Today we have the pleasure of talking with Carl Jensen who found himself trapped in a cubicle as a software developer nearly 9 years ago, when he set off on a journey to achieve the status of: financially independent and retired early. That’s when he started his site 1500Days.com and has been blogging under the moniker Mr. 1500. Carl has since achieved FIRE and continues to be incredibly productive in the world of real estate with his live-in flips, all while pursuing a very intentional life in Longmont Colorado. Carl also happens to be a good friend of ours who we met years ago. And after spending some more time together recently at a personal finance conference, we realized we were overdue in having him come on as a guest on the show. We discuss everything from the downside of sharing personal financial information publicly, practical tips in finding a great property to flip, to how it is that Carl owns over 600 shares of Tesla stock!
Be sure to check out Carl’s podcast, Mile High FI, which he co-hosts with Doug Cunnington. And some practical tips from Car on finding a great property to flip:
- Live in a place where the local economy is growing, maybe it’s still rough around the edges so there’s room for improvement.
- Look for a neighborhood where houses are 30-40 years old, outdated but still with modern construction.
- Dumpsters are also a good sign that folks are investing in their homes.
- Wait for a great deal rather than jumping on an OK deal.
- Remember, there’s a big difference between being frugal vs cheap!
- Credit Card Tool – Looking for the right credit card for you? Then check out our new credit card tool that’ll help you to easily filter through all the cards based on your preferred airline, whether or not they have an annual fee, or simply by the cash back offer! Just toggle the sliders and you’ll know which card to consider.

During this episode we both enjoyed an Old Chub by Oskar Blues! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!
Best friends out!
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Thanks so much for having me on! This was incredibly fun; just felt like I was hanging out with old friends! I hope to see y’all again soon.