The journey to financial independence isn’t glamorous. Better yet, it’s more like groundhog day where every day is the same repetitive routine. Go to work, collect a pay check, spend only what you need, delay the things you want, save, invest, and repeat. You will be able to slip in some fun like vacations, road trips, hobbies, and so on. For the majority, though, it’s a consistent cadence you follow and if you are in it for the long run your persistence will pay off.

Not knowingly, I started my financial independence journey since my first job. While I was filling out my onboarding paperwork I asked someone how I should fill it out and he said to max out your 401K. That stuck with me for the past 30 years and every job I had, that’s exactly what I did. Was my pay check kind of small? Compared to my friends and colleagues, yes, but that became engrained in me.

Not just the retirement contributions but all the habits I’ve learned and adopted in my life has contributed towards being able to early retire. Spending on what I need, not what I want; finding deals; DIY projects, investing, and living within my means are just a few examples.

It’s not a glamorous lifestyle. I’m not going out every weekend and racking up a large bill. If I were to hang out, there are ways to have fun in a less expensive way. Over time, this lifestyle starts to become the norm so anything extra above it will appear exciting.

Reaching financial independence and early retirement takes time, at least it did for me. 30 years of the same strategy seems like boring stuff but what you don’t realize that at the finish line, it’s all worth it. Don’t lose focus on your goals. Don’t get pulled into lifestyle creep. Persistence will pay off and you will experience the rewards! It’s not just one reward, you will feel multiple rewards! If you are interested in following my journey, email subscribe here to get alerts of latest posts or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.