Guest Post: Meet Mr. RIP from retireinprogress.com
whatlifecouldbe.eu/2017/01/15/guest-post-mr-rip
MrW

January 15, 2017

Sometime during summer 2016, I stumbled upon a European FI blog written in English.
It was just starting out and I noticed from the first posts that the blogger’s brain is wired
in a similar way to mine. It was clear. I knew immediately: he’s hopelessly infected withthe Mustachian virus.
Shortly after that, we wrote a post about the perfectcommunity and asked fellow bloggers to join in a blog paradeand write their own post about this topic. Well, Mr RIP came up
with a post within just a few hours (well, Mr RIP, quality
sometimes takes very little time…).
I have a dream
This is basically how we met him. Since then we had a number of good Skype chats(accompanied by some high quality alcoholic beverages) and recently even a Skype
CashFlow 101 session with him.
It was time to invite him to write a guest post. Here you go:
Hello friends,
Before we get started, here are few boring facts about me: my name is Mr. RIP, I’m
an Italian Software Engineer / Blogger who lives in the happy and rich Switzerland
since 2012. My main occupation at the moment is enjoying being a software engineer
for a big tech Company named Hooli. I also blog on my website, retireinprogress.com,
since June 2016 – just hit the 6 months mark. I’m blogging mainly for fun and to feellike I’m doing something good with my life

