Taking a Mini Retirement Between Jobs

Everyday Courage with Jillian Johnsrud

Melissa took advantage of her family’s move across the U.S. to launch their mini-retirement travel adventures. Could a job transition help you step away and into your bigger goals?

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Melissa, from the Travelling Wallet, connected with Jillian in 2017 through Jillian’s blog. They met in person at FinCon, and Melissa signed up for a paid mentorship with Jillian. She was even able to participate in the first retreat Jillian hosted. So, it is no surprise that Melissa has continued on her FIRE path and embraced mini-retirements, minimalism, and adventure.

When their family decided to move from Californian to Michigan, it provided a unique opportunity to travel with their young family. They were able to take twenty-one days to road trip across the United States and explore the cities and national parks along the way.

When that leg of the trip finished, they headed to El Salvador and Ecuador to spend time immersed in the Latin American culture that Melissa experienced as a young girl. She wanted to give her children the same opportunity to be shaped by their Latino heritage.

Two hurdles stand in front of most families when they consider taking a mini-retirement:

1. How do we pay for this?
2. Can we survive without earning an income while on the mini-retirement?

By saving three months’ expenses, dropping their housing expenses while they moved, having an emergency fund, and embracing minimalism, Melissa and her family found a workable formula. She encourages other parents to find the formula that works for their families.

“Don’t wait too long to travel with your kids.”

Find more tips on how to make memories, stretch your dollar, and travel with just one backpack at Melissa’s website, on Twitter, or Instagram.