About Me

Chrissy from Eat Sleep Breathe FI


Hi, I’m Chrissy—the blogger behind Eat Sleep Breathe FI. I write about FI (financial independence), money, and life from beautiful Vancouver, BC.

About us

My husband, two teen kids, and I lead a regular middle-class life with regular middle-class expenses. (We’re just slightly more optimized than most.) We reached FIRE at the ages of 43 (me) and 45 (my husband).

Related: How Much Does it Cost to Live the FIRE Life in Vancouver? (As a Family of Four)

I was a graphic designer for six years before I became a stay-at-home mom. My husband M was an art director at a local video game company (but is now retired).

All four of us LOVE dogs and Japan (the country, the people, the food, and the culture). The newest member of our family, Mika the Shiba Inu, is both of our loves rolled into one. ❤️

Other things we love

Besides dogs and Japan, we also love to travel, hang out with friends and family, try new foods, go to the movies, take Mika for long walks, attend festivals, explore our city and others nearby, visit libraries, fix and build things, learn new skills, have potlucks, game nights, movie nights—basically just squeeze as much fun out of life as we can!

But… I’m an introvert, so I work hard to balance the aforementioned fun with good doses of downtime. This is when M and the boys make good use of his man cave, and I retreat to my office to blog, manage our money, and continue to obsess about FI. (Yes, even though we’re already FIRE, I still love learning about FI.)

What I’m passionate about

I love helping others, learning new things, and working on getting a little happier every day. I’m also super passionate about FI.

Blogging is the perfect way for me to combine these passions. I love how blogs allow us to so easily and freely share knowledge.

Fun facts about me

  • We reached FIRE in November 2021.
  • I came out of the blogging closet in May 2020.
  • I’m an introvert, but if you talk to me about FI, you won’t be able to shut me up.
  • I’m a twin.
  • My twin sister was born two minutes after me, but she’s an inch taller.
  • We’re identical twins, but it’s pretty easy to tell us apart.
  • I’m left-handed, but my twin sister is right-handed.
  • Curiously, our younger brother is left-handed and a graphic designer like me.
  • Our dad was a hardcore Mustachian long before being a Mustachian was cool.
  • I can draw and paint.
  • For a long time, I dreamt of becoming a children’s book illustrator.
  • I don’t love cooking. But I do it anyway (and a lot of it) because I dislike being unfrugal even more!
  • I’m a total klutz.
  • I’m only five feet tall. (Most of my kids’ friends outgrew me long ago!)
  • We’re huge theme park fans, and have visited Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and both American Universal Studios parks.
  • We’re in love with Japan. If family, school, and work didn’t keep us rooted here, we’d move there in a heartbeat.
  • We love dogs, and regularly dog-sit for family and friends to get our doggy fix. (As of August 2019, we got our own dog, so we no longer need to dog-sit for our doggy fix!)
  • I prefer driving stick shift (it’s the frugal choice, and it’s way more fun!)
  • Matcha-flavored sweets are my weakness (especially matcha Kit Kats… yum).
  • I meditate daily because it helps me stay happy.
  • I’m a glass-half-full kinda gal, and have been told I smile a lot. 😄
  • I used to co-host a FI podcast (and I still hate listening to the sound of my own voice)!

I’d love get to know you too

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below and share some fun facts about you.

Chrissy from Eat Sleep Breathe FI

Even more about me and this blog

If you’d like to learn a little more about me and Eat Sleep Breathe FI, here are some links to help you do that:

Support this blog

If you liked this article and want more content like this, please support this blog by sharing it! Not only does it help spread the FIRE, but it lets me know what content you find most useful. (Which encourages me to write more of it!) 

You can also support this blog by visiting my recommendations page and purchasing through the links. Note that not every link is an affiliate link—some are just favourite products and services that I want to share. 🙂

As always, however you show your support for this blog—THANK YOU!

