{"id":9341,"date":"2022-07-04T10:00:53","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T09:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davidwithington.com\/?p=9341"},"modified":"2022-10-15T19:11:27","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T18:11:27","slug":"independence-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidwithington.com\/independence-day\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Your Own Independence Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Independence Day<\/em> as I write.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yeah. An Independence Day celebration for me too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uh? Why?<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because 6 years ago on this day, I handed in my notice at work.<\/span><\/p>\n

And one calendar month later, the big adventure began.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Finsih<\/a><\/p>\n

Yep, I took early retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you’re too young to retire, David.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I know. <\/span><\/p>\n

But my brilliant financial planner told me my pension was good enough to sustain the level of income we needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Financial independence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I made the leap.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Independence Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Independence<\/a><\/p>\n

The Freedom<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since that day, I’ve been enjoying life a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can read about some of it in my Independence Day blog post – My British 4th July<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But let me bring you right up to date. <\/span><\/p>\n

What’s happening now<\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Independence<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the things I began just a few years ago is Tech it Easy<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s Tech it Easy<\/em>, David?<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s a community group and website where we simplify techie stuff. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s the Tech it Easy website<\/a> if you want to know more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tech<\/a>Anyway… <\/span><\/p>\n

In April 2022, I was invited to do some Tech it Easy<\/em> lectures on a cruise ship.<\/span><\/p>\n

So I spent a wonderful 3 weeks sailing around the Mediterranian, visiting countries such as Croatia and Italy, on the impressive cruise ship, the Saga Spirit of Adventure…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Helping people get to grips with modern technology. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, they invited me to do some Tech it Easy<\/em> lectures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Saga<\/a>
Saga Spirit of Adventure in port at Split, Croatia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hey! That wouldn’t have been possible if I’d still been working for a boss.<\/span><\/p>\n

You want THREE weeks off? Impossible!<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That was just the start of cruise lecturing. <\/span><\/p>\n

The second booking is already in the calendar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yep. Travelling the planet on the high seas, and talking about a subject I love… to people who love to learn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>
Visiting Malta on the cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And visiting lots of new countries, courtesy of the cruise company.<\/span><\/p>\n

All because of Independence Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your Independence Day<\/span><\/h2>\n

So on this Independence Day, what’s your idea of independence?<\/span><\/p>\n

What will it take?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4th<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Have Your Own Independence Day<\/span><\/h2>\n

I can hear you thinking…<\/span><\/p>\n

But I can never be financially independent!<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, you can. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s how to start the process:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Contribute into your company pension. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Increase your contributions with every pay rise. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Put your annual bonuses into it if you can.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Watch it grow<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Then tell me what you intend to do on your<\/em> Independence Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I’m looking forward to hearing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

    THE TECH IT EASY WEBSITE<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It’s Independence Day as I write. Yeah. An Independence Day celebration for me too. Uh? Why? Because 6 years ago on this day, I handed in my notice at work. And one calendar month later, the big adventure began. Yep, I took early retirement. But you’re too young to retire, David. I know. But my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[99,3,289],"tags":[29,237,492],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Get Your Own Independence Day - David Withington<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What's it like to be independent? To be free from working for a boss? Can you really? What would you do instead? 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