I Quit the Rat Race With Nothing: Here’s What Paid the Bills!

Video Description

At 49, I quit the rat race with no savings, no salary, and no safety net. I'm now 52. In this video, I discuss how I actually stayed afloat financially, honestly, practically, and without any exaggeration. This video is for anyone over 40 questioning full-time work, financial security, and whether there’s another way. After my last video, one question kept coming up again and again: “But how did you survive financially after quitting the rat race?” In this follow-up video, I break down exactly how I’ve earned a living over the last 3 years since stepping away from salaried work. I haven't needed any lifestyle gurus, get-rich-quick schemes, or fake hustle culture. I talk openly about: Why I started with a small, boring base income How I stacked multiple side hustles instead of chasing one big win Online income streams, freelancing, books, and product sales Why spreading your eggs across baskets matters more after 40 The mindset shift that made uncertainty survivable This isn’t about getting rich. It’s about staying free, adaptable, and upright long enough for momentum to build. If you’re over 40 and quietly wondering, “there has to be another way”, this video might give you some food for thought. 📌 Part 1: Why I Quit the Rat Race at 49 → [https://youtu.be/pmdOgnLY26c?si=RuzutAdQqTxWbKi4] 👇 I read every comment — tell me what’s holding you back. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 3:00 The Uncomfortable Truth 3:43 The Unsexy Part 5:15 Multiple Basket Principle 6:42 Leveraging Instagram & Facebook 8:38 Freelancing 9:50 My Books 10:49 Street Maps 12:03 Embrace AI & Tech 13:25 The 5 Takeaways I have Learned 14:35 Midlife Reset Mentoring 15:13 Outro song: Into The Light Buy a Coffee to Fuel my next walk: [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ellisjamesstewart] Subscribe for more honest, inspiring conversations about life: [https://www.youtube.com/@ellisjamesx] My Other Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@historyghostsmystery] 📚 My Two Books Everest: It's Not About The Summit by Ellis J Stewart (2016) https://amzn.to/3POuYdC Misadventure: Lessons Learned From a Life of Ups and Downs by Ellis J Stewart (2021) https://amzn.to/3CjbISA 📷 The Tech I Use to Record my Videos Apple iPhone 16 Pro - https://amzn.to/4jr3WqA DJI Pocket 3 Camera - https://amzn.eu/d/8y1k4FW DJI Mic 2 - https://amzn.to/4gdiaZc DJI Neo Pocket Drone - https://amzn.to/40ms2tT Telesin Neck Mount -https://amzn.to/3POxBw0 Joby Griptight Tripod - https://amzn.to/4h8E9ly Extendable 71" Tripod - https://amzn.to/4j8hbev Rab Aeon Lt 18 -20 Backpack - https://amzn.to/3CucyvL 👕 Passenger Clothing (My go-to attire) Snapback Trucker Cap - https://amzn.to/40Ij1wD Escapism Recycled Cotton Hoodie - https://amzn.to/3E4FDys Escapism Recycled Cotton T-Shirt - https://amzn.to/4hoK9pN 👟 Vans Footwear (My feet vehicles) https://amzn.to/3YNWM77 🧢 My Jeep Cap (My favourite thing) https://amzn.to/4kknWe2