Sabina Horrocks, at the age of 38, was able to quit her job and enjoy a “mini retirement” for three years. This remarkable feat was achieved through meticulous financial planning and disciplined saving strategies.

By 2021, after the birth of her daughter, Sabina and her husband had amassed a net worth of around $2 million, which allowed her to take a significant break from work.

Early Financial Strategies

Sabina and her husband both had six-figure incomes and managed a rental business. However, Sabina insists their path to wealth was not extraordinary.

“We didn’t do anything extraordinary – I’d say the way we became millionaires is quite boring,” she told Business Insider.

According to Sabina, the key to their financial success was discipline and consistency over time.

Humble Beginnings

Growing up in a lower middle-class family in the Chicago suburbs, Sabina experienced a modest lifestyle. Despite the modesty, she never went hungry, and her family always emphasized the importance of saving. Sabina managed to secure a scholarship for her first two years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she double-majored in political science and history.

She later earned her MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, which was more affordable compared to other prestigious business schools.

Building a Financial Foundation

Sabina met her husband when they were young, and they married with a low-cost wedding after securing corporate jobs.

From the beginning, they focused on optimizing their financial future, taking things day by day. “I had never thought about our future financial goals.

Nobody’s ever really talked about it in my house, aside from affording certain things,” Sabina explained.

Her family’s frugal habits influenced her financial mindset, leading to savvy saving and investment practices.

Strategic Investments and Savings

When Sabina and her husband were ready to buy property, they chose a modest one-bed, one-bath condo for $137,000.

Later, they opted for a more affordable house in the suburbs rather than a luxurious downtown condominium.

This decision was part of their strategy to live below their means and invest in their future. They treated their finances like a business, maintaining transparency, setting goals, and sharing efforts.

Navigating Financial Challenges

The couple continued managing rental properties while climbing the corporate ladder, even during the 2008 housing market crash.

Although their rental properties lost significant value, they adapted by tightening their budget and selling one of their cars.

When housing prices were low, they briefly invested in more rental properties but eventually sold them and put the money into retirement funds due to the burden of property management.

Achieving Millionaire Status

By 2020, Sabina and her husband reached millionaire status, with their net worth spread across various accounts: $1.16 million in retirement accounts, $460,000 in an after-tax brokerage account, $250,000 in home equity, $30,000 in an HSA, $25,000 in a 529 plan, and $25,000 in savings.

This diversified approach to saving and investing provided a solid financial foundation.

Taking a Mini Retirement

In 2021, Sabina decided to leave her $120,000-a-year job to spend more time with her daughter. Her husband’s income was sufficient to support the family during her break.

This decision allowed Sabina to enjoy the fruits of their hard work, including taking a transatlantic cruise with her daughter and mother.

Reflections on Financial Success

Sabina reflects on their journey, noting that their ability to make sacrifices in their 20s laid the groundwork for their financial freedom.

“We’re at a point now where we’re able to do things like that, and I think it was because, in our 20s, we made some big sacrifices,” she said.

Sabina’s story highlights the importance of long-term financial planning, disciplined saving, and strategic investments in achieving financial independence and enjoying a fulfilling life.

This narrative underscores that financial success often comes from consistent effort and smart decisions rather than extraordinary actions.

Sabina Horrocks’ story serves as an inspiring example of how disciplined financial practices can lead to significant rewards and the freedom to live life on one’s own terms.

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