Episode 471: Why He Quit His $100K Engineering Job to Work at McDonald's w/ Drew Lee

In this episode, I sit down with Drew Lee, a former engineer turned personal finance content creator, who made a bold decision to walk away from a six figure career more than once to pursue a life of flexibility and purpose. Drew reached Coast FI, where your investments grow on their own to fund retirement, in his late 20s, and shares how that freedom changed the way he thinks about work.

We talk about the realities behind quitting a stable job, navigating uncertainty, and what it really takes to pursue your passions, especially when you have a family. Drew also opens up about working hourly jobs by choice, building a content brand from scratch, and the mindset shifts that helped him stay committed even when things were not working.

In This Episode Drew shares:

• How he reached Coast FI with a $300K net worth by age 29

• Why quitting a six figure job was not a one time decision

• How low expenses gave him the flexibility to take risks

• The moment his content finally took off and became profitable + more

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:

• 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 Drew:

• Instagram: @dollarswithdrew

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