The Irish FIRE Podcast
Business & Finance
About
The Irish FIRE Podcast explores the journey to financial independence and early retirement from an Irish perspective. Hosted by Michael Houghton, the podcast covers practical strategies for saving, investing, and working towards financial independence. Each episode dives into topics like tax efficiency, property investment, pensions, and lifestyle optimization, all tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities in Ireland. Whether you’re just starting out or well on your FIRE journey, The Irish FIRE Podcast offers actionable insights to help you achieve your financial goals.
Episodes
- The Ask About Wealth Interview, with Paul Overy
Michael interviews Paul Overy from Ask About Wealth about his journey into financial planning and his approach to financial advice. They discuss fee-based financial planning, the concept of financial freedom versus early retirement, and th…
- FIRE VS Financial Advisors - an Interview with Robert Whelan
In this episode, Michael interviews Robert Whelan from Rockwell Financial. They discuss the intersection of financial independence and financial advisors, Robert's entrepreneurial journey, and advice for those in the "boring middle" of the…
- 8 Years Later: The FIRE Mistakes That Shaped My Journey
In this episode, Michael recounts his 8-year journey to financial independence, detailing the mistakes he made, the lessons he learned, and the transformation of his approach from consumerism to time freedom. He emphasizes the importance o…
- I Hate Bidding Wars
In this episode, Michael shares his property investment strategy, emphasizing careful buying, focusing on yield, and avoiding bidding wars. He discusses the Irish property market, finance approvals, and rental law changes, explaining how t…
- Ireland vs New Zealand: A Cost of Living Showdown
This episode features Michael's money diary comparing the cost of living in New Zealand and Ireland during his three-week trip. He explores whether his previous assumptions about expenses in both countries are still accurate. The episode i…
- 21 tiny habits that will help you build wealth in 2026
This episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast discusses 21 tiny habits for building wealth, drawing from a family's experience of growing an €800,000 investment portfolio in eight years. It covers key strategies including saving first, avoiding l…
- The Power of FIRE
In this episode, Michael discusses how Financial Independence has provided choice and abundance, rather than just early retirement. He explores its impact on daily life, finances, and embracing opportunities.
- Stress Free FIRE - with Brian & Izabela
Brian and Izabela, active members of the Limerick FI Meet-Up Group, share their journey to financial independence as a couple. They discuss their low-stress lifestyle, passive home design, and how they saved money on their wedding.
- Financial Independence VS Financial Freedom
In this episode, Michael reflects on the difference between financial independence (FI) and financial freedom, discussing his personal post-FI transition. He shares his experience with a seasonal work schedule and the adjustments he made t…
- What Are You Grinding For?
Michael discusses the concept of working toward Financial Independence, exploring how it leads to greater freedom and choice. He shares the story of a listener who left a stressful job, while reflecting on his own decision to continue work…
- The Freedom Before FI Interview
Michael shares his journey to financial independence, including moving to Ireland, building a €700k+ investment portfolio, and maintaining a 75% savings rate. The episode explores the human side of FI, lifestyle design, and balancing famil…
- Life Options in a Post-FI World
In this episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael discusses the unexpected realities and emotional complexities of life after achieving Financial Independence. He covers challenges like managing rental properties, balancing guilt around w…
- 6 Year Anniversary Special - The Community Strikes Back
In this anniversary episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael highlights the Limerick FIRE community. Members share their personal financial independence journeys and discuss the support found in local meetups.
- What FIRE is Really About
In this episode, Michael discusses his daily life since achieving FIRE and explains his perspective on the movement, emphasizing personal freedom over simply quitting work. He also addresses recent criticisms regarding their FIRE journey.
- The €9 Cup Cakes that changed how we think about money
Michael discusses how a disagreement over a €9 cupcake led to a conversation about money and budgeting. He also explores his perspective on financial independence, his semi-retirement transition, and answers a listener question about being…
- From Bucket List to Best Self with Shane O'Brien
Michael interviews author Shane O'Brien about his book, From Bucket List to Best Self. They discuss how creating a bucket list can support personal development and the journey toward financial independence.
- Are We FI Yet?
Michael evaluates his family's status regarding financial independence by reviewing their investments, rental income, and expenses against a €40,000 annual budget. He also discusses withdrawal strategies, risks, and his future plans beyond…
- Become a Millionaire, with Sjoerd Bak
Michael interviews financial advisor Sjoerd Bak about his FIRE journey and experience helping tech professionals improve their financial literacy. The discussion covers practical advice on building financial independence.
- The Cat is Out of the Bag
Michael discusses his new role writing about personal finance for The Irish Independent and the implications of sharing his near-financial independence status publicly. He also shares his experiences with semi-retirement, upcoming travel p…
- The Transition to Semi Retirement
Michael discusses his transition into semi-retirement and the benefits of adopting a low-cost lifestyle to achieve financial independence. He shares practical insights on his investment portfolio and the trade-offs made to prioritize time…
- Realisations on 100 Episodes
Michael marks the 100th episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast by reflecting on his seven-year journey toward financial independence. He discusses his year-by-year progress since starting in 2018 and looks ahead to his upcoming milestone of hit…
- When FIRE Goes Horribly Wrong
In this episode, Michael examines the themes of the Playing with FIRE documentary. He explores the challenges inherent in pursuing financial independence and the balance between future financial goals and living a fulfilling life in the pr…
- What Would Ramit Say?
Michael discusses the financial philosophies of Ramit Sethi, author of 'I Will Teach You To Be Rich'. He examines these ideas through the lens of the FIRE movement and explores areas where the two perspectives may differ.
