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Spouse FI: Everything You Need to Know About This Amazing Lifestyle Option

spouse fi couple giorgio trovato unsplash

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash 

Have you heard of Spouse FI? If not, that’s because it doesn’t really exist—yet. I intend to change that with this post!

For those who are new to the term “FI”, it stands for Financial Independence. To learn more about FI, check out my free FI School series.

This may be a sensitive topic

Before we get into the post, I’d like to acknowledge that Spouse FI may be a sensitive, emotionally-charged topic for some. Additionally:

  • I recognize that I’m privileged to have the option to be a stay-at-home mom.
  • I pass no judgement on others and equally support and cheer on working and at-home spouses; single and dual-income households.
  • If Spouse FI isn’t an option for you, know that it’s not a reflection of your abilities and efforts. We all face unique circumstances that are beyond our control. They can both help or hinder our options—whether we do all the ‘right’ things or not.
  • Spouse FI isn’t for everyone. There’s no right or wrong. It’s a personal decision that every couple needs to make for themselves.

How Spouse FI started

Spouse FI began as a term that Money Mechanic (my podcast co-host) made up. It was meant to be a silly, self-deprecating joke on both of us. We often tease each other by referring to the other as being ‘Spouse FI’.

However, I started giving Spouse FI more thought and realized: it’s actually a legitimate lifestyle option. In addition, we’re not the only ones who embrace it. There are other FIRE seekers who, like us, also pursue Spouse FI. 

This isn’t surprising. Spouse FI offers many benefits to both partners (and, if they have kids, the entire family).

It’s time for Spouse FI to become a ‘thing’

I decided it was time to share our made-up term and legitimize it. After all—other couples could very well be in a position to pursue Spouse FI. But, because it’s never been framed in this way, they’ve never considered it.

I hope this post helps you discover (or clarify) what a Spouse FI lifestyle entails. It may just be the nudge you need to consider it as an option for you and your partner.

Spouse FI isn’t only for parents!

Note that Spouse FI isn’t just for couples with kids! Sometimes, Spouse FI may be a choice of necessity (due to health issues and other life circumstances). 

However, it can also be a conscious decision to allow the couple to slow down and make the journey to FI more sustainable and enjoyable—whether they have kids or not.

What this post will cover

To help you get fully acquainted with Spouse FI, I’ll discuss the definition, benefits, downsides, and actionable steps to pursue Spouse FI. 

Plus, as an added bonus, I’ve included mini-interviews with other Spouse FI couples. They’ll tell us why they chose the Spouse FI lifestyle and how it works for them. In addition, they’ll share their best advice for those who are interested in pursuing Spouse FI.

I hope you enjoy the post and find it useful. Feel free to leave a comment if there’s anything you’d like more info on.

What is Spouse FI?

After some back and forth with Money Mechanic and my Spouse FI interviewees, I honed down the definition of Spouse FI to this:

Spouse FI is a lifestyle option where one partner’s income covers all or most of the expenses and savings. The other partner can then explore options such as part-time work or stay-at-home parenting. This allows the couple to gain many financial and lifestyle benefits—even before reaching full financial independence. 

In summary, Spouse FI can help couples and their families achieve varying degrees of freedom—all along the FI journey. Yes, it does mean slowing down the progress to financial independence. But the benefits are so valuable that, for many, it’s worth the trade-off.

What are the benefits of Spouse FI?

In 2019, I wrote an epic guest post for my friend, Bob (aka Tawcan): How Much Does It Cost to Be a Stay-at-Home Parent? A financial cost analysis. In the post, Bob and I broke down the estimated cost of having one parent stay at home to raise the kids. 

I encourage you to check out that post for all the details and numbers (so many glorious numbers)! In this post, I’ll share a similar list of benefits, but tailored for Spouse FI.

Spouse FI benefits fall into two main categories: financial and lifestyle. I’ll start by examining the financial benefits.

Financial benefits of Spouse FI

The financial benefits of Spouse FI can significantly decrease the impact of giving up most or all of one partner’s income. Here are some ways Spouse FI can financially benefit couples: 

Childcare

By choosing the Spouse FI lifestyle, one parent has the option to stay at home and care for the kids. Since childcare costs are right up there with the ‘big three’ expenses, the cost savings can be huge.

Related: On my podcast, interviewee Réjean’s single largest expense was childcare. He and his wife erased this expense by both reaching FI before 30!

Food

As FI seekers, we’re well aware that the best way to save money on food is to cook most meals at home. However, when both partners work full-time, this can be very challenging. This results in more takeout and convenience foods—just to preserve the couple’s sanity!

By shifting to a Spouse FI lifestyle, one or both partners have more time to meal plan, shop, prep and cook. This can lead to massive savings (and delicious, healthier meals).

Related: To learn how my family saves on food and other essential spending, read my interview of myself, “How Much Does it Cost to Live the FIRE Life in Vancouver? (As a Family of Four)”.

Vehicles

With one spouse working less (or not at all) the couple could go down to one car, or, at the very least, drive the second car much less. This means decreased insurance, gas and maintenance costs. 

In a high-cost city like Vancouver, the savings can make an enormous difference (and lighten the impact on the Earth).

Related: Check out my How Much Does it Cost to Live the FIRE Life series to learn about vehicle expenses all around the world (along with other essential expenses)!

Tax credits and government benefits

This section is based on my knowledge of the Canadian tax system. I encourage you to find out if your country offers similar credits and benefits.

In Canada, there’s a non-refundable tax credit called the spouse or common-law partner amount. The higher-earning spouse can claim this on their tax return and decrease their taxes owing. 

However, every dollar the lower-earning spouse earns is subtracted from this credit. Therefore, the more the lower-earning spouse earns, the less credit the higher-earning spouse receives. 

In addition, the Canadian government pays families with children under 18 a benefit called the Canada Child Benefit. The CCB is based on annual family income. Therefore, the more income a couple earns, the less CCB they receive.

Now—I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing for both spouses to work and earn an income. More income and working at an enjoyable job are, of course, good and encouraged!

However, these factors should be taken into account when considering Spouse FI. Once you factor in the tax credit and/or CCB, it could become an easy decision for one spouse to scale back their hours or quit completely.

Investment costs

Dealing with investments is one task that tends to fall to the wayside when couples are busy and stressed. This could result in their money being invested sub-optimally, with high-fee funds and/or advisors.

Spouse FI could allow the part-time or at-home spouse to take on this task. Alternatively, they can take on other household chores to free up time for the working spouse to handle the investments.

In either case, this can allow the couple to manage their investments more effectively—thereby saving them money with reduced fees. (And potentially netting them higher gains as well.)

Related: Learn how to save on investment fees by DIY investing—I’ve shared lots of resources to teach you how in FI School Lesson 6: Index investing.

Recurring expenses

After a long day of work, one of the last things most of us want to deal with is recurring bills. (Or, more specifically—regularly research, call around for, and negotiate better rates.)

Spouse FI can give one or both partners more time for this important task. It’s one of the best and easiest ways to save a lot of money—month after month, year after year.

Credit card rewards

Credit card rewards could mean free (or almost free) travel and other valuable rewards for a couple or family. Yes, it does take time to learn the ropes and maintain the system, but Spouse FI could free up enough time for one or both partners to do it!

Related: Learn how I take a simple, ‘middle-of-the-road approach’ to credit card rewards.

Discretionary spending

Busy couples tend to spend more on discretionary spending because they have less time to:

  • Shop around for the best prices.
  • Wait for deals.
  • Research the best options.
  • Contact manufacturers for replacements or repairs.

