Rat Race No More!
Imagine living a life that a lot of people secretly (or not so secretly) envy: low overhead, maximum time for freedom, tight family unit, travel on your own terms for as long as you want, and zero desire to climb on the rat race hamster wheel. No daycare, no babysitters, no stress. No overtime. No working on what does not interest you. Imagine hugely contented, creative children, ultra connected to nature. Imagine waking up and being able to seize your goals under the Grace of God?
Sounds impossible? It is not if you reframe your thinking a little.
I am here to tell you it’s ok to basically opt out of the default script, and it works beautifully.
First you should read my article on How to Work for Yourself here. Here you read the words of an expert with 2 decades of experience “free wheeling” life. I was instantly hooked on this lifestyle after picking up Tim Ferriss’ 4 Hour Workweek book. I immediately tried to “Tim Ferriss” my whole life. Despite being able to drive any car I want, I gave them all back & would rather not hassle with gas, charging or parking in downtown Toronto. We opt for drivers or a personal scooter now.
Tim travels often and SUPER light. It’s imperative to be easygoing and flexible at all times with minimal baggage. Mr. Ferriss has truly mastered the art of keenly exiting the rat race and running for yourself. I follow a lot of his practical advice, including light travel.
Now, before we dive in, you should know I am definitely not some “own nothing and be happy” socialist slob. I hugely endorse acquiring assets, digital assets, hard work and building your own homestead. I embrace entrepreneurial spirit as a self made and self-directed go-getter and you can too. I know the grind of working 2 jobs while keeping grades high for the scholarship bonus to get through University.
You should definitely have land of your own where it makes sense to do so. You should definitely be prepared to do all the work yourself & never stop learning. To be your own boss is to rely on yourself and build residual wealth: here’s how…
Someone once told me
“The bigger the bags, the crazier the lady” & it truly stuck with me ever since 😂.
Rats Will Still Be Racing, but YOU Don’t Have To!
There’s something really clear-eyed about being able to do what you want, when you want. Most people aren’t working 50–60 hours a week because they love Excel spreadsheets or flipping burgers; they’re doing it because they bought into (or got trapped in) the “bigger house → better school district → two cars → private lessons → retirement at 65” pipeline. Then the math never actually math’d: after taxes, daycare ($1500–2500/month in a lot of Canadian cities), commuting, eating out because you’re exhausted, and the hidden costs of owning property… a huge chunk of that second income disappears. Studies back this up; once both parents work full-time, the second income is often 60–70 % spoken for before it even hits the account.I managed to sidestep the whole trap in our luxury condo with tennis court/pool/sauna/bowling alley. My situation is borderline unreal in 2025 Canada, and I know it. The golden ticket has been not getting into a mortgage trap or upgrade.
Renting vs Owning in Downtown Toronto
Most people (and families) chasing a 2-bedroom upgrade in downtown Toronto literally have to double or triple their working hours to cover the mortgage + strata + property tax + maintenance on a comparable place, and they still wouldn’t get a ton of luxury amenities like a bowling alley and tennis court. I often call Canada a tax farm. According to Grok, the “tax farm” line is harsh but not wrong.
Grok says “A lot of the system is structured so that the more you earn and the more you own, the more you feed the machine (income tax, property tax, consumption taxes, interest payments, insurance…).”
Here, we did find THE loophole: keep liabilities tiny, keep needs small, keep time huge.
For example, enjoy 2 months of travel to the tropics this December to March instead of buckling down in a harsh Canadian Winter. We work hard and homeschool during this time, but to have that time as a family? That’s real wealth. What is stopping you from streamlining your life today? Comment below!
