From Making $38,000/Year to FIRE in Their Mid-30s

This couple hit FIRE and retired early in their mid-30s after making just $38,000 per year. That’s right, even with their low salaries, Lauren and Steven Keys quit their jobs and traveled the world full-time at just twenty-nine years old. Now, five years later, the couple has amassed even more wealth without having to work a nine-to-five. How are they doing it, and what’s their secret tip to becoming financially independent millionaires on five-figure salaries? Let’s find out!
Surprisingly, Lauren and Steven have NEVER kept a budget-no penny-pinching, tracking cents, or clipping coupons for them. Right after college, the couple decided to continue their frugal college lifestyle, and as they got full-time jobs, saving more and more money became even easier. With just five-figure salaries, they saved six figures in cash and even went on a six-month vacation WITHOUT losing a penny of their savings. They eventually returned to their jobs but quit shortly after hitting their “Lean FIRE” number.
If you’re tired of grinding it out in the rate race and feel like you don’t make enough to get ahead, follow Lauren and Steven’s advice. If you live life like they did, you could quickly retire in under ten years, no matter how much you make at your job!
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Cash-Flowing a Series of Mini-Retirements with Steven & Lauren from Trip of a Lifestyle:
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What Is the FIRE Movement?
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www.tripofalifestyle.com
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00:00 Retired in Their Mid-30s!
03:18 You DON'T Need a Budget!?
06:21 Graduating College Debt-Free
08:39 Taking 6 Months Off
10:55 Job Hopping to Boost Income
13:47 Hitting FIRE at 29!
15:22 Current Investments
16:04 Leaving Their Jobs
16:59 Biggest FIRE Tip
18:09 Connect with Lauren and Steven!

[@TripOfALifestyle]

Thanks so much for having us! Happy to answer any questions here in the comments. Anyone can feel free to tag us here. 🙂

[@SmilingDessert-cs2le]

What types of work/professions are you guys in to allow you to work remotely?

[@TripOfALifestyle]

@@SmilingDessert-cs2le Back when we were bouncing between full-time jobs and long-term travel (pre-FIRE), we didn't actually have "remote jobs." We just gave our employers an ultimatum before heading on sabbatical. We basically said, "We can work remotely, part-time, or we can quit to take our trip. It's your call." If you're a good employee with SOME tasks that can be done remotely, a lot of employers will go for it. This worked for... - Lauren as a marketing manager for a financial services company. - Steven as a physics instructor for a private tutoring company. It also failed twice, and we just quit and took our sabbatical anyway in those cases. Having a large savings buffer combined with low living expenses is so powerful and freeing! We've written in a lot more detail about this on our blog, too.

[@thefiprofessor]

I loved your episode guys. I just shared your Financial Readmap with a group I run in Japan.

[@TripOfALifestyle]

@@thefiprofessor That's so cool!

[@TripOfALifestyle]

@@SmilingDessert-cs2le We left a lengthy reply to your question earlier, but it seems that many of our replies are getting moderated away, and it's disappeared. Sorry about that. 😓

[@02nupe]

Quality content and good share. They are practical, they are consistent with how they managed money and invested. Only thing is the title should read from making $38,000 EACH which makes a difference vs $38,000 total.

[@TripOfALifestyle]

Thank you! And you're absolutely right. Those salaries are per person.

[@Polostar79]

They did very well for themselves being so young but it goes without saying that not having kids helps a lot.

[@AdrianRomeroJr]

wow such great advice & motivation

[@tamikahill4778]

Fake title might get views but most won't watch to the end. No need to clickbate when you already have an channel with an inspiring content.

[@Kumukarl]

Awesome works guys! Love how you squeezed in travel throughout by keeping spending low. Super motivating as I start the journey!

[@TripOfALifestyle]

Thanks!

[@halamadrid0709]

Great content. Practical. Realistic. Simple.

[@TripOfALifestyle]

Thank you!

[@hagi2013]

Love ❤ this video!! Same story as ours!! Never made more than 50k. Now million air! Key “automate savings & investments “. Thanks for giving back!

[@TripOfALifestyle]

Congratulations on your success!

[@danielvee2441]

Am I the only one bothered by that weirdly placed kitchen faucet? I have never seen a kitchen faucet that faces the lookthrough into the living room.

[@goldenwhang]

I’d love to hear how they’re traveling on such a low budget.

