A day in the life of an NYC resident who retired as a self-made millionaire at 30 and is riding out the pandemic upstate

Hillary HoffowerJun 14, 2020, 19:38 IST

Early retiree Grant Sabatier has been riding out the pandemic in upstate New York.Grant Sabatier

Grant Sabatier retired at age 30 with a self-made $1.25 million net worth.
Sabatier typically resides in Brooklyn with his wife, but they've been riding out the pandemic in upstate New York.
Last year, Sabatier's days were filled with events and travel. This year, they're filled with hikes and a lot of time on the porch.

When Grant Sabatier's wife asked him in December what he hoped for in 2020, his immediate response was "rest."

The 34-year-old retired at age 30 with a net worth of $1.25 million. In 2019, his days were filled running his blog Millennial Money and promoting his book "Financial Freedom." He told Business Insider that by the end of the year, he was burnt out. Thanks to quarantine, he's finally able to get his rest.

Sabatier and his wife, who live in Brooklyn, have been riding out the pandemic in an Airbnb barn in upstate New York. "It feels like I've been here for years," he said. "Time moves fast and slow at the same time."

He spends a good chunk of his days on his screened-in porch, where he said he's been "watching the seasons change and the world suffer."

Sabatier said that since achieving financial independence, he's largely been able to do what he wants. Now, he said, "So much yet so little about my day-to-day life has changed."

Here's what a typical day in quarantine looks like for Sabatier.

Grant Sabatier, 34, retired at age 30 with a net worth of $1.25 million that took him five years to build while working in digital marketing. He resides in NYC.

Grant Sabatier

In late February, he and his wife took a week-long vacation in upstate New York. As the coronavirus spread, they decided to stay there and booked an Airbnb barn indefinitely.

Grant Sabatier

In late February, he and his wife took a week-long vacation in upstate New York. As the coronavirus spread, they decided to stay there and booked an Airbnb barn indefinitely.

Sabatier said that 2019 was one of the busiest years of his life, involving a three-month 13,000-mile book tour across the US and Canada, holding over 80 events, and meeting thousands of readers. He also traveled almost weekly.

Sabatier (far right) at the NYC premiere of the documentary "Playing with FIRE" in 2019. Grant Sabatier

Sabatier said that 2019 was one of the busiest years of his life, involving a three-month 13,000-mile book tour across the US and Canada, holding over 80 events, and meeting thousands of readers. He also traveled almost weekly.

But the pandemic has finally helped him rest. "I sleep better and deeper here," he said. He wakes up at 7:30 a.m. to begin a slow morning.

Grant Sabatier

At 8:30 a.m., Sabatier makes breakfast — typically yogurt or two eggs over easy with a piece of toast. "One thing I've missed is going out for breakfast with friends," he said.

Grant Sabatier

At 8:30 a.m., Sabatier makes breakfast — typically yogurt or two eggs over easy with a piece of toast. "One thing I've missed is going out for breakfast with friends," he said.

Sabatier doesn't have social media on his phone, and sits down on his computer to check in with the world sometime between 9:00 and 9:30 am from his screened-in porch.

Views from Sabatier's screened-in porch. Grant Sabatier

At noon, Sabatier stops working to make a simple lunch of either leftovers from dinner the night before or a salad with a sandwich.

Grant Sabatier

Sabatier begins his writing time an hour later. He's currently working on his second book, which he writes on his iPad with a keyboard.

Grant Sabatier

By 4 p.m., he grows tired of writing and finds his way to his meditation cushion. "I just sit, take a few breaths, let my mind wander, and don't hold onto any thought too tightly," he said.

Grant Sabatier

By 4 p.m., he grows tired of writing and finds his way to his meditation cushion. "I just sit, take a few breaths, let my mind wander, and don't hold onto any thought too tightly," he said.

After he's done meditating, Sabatier reads or checks his email. He's currently reading "In Love With The World" by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

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At 6 p.m., he and his wife stop in Woodstock on the way to their hike. While there, they pick up dinner ingredients and drive through Woodstock Cemetery to pay respects to Levon Helm from The Band.

