I Dream of FIRE

In pursuit of financial independence and personal fulfillment

Month: May 2018

Book review: ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl

May 31, 2018 / / 4 Comments

This is the first review of one of the many books I plan to read over the coming months.

Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning,” in which he recounts his experiences as a concentration camp prisoner during World War II, was  so highly recommended from various sources that I decided to make it the opening book for my studies.

My reviews will be mostly geared toward my interpretation and actionable takeaways, rather than a traditional high-level overview. There are plenty of those out there. Especially for this book! Continue reading

My credit card company almost paid to fix my phone

May 22, 2018 / / 0 Comments

A few months back, I wrote about “The credit card superpowers you probably forgot about.” I pored over all the benefits tucked away in the information booklet you get when you sign up for a credit card, including travel protection, life insurance, and an extended warranty on most purchases.

So when my cell phone started dying with more than half the battery life remaining, I figured it was time to put this warranty business to the test. Continue reading

Mini-retirement is not a magic elixir

May 15, 2018 / / 3 Comments

The to-do lists are still there. The calendar notifications, too.

These are the ways I’m used to measuring productivity, and I find them difficult to break free from. I probably won’t actually get away from the traditional trappings of work life, at least not in this mini-retirement. I’m not going feral, after all.

But I need to find new ways to appreciate results that are less tangible. Continue reading

We just took a 5-day Carnival cruise – Here’s what it cost

May 8, 2018 / / 15 Comments

This time last week I was sitting aboard the Carnival Imagination cruise ship, probably sipping a pina colada and wondering whether my daughter would ever actually get out of the hot tub. (For the record, she eventually did, but not without intense negotiation bordering on fisticuffs.)

My wife, daughter and I took a five-day cruise in part to mark the start of my mini-retirement, but mostly because we really like cruises and it had been a year since our last. We decided to see if we could keep the expenses in check but still have loads of fun. I am, after all, not bringing in a steady paycheck anymore.

Here’s a look at what the whole trip cost us, and what we might do differently the next time around. If you’re new to cruising, there are several tips at the end you’ll definitely want to read!

For a 2021 Covid-19 cruise update about what you can expect, and also a price breakdown for a much more expensive cruise, check out my latest cruise post here.

(We’ve also spent a week at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. See how they compare here.) Continue reading

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