Posts Tagged ‘#retireby40’

In 2021, Angelia McKinney, then age 43, “pulled the plug” on her job, retiring after being a human resource professional for 20 years. After eight years of planning, she could finally retire early and live life on her terms.

“I started speaking it out loud that I was going to retire early, way before I ever believed it. Then I started putting this plan together, and basically, I lived off half my income or less, quit making debt, paid off all my bad debt and started investing.”

Her investments were a mix of stocks, a 401(k), a few Roth IRAs and stock trading. She also brought in extra money by investing in real estate properties with her best friend and a few of her own.

“My tenants are literally paying the majority of my mortgage, which allows me not to work full time.”

Being at home has given her the opportunity to spend more time with her son.

“I love being at home. I love being able to cook at Noon. I love being able to go to the grocery store in the morning. I love making all of his events.”

While she’s not a certified financial planner, she is now a content creator sharing her journey and helping others plan for early retirement. She says there are three things you must do to retire early.

Change your mindset

“If your mindset hasn’t changed to say, ‘money is a tool, and I am not scared of it’, then none of the rest will work.” She tells her followers to start being better managers of money and learn to budget.

Honor God with your money

“Ever since I started honoring God with my money and being a giver in general, I have not had financial lack.”

Put a plan together

“Figure out where you are now and where you want to be in one year, five years, ten years or however you want to do it.”

Another piece of advice McKenney shares, and one she did not plan for is ensuring you calculate inflation into your financial needs.

“I’m like, ‘Dang Lord, things are expensive!’”