Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice 3365: Failing at Early Retirement by Jeremy of Go Curry Cracker on Retirement Planning
Nov 25, 2025
Jeremy, a personal finance blogger at Go Curry Cracker, discusses his personal experience working as a seasonal UPS driver after retiring early. He challenges the stigma around returning to work, emphasizing that it doesn't equate to failure. Jeremy reflects on the joys and challenges of the job, the financial implications, and how it impacted his family life. Ultimately, he highlights the importance of flexibility in redefining retirement and finding value in work without compromising financial independence.
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Work If It Helps Your Life
- Try paid work if it eases financial stress or curiosity; there is no moral failure in earning after early retirement.
- If work helps your well-being or cashflow, Jeremy recommends doing it without shame.
Seasonal UPS Driver Experiment
- Jeremy worked six weeks as a UPS personal vehicle driver delivering about 150 packages per day using his EV.
- He earned $3,151 gross for 90 hours and paid small expenses like $30 charging and $53.65 in union fees.
Value Of Time Becomes Tangible
- The job highlighted how much time and energy it takes to earn small sums of money.
- Jeremy realized a coffee machine cost almost 20 hours of his life energy, underscoring retirement's value.