49 Days to Launch | Finding Our Freedom Number

When the layoff news hit, most people asked "What job will you look for next?" "Are you going to take any time off first?" But I asked a different question: "What if I don't need a next job - just our 'enough' number?"

That single question led us to open a spreadsheet (old habits die hard) and start defining what "enough" really means. Not a vague someday-maybe number, but a real, intentional calculation of what we need for the life we're choosing to build. Sure we put together a spending outline at the beginning of the year as part of our vision board work, but our life in 2025 will begin very differently than it did in 2024 so it was important to get our arms around that new reality.

First step: the great subscription audit. Amazing how many "just $9.99 a month" services add up, isn't it? We kept the ones that add true value (looking at you, streaming service that got us through pandemic lockdown) and said goodbye to the "maybe we'll use it someday" ones. Other adjustments included moving our bookkeeping business website to a more cost-effective platform, limiting eating out and buying chai lattes to once per week and being more mindful about grocery and Amazon shopping. Small changes, compound effects.

Each expense faced the same question: Does this support the life we're building, or the life we're leaving behind? That clarity led to bigger decisions. The life we're building includes road-trips and treasure hunting (a.k.a. metal detecting) with the dogs. We decided to sell our two vehicles (an eight year old Jeep and six year old Honda CR-V) for a hybrid truck with proper towing capacity to pull the 1,000 lb. tiny camper we just ordered - a perfect metaphor for this entire transition. Simplifying. Choosing based on tomorrow's needs rather than yesterday's habits.

We're building our traveling essentials list carefully, each item measured against our freedom number. Luckily, Black Friday (week) deals are starting so we're on the lookout for practical necessities - a camping fridge (because apparently, the cooler life gets old fast), leveling blocks (parking can be technical), and a shore power plug (electricity is nice). Each purchase weighed against both budget and purpose.

TRANSITION UPDATES:
Corporate Exit:
We're in full-blown transition mode with two major holidays and a limited number of working days between now and the end of the year. Luckily, my team is strong and experienced. We've worked together for almost a decade but there are things they haven't had to think about or deal with because those things were part of my job. Proper documentation and knowledge transfer to help with the transition is my last gift to them. I'm realizing that letting go creates its own kind of freedom.

Virtual Bookkeeping Business:
Year-end client preparations look different when viewed through our freedom number lens. While preparing our clients for their year-end and helping them set their goals for next year, we're also thinking "How many clients create our 'enough'"? "Which networking events truly build meaningful connections?" "What does our ideal 2025 look like?" These answers will allow us to strategically allocate our time and travel while serving clients we love.

Travel/Camper Plans:
We're learning that "enough" looks different on the road. Basic needs first: a vehicle that can tow the camper, a mattress to sleep on, a way to wash up, power for laptops and phones, and keeping the dogs safe. Simple solutions often work better than fancy ones - and sometimes they even go on sale!

What we're learning:
• Your freedom number is usually lower than you think
• Small financial changes create big possibilities
• Sometimes less stuff equals more freedom
• The best plans start with honest numbers

Next week, we'll share how we're approaching our next big decisions - from researching and choosing the right towing vehicle (who knew there were so many factors to consider?) to organizing our physical and digital worlds. Plus, I'll talk about how we're using this transition time to reset not just our work lives, but our approach to physical and mental health. Because building a freer life means taking care of all the pieces that matter.

What surprising insights have you found in your own "enough" calculations?