Hello! Today I’m excited to share a guest post from Taynia, a CPA and the founder of The Fiscal Flamingo, a lively website aimed at helping women transition from being in debt to enjoying financial freedom. When she’s not transforming big spenders into savvy savers, you can find her writing about her professional experiences at Skinny Seahorse or designing websites through The Skinny Mermaid Design Studio.
In December 2010, I made the bold decision to leave my career as a corporate CPA. Ten months later, I found myself returning to it.
For me, the greatest benefit of being financially independent is the freedom to choose. I was fortunate enough to take a 10-month break from my career. After experiencing that, I knew I wanted to make this level of freedom a permanent part of my life.
Initially, I planned to return to work after 12 months, although, truthfully, I wasn’t entirely sure I would go back at all. I had enough savings to enjoy a full year without the financial pressures of employment and hoped to figure out my path during that time. I even fantasized about winning the lottery, which, unfortunately, didn’t happen.
Despite being technically unemployed during those 10 months, I was far from idle. I started a personal blog for several reasons: to learn, to explain why I left my career, and simply because I had the time. As my audience grew, I received numerous emails in response to my Skinny Wallet Phat Life series. People appreciated my honest and humorous take on moving from a big spender to a disciplined saver. They wanted to learn more about how I got out of debt, something I hadn’t anticipated.
This led to another blog, The Fiscal Flamingo, which focuses on teaching smart financial principles in a fun, approachable way. No complicated financial jargon—just engaging content and lots of free, fun worksheets.
Along the way, I also taught myself web design and launched Skinny Mermaid Design Studio.
So, while I wasn’t in a traditional job, I was certainly “working” in a much more enjoyable capacity. I relished this newfound entrepreneurial spirit and knew I wanted it to last beyond just a year.
However, my financial independence plan involves fully owning a home, free from any rental obligations or mortgages. My husband is a stay-at-home dad, meaning I bear the financial responsibility for our family. By returning to my traditional job for five years, I can pay off our mortgage and save up another year’s worth of expenses.
You might wonder why I chose to return to traditional employment instead of continuing my entrepreneurial ventures. It’s because the certainty of a traditional job ensures my dream of financial independence without any risk. Self-employment might get me there, but it might not, and I couldn’t take that chance.
While working, I will continue to expand The Fiscal Flamingo’s readership and enhance my skills at Skinny Mermaid Design Studio. These ventures are key to my long-term goal of financial freedom because they allow me to work from anywhere.
Once the mortgage is paid off, my family and I will have the freedom to live wherever we choose, knowing we have a home base to return to if we wish. By generating location-independent income and living in a more affordable country, I plan to reduce my work hours to around 20 per week.
I might decide to stay where we are after five years since we live on a beautiful island. But the beauty of financial independence is having the freedom to make that choice.
Here’s to achieving financial independence and the freedom that comes with it. What about you? What drives your quest for financial independence?