Having time to deal with these tasks can reap major savings—around $1,000 per year for my family!

Clothing

When one partner no longer needs as much (or any) professional clothing, that can save hundreds of dollars per year. In addition, they may be able to earn a bit of extra income by selling their no-longer-needed work clothes.

Spouse FI could give one or both partners more time to shop for the family’s clothing on sale, at thrift stores, or through online marketplaces like Craigslist and Poshmark. This can save hundreds per year.

If you download the Poshmark app and enter my referral code, VANCITYCHRISSY, we’ll each receive a $15 credit!

Lifestyle benefits of Spouse FI

Okay, we’ve covered the many financial benefits of Spouse FI. Now it’s time to get to the lifestyle benefits. In my opinion, this is where Spouse FI really shines. Here are some of the key lifestyle benefits that Spouse FI can offer:

Time freedom

For most of us, the true goal of reaching FI is to gain more time freedom. With Spouse FI, one partner can access this freedom earlier on in the journey. But, what’s wonderful about this is that the other partner (or the entire family) also benefit.

That’s because the Spouse FI partner can take care of appointments, chores and other tasks on weekdays—instead of on evenings and weekends. Having an overall freer schedule gives both partners (and the kids) more free time to enjoy as they wish.

A slower pace of life

For me, the most luxurious benefit of Spouse FI is the slower pace of life. It’s a much-needed antidote to the frenetic, hamster wheel lifestyle most of us are used to. 

Spouse FI gives couples and families time to embrace slow living. When one partner can slow down, so too can the other partner and, if they have them, the kids. 

This is so important (necessary, even) for everyone—working or not, grown-up or kid. If stress and anxiety run high in your house, a slower, Spouse FI life may be the solution you’ve been searching for.

Someone’s (almost) always available

Whether it’s a burst pipe, sick child, or school closure, Spouse FI couples can more easily weather these unexpected events. With their flexible schedule, the Spouse FI partner is available to manage the situation. This greatly decreases household stress and saves the working partner from having to take time off.

For parents, there’s also a more aspirational side to this benefit: Spouse FI allows one parent to be there for most or all of their child(ren)’s milestones and school events. And, by capturing these moments on camera, the working parent can also experience them and not miss out.  

Decreased stress

The above benefits compound on each other and contribute to decreased stress for everyone. Slowing down the pace of life leads to a calmer and happier household. As a result, everyone gains improved mental and physical health, more energy, and a host of other benefits.

Career benefits

When a couple chooses Spouse FI, direct and indirect benefits can help one (or both) spouses grow their careers. For example: if the Spouse FI partner completely stops working, the couple can then put their shared time and energy into nurturing the working partner’s career. 

As a result, the working partner may achieve greater success in the form of promotions and more income. In turn, both partners (and the kids, if they have them) benefit.

Alternatively, the Spouse FI partner may choose to continue working, but shift from full-time to part-time. In this case, both partners gain career benefits. The extra time freedom means both spouses can be more focused and effective in their careers. 

Sustainability

You could take this both ways: Spouse FI can increase environmental sustainability and/or the sustainability of your FI journey. The environmental aspect comes from the decreased need to consume, thanks to the FI journey and living a slower, Spouse FI lifestyle.

But Spouse FI can also help to sustain your energy and motivation throughout your FI journey. The lifestyle benefits of Spouse FI are particularly important here. They can be what keeps you or your spouse ‘in the game’, so to speak.

Living the Spouse FI lifestyle can help to make the journey to FI that much more enjoyable and sustainable. 

More involvement at home

Spouse FI can allow one or both partners to focus more of their time and energy at home. This means they can run the household more effectively, get to chores that keep being put off, or take on tasks they previously outsourced.

If the couple has children, the Spouse FI partner can devote more time and energy to homework help, emotional support, or simply being more present and available. All of this pays dividends in the form of a more peaceful, happy household—another priceless benefit from Spouse FI!

More involvement in the community

Spouse FI can allow one or both partners to get more involved in the community. This could mean volunteering in their child(ren)’s school or giving back to the community in other ways.

Building these local connections leads to a greater sense of purpose and belonging as well as a stronger, healthier community. In this way, Spouse FI ripples out and benefits many more people than just the couple or their family.

Spouse FI benefits summary

As you can see, there are many benefits to the Spouse FI lifestyle. The financial benefits can help to offset the loss in income while the lifestyle benefits can immeasurably improve your and your partner’s life. (And that of your whole family, if you have children).

What are the downsides of Spouse FI?

As enticing as Spouse FI’s benefits may be, some downsides must be taken into consideration. These downsides fall into two main categories: financial and psychological. I’ll start by examining the financial downsides.

Financial downsides of Spouse FI

The financial downsides of Spouse FI can be substantial. Any one of them could make or break your decision to pursue Spouse FI (or not). 

Loss of income

This is probably the biggest downside. If losing part or all of one partner’s income means you won’t be able to cover all your expenses and savings, Spouse FI won’t be a feasible option.

It’s critical to take the time to add up the cost savings from the benefits listed above, then weigh it against the loss in income. This will show you the true cost of choosing the Spouse FI lifestyle.

If you’d like some sample numbers to estimate the true cost of Spouse FI, see my detailed guest post for Bob at Tawcan.

Loss of workplace benefits

This may be another dealbreaker. For some couples, losing workplace benefits could be catastrophic. This is particularly true in the case of health benefits—even for Canadians. While we’re fortunate in Canada to have universal healthcare, it doesn’t cover everything. 

If you or your partner (or any of your children) are covered for expensive prescriptions or other costly medical expenses, losing your health benefits could be an enormous financial burden. 

Keep in mind too that health benefits are only part of the equation. Other benefits may also be lost when quitting or scaling back to part-time. This may include life and disability insurance, a company car, phone plan, meals, and other high-value benefits.

As you consider Spouse FI, don’t forget to factor in the cost of replacing these benefits.

Loss of government benefits

Since most of us in the FI community are decades away from collecting government retirement benefits, we tend to disregard this income. Some of us believe the benefits won’t be there, while others believe they will—but at a greatly-reduced amount.

Whatever you believe, chances are you’ll still receive something. Since some government benefits are based on years worked and income earned, you stand to lose a lot of that income by choosing to scale back or quit your job.

When considering Spouse FI, it’s worth calculating how much you stand to lose in government retirement benefits. It may be more than you expect! 

Opportunity cost

When giving up most or all of one partner’s income, that’s only part of the financial picture. You must also take into account what that lost income could’ve done for you if it were invested. This is what’s known as opportunity cost.

Opportunity cost is one financial factor that’s easily overlooked. That’s because it’s ‘invisible’—you won’t see it on a bill or statement. Opportunity cost can only be estimated and you must do the calculation yourself.

In my previously-mentioned guest post for Bob at Tawcan, I listed the factors to take into account when calculating your opportunity cost. They include lost income, benefits, and other perks and discounts. These factors could add up to a lot of extra income—income that could help you reach full financial independence that much sooner.

A slower path to FI 

All the previously-listed financial downsides contribute to this financial downside: a slower path to financial independence. Losing some or all of one partner’s income could delay full FI significantly. Consider if this is something you and your partner are willing to accept. 

It may be that you’re more than happy to make this trade-off, if it means accessing a more balanced lifestyle now. Only you and your partner can make that decision—after lots of open, honest discussion.