- Da Simple Life
Michael explains the 'Simple Life' philosophy, a concept he and his wife adopted to maintain low living costs and high contentment in Ireland. He discusses how his family manages to live on approximately €40,000 per year.
- The Theory of FIRE
In this episode, Michael concludes a three-part series on FI calculations. He discusses the Die with Zero calculator, compares it to the 4% rule, and explores the concept of subtraction as one approaches financial independence.
- The 7 Steps to FI
Michael outlines the 7 steps to financial independence and shares a personal portfolio update. He also provides his own definition of what financial independence means.
- Enough is Enough
In this episode, Michael marks the five-year anniversary of The Irish FIRE Podcast by sharing a personal update. He discusses his reflections on defining "enough" as he prepares to transition into early retirement.
- The Mrs Smart Money Interview - Part 2
In this second part of the interview, Kel Galavan, known as Mrs Smart Money, discusses the period following her "No Spend Year" and her career shift into financial coaching. She shares how she leveraged her scientific background to help ot…
- The Mrs Smart Money Interview - Part 1
Michael interviews Kel, known as Mrs Smart Money, about her 2019 'No Spend Year'. In this first part, Kel explains the motivations behind her decision to reduce her family's expenses and describes how she began this journey.
- Good & Bad Money Spending Habits
In this episode, Michael discusses the concept of intentional spending. He defines spending money as a skill and provides examples of both beneficial and detrimental financial habits.
- Travel & FIRE, with Stephen
Michael speaks with Stephen, a hospitality worker who achieved a semi-FIRE lifestyle through long-term backpacking and global travel. Stephen discusses his background, budgeting strategies, and his plans for managing his FIRE lifestyle whi…
- Property VS Stocks, With Andrew
Michael and Andrew discuss and compare property versus stock market investing for the FIRE community. They outline the pros and cons of both asset classes to explore which may be the better investment option.
- I Don't Really Want to Retire Early - Interview with Tom - Part 2
In this second part of the interview, Michael and Tom discuss shifting perspectives on early retirement, the role of work-life balance, financial education, property investing, and views on cryptocurrency. The episode also explores how the…
- The Gen Z FIRE Blueprint - Interview with Tom - Part 1
Michael interviews Tom, a 26-year-old pharmaceutical salesperson from Wexford, about his journey to financial independence. In this first part, Tom discusses how he saved €40,000 by age 25 and purchased his first home at 26.
- The Money Flamingo Tribute
In this episode, Michael discusses the influence of the Money Flamingo website on his personal FIRE journey. He explores how the principles shared by Tina have become applicable to his own path toward financial independence.
- Your Questions Answered 2023
In this episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael answers listener questions regarding Irish broker accounts, key FIRE recommendations, self-employed travel expenses, and refinancing property for investment.
- How to Get Started in Buying Investment Property
Michael discusses the essential steps for becoming a property investor, covering property selection, the sales negotiation process, and Rent Pressure Zones in Ireland. The episode provides insights relevant to both local and international…
- Ways to Increase Your Income - Part 4
Michael discusses additional methods to increase income, reviewing strategies used by the FIRE community. He emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before implementing these approaches.
- Introducing the 20:20 Rule
In this episode, Michael explains the 20:20 rule as a starting point for those new to the FIRE movement. He also provides introductory strategies for increasing income and reducing expenses.
- The Great Supermarket Ripoff
Michael shares strategies for grocery shopping to help reduce household food bills. He highlights common shopping traps, notes specific price changes in Aldi products, and provides tips for managing grocery expenses.
- Are Solar Panels a Good Investment?
Host Michael shares his 12-month experience with installing solar panels, discussing the potential pros and cons of the investment. He outlines key factors to consider before installation and provides a list of solar panel installers.
- The Art of Money and Communication Interview
In this episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael discusses the complexities of financial independence, including raising children while pursuing FIRE, managing high inflation, and key strategies for building wealth through earning, savin…
- FIRE is for Everyone - Interview with Joshua
Michael interviews Joshua, an opera singer living in London, about his experience pursuing FIRE. They discuss pursuing financial independence within the arts industry, career satisfaction, investment strategies, and navigating financial go…
- The Elephant in the Room
In this episode, Michael addresses a listener's question regarding moderation and consistency in the FIRE journey. He discusses how FIRE is an extreme approach that often requires a phased strategy and explains the importance of compoundin…
- Mortgages with Laura Mansbridge
Michael interviews Limerick-based mortgage broker Laura Mansbridge to discuss various aspects of mortgages. Topics covered include options for first-time buyers, equity release, purchasing property through companies and pensions, and the b…
- My 12 FIRE Rules - Part 2
In this episode, Michael discusses five of his 12 rules for financial independence and early retirement, focusing on the importance of income, emergency funds, and simple investment strategies. He also shares a personal update on his FIRE…
- My 12 FIRE Rules - Part 1
Michael shares the first seven of his twelve FIRE rules, focusing on strategies his family used to reduce their annual expenses since 2018. He also discusses a significant milestone reached in his personal FIRE journey in May 2023.
- 5 Takeaways from ’Die With Zero’
Michael shares his five key takeaways from the book 'Die with Zero' and explains how he has applied these concepts to his own life. The episode explores the book's relevance for those interested in the Financial Independence, Retire Early…
- The Element of Luck
In this episode, Michael explores the role of luck in achieving FIRE. He discusses how both good and bad fortune influence the journey toward financial independence, highlighting examples from his own life and the broader FIRE community.
- The Truth About Work
Michael discusses his evolving perspective on work as he progresses toward financial independence, noting that he is enjoying his job more as he nears retirement. He explores the potential role that work can play in an early retirement lif…