FI/RE Diaries: A self employed textile designer and licensing artist living in Florida and FI/RE-ing in 3 years with $2.5m

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Occupation: Self employed textile designer/ licensing artist

Industry: Self employed artist selling online

Location: Florida

Salary: $350k/yr

FI/RE Number: 2.5 mil + for family of 4

Years Until FI/RE: 3-4 more years

Current financial situation: Single income 2 kids. Husband and I had combined $275,000 college debt paid off 3 years ago

Ethnicity: White

How did you first hear about FI/RE?

Mr. Money Mustache blog

Why do you want to reach Financial Independence/Retire Early?

Freedom to do what I want.

What does FI/RE mean to you?

Spending more time with kids!

How much do you spend per month?

$4,000 with $1,500 being for health insurance

What is your % savings rate?

70% ish

Are you doing anything to achieve FI/RE faster?

  • 1 car household

  • 1 tv subscription at a time

  • No Amazon Prime

  • Selling kids clothes/toys online

  • Buy second hand toys that have good resale value

  • Cloth diapers

  • Regular no spend months - husband and I will do a no spend year

Any advice you'd give to someone who has a similar FI/RE lifestyle as you, especially if it seemed hard or unattainable?

I’m an artist with multiple pointless arts degrees. You can take side hustles like Etsy/blogging and make them into full time work if you want to. It’s hard work but it’s achievable. I didn’t find FI/RE until I was 30 and had 6 figures in college loan debt and no job prospects. My parents have both been bankrupt. My parents are divorced while my father struggles to live on social security and won’t accept help, and mother doesn’t think she’ll ever retire. I know that I may have to support them in the future, but this isn’t a burden I want to put on my kids. My point is that everyone’s story is different, and you don’t have to have fancy degrees and no college debt to get FI/RE. Mindset is everything, you can do this if you believe you can.

Favorite FI/RE resources you’d like to share?

I like the fire Instagram community because it keeps me motivated

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