Financial vulnerability

Relying heavily or fully on a partner’s income could leave a Spouse FI partner financially vulnerable. This is especially the case if the right precautions are not put in place. For example:

There must also be A LOT of open dialogue and transparent sharing of financial information between partners. Spouse FI should not be considered unless all of the above are in place.

Psychological downsides of Spouse FI

As if the financial downsides weren’t enough, there are also psychological downsides to think about. Give these factors some serious thought—they could play a huge (and possibly bigger) role for you than the financial factors. 

Loss of security

Some of us take a lot of comfort from being in control of our finances and future. Giving up or scaling down our careers and relying on another person can be anxiety-provoking and even terrifying. 

If this is a factor for you, Spouse FI may not be the right choice. However, that’s not to say this issue can’t be overcome. If you have all the right precautions in place (see Financial vulnerability above) counselling and frequent, open discussions with your partner may help.

Loss of identity

If much of your identity is tied to your career, you may experience a profound loss when you scale back or stop working. You may feel adrift or purposeless, unable to find a new path in life. 

Before you pull the trigger on Spouse FI, consider the life you’re heading towards. (Just as people nearing FI are advised to do.) Think about the new activities and roles you’ll take on and how they’ll fulfill you. Will they be enough to keep you happy and satisfied?

Potential conflicts

Spouse FI could resolve some of the conflicts you currently have with your partner. However, it could also exacerbate conflicts or create new ones. Consider if this could be the case for you. Some potential areas of conflict include:

  • Division of chores and childcare.
  • Differing opinions on financial issues.
  • Needs and expectations.
  • Maintaining equality and autonomy.

There are likely many more areas—consider all the possibilities. Think them through on your own, then discuss them with your partner. Having a plan in place and talking through issues is crucial if you’re considering Spouse FI.

Resentment

If the above areas of potential conflict are not properly planned for and discussed, resentment is likely to take hold. If left to fester, it can drive a couple apart. Obviously, this would obliterate any good that Spouse FI might bring.

Carefully monitor your relationship for brewing conflicts and work through them early on with your partner. Doing so can prevent resentment and keep your relationship happy and intact—allowing both of you to enjoy the fruits of the Spouse FI lifestyle.

Judgement from others

Since dual-income households are currently the norm, a Spouse FI couple may be seen as odd, privileged, undeserving, or any number of unflattering characterizations. Additionally, the Spouse FI partner may be accused of being spoiled, lazy, or scheming.

Family, friends, and even strangers may feel the need to share these hurtful and inaccurate assumptions with you and your partner. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about others’ opinions. However, you can mentally prepare so that their judgements don’t bother you as much.

Knowing your ‘why’ can help you persevere—even amidst the criticism and jealousy. And, if there’s ever an opening, you can share your ‘whys’ with the naysayers. Perhaps you’ll even convince them to give Spouse FI a chance!

Spouse FI downsides summary

The good news is there are far more benefits to Spouse FI than there are downsides. However, some of the downsides could have a much larger impact on a couple or family’s well-being. For example—the loss of income and benefits could be financially devastating.

The downsides cannot be ignored in the decision to choose the Spouse FI lifestyle. Carefully consider each point and discuss them with your partner as you make this big decision.

How can a couple pursue Spouse FI?

So, you’ve weighed the pros and cons of Spouse FI and have decided it’s the right fit for you and your spouse. What now? How exactly do you get started? Below is a list of actionable steps you can take to move towards Spouse FI.

1. Consider the benefits

Go through the list of Spouse FI financial and lifestyle benefits I’ve listed above. Do any resonate with you? Have I missed any benefits? Start your own list of benefits and arrange them in order of priority.

This list will be important when you get to step #4 and introduce Spouse FI to your partner. These benefits will be your list of ‘whys’—the specific, meaningful things that make Spouse FI worth pursuing.

2. Consider the risks and downsides

As excited as you may be, you also need to be realistic about Spouse FI. How will you mitigate the downsides? Will you truly be able to manage the psychological concerns? Spend a good amount of time thinking over these issues.

They’re possibly more important than the benefits (which largely speak for themselves). If you don’t plan adequately for the downsides, Spouse FI could be disastrous for your finances and relationship. Don’t skip over this step! 

3. Do the math

It’s time to do the math. In this step, you’ll figure out if you really can afford to pursue Spouse FI. To do this, take your lists of financial benefits and downsides and add your numbers.

If you’d like to start with rough numbers just for a quick estimate, see my guest post at Tawcan.com. Using these general numbers can help you decide if it’s worth getting more detailed with the math.

If you see that it’s worth going ahead, start inputting your numbers, based on your location and situation. Remember: the more detailed and accurate you are with the math, the more confident you can be that you’re making the right decision. So take your time with this step!

4. Talk about it

Now that you’re fully armed with detailed, accurate info, it’s time to share it with your partner! I’d suggest approaching this conversation much like how you’d bring up FI—by starting with the ‘whys’. 

I made the mistake of bombarding my husband with my enthusiasm for FI. I ignored the whys and dove right into the ‘hows’. He was totally overwhelmed and decided he wanted nothing to do with FI.

I eventually realized I needed to back off and approach it in a more measured, inclusive way. This meant starting with his whys and hearing him out when his dreams for the future differed from mine.

This same approach can also be applied to the Spouse FI conversation. I wrote about this process in detail in my post, How I Got My Reluctant Husband on Board with FI. In the post, I shared how I eventually brought my husband over to FI.

I also included a fantastic list of posts from other bloggers on this topic. Give them a read—I hope they help you successfully discuss Spouse FI with your partner!

5. Formulate your transition plan

If you’ve moved on to this step, congratulations! You’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting and got your partner on board with Spouse FI. Now it’s time to work out the details and make your Spouse FI dreams a reality.

As you work out your transition plan, here are some things to consider:

  • When to give notice to your employer.
  • Upcoming events that could be a natural transition date (for example: a final bonus, the end of the fiscal year, or a planned organizational change).
  • How to hand off projects and tasks at work.
  • Who to train or brief to take over your position.
  • What to do with your pension (if you have one).
  • How to cover your expenses and savings on a reduced income.
  • What your new budget will look like.
  • Spending categories that will need to increase or decrease.
  • A new emergency plan.
  • Mortgages, loans and credit cards you’d like to refinance or apply for while still employed.
  • When to give notice to your childcare facility.
  • The new division of labour in your household.
  • How or if your kids’ routines will change.
  • How to discuss the upcoming changes with your kids.
  • How to break the news to family and friends.

I’m sure there are many more points to add to this list—please share your ideas in the comments and I’ll add them in.

Making a checklist or plan will help you decide on the best time to transition into Spouse FI. It’ll also help you stay organized as you work your way towards Spouse FI. 

6. Test the waters

Some of you may be fortunate enough to have options to test out Spouse FI before making a final decision. This could include taking a sabbatical, parental leave, leave of absence, or using all of your rolled-over vacation days at once.

If any of these options are open to you, take them! Avoid giving your final notice until you’ve had a good Spouse FI practice run (the longer, the better). Then, if it doesn’t work out, you’ll still have a job to go back to.

7. Take the leap

Hooray—you’ve completed all the previous steps! Now it’s time to take the big leap. Whether you’re nervous, excited, or both, take a step back and appreciate all that you and your partner have done to reach this milestone.

It took a lot of hard work and planning to get here. Celebrate your accomplishments and look forward to all that lays ahead. To help you picture your new life and get started on the right foot, I’ll close off this post with some Spouse FI mini-interviews…

Spouse FI mini-interviews

As a FI blogger and podcaster, I’m very fortunate to have met and connected with many amazing people in the financial independence community. Within that group, I’ve discovered other couples who also chose to pursue Spouse FI.