[@christinab9133]

Always love Trip of a Lifestyle!

[@TATCHIE28]

That’s close to $80,000 they’re making NOT $38.000. Good content nevertheless but please be more truthful with the title content.

[@02nupe]

right, title should have said "From Making 38,000 EACH/Year to fire in their mid-30s"

[@STILLPHENOM]

Exactly. AND these two kids were responsible from very beginning. They arent the average people. All i got is irritation from this podcast. Dave ramsey has better clients that actually have walked along the similar path as mine. Thats motivating. This is a little irritating. The girl says shes never taken any debt. You are not normal and normal people cant relate to your success story.

[@Polostar79]

The clickbaitiness of that title is cringe,

[@foggycraw6758]

Normal people dont take on debt. ​@@STILLPHENOM

[@ivylin8103]

it says 38k each yearly.

[@lbslott]

I couldn’t understand their social media/website name. What is it?

[@kungfujesus]

Yeah, why don't they provide a link. Really odd and lazy not too

[@dionne81l]

tripofalifestyle is the website.

[@dionne81l]

Try to link it but the comment is either blocked or held for review.

[@aprilracine]

@@kungfujesusIt’s listed in the description box. It’s lazy that you didn’t look.

[@foggycraw6758]

Would have liked further clarification on what jobs they had. Espicially the 10 hour a week job in Hawaii that paid fpr their vacation

[@LookatmyHandle353]

……..also I didn’t hear about any kids

[@rockmyworldmusic]

Everyone talks about living a frugal lifestyle and saving as much as you possibly can. But, here are a few other common denominators to all of these videos. 1. You need some type of initial support structure. Being able to live with your parents or other relatives, or even have them paying for college is a huge head start. 2. You need a dedicated and committed partner that will focus on the goal with you. If your spouse doesn't share the same mindset, it won't work. 3. You need to delay having children until your early 30s.

[@haasan9360]

“From 600k to 1M” how in heaven did that happen!!

[@ericgrube9954]

Market has been wild the past few years.

[@aprilvancleve9463]

I have to be honest... I did get a little queezy hearing this story. My job won't let me take 2 weeks in a row off without being in the office. I can't wait to make it happen for my family. Student loans are a biiiig one though. We worked SO hard after college and took 10 years to kill off our 30 year repayment on those loans. It is a huge gift for kiddos.

[@rosefan1021]

tittle is misleading, but they got nice story and prove you don't have to be extremely successful to reach FIRE

[@joefunk76]

18:00 They never hit a 6-figure salary each or together? If they mean “each”, they could have made $199k together.

[@bobknob8440]

The math isn't mathing

[@Pumpkin_Pie247]

Their story doesn't make sense at

[@user-mg1yp4xc1h]

Clickbait

[@Azel247]

Interesting story and actually quite similar to ours. We're technically FIRE now at 38. When we married at 27, we had a combined salary of $90k, which has increased to $200k now after a career shift. We can retire, but we are actually choosing to keep working to elevate our lifestyle. We would like to go on month-long trips without having to work during those. We want to fly round trip premium/business with cash, stay in good hotels in the center of action, buy reliable cars etc. We splurge on our vacations but our daily living expenses are low ($36k/year). So, we are FIRE, but the aim is fat FIRE.... we're "Coast Fat FIRE" with a target full retirement age of 50 with our desired lifestyle. We don't have kids (biological reasons) which I recognize is a huge expense!

[@eleniderez860]

1 million is not enough retiring at 35.

[@voyageswithshyeasha1398]

What do you think is a better number???

[@moniquemichelle7295]

Exactly. A lot of these folks are always underfunded

[@Polostar79]

1 million at 35 living a frugal lifestyle with no kids is doable for early retirement. Keep in mind that they probably still earn income doing side gigs.

[@Fitmomlyfe]

They spend $25K a year and have a rental property. Plus, their money should increase because it's invested. Sounds high enough to me. Not to mention the fact that they still actually work.

[@julenecunningham4976]

More than enough

[@user-gy1qv6fm2y]

I call this story bullshit!

[@charmcrypto824]

I love how Lauren and Stephen focus on paying themselves last and tracking their net worth. If you're looking to diversify your portfolio, why not consider crypto? My Digital Money makes it easy to securely trade cryptocurrency in a tax-advantaged IRA.