Carol and Ken didn’t just imagine a life beyond the military- they designed one. In just four years, they transformed from brand-new ensigns with zero TSP contributions into self-made millionaires.

In this episode, we'll unpack the financial strategy, discipline, and teamwork that helped them achieve Lean FIRE (financial independence, retire early) before 30—all while navigating dual military careers and deployments. They get real about:

• Starting from scratch: Misconceptions about TSP, military pay issues, and their humble financial beginnings
• Mindset over mechanics: Why a simple strategy, applied consistently, beats fancy budgeting tools
• Sacrifice and simplicity: Living close to base, biking to work, and even having a 60% savings rate
• Lean FIRE: How they hit $800k in just four years and what came next
• Building a values-based lifestyle: From toddler chaos to travel goals and making intentional choices
• Tools & tactics: How they used Excel, anti-budgets, and communication to streamline finances
• Carol's book: Raising Your Money-Savvy Family for Next Generation Financial Independence co-authored with her dad, Doug Nordman

🔗 Links Mentioned

• Raising Your Money-Savvy Family for Next Generation Financial Independence by Carol Pittner & Doug Nordman (ask for it at your local library)

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If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual or email [email protected].

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

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