In the spring of 2007, I bought a house.

I began my search as I still occupied a room at my parents place. I knew I needed to get out; it was just a matter of where I wanted to live and whether I was going to buy or rent. I eventually decided that I wanted to purchase my own property (for cash, if possible). Once I had that, I’d have something that no one could take away – no matter what happened. Well, provided I didn’t fall behind on my taxes. Read the rest of this entry

Before I get into the specifics of how I managed to sustain my lifestyle (and continue to do so), I just wanted to touch on something a little less obvious, but just as important – emotional health.

For anyone considering a move like this, I would first take inventory of your ability to cope with the consequences of your actions. While quitting your job and living on your own terms may sound good in theory, there is a lot to consider. I can tell you that I underestimated how much stress was involved and how hard it was to really break free of the 9-5 mentality. Read the rest of this entry

January and February of this year seemed to drag on forever. I used this time creatively, however, and mapped out a few things – strategies mainly. It’s not like there was much else to do in the middle of a Canadian winter – what with four feet of snow and -30C temps.

I knew the type of lifestyle I wanted to maintain. I calculated how much per year I would need to fund that meager existence. And, I had a plan to generate enough money to cover my needs.
Read the rest of this entry