I’m breaking away from the crowd on this one



Hey hey Reader👋

It’s time to talk about something that's been on my mind. A financial myth that just doesn’t sit right.

Everywhere I turn, I hear experts telling women: “Save like crazy, sacrifice today, and retire happy someday.”

Here’s the thing—I don’t agree.

Sacrificing everything now doesn’t guarantee happiness later. Life is happening right now, and squeezing out every ounce of joy today to maybe enjoy it later makes no sense.

Do you respect financial discipline? Sure. Me too. But let’s not blindly follow a narrative that tells us to shelve our dreams for 20 or 30 years.

Here’s my take:

Retire early, but with balance.
You don’t have to choose between living well today and building for tomorrow. The key is finding harmony—saving wisely without losing sight of what you value most.

Instead of the “save fast, burn out, and pray you make it to 65” strategy, ask yourself:

  • Are you including your happiest, simplest joys in your financial plan?
  • Could small, thoughtful shifts today free up space for more living AND saving?

Stop aiming for perfection. Aim for steady—not extreme—progress instead.

Think about this: While you’re saving up for future “tomorrow adventures,” are you stealing time from your today moments? If the answer is yes, maybe it’s time to pause and adjust.

Truthfully, I’ve made this mistake myself.

When I first started, I believed that skipping every treat, trip, or coffee date would make me wealthier faster. Guess what? It didn’t. All I got was guilt, exhaustion, and a narrow view of what financial freedom really means.

But once I gave myself permission to breathe—build experiences into my budget—I saw a lasting shift. Balance worked. And it can for you too.

Here’s your action step: Spend intentionally, but don’t pause your life in the name of saving. Build memories, even small ones. They’re a part of your future wealth.

If this feels like a tricky middle ground to walk, no worries—I’ve got you covered! Here are a few resources to guide you:

Take back control of your roadmap, friend. Happiness doesn’t just live in the future—it’s here for you now.

This year it's all out personal & professional growth


Ready for a fresh start on your path to retirement? Schedule your free Strategy Call with me! From family and finances to future dreams and daily stressors, we'll cover it all in one powerful session to help you take your next steps with confidence and clarity.

Behind the Scenes

For the first few weeks of 2025

What I’m working on

In Q4 2024 I created a list of all the workshops I wanted to work on in 2025, this one is the first to be completed.

My tech stack

I’m slowly moving all of my old courses from Thrivecart to Teachery. I still love Thrivecart Learn but Teachery truly allows me to be my creative self. Be on the lookout for transition emails and new login links in the coming weeks.

Exciting biz ideas

Ya know that list I mentioned earlier?! Well I need your help picking which one I should focus on next😜 Vote here!


✏️ The Retire Happy Insider is my email newsletter, for driven women ready to reshape their habits, routines, and mindsets for a more fulfilling life today—and a secure, joyful retirement tomorrow.

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