Teachers aren’t known for their high salaries, so how did this one reach early retirement and FIRE at just 45 years old? Through “aggressive” saving and smart cost-of-living choices, Amy Minkley was able to quit her demanding international teaching job only three years after finding out about the FIRE movement. Now, she spends her days living in paradise and hosting “FI Freedom Retreats” once or twice a year for like-minded FIRE-chasers.To reach FIRE in your 40s, you must make some strategic moves like Amy. Thankfully, you don’t need to make six figures to retire early in 2025. Throughout Amy’s career, she never entered the “high income” threshold but could still save aggressively, thanks to the perks of teaching at international schools. We’re talking free rent, subsidized travel, and plenty of paid vacation.But it wasn’t always the dream life that it sounds like. Amy had constant stress and was routinely feeling burned out, forcing her to take multiple sabbaticals, change where she lived, and deal with some of the money trauma that had plagued her past. Now, she’s FIRE, thriving, and living entirely on her terms. You can (and should) do it, too!In This Episode We CoverHow to reach FIRE in your 40s even if you feel like it’s too “late” for youWhy teachers should look into teaching abroad to save a significant portion of their incomeInvesting from abroad and what to do when you have little-to-no social security contributionsHow much cash you should keep on hand when you’re ready to retire earlyLiving off the three percent rule (instead of the traditional four percent rule) by moving to low-cost-of-living areasWhy you must take a sabbatical at least once in your working careerAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowMindy on BiggerPocketsScott on BiggerPocketsListen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One PlaceJoin BiggerPockets for FREEEmail Mindy: [email protected] Scott: [email protected] Money Facebook GroupFollow BiggerPockets Money on Instagram“Like” BiggerPockets Money on FacebookBiggerPockets Money YouTube ChannelSave $100 on Real Estate’s Biggest Event of the Year, BPCon2025Reach FIRE Faster with "Set for Life"Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Money NewsletterFind an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your AreaFrom Making $40K/Year as a Teacher to Reaching FI in 4 Years by Doing THISConnect with AmyCheck out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-610Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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