How to Retire at 40 and the Daily Mail
In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes – Andy Warhol
OK, it might not be global, but it looks like our fifteen minutes are happening. After chatting to someone about how we retired early, we’re part of a TV programme called ‘How to Retire at 40’ and to help promote the show we were interviewed by the Daily Mail.
The article in the paper kind of got it right, but as it was written for mainstream media (we don’t drink G&T and I never really wore tights a lot!) it sort of glossed over all the years of hard work that took us to where we are today and the reasons why we did it. If you regularly read this blog then you’ll know that we have been working towards our financial freedom (we don’t tend to say ‘retired’) for a good few years now and will have no doubt seen all the stuff we’ve already posted on here about doing just that.
Hopefully some people may have just found our blog after seeing the article or show, so we thought we’d pop this post up to give you some pointers as to where to look for more information. If you want more detail about how we got to where we are and why (financially-speaking), the easiest thing to do would be to download a free copy of our eBook called Funding Freedom. This was written in April 2016 a few months after we ‘retired’ and lets you know our story and what you can do if you are interested in getting on the same path.
You can also check out the section of this blog that has all the posts about money and financial freedom.
Right now we are sitting on a mountain waiting for the Tour de France to cycle by in a few days. Being financially free gives us choices, the choice to sit here for four days, the choice to not go to work, the choice to go to work and do something we enjoy and the choice to head home and spend some time with our friends and family – which is what we’re doing next.
Julie x
Hey, good for you guys. That’s always kind of fun. We’ve been featured in Canada’s national newspaper, and we’ve been on the radio once too. Neat stuff… kind of makes you feel world famous!
Makes me feel world nervous guys! Not everyone gets what this is all about eh?
Hi Ju and Jay. We (especially Mrs M) have followed your blog posts for a year or so. Love the honesty, and ‘confident humbleness’ you show. We purchased a ‘Dave’ (94 B544) late last year and are gearing up for France, Spain and Portugal this Autumn/Winter. We’ve set the goggle box recorder for tomorrow night, and have just read the Mail and Independent articles, plus unfortunately the comments on the Independent site.
I totally get your ‘makes me feel world nervous’ comment above. To us, both papers have twisted ‘facts’ and err left out, as you say in the post above, all the planning and graft you ‘three’ have gone through. The paper comments reflect so sadly on how 99.9% of ‘normal’ people think these days.
They dont like it up em – Cpl Jones would say. Most people don’t want to face up to their ‘normal’ existence but they are more than ready to snipe back at people like you (and Barney who is also on the program tomorrow, his blog The Escape Artist is v good) and us who are FI.
Anyway, enjoy the Tour and we’ll look out for Zagan on the ITV4 highlights tonight.
Finally, could you give us any pointers please regarding Travel Insurance for 6 months plus trips, tailored for motorhomers? Does it have to be a ‘backpackers’ type policy which then restricts how long you can be back in the UK?
Thanks
A&S
Hey guys, thanks for that, much appreciated! I’ve not read the comments as TBH I’ve seen it all before (on any similar article published in the past) and I’ve thought through the arguments over the years. The journalist was a nice lady, we talked for an hour, and she seemed genuinely interested in what we’re about, but wasn’t in any way an FI, personal finance, minimalism etc expert (I think, I don’t know that for sure). There was the odd embellishment, and it was a shame she didn’t include the point about being financially independent, not retired, as that might deflect some of the more negative comments. But the press stuff is, I think, managed by the TV production company so for a programme called ‘retired at 40’, talking about FI or FIRE would be too confusing. I know TEA, read him from the start, and LOVE the fact he’s managed the job without any sudden success (just saving and investing) and with 3 children, what an achievement that is!!! For the insurance, we could only find backpackers to cover a 2 year stint (to avoid issues on renewal of not having been in the UK a full 6 months). Take it easy, Bonne Chance and Bonne Courage (3 hours to got before Froome flies past)! Jay
Much obliged re 2 year backpackers policy, I’ll look into that further. Our Dave (Bertie) goes in for some warranty work tomorrow, can’t wait to get back out. Looking into le tour for 2018, inspired by your galibier adventure. Grand depart is nw france, July 7 2018….
Kia ora (hello) from NZ. I saw the article from Facebook and have spent a lot of time today reading through your info including the matrix blog. We started our thinking a few months ago about leaving the rat race and not replacing our jobs with another. I can see from your journey we are on the right path having started training in property investment so we do it right, but we have so much more than I thought to learn! Thanks for sharing your journey and how it actually is possible to have financial independence! Might see you on the road one day soon when we are financially free:-) in the meantime I will keep reading your blog, saving money to invest in assets and planning our travels. Trace
Go go go! Look at other asset classes too in your research (equities for example – our income at the moment is largely from property but in the future will be more in paper assets). There is a lot to learn, and lots of fears to overcome, but it can be done. Belief in yourself is key! Cheers, Jay
Thanks:-) I made an appointment today to look at Mutal Funds and ETFs… I thought you were quite right to diversify your income! I now really believe it is possible. Thanks for sharing your storey. Trace
Kia ora (hello) from NZ. I saw the article from Facebook and have spent a lot of time today reading through your info including the matrix blog. We started our thinking a few months ago about leaving the rat race and not replacing our jobs with another. I can see from your journey we are on the right path having started training in property investment so we do it right, but we have so much more than I thought to learn! Thanks for sharing your journey and how it actually is possible to have financial independence! Might see you on the road one day soon when we are financially free:-) in the meantime I will keep reading your blog, saving money to invest in assets and planning our travels. Trace
The Daily Mail?
Oh dear I won’t get to read your article. I imagine they’ll find someway to blame your Dog’s arthritis on immigrants (despite you being a sort of immigrant “over there”).
A littLe bit of politics there….I’ve been Ben Elton…goodnight.
Lee at Go Humberto.
Will this mean a hike in the vintage Hymer market do you guys think?!!
It will be interesting to see if the programme and articles trigger an unusual upsurge of new UK full timers. As we get to the end of our own12 month late gap year, we are still the only British plates in the Bavarian car park and it has been like this most of the way from Slovenia coming North, so for the past 6 weeks. It would be great to meet up with more Brits doing the same, although we have loved meeting so many different nationalities on the road and making new friends, but, embarrassingly, only if their English is good enough.
Thanks for all your hard work and inspirational postings. May it continue till you are ready to retire!
Cheers,
Linda
Having followed your progress from the start (blog and youtube)I know how much effort you both have put in to get to this point, so you can rightfully feel proud of what you have done. (Oh and ignore the negative comments in the Daily Mail article) thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers
Rob
Thanks Rob, very much appreciate the support, cheers from a wet and thundery Rhone valley! Jay
Hi both – we’re newbies with Shona, our Motorhome, and have spent just seven weeks in Europe, but already know that we won’t be returning to ‘normal’ life when we get back to the UK. We sold a business just over 18 months ago, and know that whatever we do next, it will be on our terms, and will allow us to spend time doing more of what we want than we did before. You have been a large part of that decision process, as have a lot of others, but we will continue to watch your blog and your progress with interest, and look forward to learning from your hard work – thanks so much for sharing! Happy travels… x
Oh man, living life on your terms is a mind bendingly beautiful thing. Enjoy and thanks for writing, Jay
Loving your blog! Off on our travels in October. But sorry, won’t be reading the Daily Mail!!
Cheers guys, roll on October, allez allez allez!