Mini-Retirements for Families: How to Retire Often When You Have Kids | Jillian Johnsrud

What if you didn’t have to wait until your 60s to experience the freedom of retirement? In this episode, we sit down with Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often and host of the Retire Often Podcast, to explore the life-changing concept of “mini retirements.”

Jillian shares how families can take extended breaks from work — to rest, travel, or explore new goals — without derailing their financial independence journey. We discuss the emotional and financial benefits of pausing your career, how to negotiate time off with your employer, and ways to plan mini retirements with kids.

If you’re feeling burned out or stuck in the grind, this episode will inspire you to design more space, adventure, and joy into your family’s financial plan.

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• Own Your Time – Pre-order my first book today!

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS & AFFILIATES)

• Monarch Money – Best budget app for families & couples.

• Empower – Free portfolio tracker.

• Crew – HYSA banking built for families (Get an extra 0.5% APY with my partner link).

• Ethos – Affordable term life insurance.

• Trust & Will – Convenient estate planning made easy.

GUEST RESOURCES

• Retire Often (Book) – Learn how to design a life filled with mini retirements.

• RetireOften.com – Explore Jillian’s podcast, blog, and mini retirement tools.

Podcast Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – What is a mini retirement and why it’s trending
02:20 – Why burnout is pushing families toward mini retirements
03:00 – Is the traditional 40-year career model dead?
04:30 – Why employers may welcome your mini retirement
06:00 – How to negotiate a one-month break from work
08:10 – How to address employer concerns with solutions
09:30 – Budgeting for a mini retirement
10:05 – Real-life example: living abroad for the cost of childcare
11:10 – Emotional recovery and resetting after burnout
12:45 – Planning affordable breaks earlier in your financial journey
14:00 – Jillian’s personal mini retirement story
15:00 – Making the most of parental leave and family bonding time
16:30 – Negotiating flexible work or part-time transitions
18:00 – Exit negotiations: how to leave your job on your terms
20:20 – Creating part-time roles and consulting opportunities
22:20 – What is a family gap year and how to plan one
23:40 – Practicing travel and flexibility with kids
25:30 – The FI dilemma: does taking time off derail your goals?
27:00 – Why mini retirements can accelerate your financial growth
28:50 – Mini retirements as wealth-building opportunities
30:00 – About Jillian’s book Retire Often
31:00 – Final thoughts and where to learn more

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Opinions are the creators alone.
Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.
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CREDITS
Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa
Editor: Johnny Sohl
Podcast Support: Andy Hill

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