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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Elena Kodama, a 31-year-old software engineer residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The following narrative has been edited for length and clarity.

Beginning her professional journey in 2017 as a contractor and software engineer, Elena Kodama has recently made a significant decision: at the age of 31, she is preparing to quit her six-figure salary job to pursue a lifestyle centered around the Coast FIRE concept, allowing her to devote more time to her family. Married and a mother of two, she credits her diligent savings efforts during her 20s for enabling this ambitious plan.

The Coast FIRE strategy represents a unique blend of financial independence and a retirement savings approach. It allows individuals to take a step back from high-pressure employment, thereby living life on their own terms. By adopting this plan, Elena can reduce her hours or work part-time at a job she enjoys without the burden of full-time pressures.

Elena first encountered the Coast FIRE concept while studying at the renowned Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She emphasizes the importance of understanding personal finance from an early age, as starting to save early can significantly enhance the benefits of compound interest over time.

Once she began her career, Elena was proactive in her financial planning. She maximized contributions to her Roth IRA and 401(k), accumulating approximately $100,000 in savings within just four years. During her 20s, she successfully saved and invested a total of around $150,000.

With the power of compounding at a conservative average annual growth rate of 5%, Elena projects that with an annual contribution of about $12,000 over the next 30 years, she will amass over $1.5 million to secure her retirement in her 60s.

To help achieve her annual savings goal, Elena embarked on a side hustle in 2023. During her first 18-week maternity leave, she began a reselling business, sourcing discounted products and selling them for profit on Amazon. The process involved considerable market research and trial and error to identify the most lucrative items.

Initially, she ventured into physical retail stores to find profitable products. After weeks of diligent market analysis, she discovered that a particular brand of shoes yielded a remarkable 50% return on investment (ROI). Armed with this knowledge, she focused her efforts on specific product categories and brands.

Elena began purchasing sneakers online during sales and reselling them at full price on Amazon. She utilized an app that offered valuable insights, including estimated sales figures and the number of competing sellers. Having the support of her husband, who works from home, along with her parents and in-laws assisting with childcare, she was able to dedicate significant time to refining her reselling venture.

Within a year, she successfully scaled her reselling business to generate over $200,000 in revenue, netting a profit of about $14,000.

Elenas entrepreneurial journey has also extended to YouTube, where she shared her reselling success story in 2024. The video went viral, amassing over 2 million views and attracting 50,000 subscribers. This surge of interest led her to join the YouTube Partner Program, allowing her to create one to four videos each month and earn approximately $500 monthly from YouTube AdSense.

Alongside her reselling business, her YouTube endeavors now provide enough income to cover living expenses and the $12,000 she contributes annually to her retirement fund. Currently, she earns between $2,000 and $5,000 monthly as an entrepreneur.

Her husbands stable 9-to-5 job, which provides family health insurance and covers their mortgage, brings in a low six-figure salary. He enjoys his work and does not have plans to pursue early retirement, which allows Elena the flexibility to manage other household bills, including utilities and groceries.

Looking ahead, Elena plans to officially resign from her engineering position at Tulip Interfaces once her maternity leave concludes, fully embracing the freedom and flexibility that come with this new chapter of her life. Although she appreciates her job, she prefers the idea of being her own boss and working at her convenience.

During her second maternity leave, Elena aims to focus on creating content, launching new side hustles, and spending quality time with her family. For her, retirement signifies the ability to pursue any interests she desires. She does not envision a future filled with idleness; instead, she is passionate about launching new businesses, learning, and sharing her knowledge with others.

Currently, she is exploring various entrepreneurial ventures, including an AI automation agency, while continuing to develop additional e-commerce businesses. Ultimately, her dream is to travel around the world with her family, enriching their lives with new experiences.