How I'm Taking a Year Off at 31 & Still Retiring by 44 (On a Median-HCOL Salary)

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Episode #680 ~~~ Episode Show Notes: https://www.biggerpocketsmoney.com ~~~ Get 50% Off Your First Year with Monarch Money Using Promo Code ‘Pockets’ https://www.monarchmoney.com/ ~~~ Connect with Alex Morales- IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlchasingwealth/ Website: https://girlchasingwealth.com/ ~~~ Connect with Scott and Mindy: Scott: https://www.instagram.com/scott_trench/ Mindy: https://www.instagram.com/_mindyatbp/ ~~~ Follow BiggerPockets Money on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerpocketsmoney/ ~~~ What if you could take a year off at 31 and still retire early? Alex Morales, aka 'Girl Chasing Wealth,' is doing exactly that. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, she sits down with Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to reveal how she's funding a year-long sabbatical while staying on track to achieve financial independence by 44—all on a median salary in a high-cost-of-living area. Alex breaks down her unconventional strategies: managing roommates to slash housing costs, ruthlessly cutting expenses that don't align with her values, and building side income streams that give her flexibility. She's proof that a high savings rate isn't just about earning more—it's about optimizing every dollar you make, even when rent prices seem impossible. From her sabbatical plans (travel, new hobbies, and strategic career moves) to the exact math behind taking career breaks without destroying your FIRE timeline, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about the path to early retirement. If you've ever wanted permission to pause, reset, and still build wealth, this conversation is for you. 00:00 Taking a Year Off at 31 Without Ruining FIRE 01:39 How She Started 03:17 The Lifestyle Cuts That Actually Worked 07:46 Roommates Saved Her $30K/Year 12:10 Her Exact Investment Strategy Revealed 14:29 Why She Left Her Job 15:50 The Return Plan: Higher Pay, Same Freedom 22:30 What She's Actually Doing on Sabbatical 32:06 Follow Her FIRE Journey!