I quit my job to retire at 43 here are my tips for becoming financially free

A self-proclaimed millionaire quit her $300,000 a year corporate job and “downsized her lifestyle” to retire at the age of 43 and be “financially free.” Pav Lertjitbanjong, 43, worked the corporate grind for 23 years before deciding enough was enough.In April 2025, her grandmother passed away and Pav realized she was too busy “chasing success” to be there for her family.So in May, Pav took the leap to quit her $300,000 a year job, sold her Honda Civic, put her her $1 million home on the market and downsized to Minneapolis, Minnesota — living off between $30,000 to 40,000 a year in a rented a two bedroom apartment that costs her $680 a month. Pav has been able to fund her retirement using more than $1 million in savings she stashed away while she was in her corporate job and the sale of her $1 million three-bed house in Morris County, New Jersey, gave her a “cushion” to be financially free.Pav said she doesn’t have any big retirement plans just yet but feels “liberated” and is hoping to help other professionals take this leap.Pav, who previously worked in marketing in New York City, said: “I would say that this process has been a few years in the making.“I got divorced in March 2020, which made me realize I was my own back-up plan.“Since then, I have been building up my own security.“I have been through a few different life steps recently.I sold my home, car, and now I have quit my job.“It was scary, but at the same time, it was really liberating — I feel free.“Financial freedom for me is being able to spend time with the people that I love.“It is not about buying everything I want, but spend my day how I want and spend time with whoever my heart desires.”Pav had been working for a big tech company in the US when she decided to drastically overhaul her life.She wanted to retire after her grandmother died and she realized she had spent too long watching her loved ones age through a screen.Pav said: “I missed seeing my gra...