Curious what a zero-hour work week might look like? People chasing early retirement often get called “cheap” or “crazy.” If you’ve heard of The 4-Hour Workweek, why not aim for zero hours instead? Abandoned Cubicle readers, get ready.
Here’s my plan to leave the rat race before 50. I’ll still work in retirement, but there will be no more cubicle hours.
That said, cubicle work isn’t the worst thing. I’m lucky—life in the Upper Midwest is good, the pay is solid, and my coworkers are great. I was laid off once after 9/11, and that experience made me cling to job security. Still, I’d rather do a thousand other things than sit in an office all day: be outside, work on house projects (my own house and our four rentals), and spend time with family.
Family time is better when it’s not squeezed between chores and appointments. Weekends fly by too fast. Corporate life is stressful—some people handle it better than others. I manage, but I know the toll tension, long hours, and clueless managers take on your body and mind. We take work home and stew over things we shouldn’t.
I didn’t stop dreading Monday mornings until my late 30s. There’s nothing like wasting half a day off worrying.
I try to avoid regret. I’m the type who thinks a lot about the future and asks, “What will I regret when I’m older?” Early retirement helps me avoid regretting that I worked too much. We only get one shot at life. Financial freedom and early retirement go hand in hand. I plan to keep working after my cubicle days are over, but it will be work I enjoy and do on my own terms.
When it comes to money, I’ve been pretty average: a spender and a mediocre saver. I’ve had the usual habits—buying a house, fancy vacations, eating out, happy hours, a new car every few years, cable, and an over-the-top sound system. After a layoff, a lot of that stuff loses its shine.
I read Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek and loved the idea of traveling, learning new things, and making money from a business that mostly runs itself. I couldn’t figure out how to build that kind of business at the time—maybe I was too focused on my golf game.
Then in 2013 our twins were born and life got wonderfully hectic. In late 2014 I found Mr. Money Mustache and his approach to early retirement really stuck with me.
The core idea is simple: save as much as you can. If you want real freedom, aim to save 50% or more of your take-home pay. My target is a 60% savings rate, combined with side hustles and rental income to cover expenses until we can access our 401(k) at 60. Having a clear plan makes the rough days at the office easier to bear.
It’s not all smooth sailing—that’s why I started this blog. I’ll share my challenges and learn from others. The most important thing is getting your partner on board. You need to agree on spending, saving, and goals. I jumped in head-first like a puppy with a new toy, which didn’t go over well with Mrs. Cubert. We’re aligned now, but I could have handled it more gently.
Don’t dive into early retirement blind. Do your homework, prepare, and build a buffer. I’ll share my mistakes—nobody’s perfect. This is a long learning journey. Start by aiming for a four-hour workweek, but dream bigger—let’s go for zero.