I reached out and asked them to share their stories and best advice for other couples who are considering Spouse FI. I hope you find them inspiring and helpful!

Note: I’d like to include more Spouse FI mini-interviews—especially with couples who don’t have kids (and non-Canadians too). If you’re living the Spouse FI lifestyle, please contact me!

Bob and his wife from Vancouver, BC

Bob’s Spouse FI story

Currently, I work full-time at a high-tech firm while my wife stays at home to look after the kids when they are not at school. We are fortunate to be able to live off the income from my job. My wife and I have our own side hustles and the incomes are invested 100% to expedite our financial independence journey. 

We are doing this approach because my wife came to Canada as an exchange student. When we met and eventually got married, we knew we could live off of my income so there was no pressure for her to find a full-time job. 

She started a few side hustles, including recently her holistic doula business. With two young kids at home, we think this is the perfect approach for us. I may eventually decide to retire early from my job and my wife may decide to turn her doula business into a full-time job one day. We are being very flexible with this “Spouse FI” approach.

Bob’s Spouse FI advice

The couple needs to sit down and discuss if Spouse FI would work or not. Make sure you run through the numbers and go through the different scenarios. If Spouse FI is a good approach, the spouse that’s not working full-time shouldn’t feel the pressure or the need to make money. 

This spouse also shouldn’t feel ‘guilty’ when they have to spend the money. From our personal experience, we have found that having a stay-at-home spouse actually saved us a lot of money. Our kids also get to spend more time with their parents, rather than spending time at child care. 

Staying at home to look after the kids is a lot of work and is definitely not easy. Therefore, it is also vitally important for the working spouse to recognize all the hard work the stay-at-home spouse is doing.

You can connect with Bob and learn more about him at his blog, Tawcan.

Carol and her husband from Toronto, ON

Carol’s Spouse FI story

After I became a mother, I found myself reluctant to put my son in full-time daycare when it came time to return to work. Firstly, I hated the Hunger Games of trying to get a spot (year-long waitlists in Toronto were not uncommon and part-time options elusive) plus it was expensive. Hardest of all, my heart wasn’t in it. 

So we started looking for alternatives. After my first maternity leave ended, I reduced my work week to four days, and my mom took care of our son one day a week. For the remaining three days, Ben brought our baby to a friend in my mother’s group in the late morning and then went to work. Six hours or so later, I’d pick him up. This was the best we could arrange at the time, and it worked out reasonably well. 

Once we had two kids, we hit Spouse FI in full stride. Ben quit his job and stayed home with the kids while I went back to work. 

We thought we would stick with this arrangement when baby three came along. But midway through my third maternity leave, Ben caught wind of a job that he was really excited about. So he went back to work while I took a four-year unpaid leave of absence and took care of the three kids. 

Kids are so cute and all-embracing where they’re wee. Those early years weren’t always easy, but I have so much peace about the choice to spend as much time at home as I did. The fact that time was working in the background towards FI while we splashed at the waterpark and painted egg cartons was the ultimate cherry on top.

After four years, Ben needed a change, so he quit his job and I returned to my law career. He has been effectively ‘retired’ since then, apart from some part-time coaching that he does mostly for pleasure, and stock options trading in the last year and a half. I recently FIRE’d—in October 2020. 

Although this slower path to financial independence probably took longer than it would have had we both kept working full-time, it wasn’t particularly slow. I worked for about 11 years spread over 19 years, and the benefit of that additional time is that it gave our assets—especially the real estate—more time to grow. Sometimes I think ‘Slow FI‘ should be renamed ‘Spread Out FI’ except that moniker is terrible. But you know what I mean. 

Carol’s Spouse FI advice

For the tag-teaming that Ben and I did, you’d need a specific skill set that’s in demand along with a tolerance for uncertainty during unemployment (Ben’s situation) or a flexible workplace that values employee retention (my situation). 

Another fortunate aspect of our work was that we were able to move in and out of the workforce without a lot of financial penalty. While I forewent promotions at work (which I did not want anyway) I always re-entered at the same level. Also, our salaries were high enough that we were able to survive on either one (we got rid of our mortgage after six years, so that helped a lot). 

Our specific flavour of Spouse FI might not work for you. But lateral thinking and a willingness to experiment usually opens up more options than first meets the eye. We picked the ones that worked best for us, but could also imagine contract work, side hustles, online employment, and much more. 

You can connect with Carol and learn more about her at her blog, A Life of FI.

Court and her wife from near Calgary, AB

Court’s Spouse FI story

My wife, Nic, decided to be a stay-at-home mom after taking 18 months of parental leave when our now-three-year-old was born. The original intention was that she would return to work for a few years and we would both quit at the same time.

But when we ran some numbers, it made more sense (both financially and emotionally as Nic did not enjoy her job) for her not to return to work as we had reached our FI number as a family of three when our daughter was born.

When she turned one, I decided to shift from full-time work to a part-time role as a slow transition into early retirement. When our second child arrives in a few months, we will be very close to our Fat FIRE goal and I’ll be taking 61 weeks of parental leave as a test to the start of the FIRE life (which will allow us some time to determine if I want to return to a part-time role or not). 

Our motivation at the start of our FIRE journey was to be able to travel as much as possible. Once we had a kid, our ‘why’ changed to be able to spend as much time together as a family. We highly value these early formative years and being able to experience the world through the lens of a child. It’s incredibly fascinating, challenging, and rewarding. 

Court’s Spouse FI advice

The best advice for those younger readers interested in Spouse FI is to start working on your FI plans as early as possible so once kids enter the picture (assuming that’s part of your plans) you already feel financially comfortable to be able to reduce your family income as you shift to Spouse FI. 

Make sure you’re both in alignment with the plans so that each partner understands how the other is contributing as money is definitely not the only contributing factor in a happy and healthy relationship. 

The first few years of your kid’s life are likely the years where they will be home the most (before school kicks in) and actually want to hang out with you, so cherish those hours spent with them. Being able to be a direct role model for our kids is well worth the lower figure in our portfolio. And of course, as they get older, you can always ramp up your earnings if you’d like. 

Pursuing FI is unconventional as-is, and taking it one step further to Spouse FI should be celebrated rather than viewed as a ‘step back’. Unfortunately, in this consumer-driven world, many find it hard to imagine that a family could drop from dual earners down to one, as lifestyle creep likely enters over the years. 

That fact that you COULD shift down to a single income should be applauded as that means your savings rate as dual earners must have been quite high—to suddenly lose an income and still live comfortably on that reduced family income. To that end, FIRE is not a race. Whether you get there at 35, 45, or 55 it doesn’t really matter. What matters most is designing a happy life along the way.

You can connect with Court and learn more about her at her blog, Modern FImily.

Money Mechanic and his wife from Victoria, BC

Money Mechanic’s Spouse FI story

I reluctantly associate with Spouse FI and prefer to refer to myself as Coast FI. But the truth is, my spouse continues to work her full-time job, while I am only part time, at best. 

This was a mutual decision and we’re both happy with our current setup. Her full-time income is enough to cover our household expenses. Fortunately, she is close to Coast FI also, so we don’t need to maintain a high savings rate. 

We also have created enough passive income to replace my contribution to ‘half’ our expenses. Our roles could definitely be reversed if she wanted to take a year off, or go part time. 

