Financial Independence: scaling back work, amping up life

Scaling back at work allowed me to take back-to-back vacations. Here I am, fishing with the boys.

I'd like to start with a special welcome to my 5 followers.

What’s the difference between me working on a slide deck and me on a fishing deck? On the boat, I actually want to hear your feedback. 🎣👀

Financial Independence (FI) flipped my life from back-to-back meetings to back-to-back vacations, something that actually lightens up my little life. No cap! Let’s jump on in to how I was able to scale back work, amp up my life, and set the stage for quitting work entirely—because this isn’t just about me; it’s about you taking control too.

Scaling back work without fear

I used to bust my ass at work. Somewhat because I enjoyed it, but mostly because I felt like I had to. Bills don’t pay themselves, and kids don’t eat air. But once FI kicked in—meaning our investments could cover our expenses—I need not be the office rockstar no mo’. I scaled back my effort, and guess what? I’m still good at my job. Decent, not dazzling, and that’s fine. No more chasing promotions, ‘exceeding expectations’, or negotiating a raise I don’t need. The pressure’s off, and I’m ok with being a ‘met expectations’. For families, this is huge. You don’t have to be the overworked parent who is frantically trying to balance it all. You can show up—literally and figuratively—without sacrificing your sanity.

Research backs this up: a 2023 study from the American Psychological Association found that reducing work hours while maintaining financial security slashes stress by 20% on average. How do they measure this 20% drop? Who the hell knows, but it sounds good, lol. Less stress, more energy for what matters. For me, I rationalize the “slacking” by keeping my eyes on the real prize: early retirement with my wife and kids.

Financial independence frees up your time 

So, what do I do with all the extra time? I balance work with life. Work: take a few meetings, knock out a few deliverables. Life: I hit the gym, cook real meals, pick up the kids early from school, go on dates with my wife, call up friends, run errands, and I’m Indian IT support for most of my extended family.

Stress? Way down. I even sleep better, my mind has stopped racing!

The average American spends 34 hours a week on “life admin” stuff like cooking, grocery shopping, and taking kids for checkups. How do they measure the 34 hours, who the hell knows! FI lets me absorb some of this "admin" time throughout the day without panic, I actually enjoy it more now that I don’t have to rush. For families, this is gold. And, I’m a better parent when I’m not burned-out.

Teeing up early retirement

With work now being optional, we’ve got a taste for sweet, delicious freedom. Our next step? Quitting entirely and retiring early with our kids. Scaling back work has validated our assumptions, we don’t want to work anymore, at least for now. So, in about 3 weeks, we will set sail and travel full-time with the kids for at least 3 years.  

Reclaim your time and purpose

Getting to a position where you can scale back, and eventually, quit work takes time and effort—saving like a boss, cutting dumb expenses, investing smart, and making more money, all while trying to enjoy the ride. But it’s so worth it. My family’s happier, healthier, and we're so excited for the future. 

You can get here too. Start small—slash a bill, throw extra at an index fund, switch jobs for more money. Every step gets you closer.

Don't trust me? Check out what the pros say in Quit Like a Millionaire, The Simple Path to Wealth and Your Money or Your Life.

So, what’s your move? Ready to reach FI? Start with 'why'!

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.