Escape the Rat Race: Low-Risk Steps to Freedom

The secret to escaping the rat race isn’t courage—it’s strategy.

After leaving the rat race 35 years ago and knowing many people who have done the same, I’ve listed 12 low-risk steps that build bridges to independence without burning financial security. Let’s begin your escape plan.

But first, Why Take the Small-Steps Approach?

Quitting your job tomorrow might sound thrilling. But It’s also terrifying. And often unnecessary.

The small-steps approach offers several advantages:

You maintain financial stability while building towards your freedom
You can test different lifestyles before committing
You reduce stress by avoiding drastic changes
You build confidence with each successful step
And You create safety nets that protect your journey

When I quit the rat race and left England back in 1990, it was more of a big step. But the world was different then. There was no internet, so I couldn’t work remotely or have an online business. But I did have a backup plan of returning to the UK if it didn’t work out.

Let’s Look at the 12 steps.

1. Define Your Personal “Rat Race”

Everyone’s rat race looks different. For some, it’s that soul-crushing commute. For others, it’s working for a toxic boss. Maybe it’s just the constant pressure to earn more and buy more.

Ask yourself questions like:

What specifically makes me feel trapped?
Which parts of my current life would I actually like to keep?
What would real freedom look like on a random day in the future? For me it’s been working where I want and when I want

Be specific. “I hate my job” isn’t helpful. “I hate spending two hours commuting each day” points to an actual problem with solutions.

List all the things you don’t like and want to change.

2. Take a Financial Snapshot

Freedom requires honesty. Especially about money.

Calculate:

Your current monthly expenses
Your total debt and interest rates
Your savings and investments
Your bare minimum living costs

This isn’t about judgment—it’s about clarity. You can’t map an escape route without knowing your starting point.

3. Envision Your Freedom Lifestyle

What’s on the other side of the rat race for you?

Is it:

Working remotely from different countries?
Starting a small business doing what you love?
Working part-time and pursuing creative projects?
Living simply in a rural area or another country with lower costs?
Or continuing similar work but on your own terms?

Your vision guides every step. Write it down. Look at it often and imagine it.

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

4. Build Your Financial Parachute

Before making moves, build safety nets. Start with an emergency fund.

Aim for 3-6 months of essential expenses saved in an account. The more, the better. This single step reduces enormous risk from your escape plan. It creates breathing room and prevents panic decisions.

Start small. Even $25 per week adds up. Set up automatic transfers on payday.

5. Simplify Gradually

Reducing expenses isn’t just about saving money. It’s practice for freedom.

Try:

A 30-day no-shopping challenge
Canceling one subscription each month
Learning to cook one new budget-friendly meal each week
Swapping expensive hobbies for free alternatives for a while
Postpone major purchases for 30 days

The goal isn’t to deprive yourself. It’s discovering what you truly value versus what you spend out of habit.

For me, not having a house and lots of belongings is a relief. I can move around with just a suitcase, backpack, or campervan. Freedom wins every day of the week.

6. Tackle High-Interest Debt

Debt is a chain holding you down. High-interest debt is the heaviest link.

Focus on eliminating credit card balances and personal loans first. Each debt you clear increases your options dramatically.

Consider the debt snowball method – paying smallest balances first or avalanche method -highest interest first. Choose the approach that motivates you most.

In western countries around 40% of people hold credit card debt, highlighting the big need to address high-interest debt.

7. Create Income Streams While Employed

Your current job can fund your escape. Start building alternative income while still collecting regular paychecks.

Consider:

Freelancing in your professional field
Creating digital products related to your expertise
Starting a small service business on weekends
Investing in stocks or rental property
Or building an online audience around your passions

I built multiple income streams for security and that’s the aim, but start with one replacement income at first.

8. Test-Drive Alternative Arrangements

Don’t quit before testing your assumptions.

If you dream of remote work, try negotiating one day per week from home. Hoping to freelance? Take on one client while employed. Considering moving somewhere cheaper? Rent an Airbnb there for a week.

Real-world tests provide invaluable data and prevent expensive mistakes.

Before I left the UK, I went to Australia for a month with a friend and to Spain for a week on my own. It reinforced my desire to travel.

9. Find Your Freedom Tribe

Escaping alone is hard.

Find communities of others on similar journeys:

Online forums for financial independence
Local meetups for entrepreneurs or digital nomads
Social media groups focused on alternative lifestyles
Friends or family members with similar goals

These connections provide both emotional support and practical advice from those who’ve walked the path before you.

Subscribe to my channel for more advice and thoughts from someone who quit the rat race over 35 years ago.

10. Practice Run Your New Life

Before making permanent changes, simulate your target lifestyle.

Try living on your projected smaller budget for three months. Work the hours you plan to work. Adjust your social activities to match your vision.

These trial runs reveal gaps in your planning and help refine your approach. Not everything will go smoothly.

“Success is a journey, not a destination,” said by Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American philosopher. He was emphasizing the process of continuous improvement.

I have found that pretty much nothing goes according to plan but I still make plans and just adapt. I have several ideas to get this youtube channel popular but I don’t know which ones will work until I try.

11. Create Your Step-by-Step Exit Plan

With research and practice runs done, create your detailed escape plan.

Include:

Specific financial milestones
Skills you need to develop
Connections you need to make
And Research that needs to be done

Review your plan monthly and adjust as needed.

Personally, I have short-term and long-term goals and plans. It helps me make the most of life.

12. Build in Flexibility

Life happens. Markets change. Opportunities emerge.

Your escape plan should be a living document, not a rigid contract. Build in decision points where you’ll reassess and pivot if necessary.

The goal isn’t perfect execution of your plan. It’s achieving the freedom you desire, however that evolves.

Take Your First Step Today

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. What single action can you take in the next 24 hours?

Maybe it’s:

Setting up an automatic transfer of $20 to an emergency fund
Writing down your detailed vision of freedom
Calculating your current monthly expenses
Researching one potential passive income stream
Or Joining an online community of like-minded individuals

Choose one thing. Do it today. Then tomorrow, take another step.

Freedom isn’t a dramatic leap. It’s a series of small, smart choices that gradually loosen the chains of the rat race. Start now, move steadily, and before you know it, you’ll look back and marvel at how far you’ve come.

I’ve lived in different countries around the world and had several online and offline businesses. All because I took the first step, then another, and another.

As they say, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today.”