Grant Sabatier

At 6 p.m., he and his wife stop in Woodstock on the way to their hike. While there, they pick up dinner ingredients and drive through Woodstock Cemetery to pay respects to Levon Helm from The Band.

Half an hour later, they're hiking on their favorite trail nearby. It's something they do three or four days a week.

Grant Sabatier

Afterwards, they stop for sorbet or ice cream. On the menu today is a local lemon sorbet with pieces of lemon peel. "The taste of summer," Sabatier said.

Grant Sabatier

They tend to eat a late dinner, around 7:45 p.m. Tonight, they make a salad and a simple mushroom pasta with local mushrooms they picked up at a roadside stand.

Grant Sabatier

After dinner, they take a walk up a nearby hill or a drive up one of the mountains to watch the sunset. "The light is so beautiful in the Hudson River Valley," he said.

Early retiree Grant Sabatier has been riding out the pandemic in upstate New York. Grant Sabatier

By 9 p.m., they're back at the barn where they play a board game, read, keep working, or watch a movie. Tonight, they watch the 1980 gangster movie "Gloria."

Grant Sabatier

Sabatier is in bed by 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. most nights. "I'm grateful to be able to spend my time doing what I love," he said. "I know this is a privilege and I don't take it for granted."

Grant Sabatier

Sabatier is in bed by 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. most nights. "I'm grateful to be able to spend my time doing what I love," he said. "I know this is a privilege and I don't take it for granted."

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A day in the life of an NYC resident who retired as a self-made millionaire at 30 and is riding out the pandemic upstate

Grant Sabatier, 34, retired at age 30 with a net worth of $1.25 million that took him five years to build while working in digital marketing. He resides in NYC.

In late February, he and his wife took a week-long vacation in upstate New York. As the coronavirus spread, they decided to stay there and booked an Airbnb barn indefinitely.

Sabatier said that 2019 was one of the busiest years of his life, involving a three-month 13,000-mile book tour across the US and Canada, holding over 80 events, and meeting thousands of readers. He also traveled almost weekly.

But the pandemic has finally helped him rest. "I sleep better and deeper here," he said. He wakes up at 7:30 a.m. to begin a slow morning.

At 8:30 a.m., Sabatier makes breakfast — typically yogurt or two eggs over easy with a piece of toast. "One thing I've missed is going out for breakfast with friends," he said.

Sabatier doesn't have social media on his phone, and sits down on his computer to check in with the world sometime between 9:00 and 9:30 am from his screened-in porch.

At noon, Sabatier stops working to make a simple lunch of either leftovers from dinner the night before or a salad with a sandwich.

Sabatier begins his writing time an hour later. He's currently working on his second book, which he writes on his iPad with a keyboard.

By 4 p.m., he grows tired of writing and finds his way to his meditation cushion. "I just sit, take a few breaths, let my mind wander, and don't hold onto any thought too tightly," he said.

After he's done meditating, Sabatier reads or checks his email. He's currently reading "In Love With The World" by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

At 6 p.m., he and his wife stop in Woodstock on the way to their hike. While there, they pick up dinner ingredients and drive through Woodstock Cemetery to pay respects to Levon Helm from The Band.

Half an hour later, they're hiking on their favorite trail nearby. It's something they do three or four days a week.

Afterwards, they stop for sorbet or ice cream. On the menu today is a local lemon sorbet with pieces of lemon peel. "The taste of summer," Sabatier said.

They tend to eat a late dinner, around 7:45 p.m. Tonight, they make a salad and a simple mushroom pasta with local mushrooms they picked up at a roadside stand.

After dinner, they take a walk up a nearby hill or a drive up one of the mountains to watch the sunset. "The light is so beautiful in the Hudson River Valley," he said.

By 9 p.m., they're back at the barn where they play a board game, read, keep working, or watch a movie. Tonight, they watch the 1980 gangster movie "Gloria."

Sabatier is in bed by 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. most nights. "I'm grateful to be able to spend my time doing what I love," he said. "I know this is a privilege and I don't take it for granted."