This is part of a 30-day series called the 30 Steps Program to Financial Independence.

I clearly remember the last time I sent a recorded, signed-for delivery letter to my boss. It was Christmas Day in 2009. I bet he had a memorable day! In the end, I really despised him for various reasons, mainly because he and another colleague were always pressuring and harassing me. They even went as far as installing webcams above my head to monitor my every move while I worked.

On that Christmas Day, I felt an enormous weight lift off my shoulders. I was incredibly happy! I had been anticipating this day for months. I had strategized carefully, working just enough to receive steady paychecks so the bank would approve a loan for me to buy a flat. I then rented out that flat to generate passive income. Meanwhile, I built up my freelance writing business to nearly match my day job salary. Plus, by not having to live in the expensive United Kingdom anymore, I saved a ton of money. All of this meant I had more money at the end of the month than when I was working for those terrible people!

Quitting your job might seem like a distant dream, something you haven’t even considered yet. But why should you think about it? Imagine what your life would be like if you didn’t have to clock in today. You could do anything you wanted! Work on a personal project, go for a run, travel the world, visit friends… The freedom sounds wonderful, right? If you’ve been following this blog and this series, I bet you crave that freedom.

However, quitting your job requires significant thought and planning unless you are ready for a rough path ahead. You need to figure out how you will cover your bills, maintain a roof over your head, and provide food for yourself.

For me, that meant moving to a cheaper country—I relocated to Morocco. I embraced a simple life and enjoyed the sun after three years in Britain. My passive income and freelance earnings covered my expenses more than adequately. But what if the freelancing dried up? It was still manageable, though less comfortable. I would just need to cut back on certain things like dining out and traveling, or possibly find new clients.

No reason to be frightened. Although for some, this uncertainty might be enough to keep them up at night.