Rima Grace

Instead, her work was draining her.

She realized she was spending most of her energy just trying to survive the workday.

Around the same time, she'd started experimenting posting on TikTok and was getting some real traction, like even a couple of brand deals.

She started to imagine a version of her life that didn't include a 9-to-5 or that perfect upward trajectory.

After months of doing the math and talking herself in and out of it, she quit her job.

It was scary, but with her debt paid off, a partner to split rent with, no dependents, and a small cushion, she decided the risk was worth taking.

I think I had around $17,000 in my, like, lifetime emergency savings.

And I said, I'm willing to spend $10,000 from that.

So I had calculated, like, that gives me, like, a six-month runway or whatever.

She quit her job about two years ago.

Since then, Miriam's income has been much more variable.

She made $85,000 one year and about $60,000 the next, so far less than she used to make.

But the tradeoff has changed how she thinks of enough.

So for me, the calculus has totally changed.

I value time and autonomy over everything.

I mean, it's actually almost become too binary in my head between time or money.

Now, I'm not saving for retirement.

I have not put anything into my Roth IRA this year.

And I told myself that is a sacrifice that I personally am willing to make.

But that's not a sustainable situation, which is why I know I need more.