Steve, the creator of Think Save Retire, retired at just 35 years old! His inspiring story caught our attention, and we reached out to interview him and his wife about their incredible journey to early retirement. With so many couples in their 30s achieving financial freedom, we wanted to get the inside scoop. Enjoy! – The Savvy Couple
“We are not rich. We are not powerful. In fact, we don’t even consider ourselves to be ‘smart cookies.’ Instead, we saved. We downsized. We sold both of our homes and moved into an Airstream we’ve named Charlie. Early retirement is possible.”
1. Tell our readers a little about yourself, your blog, and your early retirement.
Steve: I’m 35, and my wife is 32. We both quit our jobs to pursue a life of full-time travel. The blog was designed to chronicle our journey and continues to do so. We retired from relatively high-paying jobs in IT, which allowed us to save around 70% of our salaries. That added up quickly and made early retirement a reality.
2. Walk us through the steps you took to retire early. What was your first move?
Steve: The first step was deciding what we were retiring TO. Without a purpose, you risk extreme boredom. For us, it was travel—documenting our journey through our blogs (ThinkSaveRetire.com and FullTimeExplorers.com) and our YouTube channel, A Streamin’ Life. From there, we cut unnecessary spending and focused on essentials. We scaled back gradually, realizing how little we truly needed to be happy.
3. If a recent graduate asked for your best advice in a few minutes, what would you say?
Steve: I’d ask: Do you want to work in a fluorescent-lit office until you’re 65? If not, don’t live like your peers. Prioritize your future by saving your hard-earned cash. It’s your key to freedom.
4. What was your wake-up call that the 9-to-5 grind wasn’t for you?
Steve: It hit me soon after entering the workforce 12 years ago, but I didn’t act until a few years ago. Marrying my wife gave us the push to combine finances and focus on saving aggressively.
5. What changes did you make to save aggressively for early retirement?
Steve: We cut out anything nonessential—no magazine subscriptions, cable TV, or yearly phone upgrades. We evaluated every purchase, asking if it was worth working longer to pay for it. Almost always, the answer was no. We valued freedom over material things.
6. Why did you choose to live in an Airstream instead of an RV? How has life on the road been different?
Steve: My dad suggested the Airstream—it’s a great fit for us. Life is different but manageable. Living in 200 square feet simplifies things. Cleaning takes minutes, and we don’t miss the space we gave up.
7. Do you plan to work digitally during retirement for extra income?
Steve: I don’t plan to work full-time again, but I enjoy a few side projects. The moment they stop being enjoyable, I’ll stop. We don’t depend on extra income, but it’s nice when it happens. For instance, my blog earns around $10,000 a year—enough to fund a third of our lifestyle.
8. How did you know you could retire with less than $1 million in the bank?
Steve: We used tools like FireSim and Personal Capital to model our finances. These tools showed a high probability of success using the 4% rule. Flexibility is key—we’re prepared to adjust if needed.
9. Your investments are still growing even in retirement. Can you explain how?
Steve: We withdraw around 3.5% annually, while our investments grow by 5-8% on average. Most of our money is in Vanguard’s targeted retirement funds, and we keep three years of living expenses in a savings account for stability.
10. Has downsizing improved your happiness?
Steve: Absolutely. The less we own, the happier we are. Simplifying life means fewer things to maintain and more time to enjoy. We haven’t missed anything we gave up.
11. Tell us something interesting about yourself—your passions, motivation, or lifestyle.
Steve: We don’t have kids, which helped us save more. I’m a fitness enthusiast and a fan of the movie Erin Brockovich. Photography and videography are my biggest hobbies, and our YouTube channel lets me explore those passions.
12. In a few sentences, what does early retirement mean to you?
Steve: Early retirement is freedom—freedom to choose how to spend your time and live on your terms, long before the traditional retirement age.
This couple’s story is proof that with discipline, focus, and a clear goal, early retirement is achievable—no matter where you start! What part of their journey inspired you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
