HOW TO RETIRE (sort of) AT 24

FORTY FIVE years ago, I decided to live simply, almost self-sufficiently, bartering for other things, earning only enough money to pay for necessities like an elderly vehicle and rates.

It worked, sort of: I left full time work at 24. I still live simply, and find the simplicity deeply fulfilling. The main ‘failure’ has been accidentally making not just the few dollars, but a good living from writing books, something that teachers, guidance counsellors and so on, said was impossible. But the solution to that has been easy. The surplus is given away.

So how can you (still) do it? Give yourself three years of major, cent saving hardship. Work two or three jobs, of which at least two will be the kind no one else wants, like cleaning, instead