Gen Z Guide to FI

I started thinking about what I would need to do/have to feel comfortable quitting my 9-5 in March. For those new to the blog, I’m returning to school for my MBA in Fall 2024 (manifesting this even though I haven’t applied yet). But I’ve been thinking about having a summer vacation. A long summer vacation.

I started thinking about quitting earlier than next May. But I was like, ‘That’s a pipe dream.’ Then, I kept thinking about it, and it wasn’t that crazy. After going to work both days last weekend, I’ve decided that ‘FUCK MY JOB, I need to quit in March.’

Why March? I want to get my annual bonus which would really help me out if I end up breaking my lease. And this year, my bonus was $13,000, so if my bonus next year is anywhere close to that, then fuck yeah, amazing! My wet dream is to give my boss my two weeks’ notice after he hands me my bonus documentation.

I do acknowledge some privilege here because my parents will be supporting me with some of my tuition for grad school. They’ve set aside money to help me out for years. All the programs I’m shooting for cost between $200,000 – $250,000 total for 2 years. I know this isn’t the most traditionally FI decision but this is my life and imma live baby. I’ve saved about $60,000 so that means I need about $140,000 – $190,000 from my parents & financial aid (grants, scholarships, fellowships & *hopefully not* loans).

But realistically, what would it take to for me to quit in March?

1. Getting into 1 MBA program
2. Gaining scholarships would be nice but with or without them I can still quit
3. Need to end my lease early or have enough saved to pay off last 3 months
4. Money and miles saved for a few months of travel
5. A pre-MBA internship for experience and $$$: I want to try getting an internship in consulting if I can get one.
6. Sell all my furniture for rent money – I can probably get over $2000 if I play my cards right.
7. Let my landlord have my deposit in lieu of rent – if I can’t break the lease. I paid $2,500 for my deposit which is 1.5 months of rent.
8. Rent free living till school starts to avoid double rent: some options – friends in Canada, LA, SD, Sacramento

I don’t want to trade life energy for $10,000, which is 4 extra months of working. In the grand scheme of my life, I won’t get this time back. And I wanna live GADDAMIT! I’m being dramatic but also not really. The last 3 years have drained me.

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby