Favorite Chore (Occasionally)
Financial Independence doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means choosing where your time and energy go.
If mowing the lawn, scrubbing the shower, or ironing clothes makes you miserable, consider outsourcing it — selectively.
Carl and I did this, after we realized we spent the bulk of every weekend cleaning the house. A friend shared how she started hiring a cleaner and got her time back. We decided that $200 every other week was absolutely worth having back the entire weekend every weekend.
The key is moderation. Don’t default to convenience spending just because you can afford it — use it as a strategic sanity-saver. Maybe you hire a cleaner once a month, or use grocery pickup during your busiest season.
You’re not buying laziness — you’re buying back your time to use it in ways that actually matter to you.
And if you spend that time on something meaningful (a side hustle, a creative project, or just time with family), the trade-off might actually increase your return on life.
4. Build “Luxury” Into Your Home Rituals
Luxury doesn’t have to live in a hotel lobby. You can bring it home — for a fraction of the price.
If you love fancy coffee, skip the daily café run and invest in a high-end grinder, espresso machine, or pour-over setup.
If you love spa days, recreate the vibe: a heated towel rack, fluffy robe, eucalyptus candles, maybe even a bath tray for your book and tea.
The idea is to identify the feeling you’re chasing — relaxation, indulgence, calm — and recreate it sustainably.
Once you design a home that feels good to be in, you’’ll stop trying to escape from it.
5. Spend on Community and Connection
Finally, the sneakiest luxury of all: connection.
It’s easy to overlook, but experiences shared with others are some of the best “investments” you can make.
That might mean hosting a dinner for friends, joining a local club (ChooseFI local meetups, anyone?), or attending a retreat that fills your cup. These aren’t “expenses” — they’re relationship builders. And relationships are what make life after FI actually worth living.
You don’t have to go big — even a backyard potluck or a game night can create that sense of belonging we all crave.
The Big Picture
The Financial Independence journey isn’t about eternal deprivation. It’s about freedom.
Freedom to choose where your time, money, and attention go. Freedom to design a life that feels rich – not just one that looks frugal.
The goal isn’t to keep your spending forever frozen at your lowest point. It’s to spend with intention.
So yes – upgrade. Just do it thoughtfully.
Add comfort where it matters to YOU. Add adventure where it energizes you. Add community where it fulfills you.
Because that’s the real secret: you can live a fantastic life long before you’re officially “retired.”
