FI/RE (pronounced like the word fire) stands for Financially Independent, Retiring Early. Among the sub-cultures of this movement is a group called the Mustachians due to their fandom of Peter Adeney, creator of Mr. Money Mustache.

Among the influences that led to Adeney wanting everyone to build their “stache” so they could live on their own terms was Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau talked and wrote a great deal on the value and virtue of frugal living.

We will dive into his ideas by exploring 3 of his works.

Continue reading

The US Civil War bolstered the need for efficient mail delivery. In 1861, one could write “soldier’s letter” on an envelope and the recipient would pay the postage. In 1863, Congress passed legislation that mail delivery in cities could be free! To reliably send funds from a battlefield to home, a money order system was established in 1864.

With such a reliable way to transmit money, fraud went from coast-to-coast.

Fraud is the intentional deception of another for some type of gain. Mail fraud adds the element of using the post office. The improved postal system during the Civil War created a phenomenal opportunity for con artists for the following reasons:

• Greater access to more people
• The use of a vetted method of communication
• Benefit vs. cost

Continue reading