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25 Comments

  • Reply
    Darlene
    January 6, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    Great blog Chrissy! I always wished that there would be more Canadian FI bloggers, and the fact that you’re in Vancouver as well is an extra bonus! Also really cool that you have kids, we have 1 daughter (she also loves Fornite 😆). All that to say I’m so excited to learn from you and follow your journey to FI!
    We plan to retire in 15 years, so we will be in our 40’s as well. We are a little late in starting this, but better late then never! 😁

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 6, 2019 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Darlene, I LOVE that your daughter plays Fortnite! It’s awesome to see girls wading right into boy-dominated things. I bet I’d like her if I met her. 😉 I’m so happy you’re part of the community. We all have knowledge to share, so I look forward to learning from you too! Feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions. I’m happy to help however I can.

    • Reply
      Luc
      June 4, 2019 at 12:10 pm

      Darlene, sounds like we’re thinking similarly to you! We’ve got a little one as well! Better late than never is right – thats 20 years of sweet sweet freedom!

  • Reply
    The Twin
    January 14, 2019 at 3:03 pm

    Hi! It’s your twin! 🙋🙋‍♀️ YAY – you did it! I’m so proud of you and so excited that the blog is live. I can’t wait to see you and EatSleepBreatheFI continue to grow and thrive. I’ll be following and growing along with you. 👩‍❤️‍👩

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 14, 2019 at 4:44 pm

      Aww, thanks sis! You’ve always been my biggest fan. So lucky to have family behind me always. ❤️

  • Reply
    Luc
    June 4, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    Hi Chrissy,
    Congrats on getting started on a blog! Looking forward to following your journey. My wife and I live in Vancouver, just finished paying off our student loans and car (….don’t ask) yesterday, so our FI clock starts now. Definitely going down the rabbit hole. Happy and keen to follow someone who knows the unique challenges of our HCOL city! Looking forward to learning, and who knows, collaborating in the future!

    LJ

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      June 4, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Hi Luc, I’m so excited for you and your wife to be starting your FI clock! Feel free to send me your questions anytime. I’m always happy to help however I can.

      Also, I’d highly suggest joining the Choose FI Canada and Vancouver Facebook groups. Lots of really nice people in both groups with lots of helpful info to share. 🙂

  • Reply
    MisFIRE
    December 1, 2019 at 7:07 pm

    I just landed here after seeing your blog recommended on Goat Dog Simple! (I wish I’d found it two weeks ago, before my first ever trip to Vancouver for a conference, because I could have asked you for tips – but what an INCREDIBLE city you live in! I loved everything about it. I’m so excited to dig in to previous posts and podcasts to hear more how you do FIRE north of the border!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      December 3, 2019 at 11:08 pm

      Oh wow, I’m honored that you came over to my blog from Ana’s (which is one of my faves!) I’m so glad you’re here, and I look forward to perusing your blog as well.

      It’s too bad we didn’t connect sooner. You’ll have to visit Vancouver again! Maybe in the summer though—Vancouver’s the BEST when it’s warm and sunny. 🙂

  • Reply
    Berangere
    January 13, 2020 at 12:20 am

    Hello my dear Chrissy. I am Berangere from France. I was come in your last house in 2003. Your “M” give me your blog tonight. I read it in french.
    I ougth my Paris appartment in last october for buy one appartment arrond Paris in last december. I knit too since a long time, and play harp for my first year. I miss you. xoxoxo

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 14, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      Aww, it’s so nice to hear from you, my dear Berangere! We think of you often and remember our time with you so fondly. 🥰

      Congratulations on buying your new apartment. I hope we’ll be able to return to Paris to visit you one day. We miss you too and I hope you’re well. 😘

