I Quit! I didn’t retire early. I don’t have another job lined up nor do I plan on looking for one. I am not sure where all my future income is going to come from, but I do know that I have escaped wage slavery! Now for the adventure of maintaining a relatively high standard of living without a boss and without a full time job.
The job I am leaving behind was not a bad job. I really enjoyed most aspects of it. I was a high school economics, personal finance, and civics teacher. Sharing the joys of personal finance and how to see the world like an economist was the highlight of every day. I have loved personal finance since as far back as I remember. Economics has been a passion of mine for my entire adult life. Despite all the fun, it became harder and harder to justify working for “the man” in a public school system that was repressive to the kids that needed the most help.
I have a new family. In the past couple of years I have added one of each of the following (in chronological order): wife, dog, boy. These additions (especially the wife and boy, as I am partial to humans) have had a dramatic and positive effect on my life. They have also caused me to re-prioritize how my life energy is spent. If anyone would have asked, I would have honestly said that my family was more important than my job. So why was it that I was spending my prime energy on work and my leftover energy on my family? I don’t think I was alone. Think about what you value in life? Is that where you put your best energy, or are you giving the best part of yourself to something that doesn’t really matter that much? I think many people are in the same boat I was. You might be as well. I am writing this blog for me, but also for you. If I can pull myself up from wage slavery and live a more meaningful life, I hope to help you do the same.
The past one hundred years in the United States have seen incredible increases in productivity, wealth, and standard of living. Our lives are incomparably better than those of our great grandparents. If an alien from outer space were to look at a century’s worth of our economic data he would surely come to the conclusion that we are an incredibly happy, financially satisfied people, who with our high productivity, have plenty of free time available to spend with the people we love. Well Mr. data analyzing alien, you’d be completely wrong.
Although the data analyzing alien was way off, I don’t think he needs to be. We are up against some pretty strong forces–both internal and external– but I believe we can improve our financial balance sheet while simultaneously improving the quality of our lives. This blog will focus on just that. I can break Up From Wage Slavery down to these three main purposes:
- Share ideas on personal finance. I have been thinking about this topic for about 30 years and I believe I have many ideas that can help others improve their own financial lives.
- Share alternative ways of thinking about the world. I will provide content that will encourage you to think critically about the world, use an economic mindset, and challenge conventional wisdom.
- Create a public place for our story to unfold. We know that it is possible to create a life free from low value work, but the path we will take to get there is yet to be determined. We will share our experiences as we chart our way. Worst case scenario for you, the reader, is that you learn what not to do by watching our mistakes.
This isn’t an early retirement story. We don’t have the resources to retire, but we didn’t quit our jobs with an empty wallet either. Our frugal, low maintenance lifestyle has allowed us to set aside two years of expenses as we try to create income without spending valuable time and energy on soul-sucking work. Soon, I will post with more detail about my family’s finances, how we got to where we are, how we will survive without a job, and our plan (what little there is of it).
If this sounds like an adventure you would like to join, please register your email address on the sidebar to the right. I won’t spam you, but will keep you updated with the new blog posts as soon as they are posted. Also, feel free to share if you know anyone else who might like to join. Don’t feel shy about commenting if you have anything you would like to say.
For more info on the blog, click on the About and the FAQs pages.
Freedom is more than money and I will tell you that in my experience leaving state government work for a more fullfilling job was one of the best decisions made in my life. Carry on brother. Good life awaits you.
Thanks for the support David. I agree, there is more to freedom than just money.
Do you think the gains in productivity have gone towards increased standards of living when they should have gone towards increases in free time? Things like vacuums, washers and modern stoves are expenses that increased our productivity at home, while freeing up our time. Larger houses and more expensive cars do not increase our productivity or free time, but I suppose they increase our wealth. I read somewhere there was a time when it was typical for people to keep up employment until they had some money saved up, quit and live on that money, and take up employment again when they ran low on money. I can’t remember what made that go away. Have you thought of selling your lesson plans on Teachers Pay Teachers?
Yachi,
Yes, I do think gains in productivity have gone towards increased standard of living. I am not saying they should have gone towards more free time, but that they could have. I do not agree with you about larger houses and more expensive cars make us wealthier. These, and other consumption goods make us less wealthy, although some people think these goods make them look wealthier.
There are still people who alternate working full time and taking taking time off. I think that can work well for some people as long as they are good with money management.
I looked into teachers pay teachers a few years ago and don’t remember why I didn’t try to sell anything there. Thanks for the reminder, I will have to revisit the site.
But who will teach our kids or nurse sick people or fight fires or grow food if we all quit?
Thanks for commenting Kathy. I am not encouraging everyone to go out and quit their jobs. I actually think work is an important part of life, and we should all strive to contribute to society in a positive way.
I do know that I don’t want my job to be the center of my life, especially if much of my energy is spent on tasks I find unimportant. I hope to continue teaching about personal finance in the community because I am passionate about it and feel I have useful things to contribute. When I taught for a living, only a small portion of my energy went to the subject matter I found important, while much more energy went towards a whole host of non teaching related tasks.
I think people should do what they are passionate about. When I use the phrase “wage slaves” I am referring to people who hate their job but feel tied to it because their expensive lifestyle gives them no choice.
If you haven’t yet, check out the FAQs page. I think I explain myself better there.
Well, likewise who will sells us magazines or telemarket or cook and serve us bad-but-fast-food because our schedules are too hectic to do these things ourselves? …and who will take care of our children when we’re working? I would think all these tasks could stop being jobs very easily with little negative societal impact if we did like Kevin and stared quitting such jobs. If employees could easily give up or move jobs, I think they would have to be treated better, and may remain happier in their roles. It’s funny you should ask who will fight fires, as there are very many volunteer fire departments around, with unpaid fire fighters.
Thanks so much for doing this Kevin! Can’t wait to see what you have in store. I’ll make sure to follow and refer the kids.
Thanks for continuing to be a great mentor and person. Miss you dearly.
Thanks for following Ariel.
Kevin, you are speaking my language. I have a 55hr a week job plus commute time that I have no passion for. I am in it because it pays the bills. I feel like I have lost my soul, and have become numb to the enjoyment of life. When I get home from work my wife and son get the scraps of my exhausted self, and that is just not right. I have been thinking for a while to do the same thing, quit my job and engage in something I can feel good about. It is something my wife and I have discussed, and we actually have the means to take the leap. We just haven’t been able to push away the fears yet. I have to say that reading your blog is an inspiration. We should spend our lives doing what we love, it is too short for anything else. Too often we choose security over freedom, fear over love, pain over enjoyment. And for what? A paycheck? There are some that say that if you just give the world your true self, and offer up your true passions, money will flow to you. One of these days I am going to do just that. Thanks for sharing your story, I am excited to see how your new adventure plays out.
Chad, thanks for sharing. I hope our story can help inspire your family to explore different options as well.
I am proud of you and Laura, Kevin. Life is too short. Be who you are and live an authentic life and be happy! I took early retirement at age 52 and now I have half the money, but twice the happiness. I also live a frugal, financially simple and debt free lifestyle. My philosophy is if I don’t have a lot going out, I don’t need a lot coming in! I now do volunteer work that has more personal meaning for me than my former job ever did. I have the freedom to do the things I want to do! Go for it!
Thanks for the encouragement John. I like your philosophy, it sure makes life easier.
Do you have a garden? I find freedom (and responsibility) in growing my own food.
Seth, I do have a garden. I agree with you about growing my own food. From a financial perspective, it isn’t usually cost effective, but it sure is worth it for many other reasons.
Good luck man! I’m in the same boat, too little time and need to do some re-prioritizing. Bookmarked!