I thought I'd start my journal and document my progress here so I can refer back to it every now and then. Maybe even get some tips from the experts here.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
I'm 38 and live in the Windy City (Chicago). I've been here since 1997. I've completed a BA and a Masters and certifications. I'm a lifelong, but instead of focusing on career learning, I'm focusing on early retirement learning.
I made a ton of mistakes with money when I was younger. Just a few of these:
1. Constantly changing schools. Paid cash and got into serious credit card debt because I paid everything else with the credit card debt.
2. Being in serious debt twice. Once for $30,000. Another time $17,000. I paid every penny off. No bankruptcies for me. I borrowed the money. It's my responsibility to pay it back.
3. Not sticking to one residence. I have however paid off my current residence (condo).
4. Buying a bunch of useless garbage that has now either been sold or donated.
What's worked in my favor:
1. Only two days of unemployment since I began working here in the summer of 1997.
2. A pretty decent salary since I've begun working in 1997. I have constantly increased by salary from minimum wage up to almost $80,000/per year.
3. Always being able to come up with extra money through either side jobs, Airbnb, etc.
About six years ago, about the time I my condo, I started to get really serious about getting out of debt. So that $17,000 and the condo had to go. I've been debt-free for about a year now. It is awesome!
I've realized I have never liked working, even though I have always been a top performer. I think I'm always performing above and beyond so I can just be left alone. I don't like drama and avoid it at all costs. All the more reason to retire early and be away from the crowds of people on the CTA, downtown Chicago, etc.
A few years ago, I was all set to teach a year in South Korea, teaching English, and then move to Denmark. All that fell apart when my husband lost his job. He then moved here and started going to school. Good thing the Danish government pays for that!
I almost feel like the universe if telling me you have to do this now! No breaks, no nothing, until you get serious and retire yourself. I had the ideas to get out of debt and pay off the house I was living in during my first marriage but his attitude was, "I'm going to work until I die. So will everyone else." No way, I say!
I am saving a good amount now. I will post this in another entry soon. One thing I do spend money on, although it's not a huge amount, is travel. I want to visit all 50 states in the next 5 years. Only 24 more to go! And visit every continent. 4 more to go there.
Well, I think that's enough about me for tonight.