  • Reply
    Bérangère
    January 15, 2020 at 12:18 am

    Of course you can come at home. I have just one room. And a cat. I miss you too. I would like to come again in your home. To know yours and sister babys!!.
    I need to know how to cook you chinese paté 😊😋
    Lots of love to all the family and the cute doggy (i love her ears 😅)
    I’m in 1h hour to Paris now! But that’s simply don’t be quiet. Come with boys. 😘
    xoxoxo

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 21, 2020 at 9:33 pm

      Please let us know if you ever come back to Vancouver and we’ll let you know if we return to France! We miss you too and hope to see you again one day soon. ❤️

  • Reply
    Bérangère
    January 21, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    You can write me on my email. If i come back i would like to go at your home. No a new homestay. If the family is okay this that of course. Xoxoxo

  • Reply
    drplasticpicker
    May 31, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    Stumbled onto your blog from retireby40. Love the positivity! Best of luck. Will try to stop by again. We have teen and tween too!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 31, 2020 at 10:28 pm

      Hello drplasticpicker! I just visited your blog, and love your message and your content. I’ll be sure to pop by your blog as often as I can!

      Thanks for the comment and your kind words. 🙂

  • Reply
    Maria
    April 22, 2021 at 2:17 pm

    Most people FI because they don’t like their work. You are already at home mother. What is there to FI from?

    Just curious. You are already in a privileged position.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      April 22, 2021 at 3:42 pm

      Hi Maria—you’re right, I am in a privileged position. I already live the FI lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom. My goal for FI is for my husband to have the option to retire early. 😉

  • Reply
    Neha
    June 1, 2021 at 11:25 pm

    I really like the illustration of your pic. It’s very cute. 🙂

  • Reply
    Moe
    December 17, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    Hi Chrissy,
    I have learned about your blog from the Explore FI Canada podcast. I have started listeninh to a few episodes so far (FI School.lesson 4 and Smith Maneuvre). I really enjoy your podcast contents and have learned a great deal from them so far. My wife and I have just started our Smith Maneuvre journey. Looking forward to continuing to learn more on our FI journey.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      December 17, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      Hi Moe—thanks so much for being a listener and now, a reader of my blog! Congratulations on starting the Smith Manoeuvre. What an exciting time for you and your wife! Let me know anytime if you have questions about FI or the SM. 🙂

  • Reply
    Jeff
    March 12, 2023 at 1:56 pm

    Hello Chrissy, I have a tax question I cannot find an answer to, just thought maybe you might know. I am a Canadian citizen living, working and paying taxes in South Korea. I have also been investing in mutual funds for several years now in Canada, and Ive asked several times to my financial advisor if there were any tax problems/situations I may expect to face when I retire either in Canada or in South Korea, in about 20 years time, or any forms I should fill out. Ive been told I am in a unique situation that he has never dealt with before, but that it should be fine, and that he will get back to me later with a more definitive answer, and that answer has never come. I would like to now increase my monthly investment amount, but I just want to know what to expect for someone in my situation.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

    Jeff

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      March 14, 2023 at 8:10 pm

      Hi Jeff—I envy you for living in South Korea! We very much enjoyed our time there when we visited in 2019 and hope to return one day. Regarding your questions, I’m not all that knowledgeable about taxation for Canadian expats, but I found some resources which may be helpful to you:

      Interestingly, two of the articles are in reply to Canadian expats who are, like you, living in South Korea! Sorry I can’t answer your question myself, but I hope those articles help to move you in the right direction.

      It’s unfortunate that your financial advisor hasn’t been very helpful. I did a quick google search and found a firm that specializes in Canadian expats. I don’t know anything about them and can’t vouch for them, but it may be worth giving them a call and/or looking for another advisor who’s more experienced with expats.

      Best of luck to you, Jeff. I hope you find the info you’re seeking. It’s good that you’re planning ahead. Better to do that than to invest even more and potentially be stuck with a tax headache in the future.

  • Reply
    Jeff
    March 15, 2023 at 2:04 am

    Ok, thanks for your help. I will check out the firm that deals with Canadian expats.

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