This is literally the route I took in my life. Entered the workforce in the early 2000s in IT as helpdesk. Worked till I had a resume good enough for the next level up. Lived below my means. Take several months off to do whatever. Apply for a higher level position. Rinse and repeat every couple years until I was in my 40s at a company I intend to retire with.

I always lived in a smaller place than what I could afford. Never owned a new car. My current vehicle is a 2001 pickup truck, purchased in like 2018. So, gotta trade one luxury for another.

2 caveats: IT as a career was not in the state its in now. Much easier to move up and around. I’m also now in my late 40s and looking to buy my first home, since I wasn’t building a nest egg my whole life, and that’s no fun.

Also, it was really important to have some significant achievements on the resume as I left each place to show growth professionally so I could always jump up in role/salary with each move.

My career is solid and I make a great salary for my age, but homes are just insane. My brother is 6 years younger and took a more traditional route and started a family, he was able to score a good home before COVID.

Still, I wouldn’t trade anything material for the life I took and the places I went.

You don’t really learn how to curse until you learn how to drive.