I find that as a ‘stay-at-home-spouse’, I’m always busy with projects and have the time freedom that we all are looking for with Financial Independence. 

Money Mechanic’s Spouse FI advice

Spouse FI is a discussion and an understanding. Once you have mastered the financial journey as a couple and are working towards a common goal, you can investigate Spouse FI. 

At no time should one partner not working increase the stress, pressure or expectations within your relationship. Your happiness together is far more important than one of you working less. 

You can connect with Money Mechanic and learn more about him on his podcast, FI Garage, or our podcast, Explore FI Canada.

Mr. Dreamer and His Wife from Gatineau, QC

Mr. Dreamer’s Spouse FI Story

Our story goes back to when we immigrated to Canada in 2010. We are both engineers who met in university. We both used to work full-time, but circumstances have changed drastically since then.

After moving to Canada, as we were establishing our new life (which started from zero, far from family and friends) we decided to finally grow our family. So, I started working full-time while my wife started working triple-full-time carrying our child for nine tough months. At that point, I was still working part-time jobs with no real reliable source of income, so life was tough.

Have you heard of kids bring wealth when they arrive? That’s exactly what happened to us. I got my first full-time job as soon as our daughter was born. And as new parents in a new country all by ourselves, the focus wasn’t to find a second source of income but to have a happy, healthy family. When our daughter was one year old, my wife started English school, and we sent our daughter to daycare.

My wife got her IELTS (International English Language Testing System) in about a year, but we realized our daughter started to only speak English too—the daycare influence. The fact of not speaking our native language, plus the very high cost of daycare made us make the decision to keep our daughter at home while my wife tried to find a job. 

We used to live in Nova Scotia and the job market wasn’t great at all. (My full-time job was paying me $16/hour.) My wife could have worked minimum wage (below $10/hour) but after counting everything including the emotional impact of not being with our daughter almost all day, staying at home was a much better option.

Then came our second daughter, and it started all over again. The kids are now in school, but we made the decision that the flexibility of having my wife at home is much more valuable than a paid job. (Unless they hire her as the CEO of Apple or something, then I will stay at home. Mr. Dreamer dreams.)

She is also a writer with more than dozens of published e-books. Sadly, this income is almost negligible. The reason is mostly because her audience is in the Middle East with a much lower income, so her books sell for pennies in our Canadian dollar. But it is a hobby that she can spend time on, and she was the one who kept pushing me to make a blog!

Regarding our FIWOOT (Financial Independence Work On Own Term) journey, it started just months ago, honestly. I never really paid attention to dividends or savings returns as a stable source of a passive income. However, since I started this journey and documenting it monthly, I can see that it can be a very reliable source, if done properly with some planning and consistency. (Kill those emotions while playing in the market.)

Mr. Dreamer’s Spouse FI Advice

Honestly, the best piece of advice I can give is to be flexible and understanding. If you are the working spouse, don’t ever make your significant other feel bad or guilty about not working. After all, s/he is working by providing to the family—just in a different way. 

What’s better than having peace of mind that there is someone there whenever kids need something? Or never have to buy food from outside? Or, if you are like me and have to switch jobs, including moving from one province to another—no need to go through some kind of complication to see if your spouse can find a job in the new place or not.

Bottom line, everyone’s situation is different but have an open mind when it comes to discussing this subject. I always laugh when people with two high incomes say they are living month-to-month. We are living on only one five-figure income happily and we do travel a lot. 

Before Covid, we used to travel,on average, twice internationally (outside the US, Canada, or the Caribbean) every year. Yet we are still saving a lot by living a frugal life. I don’t even call it frugal but wise. Just need to learn how to spend less without sacrificing anything. Like how we pay only $20 per month for three phone lines (two mobile and one landline) or save on insurance, maintenance, clothes, and every other item.

Honestly, I couldn’t have done it if my wife were a spender who likes to just shop in the malls. She is the best, and many times stopped me from spending on unnecessary items. I’d say she is the wise one at home when it comes to how to spend where.

Remember, life is shorter than you think. Kids grow faster than you imagine. Embrace every moment with an open heart and mind and don’t be greedy ever. Just know how much you need to reach FIRE, FIWOOT or any goal in life and run the numbers. You will know what makes more sense and if you need any assistance, feel free to reach out.

You can connect with Mr. Dreamer and learn more about him at his blog, Vibrant Dreamer.

Chrissy and her husband from Vancouver, BC

That’s right—it’s my turn! Here’s my Spouse FI story… 

My Spouse FI story

I started my one-year maternity leave about a week before our first son was born. Initially, we weren’t sure if I’d return to work after the year was up. But while I was on mat leave, it became clear that this was the lifestyle we wanted to maintain. 

In the early years, my husband’s salary was decent, but not high. We decided to host homestay students to supplement his income. This earned us just enough money to cover all our expenses, with a bit leftover to save and invest.

There was always the possibility that I’d return to work once both our kids were in school. But every time we considered it, we realized the negative impact on our lifestyle would be too great. For us, the extra income wasn’t worth the stress it would put on our family.

We’ve been Spouse FI for almost 16 years now. That’s 16 years of giving up my income—quite a significant cost. Even so, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The lifestyle benefits were and still are priceless and absolutely worth the trade-off. 

My Spouse FI advice

Spouse FI is largely a financial decision, but finances aren’t the only factor. Don’t let your relentless pursuit of financial independence get in the way. Remember that life is short; good health doesn’t always last; kids are only little for so long

Think about what you want to look back on when you’re old and grey: sacrificing everything to reach FI five years earlier? Or reaching FI later—but having more time to enjoy life along the way. 

At the end of it all, it won’t be the money, but the memories and experiences that you cherish and remember most. Try to keep that in mind as you work towards FI—whether you decide to pursue Spouse FI or not.

Closing thoughts

Spouse FI is indeed an amazing lifestyle option, with numerous financial and lifestyle benefits. It can provide a couple with more time freedom—even before they reach FI. However, there are potential downsides which need to be taken into account.

Spouse FI does come at a significant financial cost  (though it’s probably less than you think). There are also important psychological hurdles to consider. Even so, for my family and others, the lifestyle gains have been worth the trade-offs.

In the end, it all goes back to your whys. Think beyond the money and your progress to FI. What is it that truly brings happiness and satisfaction in your life? Use those whys (and some solid math!) to guide your Spouse FI decisions.

Got questions or feedback?

I hope this post has helped you decide if Spouse FI is right for you and your partner. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or feedback. 

Please also comment if you and your partner decided against Spouse FI and why—I want a balanced discussion on this topic. (But keep it civil and non-judgmental, please!)

Finally, don’t forget to contact me if you’d like to share your Spouse FI story and advice. I’d be happy to add it to this post so that future readers can learn from your experience!

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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42 Comments

  • Reply
    Chris @ Mindful Explorer
    May 19, 2021 at 8:24 am

    This is basically what I have done with our family, I left work 4 years ago and my wife continued to work. She enjoys what she does and even got her first job outside of our small business in 19 years. Because of my freedom of time gained from leaving work I was able to support my daughter as she took over running the store full time during the week with my wife now at her job. Because of our reduced income we also now qualified for BC climate change rebate, a bit more child benefit for my daughters last year as a dependant and we maxed our get rebate quarterly from the government. Of course these things are possible if you first focus on reducing your expenses to the minimal your lifestyle choice allows.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      Hi Chris—I was pretty sure you were Spouse FI as well, but didn’t want to assume! Love this added detail in your story. It must have been so nice to have that extra time with your daughter, even as an older teen.

      I totally didn’t consider the added benefit of the climate change rebate. That’s fantastic, and yet another advantage of living the Lean FI lifestyle. I would say you deserve it anyway, given how much you do to live sustainably.

      Good point about focusing on first reducing your expenses. That’s what allowed my husband and I to not only survive those early, lean years, but also thrive and start growing our nest egg. Thanks so much for sharing your Spouse FI story and advice!

  • Reply
    Amy
    May 19, 2021 at 9:19 am

    I love this!!! And realized when reading that is sort of the life we are living now! I’ve worked part time for 10 years since having kids (with 3 years completely off in that time) and hubby left his full time gig and now a side hustle is his main “work” along with family life. It’s the best.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 7:51 pm

      Hi Amy—I love the lifestyle that you and your husband have made for yourselves. I can’t believe how well you’re doing with his 3D printing business! That is so, so cool to hear. It made me smile to read your comment. 🙂

  • Reply
    Allan B
    May 19, 2021 at 9:30 am

    I love the concept of Spouse FI. I think it’s a nice way of framing something people are already doing and of opening some doors people might not have thought about. 15 years ago at 25 I was telling people I ‘retired’ because my focus was not on a job, but on very actively volunteering. There are lots of great organizations that depend on volunteers, but have trouble finding folks who aren’t older, or work in a related field so can count it as a work commitment.

    This gave me many amazing opportunities to travel to meetings (admittedly you have to like meetings) across Canada and around the world, which I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had to use vacation days, especially the staying for a couple of weeks afterwards to explore.

    Ya I’ve had to work at some level now and again to help afford things, and will likely have to work at some level for longer than might have been the case otherwise, but by keeping our costs low and only ever counting on one income (from the person who loved their job/work), we’ve been able to make it work, and I’ve been able to take advantage of some amazing opportunities.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 8:15 pm

      Hi Allan—I really hope this reframe will help people see Spouse FI as a viable option. For many, getting more optimized and focusing in on what really matters can bring it closer to reality than they initially think.

      I LOVE your version of Spouse FI. You have given so much value back to the world. What an amazing story—I’m sooo jealous.

      The way you put it: “… counting on one income (from the person who loved their job/work)” is such a great way to describe Spouse FI. This is certainly the case for my husband. (And I’m also fortunate that I’ve always loved being a stay-at-home mom.) It’s win-win for everyone, including, in your case, the organizations you volunteer for!

      Thanks so much for sharing such an inspiring story!

  • Reply
    Tawcan
    May 19, 2021 at 9:33 am

    Great info Chrissy. Very interesting to see yet another FI term haha.

    Seems that quite a few retired folks in the FIRE community would fall in this Spouse FI category.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 8:19 pm

      Hi Bob—yep, I’m doin’ it, and forcing another FI term into the lexicon, ha ha. Whether it sticks or not, I just hope people can see the possibilities that may be available to them. It doesn’t always have to be a dual-income, grind-it-out existence.

      I agree, there are quite a few that would fall into this category. It seems we are not a niche group—there are many other like us!

      Thanks again for sharing your story and advice. I didn’t know all the details behind your and your wife’s decision for her to be a SAHM, so it was nice to read about it.

  • Reply
    Graham @ Reverse the Crush
    May 19, 2021 at 10:15 am

    Thanks for sharing, Chrissy! Even though I don’t have any kids and I am not married, I like the idea of spouse FI. I see a lot of benefits to it which you have covered in this post. The main advantage I see is if a couple has kids. Many couples spend a large chunk of their pay on day care costs, an extra car, and on other work related costs. If one of the salaries is going towards the cost of childcare, and if it is preventing the parents from spending time with their kids, I don’t see the point of both parents working. Spouse FI is perfect for this. Personally, I live with my gf who earns more than I do because she works full-time. We keep our money separate for the record. But down the road, I have no problem with her being the bread winner and myself staying at home to blog, invest, and possibly take care of a cat lol. With all the government support offered, I see a lot of benefits to spouse FI. Like you said, it’s also better for food, time with family, and much more. Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 8:35 pm

      Hi Graham—you’re right that Spouse FI brings many desirable, money-saving benefits to couples with kids. I hope that by sharing Spouse FI, more dual-income households can embrace a slower lifestyle. It really doesn’t make sense to be killing yourselves, working round-the-clock to pay for childcare and other expenses when Spouse FI may not cost all that much, once everything is factored in.

      I hope you’ll be able to pursue Spouse FI one day! I love your your vision for your potential future life. It sounds very nice to me, LOL. Blogging and investing with a cuddly cat on your lap? It doesn’t get much better than that!

      Thanks for the great comment.

  • Reply
    Accidentally Retired
    May 19, 2021 at 10:45 am

    Really thorough article. My wife and I used Spouse FI, to give us the opportunity for my wife to be a stay and home mom. And while I don’t think she’d ever give up the time that she got to spend with our kids for the last 6 years, I do think that it was really mentally stressful.

    Probably the worst part is that people seem to think that Spouse FI and/or being a stay at home parent is easy, or that it’s easy and less stressful than working. This proved to be completely not true for us. My wife was MORE stressed being home and not feeling productive than working. We worked through it together and she allowed me to continue to focus on my business.

    But I think stay at home parenting is not for the faint of heart. You are on call 24/7 with no breaks. And even your “breaks” don’t feel like breaks. Next year, both of our kids will finally be in school. It’ll be bittersweet, but my wife will finally be able to pursue her own FI a bit more. That is when her true spouse FI really begins.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 8:46 pm

      Hello AR—thanks for sharing your honest experience. I feel for your wife. It’s so true… many people think that being a stay-at-home parent means living in the lap of luxury, filled with nothing but playing with the kids and lounging around. In reality, parenting little ones all day long, day in and day out can be monotonous and crazy-making (even for someone who chooses that life).

      I myself suffered from quite severe postpartum depression and anxiety with the birth of each of my sons. That compounded the challenge in the early years. I also know how your wife felt about not being ‘productive’. I, too, wrestled with this when the boys were little. There’s no way around it—little kids are exhausting and caring for them is all-consuming.

      Life definitely gets a lot easier once both kids are in school. I didn’t realize how much I, as an introvert, needed space to myself to feel whole again. Having larger chunks of time without kids underfoot, even if it was only to do chores all day, was like getting a mini vacation! I hope your wife enjoys the quieter times that are coming in the years ahead. She deserves them!

      Your comment was very valuable. You helped me realize that I completely missed this downside of Spouse FI—that is is HARD being a stay-at-home parent! As soon as I have time, I will add this to my post. Thank you again for sharing so candidly.

  • Reply
    Settling Nomad
    May 19, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    Thanks for this post Chrissy! I can relate to all the stories as ours are similar. Wife stopped working after our first child back in 2010 and started a part-time freelance to stay connected with her work. After 11 years and one more kid, she still continued and at times, her monthly income is more than mine (..and I do earn well btw!). 😊

    So we are fortunate to have best of both worlds!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Settling Nomad—what a great situation you and your wife have. It’s truly the best of both worlds. In my guest post for Bob, your situation was the conclusion we came to: a stay-at-home spouse working part-time is the optimal arrangement (both financially and for the family’s lifestyle).

      Your wife is doing amazingly with her freelancing. Wow, I am SO impressed!

  • Reply
    steveark
    May 19, 2021 at 1:18 pm

    My wife worked for nine years then when we started having kids she chose to be a stay at home mom. I was a high earner as a chemical engineer and we never noticed the decrease in income when she stopped being a school teacher. I was free to focus on my career which skyrocketed to the point where we had much more money than we needed. While she did not earn a pay check her constant care and attention and volunteering at our kids schools and getting to pick their teachers created three stellar students who all got free college degrees, room and board and books included. So in a real way she earned a lot of money by us not having to pay anything for college. She also handled all of the maintenance at home, on the cars, in the yard. To this day I have never mowed our lawn or done yard work unless she was out of town for an extended period. I don’t think I can even start the mower. After the kids were grown and on their own she kept on doing the stay at home thing. And now that I’m retired we are both at home when we aren’t traveling. We will have been married 43 years later this month. Its a good plan when both partners feel good about it. It certainly worked for us.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 19, 2021 at 9:08 pm

      Hi Steve—I love how you see and appreciate your wife’s role in your and your children’s lives. You’re absolutely right that her consistent involvement played a big part in their success. A wise therapist of mine once told me that raising children to one day be responsible, independent members of society is one of our world’s most important jobs.

      While it’s absolutely possible to successfully parent and run a household with both parents working full-time, it’s sure not easy. I admire parents who manage to do this (my parents included) but always wish that I could do something to ease the load for these families.

      You and your wife are an amazing team. Spouse FI can’t work without the kind of commitment, respect and trust that you and your wife clearly share. Congratulations on all that you’ve accomplished!

  • Reply
    Steve @ The Frugal Expat
    May 19, 2021 at 11:52 pm

    Great Article Chrissy.

    My wife and I have talked numerous times about Spouse FI. We didn’t have a name for it, but we have talked about it. We are hopeful to have children in the future, and the first thought that has crossed our minds is if we should both work. After numerous discussions, we have figured that the Spouse FI would work as our family grows.

    I am glad you wrote this article. It really does tune into some of the pros and cons of a stay-at-home parent. This is great because if gives people options. Options to make a better-informed decision. The advice given from other couples is also quite informative as well.

    This is something I would love to share to so many people. Thank you for this great post.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 20, 2021 at 11:20 pm

      Hi Steve (The Frugal Expat)—it’s wonderful that you and your wife have already discussed Spouse FI, before the kids arrive. Early planning can make a huge difference.

      I can’t say that we were all that organized when we made the decision to Spouse FI! I generally knew we could afford it, but we didn’t do any detailed math to be sure. (In other words: do as I say, not as I did!)

      I agree with you that Spouse FI (and any form or level of FI) means options. That’s what we’re all looking for, right? I’m happy to hear that this post was helpful.

      I also loved the advice from other Spouse FI couples I reached out to! It’s a good variety of situations to look to for examples and advice.

      Thanks for reading and sharing this post. I do hope it helps other couples discover this fantastic lifestyle.

  • Reply
    Ana
    May 20, 2021 at 11:56 am

    Chrissy, you hit on some great points. Spouse FI is very fitting for families who want to strike a lifestyle balance while pursuing financial security. I agree that there is so much flexibility to having one person in the home available to tackle scheduled events, inevitable challenges and managing day-to-day decisions. My husband says this all the time. I do think our living arrangement has kept us sane!

    As a stay-at-home mom, I have faced doubts along the way about leaving my job and opportunities I missed out on but, the reality is I know my family is healthier for our choice. And we’ve done well with our finances, too. If the numbers work, then Spouse FI is definitely one way to go.

    Thank you for starting this wonderful conversation. The FI journey has many moving parts.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 20, 2021 at 11:27 pm

      Hi Ana—staying sane is right! I don’t know how full-time, dual-income households do it. They are super humans to be admired! Even with me at home full-time, life can still be crazy and stressful!

      There are certainly trade-offs for both spouses, including the one who stays home. I didn’t think to include your point about having doubts around your decision. That couldn’t have been easy, especially if it was a career that you worked hard to get to.

      Based on your comment and all the other amazing ones on this post, I’ve got some important edits/additions to make! Thank you for reading and sharing your honest thoughts.

  • Reply
    Bern
    May 20, 2021 at 3:50 pm

    Hi Chrissy. Another possible drawback is the added pressure to earn, the main breadwinner will face.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 20, 2021 at 11:30 pm

      Hi Bern—that is an EXCELLENT point. How did I miss it? My husband definitely experienced some of this. Thank you for your comment. I’ll add this drawback to my post. 👍

  • Reply
    Mrs FDU
    May 20, 2021 at 9:20 pm

    This is kind of the path we have fallen into since leaving my full time job. Mr FDU earns enough to cover our expenses, so I have started freelancing and anything I earn is saved/invested!
    We are trying this for some time to see if it’s sustainable for us. I am always exploring other options, that are higher paying, or more clients to bring in more income. But I love the term and I will be sure to use this as one of the other FIRE options. I have actually started drafting a post about FIRE types, I’ll have to include it 😉

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 20, 2021 at 11:35 pm

      Hi Mrs. FDU—wow, congrats on reaching Spouse FI so early in your journey! It’s amazing that you have so much flexibility to explore and test your options. What an ideal situation you and Mr. FDU have worked out. I love it!

      It would be amazing if you did a post on all the types of FIRE. I don’t care what anyone says—there can never be enough types of FIRE, LOL!

  • Reply
    Max @ Max Out of Pocket
    May 22, 2021 at 5:53 am

    Thanks, Crissy – I think you hit all the points. We are testing this right now. Just to add to childcare, our firstborn arrived about 3 weeks ago, and since Mrs. Max OOP is a teacher, she gets the summer off. Pretty likely she will stay home next year. I am thinking this will make it much easier to keep breastfeeding (free) going. Plenty of colleagues and family members have told us it is really hard to keep the pumping going at work when you are working around a busy schedule.

    Or, maybe this would fit into the ‘food’ section!

    Take care!

    Max

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 22, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      Hi Max—I’m so happy for you! Congrats on the arrival of your little boy. I hopped over to your blog to get the update. That’s quite the dramatic story, but happy to hear all is well now.

      It’s amazing that you’ll be able to test out Spouse FI. That’s an excellent point about breastfeeding being much easier to keep up at home. I can only imagine how tricky it would be to pump and store breast milk at work. Not easy. 🙁

      And LOL, yes, it could be considered ‘food’ savings too! I will think about how to add it to my post when I update it. Thanks for the great comment and congrats again!

  • Reply
    Cristian @ Financial Alien
    May 25, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    What a great post, Chrissy!
    Early in our marriage, my wife was a stay-at-home mom taking care of our first son. Unfortunately, back then, we didn’t know about FI or had any understanding of personal finances. Because we started a family so young (21 and 19), and my income was so low, she had to jump into the workforce shortly after.
    Things have changed so much now for the better, and we are projecting to reach FIRE in 5 more years. So pursuing Spouse FI at this point would slow us down.
    However, I have thought about the possibility of a “transition” period between full-time work and retiring cold turkey. Maybe Spouse FI is the answer to that transition!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 26, 2021 at 12:00 am

      Hi Cristian—wow, you were very young new parents! We weren’t as young as you, but we also didn’t earn a lot and didn’t know about FI. I think if I knew then what I know now, I may have been more nervous about becoming a SAHM. We lived pretty close to the edge in those days, but we always had enough, so it never fazed me like it would now!

      Nice work on getting so close to FIRE. I agree that Spouse FI would be a great way to transition! It’ll give you, as a couple, more time to prepare and get used to your new lives. A lot less disruption than if both of you quit at the same time. I wish you the best as you get closer and closer to your goal!

