Meredith for Real: the curious introvert Ep. 326: Retired at 29: Why & How? [REMASTERED]
Can you retire early from a normal income? How do you buy back your time?
Lauren & Steven Keys of Trip of a Lifestyle share what inspired them to retire at age 29, how they did it on average incomes, why they don’t track their monthly expenses & the concept of buying back your time. They also share the practical way they stay motivated in the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement.
This episode originally aired February 6, 2023. Stay till the end for an update on what they are doing now!
If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 243: WHAT’S THE POINT OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM (REMASTERED)
Guests:
https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@tripofalifestyle
https://www.instagram.com/tripofalifestyle/
Host:
https://www.meredithforreal.com/
https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/
https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal
https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert
Sponsors:
https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/
https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/
02:15 — Life without lifestyle creep
04:00 — Buying time instead of stuff
05:10 — The road trip that changed everything
10:45 — What “retired” really means
15:35 — Do people regret working less?
16:45 — The number you actually need
18:05 — The 4% rule explained
21:00 — Living with less, choosing more
22:30 — Is early retirement all sacrifice?
25:30 — Buying decades of your life back
30:00 — Tracking progress without obsessing
31:45 — The Hawaii six-month experiment
34:00 — Practicing retirement early
38:00 — Cost per unit time
48:30 — Van life math
54:00 — Why net worth tells the story
56:00 — Avoiding money shame spirals
62:00 — The “sweep away” method
70:00 — When partners aren’t aligned
72:00 — Visualizing progress like a fundraiser
86:00 — Free tools that change lives
88:00 — Where to find their roadmap
90:00 — Life after early retirement
92:00 — Four years later: what changed
104:00 — Entrepreneurship without desperation
118:00 — Seeing the world as business owners
120:00 — Automation as the next chapter
122:00 — Choosing presence over escape
Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/