I’m Retiring in my 30s

I’m retiring in my 30s because ang sarap lang tumambay.

Alam ko na ang feeling ng maging tambay… walang ibang iniisip, tama ang body clock, gigising ng maaga pero upo lang sa kanto, hawak isang tasang kape, higop-higop… nood sa mga kapitbahay na gumising ng alas-sais para bumili ng Sunsilk sa tindahan, tapos aalis bago mag alas-siyete… at kahit maaga na nga, sisiksikin pa rin sa MRT… o standing ovation sa bus, and if you get lucky… you’d be dramatically pressed against the wind shield.

Pero ayaw kong maging tambay lang, gusto ko maging tambay na may pera!

When I had a miscarriage I had the luxury of a 2-month paid leave… and boy did I have the time of my life! I knew then early retirement was for me. Since then, I’ve gotten more obsessed with investing. I did better at my job because I was inspired. Within a year I became a peso millionaire. Now, almost half of my salary goes to my investments.

But if you see me, you wouldn’t think I am one. I own just a pair of rubber shoes, a few nice blouses on repeat and I don’t carry a luxury bag over my shoulder.

There are things that change in you once you get that first million… it’s almost humbling. You lose the desire for new and fancy things, showing off became cringe and making other people think you dont have money– when you do– became almost a kink.

I’m one foot out of the rat race and it’s been great. I finally saw that employees are living in a trap they made for themselves… how come most of the money you make goes to sustaining the said source of income. See, there’s time and money spent to look good, be presentable and just be present at work. And when you don’t have to work, living actually gets cheaper! Yung 100k requirement mo para sa maluwag na buhay baka mangalahati.

When you lose the desire to impress people who didn’t care about you from the start… life becomes simpler. And when life is simple, your investments may just be able to afford your living ’til you die.

I want all that and some. I want my time back, I want to take my holidays any day, without needing to time long weekends and managing 15-day leaves in a span of a year.

So I’m retiring in my 30s… I’m in a rush because I no longer want to be in a rush… I want to be present in my body, I want to be a present mother to my child and spend more time with my hubby. It’s possible in the Philippines… you just need the right resources and be surrounded by the right people.