So not looking to put together a case study but just as some background before I get to the question at hand. I don't think retiring early will be a real option for me. I am 42, a barber and married with 2 young kids. I have no debt, but no assets either. When I was young I was very naive and rejected money as a distraction, feeling like to live the life I wanted, I didn't need much money and so placed no importance on it. So at least I was used to living frugally as a result, the one benefit I suppose. The other benefit is that I have no debt.
What is terrible, though is that I have no money invested. I also got my act together when I became a barber and started socking away money. Then I went and moved to Italy to open a barbershop there and 2 years later had blown almost all of my savings and came back to the US. And came with a wife to boot. Who is now a stay at home mom. So getting ourselves set up here has taken a while and I only just started getting money saved again.
Currently we have $15,000 saved which we began saving around December so it has accumulated rather quickly. In a year and a half my wife will hopefully be working in some sort of IT job and hopefully making decent money. I will then go to part time work to take care of the kids.
So even becoming mustachian and getting some money put into some index funds and the whole she-bang, I will likely end up retired around 65 when most people do anyway. (Which 2 years ago would have been inconceivable, as I thought I would never be able to retire. Thanks Mr. Money Mustache!). And my wife is 29 so she has quite some time to go before 65.
I wonder if I should be changing gears and for us to try to in the next 10 years or so to freelance in some capacity so we have the freedom to work when we want without actually being retired yet. But I have no idea how to set ourselves on that road or if it is possible. I am thinking for myself to be a wordpress developer. Not expecting to make tons of money at it, but some extra while working from home would be nice. And my wife will hopefully be able to work on her own after putting some years of experience together.
I apologize for a a not so cogent question, but is there anybody out there freelancing who can chime in on this?