Mini-Retirements to Accelerate Your Path to FI | Jillian Johnsrud

Most people think you need to wait until retirement to finally live the life you want. Jillian Johnsrud proved otherwise by spending eight months traveling with her husband, five kids, and multiple pets in a 26-foot camper—and she did it while building a career.

Jillian shares the framework her family created to ensure everyone (including parents) actually has fun during extended travel. She breaks down what qualifies as a mini retirement—stepping away from your main job for a month or longer to focus on what truly matters—and why waiting until you hit financial independence to pursue these experiences is a mistake.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Introduction of Jillian Johnsrud [00:00:00]

• Jillian's Family Travel Experience [00:01:10]

  • Eight months traveling in a camper with five kids
  • Lessons learned and experiences gained

• Creating Fun Rules for Family Travel [00:05:25]

  • Establishing family communication frameworks to ensure everyone enjoys trips
  • "Creating family fun is for everyone, not just the kids."

• Understanding Mini Retirements [00:13:49]

  • Definition: Stepping away from your main job for a month or longer to focus on personal priorities
  • "Hitting financial independence doesn't automatically bring happiness."
  • The high failure rate of trying new things and why that's part of the process

• Negotiating Mini Retirements at Work [00:36:48]

  • Strategies for discussing extended time off with employers
  • Emphasizing mutual benefits and the cost of employee replacement
  • Preparing structured, fair proposals

Key Insights:

• Intentionality Matters: Document your intentions for mini retirements to ensure they align with your values and avoid letting time slip away [00:46:05]

• Active Rest: Engage in activities that recharge you while remaining purposeful [00:21:03]

• Support Systems: Finding a community to navigate these transitions is crucial [00:25:35]

• Local Entertainment: Season passes to local attractions can maximize enjoyment while reducing costs [00:08:04]

Resources:

• Retire Often Podcast: RetireOften.com [00:51:24]

---

Join the Community
Connect with thousands on the path to financial independence. Share wins, ask questions, and stay accountable. Join ChooseFI.

---

New to ChooseFI?
Start with our most popular episodes, hand-picked to give you the foundation of financial independence. Listen to the essentials.

---

Run Your Numbers
Find out when you could reach financial independence with our free calculators and planning tools. Try the FI Calculator.

---

Support the Show
We work hard to keep ChooseFI ad-free for a clean listening experience. The easiest way to support us is to use our Top Recommended Cards page when signing up for your next travel rewards credit card.

---

Get the Weekly Roundup
The best FI content, deals, and community highlights delivered to your inbox every week. Subscribe free.