  • Reply
    GYM
    May 26, 2021 at 12:02 am

    I really enjoyed reading the stories at the end! 🙂

    When I meet moms who are SAHM my first thought isn’t that “oh they must not be earning enough to have the kid in daycare” it’s actually “wow, they must be doing very well financially” (isn’t it interesting my own cognitive biases)

    I agree being a “Spouse FI” parent is a lot of work- so much to do to run the household, that stuff takes hours to do (looking for credit cards to apply to, paying bills and reconciling receipts, cooking, cleaning, etc.).

    As I have said before, stay at home parents are amazing to have the patience for parenting 12 hours a day every single day without a break!

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 27, 2021 at 3:36 pm

      Hi GYM—I appreciate you sharing your view on Spouse FI and stay-at-home parenting. I know, on your blog, that you’re careful to remind women to ensure they’re able to stand on their own two feet. I totally agree with that and kept it in mind as I listed the possible disadvantages.

      I admire and look up to working moms like you. It isn’t easy juggling everything. It’s funny how we both look at the other and think the other one has the harder job! I guess the moral of the story is parenting is tough either way!

  • Reply
    Maria @ Handful of Thoughts
    May 26, 2021 at 7:30 pm

    When it was just the 2 of us the plan was always to achieve FI at the same time. Now with a little one our priorities have changed and we are becoming more flexible with our plans. We have gone back and forth numerous times on which one of us would leave their “day job” first.

    Family time is becoming more and more important. But I do agree with GYM above that being a SAHP can be exhausting.

    I think what we are now going for is flexible Spouse FI. I will probably be the first to leave my “day job” but will still work on the side on my own terms – it’s just better for everyone’s sanity that way:)

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 27, 2021 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Maria—kids really do change everything, don’t they? They grow so fast, and you quickly realize how finite your time with them really is. It puts your life and how you spend your time into sobering perspective.

      I think it’s amazing that you and your husband are able to consider flexible Spouse FI. Based on the comments others have left, everyone has their own unique way of doing Spouse FI. It’s been so fun and interesting to read about the possibilities!

      (And yes—SAHP can be incredibly draining, especially when the kids are little!)

  • Reply
    Mrs. RFL @ RichFrugalLife
    May 28, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    Thank you for finally giving this lifestyle a name! We only discovered the FIRE movement a couple years ago, but very quickly realized that the trade-off of having one spouse retire earlier would be worth it for our family.

    I retired last spring to take on more of the household and parenting responsibilities because we had saved enough to do so. We knew it would slow down our FIRE journey, but it turns out switching to one income didn’t impact our finances or timeline as much as we thought it would (despite my former six-figure salary).

    Having two parents with demanding jobs and a young child became too stressful. We had enough money, but no where near enough time. In the past 14 months since I stopped working, we’ve experienced nearly all of the “pros” you listed above! It really has helped us slow things down and live a better life today.

    While we haven’t experience too many “cons” (my partner is incredibly supportive), I did find the loss of my former identity to be the biggest struggle with the transition. I’m still working through that one, but overall, I think the move was the right decision for us.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      May 28, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      Hi Mrs. RFL—this is such a wonderful comment. I love how intentional your decision to pursue Spouse FI has been.

      It’s interesting and lovely when the financial impact isn’t as enormous as most of us would assume (even when losing your six-figure salary—wow)!

      And yet, the positive impacts on your family’s lifestyle are significant. IMO, the freedom to choose Spouse FI is one of the best things money can buy!

      It’s great to hear that you’ve experienced most of the same positives and only one of the negatives. Regarding the loss of identity, it will get easier in time, as your daughter gets older and more independent.

      I found I didn’t really ‘blossom’ into the next phase of my identity until my boys were both in school and I had more time to be me and not just mama all day long!

      Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I look forward to following your journey! ❤️

  • Reply
    Fringe Doc
    June 13, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    Interesting article. I suppose this is very comparable of “normal living” or “a traditional family” a la Norman Rockwell or the family in “Leave it to Beaver” (if you are old enough to remember that show – one of my favourites growing up, but I was always “an old soul”).

    Another likely advantage is probably an enhanced sex life. The SAHM (or house husband) can just wear a French maid uniform all the time or whatever. But seriously, having fewer external pressures can free up time and energy for things that were previously “optional.” I suppose this could just be a miscellaneous category under “More involvement at home” though, right?

    One other potential disadvantage is that, in the unhappy event of divorce, the “bread winner” in this situation is going to be on the hook for mucho dinero in terms of spousal support and/or child support (especially if the situation is construed as the SpouseFI person having “sacrificed” their career development). Not something we like to think about, I’m sure. But perhaps something to keep in the back of one’s mind. Otherwise SpouseFI will just turn into DivorceFI (we already have names for that status that are reminiscent of mining for precious metals though).

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      June 13, 2021 at 4:34 pm

      Hi Fringe Doc—thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. As always, you find the most hilarious, interesting angle on all kinds of topics. An enhanced sex life through French maid uniforms is not one of the benefits I’d considered… but sure, let’s throw that in there, ha ha!

      You’re right that Spouse FI is reflective of what used to be “normal”—that 1950s/60s lifestyle with a homemaker mom and breadwinner dad. I like that Spouse FI is a more inclusive, modern interpretation, where either spouse (whichever gender they may be) can choose to be at-home or working.

      Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote an interesting book on this topic, “The Two-Income Trap” where she outlines the cost to families and our society as a whole when both parents have to work just to put food on the table. While she herself was/is a working mom and in a dual-income household, she examines the challenges that come with that. It’s an interesting read (thanks to my friend Kari from Money in Your Tea for the recommendation)!

      Very good point about potential divorce. That could be devastating to both parties, though it is more often considered a greater hardship for the at-home partner. I overlooked the huge financial burden that spousal and/or child support could have on the bread winner. DivorceFI, ha ha! Nope, that’s not what anyone wants. Hopefully, everyone is also working on keeping their relationships strong and harmonious throughout their FI journey.

      Thanks for the entertaining and thoughtful comment!

      • Fringe Doc
        June 13, 2021 at 4:51 pm

        For the record, I was thinking specifically about Money Mechanic in reference to the “French maid uniform.” Not sure they make them in his size though – could be a problem.

      • Chrissy
        June 13, 2021 at 10:50 pm

        Fringe Doc—I spat out my water laughing when I read your comment! You are too funny. 🤣

  • Reply
    Lisa
    January 12, 2022 at 2:53 pm

    My wife and I are spouse FI, no kids. Mostly because she was burnt out from teaching for 25+ years. I continue to work for another 3-5 and I love that she takes care of things that are not my strength (cleaning). We’ve only been married for 4 years and we’ve been through lots of transitions (selling to homes, renovation and buying another) and of course covid and George Floyd. Super stressful last couple of years, we hope to both FIRE in 3-5 years.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 12, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      Hello Lisa—thank you for sharing your spouse FI story! It’s wonderful that both of you have been able to combine your strengths to achieve a better lifestyle balance for both partners. That’s the power of spouse FI!

      It has been a very challenging, traumatic couple of years. I feel your pain, and am hoping, like everyone else, that we’ll finally find our way out of this messiness. Take care of yourselves, and thank you for commenting and sharing.

  • Reply
    tttt
    January 13, 2023 at 3:18 pm

    I think has already be named “stay at home parent”.

    • Reply
      Chrissy
      January 14, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      That may be true, but there are also stay-at-home spouses who are not parents.

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