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More info on my about page.
Ok, welcome aboard!
Why am I writing this guest
post? Long story short: I started
blogging with few specific goals in
mind, one of these was to “find likeminded people” and to join acommunity. Let’s say mustachians,
FIREd, EREs, European blogger,
whateverers… Anyway, what I did
was instinctively choose few virtual
mentors and rationally select few
buddies. With Mr W, who’s hostingme here, was “love at first type“.
He, as long as few other bloggers
with whom I’ve established strong
connections, is now part of my Blogging Family! Regular skype whiskey calls, Facebook
chats and Christmas presents (no, sorry, I don’t give a sheet about that!). So, as soon as
he asked me “hey buddy, do you want to write a guest post on WLCB?” I
enthusiastically replied “Yes sure, give me 5 minutes!“. I still remember that day, eventhough it’s been 6 or 7 years ago. Joking but yes, it took me a while to write it… sorry
buddy, quality takes timeOk, ok, let’s not annoy readers (for that there’s my blog with multipages, 4-6K words
posts) and jump straight into the questionnaire!
Summarize your blog in 25 words.
Ouch, only 25? I do not think I will be able to summarize it with so few words. Ok, Let’stry: my blog is about…
“stooop, limit reached!”
Why did you start it? What is your main focus? What do you hope do achieve with yourblog?
I started blogging because I’ve been a devourer of personal finance, financial
independence, minimalism and any other “happiness oriented” resource available on
the internet. I wanted to say something, I wanted to feel active in this world that’s given
so much to me. Plus, I wanted to clarify my mind about my long term plans and my FI
journey. Get feedback, be committed, discuss about investments and strategy, share myphilosophy. So far, so good. During this first 6 months, with a big surprise, I discovered
this hidden passion for writing and fed it with more than 50 posts in 6 months (2 perweek on average), most of them veeery long.
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What do I want to achieve? Well, I don’t have any specific plan for the blog itself. I’ve
plan for myself, and the blog is a tool, probably a temporary one.
I want to reach FI, and the blog will help me being committed, meeting like mindedpeople and getting advices.
I want to explore my writing passion, and the blog is the best instrument I’ve
found so far. I’m writing a lot, my writing quality will surely improve by practicing.
I want to clarify my life goals, and the blog is really helping me with that, forcing
myself to structure my thoughts in order to be shared. This is getting better with time: I
now start a post with no idea where it will head, and let the “pen” drive my hand.
I want to help others, and I can say I’ve proudly received several mails of peoplethanking me for what I’m sharing. I can’t explain with appropriate words what it feels
like receiving a “thank you” email. That gives me a sense of purpose for what I’m doing.
What are your favourite posts and why?
How you dare asking that to an Italian?? Every child is equally beautiful, you should
love them all the same!
…
Ok, don’t tell their mom though. I’ve few favorite posts:
I have a Dream, a post I wrote reacting to a Mr W call to action about designing theperfect community. I think it’s the post that started this Blogging Family.
10 Questions and a pizza place with myself, a self interview that ended with
doctors waiting for me outside my flat with strange green overalls… Jokes apart,I’ve been a huge fan of 1500days blog (Mr1500 is in my “virtual mentor” group)and I followed his 10 questions series since forever. I’ve procrastinated myapplication to appear on his blog for so long and at one point he announced he’ddiscontinue the series. I got so angry with myself I had to write that self interview
answering not just 10 questions, but something like more than 30. I think it’s avery fun reading
My Story series, it’s not a single post but something like 8 posts so far. Some ofthem are very long. They were my first posts, so quality maybe lacking a little. It’s
my whole professional and economical life since I was 14 years old, i.e year 1991.
It’s full of mistakes, good choices, lessons learned and fun stories. As you’ve
already guessed, I love writing funny stuff.
Tell us briefly about you and your story.
Ouch, I just told you that I’ve written 8 posts and something around 20K words on mystory, you really want me to summarize it now in a paragraph?
Ok, let’s try…
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Grown up in a bad neighborhood of Rome, child of a middle class family with no Master
Degrees in its pedigree and modest dreams, like getting a normal job and work for life.
Luckily, my father RIP Sr has always been a frugal person and he taught me about
handling money, saving, budgeting and spend less than I earned. No investments andother complex exponential growth. Desiring wealth and aiming to become rich in Italyis viewed as a sin…
Showed math skills at young age, decided to put them at use. Got a master degree in
Software Engineering. Followed every passions I thought I had. Tried academic careerin Robotic Research. Moved to Milan to try Videogame development and thenfreelancing, ended up in Switzerland at Hooli. Most of my old friends are still there, inthe poor neighborhood, struggling with unemployment, money and life. I feel so lucky
to have been gifted with a little bit of talent and a lot of curiosity and creativity thatbrought me where I am now.
But curiosity and creativity are two edged swords, forcing me to always look for newways to make my life better which leads to…
What brought you to the path to FI? Why did you not become a consumerist idiot?
I’ve never been attracted by spending money.
Seriously. Never owned a car, never liked designer
clothes, never desired fancy stuff or “woo”
experiences. In the early 2000s I’ve dug intominimalism and frugality, dreaming about
reducing my living costs below poverty level
without affecting my life quality.
Curiosity, frugality, nice salary, nice savings andbuilt in financial integrity led to “what the hellshould I do with this money I’m saving?“. I don’t
