The secret to financial freedom of a 29-year-old couple

Steven Keys and Lauren in Florida have had to support themselves since college. After graduating from school, Steven continued to study for a master’s degree while still working as a teacher at a local high school, while Lauren was the manager of the marketing department for a small financial company.

“Steven’s master’s period was two years long and we had to work hard to reach our goal financial independence The sooner the better,” Lauren, now 31, shared.

At that time, their salary was about 36,000 – 42,000 USD per year, but they limited their spending to only 18,000 USD. The couple also worked at a number of other jobs to increase their income. “Two years after college, we saved more than $100,000,” says Lauren.

The couple got married in 2015 and decided to go on a honeymoon to recuperate after years of stress. But it wasn’t a couple of weeks but a six-month trip to Hawaii. Lauren still works remotely five to 10 hours a week, and Steven works as a tutor and photography teacher.

“We really enjoy the life of not having to set the alarm to go to work every day, but also looking forward to getting back to work. In Hawaii, we work very little, not having to spend it on savings, but we don’t add it either. Can you get in?” Steven confided.

So, having accumulated skills during their time on the island, they returned, finding new jobs with better salaries. For the next four years, the couple continued to work hard, saving 50% of their income and investing it. “By 2019, our balance had hit six zeros (millions of dollars),” they said.

This time they decided to take a second break from work to visit 61 national parks across the United States. Although the cost of the trip is about 36,800 USD, they almost do not spend the accumulated money because remote jobs bring equivalent income.

At the end of the trip after 7 months, Steven and his wife did not return to their old lifestyle anymore. They quit full-time and turned to blogging and books to share their financial experiences. In other words, the couple officially quit when Steven was 29 years old and Lauren was 28 years old.

Both say this success comes with sacrifice, because they save as much as they can, invest whenever they can, sell unused items, rent out their home while away, don’t eat out, don’t buy coffee and also constantly improve their knowledge.

Now, the returns on those investments can cover basic living expenses, so they don’t have to work if they don’t want to. “Some will call this life early retirementbut we like to see it as freedom to do what we want,” the couple said.

Bao Nhien (According to Insider/Nypost)