Episode 480: What Full Financial Independence Actually Looks Like: Island Life, Time Freedom, and Living on Your Own Terms w/ Ericka Barnes

Ericka Barnes first appeared on the Journey to Launch podcast in 2019 to share how she reached financial independence in her mid-30s. Since then, her life has looked nothing like a straight line; divorce, layoffs, a new marriage, and a second retirement later, she’s back to share the full story.

In this brand new episode, Ericka walks us through what she’s been up to since our last conversation, from rebuilding financially after a divorce, to reaching chubby FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) in 2023. The financial foundation she had built; real estate, index funds, and a prenup, turned out to be more than a wealth strategy. It was the infrastructure that protected her when life got complicated.

Today, Ericka and her husband are fully work-optional, house hacking in St. Croix while splitting time between Atlanta and the US Virgin Islands. This episode is a powerful reminder that financial independence isn’t just about retiring early, it’s about having the stability and options to navigate whatever life brings, rebuild when necessary, and ultimately design a life on your own terms.

In this episode, Ericka shares:

• How she rediscovered her love of creative writing and the two books she is publishing this year
• How a prenup protected her financially and emotionally through divorce and why every couple should consider one
• Why she went back to work after lean firing, what chubby FIRE actually feels like, and the key difference between the two
• The case for geo arbitrage in a US territory and how she and her husband bought a home in St. Croix with a built-in tenant to offset the mortgage

What’s New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom:

• A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty
• A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps
• Updated corrections from the original hardcover
• Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including:
  • The Fire Starter Course
  • The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Ericka’s first episode on the podcast: From Making $35,000 A Year To Being A Millionaire with Ericka Grant
• The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins: jlcollinsnh.com
• Afford Anything Podcast: affordanything.com
• Check out the FIRE Calc
• Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven’t already.
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Ericka:

• Website: freelennial.com/about/
• Instagram: @ericka_sojourner
• Email: islandfirewriter@gmail.com

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide