BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Teacher Retires Early at 45 Thanks to Strategic Living (FIRE in Paradise!)

Feb 25, 2025

Amy Minkley, a former international teacher, achieved financial independence and retired at 45, leveraging her unique experiences abroad. She discusses the perks of teaching internationally, like free housing and subsidized travel, which allowed for aggressive saving. Amy shares her journey of overcoming burnout and financial trauma to embrace a life of freedom in Bali. Listeners learn about investing strategies while living overseas, the importance of community support, and how strategic living can lead to fulfilling personal and financial goals.

01:00:09

Episode guests

Amy Minkley

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Through aggressive saving and strategic cost-of-living choices, Amy Minkley achieved financial independence and retired early at 45.

Her teaching career abroad provided significant financial advantages, enabling her to save more than traditional U.S. teaching positions.

Amy's post-retirement focus on community through FI Freedom Retreats emphasizes the importance of purpose and connections in financial independence.

Deep dives

Transforming Money Fears into Strengths

The guest, having experienced financial insecurity in her childhood, emphasized how these fears shaped her relationship with money. After her father's departure and her family's financial struggles, she learned the value of budgeting and frugality as she supported herself through college. Despite successfully graduating debt-free, these early experiences left her with a scarcity mindset that influenced her financial decisions for years. Her journey toward financial independence showcased that overcoming childhood fears surrounding money is not just about wealth accumulation, but also about personal growth and emotional resilience.

Intro

5min

Financial Benefits of Teaching Abroad

4min

Exploring Teacher Salaries and Opportunities Abroad

5min

Teaching Abroad and Financial Independence

11min

Strategic Financial Planning for a Dream Retirement

5min

Embracing Lifestyle Freedom and Personal Growth in Bali

5min

Exploring Community and Purpose in Paradise

5min

Balancing Passions and Financial Independence

9min

Navigating Financial Independence Through Community Support

5min

10.

The FIRE Journey: Lessons from an Early Retiree

5min

Teachers aren’t known for their high salaries, so how did this one reach early retirement and FIRE at just 45 years old? Through “aggressive” saving and smart cost-of-living choices, Amy Minkley was able to quit her demanding international teaching job only three years after finding out about the FIRE movement. Now, she spends her days living in paradise and hosting “FI Freedom Retreats” once or twice a year for like-minded FIRE-chasers.

To reach FIRE in your 40s, you must make some strategic moves like Amy. Thankfully, you don’t need to make six figures to retire early in 2025. Throughout Amy’s career, she never entered the “high income” threshold but could still save aggressively, thanks to the perks of teaching at international schools. We’re talking free rent, subsidized travel, and plenty of paid vacation.

But it wasn’t always the dream life that it sounds like. Amy had constant stress and was routinely feeling burned out, forcing her to take multiple sabbaticals, change where she lived, and deal with some of the money trauma that had plagued her past. Now, she’s FIRE, thriving, and living entirely on her terms. You can (and should) do it, too!

In This Episode We Cover

How to reach FIRE in your 40s even if you feel like it’s too “late” for you

Why teachers should look into teaching abroad to save a significant portion of their income

Investing from abroad and what to do when you have little-to-no social security contributions

How much cash you should keep on hand when you’re ready to retire early

Living off the three percent rule (instead of the traditional four percent rule) by moving to low-cost-of-living areas

Why you must take a sabbatical at least once in your working career

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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