remember a financial epiphany episode, but aslightly growing interest in the personal financetopic. I ended up on thesimpledollar,getrichslowly, wisebread and learnt the basics.
Then I discovered MrMoneyMustache, ERE and other FIRE blogs and the light turned
on. Let’s get on FIRE as soon as possible, I’ve got so many things to do with my time!
What do you do when you’re not blogging? What do you work?
As I said, I’m a Software Engineer at Hooli. It’s an amazing place where to work! Still, if
money weren’t an issue I won’t work there. I’m a dreamer, a creative soul that should goalone. Not well suited in offices, pursuing someone else dreams. Even though Hooli hasamazing dream and is truly making the world a better place.
That’s why I asked and obtained a downshift to 80%, i.e. working 4 days per week
instead of 5. Less money, but a real taste of what life could be (citation needed) once
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work would be optional.
What are your goals in life? What’s on your bucket list?
So many things, and the list is always work in progress. A taste of what I’d like toachieve is here. As you can see there’s little space for laziness and boredom, I dreamabout a more active life than the cubicle one!
What do you do to stay healthy?
I like hiking, running, biking, swimming. I had plans to run a triathlon but few injuries
blocked me. With the extra time I got back with my 80% I plan to do more outdoor
activities. Must admit I’m a little bit overweight right now. That needs to be fixed ASAP.
Do you have any health advice you’d like to share?
Eat less than you burn, which is the health equivalent of spend less than you earn. When
you’re young it’s easier to burn more, so sport can be the main ingredient. With age,eating will dominate so you should focus on the diet more.
As with investment, write your dietary manifesto and stick with it.
What is your FI strategy?
At the moment I’m going with stocks and4% rule. Well, my modified version. I’m
not sure it will be my final strategy, itstrongly depends on where we’ll live once
FI. We plan to move back to Italy once
FIREd. I need to investigate strategies thatwork in Italy, where capital gain anddividends taxes are at 26%. I’m curious
about the four pillars described by Mr W
here, I’m also curious by dividend stocks
and rental properties.
What are your favourite money/personal finance/investment tools?
Spreadsheets, spreadsheets everywhere! I love them, I don’t like anypersonalcapital/mint stuff or equivalent.
I’m also into direct investing with a broker instead of letting someone else handle mymoney, not even roboadvisors (betterment, truewealth, wealthfront).
If you were prime minister what law would you change?
U-uh, what an amazing question! And what a hard one!
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Let’s make it easy: I’d make everything possible to incentive alternative working
paradigms: working less, working from home, coworking, freelancing, mandatory
sabbaticals… And make people more active with their retirement accounts.
If you could change anything about the education system of your country, what would itbe?
One of my dreams is about revolutionizing the education system, so I can’t answer injust a paragraph to this I’m sorry, you need to wait for my first book
TL;DR: teach curiosity and creativity. And now more than ever: information retrieval.
How to get information and understand the difference between true and fake. Question
everything.
If you could wake up in someone else’s body whose would it be?
Any 14yo around, given I could bring my entire brain and memory along with me. Andgiven some basic freedom. I’m starting to be scared by aging and physical limitations.
Since time is the most precious resource we have I’d buy time.
What three people would you like to go on an all-day drinking session with?
MrMoneyMustache, The Dalai Lama and Barack Obama. I’d love to see the Dalai Lamadrunk!
What is your definition of happiness?
PPP: Pleasure, Passion and Purpose. A right balance of these ingredients. Each
one has their own definition of the three Ps. My pleasures are less material for example.
I find pleasure by walking in the woods or playing boardgames with friends. At one
point you realize that pleasures are not enough and you want more. Then you follow
your passions and maybe build a career around them and few hobbies. I’m the phase oflife where passions are cool and I’ll go over them, sure, but I need to know why I am
here and what can I do with my life to feel at peace with the greater good.
What is your advice to people just starting out on their path to FI?

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Start early. Get rid of society bullshit as soon
as possible: you don’t need to work for life,
jobs don’t define you, you don’t have to show
you’re rich, you don’t need a big house to be
happy… Most of the things society put on
you are questionable, learn how to question
everything and look for your answers. Seek
what brings value in your life and follow
that. Don’t care about the noise. Don’t careabout wearing 20 years old t-shirts, even if
other would bully you for that.
Write your own questions and answers…!
Naaa, my doctors have already warned me.
Hi there, it’s Mr. W again…
Mr RIP is a fantastic example of how so many people could reach FI in Europe:
Learn a skill that’s sought after in richer countries
Move there, find a job
Make enough cash and investments to have a decent life back in your homecountry OR move back sooner and work remotely a few hours a monthMove back to your home country (or a less expensive one)Done …in well under 10 years!
Now make a difference in the community you live in!
Thanks Mr RIP for the guest post! One thing I don’t want to miss is joining you in yourdrinking session with Obama and the Dalai Lama. That would be one different day :)))
I’m looking forward to our in-person meeting that will hopefully happen soon at FIWE
2017.
If you have a story worth sharing or a European FI blog you’d like to tell us about, havea look at our “share your story” questions send us an e-mail.

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