From postman to FIRE in Geneva: João’s story
My name is João. I’m 46, married, no kids, and I live in Geneva.
My path to financial independence started at La Poste (Swiss Post), where I’ve been working for 29 years.
I’m now FIRE with a net worth of CHF 2.35M, a monthly budget of CHF 3'880, and a work rate reduced to 30%.
How João reached FIRE in Geneva in 24 years
One goal: become a millionaire and stop working by 45
When I was 18, I made a decision: I wanted to stop working and live off my own income by 45 at the latest.
The trigger was simple. I didn’t want to end up like my parents, my family, and my friends, who had spent their entire lives working hard for a tiny pension, at an age where they no longer had the energy, or sometimes even the health, to enjoy it…
As a teenager with no experience and very little information (in 1997, the internet barely existed, and the FIRE movement was unheard of), my reasoning was pretty straightforward:
- What do you need to stop working?
- You need to be rich!
- And what does it take to be rich? Become a millionaire.
- So CHF 1 million became my target.
I did a very basic calculation to check if it was realistic:
- If I stop at 45, I’ll have 20 years left until official retirement.
- So with CHF 1'000'000: CHF 1'000'000 / 20 (years) / 12 (months) = CHF 4'166.66/month
… to live on until retirement. After that, I’d receive the AHV/AVS + 2nd pillar + 3rd pillar.
At the time, I had planned to move back to my home country (Portugal), where that amount would have been more than enough, since CHF 1'000 per month was already a fortune there. But I didn’t know what inflation was yet… Nearly 30 years later, that same amount doesn’t look quite as impressive!
Frugal since childhood, investor at 18
I’ve always been frugal. Even as a kid, I used to sell my toys to make money. I saved everything I could, and I had this rule that was part of how I was raised:
You only buy something if you have the money for it.
Unfortunately, I grew up learning about money through hard work, but not through investing… and that’s something I really missed out on.
At 18, as I was heading off on my first holiday without my parents, I told them:
I’m going to buy an apartment.
And when I came back, I had actually bought my first property (in Portugal).
From there, I kept working and working… until I owned 5 apartments (one in Portugal, two in France, and two in Switzerland).
In the meantime, I also started investing in the stock market.
Working 7 days a week to reach financial independence
I had one thing on my mind: reaching financial independence.
So I worked non-stop. During the day at La Poste, in the evening as a DJ, and in my free time, any honest job that paid.
I was working so much that I became a frugalist without even trying. I simply didn’t have time to spend money hehe (great savings hack, by the way!)
Pretty quickly, I met my future wife… who had a completely different outlook on life.
She lived in the moment, enjoyed every second, without worrying too much about the future. Her father had a stroke at 37, so she knew life could change in an instant.
I like to compare my goal to a long road trip.
A kind of Geneva-to-Portugal drive, with highways, back roads, detours, traffic jams, obstacles, forks in the road…
Every route choice could either shorten or delay the arrival.
How a sabbatical convinced me to go down to 30%
Just before turning 40, we took a 6-month sabbatical… and that was the turning point.
Pure bliss!
Freedom!
No more constraints.
No more work stress.
That’s when I decided to sell everything.
After long negotiations with my wife (I decided to listen to her, wives are always right ;)), we made the best decision of our lives.
When the time came to decide whether we’d fully embrace financial independence in Switzerland, we didn’t stop working entirely as planned. Instead, we reduced our work rate to the bare minimum: 30%. We work one week per month.
This allows us to avoid paying all social contributions at 100%, and to stay affiliated with a pension fund.
And most importantly… We have 3 weeks off every month!
I like to say:
I work 12 weeks a year… and I have 40 weeks of holiday.
78% savings rate and CHF 1.8M accumulated
FIRE became a reality 5 years ahead of my goal (vs. stop working at 45), despite all the criticism and doubt from the beginning.
Like many others in the FIRE community, I often heard:
- “You’ll never make it…”,
- “In 6 months, you’ll have changed your mind!”,
- “It’s impossible…”
Even institutions like VZ looked at me wide-eyed when I presented my plan. (I probably paved the way for MP ;))
A few days ago, as I was preparing this article, I recalculated my numbers…
Over 24 years of working at 100%, I earned approximately CHF 2'300'000 at La Poste (I have every single pay slip since the first one ^^, and a trusty old Excel file).
And I managed to build up a fortune of CHF 1'800'000, which means an average savings rate of 78%!
Not bad for someone without a university degree.
I’m living proof that if you want it, you can do it. Nothing is impossible!
I started as a postman, then completed 2 apprenticeships and several internal training programs, and ended up as an administrator.
My FIRE life in Geneva today
Our FIRE life in Geneva today? I’m fulfilled, and so is my wife.
We do what we enjoy.
She’s a community interpreter. She accompanies patients who don’t speak French to their medical appointments. She feels useful, she learns something new every day, and she often comes home moved by life lessons.
Because, yes, we are rich… as long as we have our health. Everything else has little value.
As for me, I work my one week per month at a Post Office counter.
I bring good energy, a bit of lightness, and it keeps me grounded. It reminds me how lucky I am to live the rest of the month on my own terms.
On the side, I’ve built a business as a deal finder in real estate (my passion), as well as in several related fields.
I’m also an investor in real estate club deals, and I still invest in the stock market, recently through IBKR and in solid ETFs, thanks to MP.
Too bad a blog like this one didn’t exist back in my day…
And especially a blog focused on investing for people in Switzerland, which is truly unique. Thank you, MP, for the excellent work and all the great tips shared!
MP: “Thank you, João, your story is inspiring! Because, yes, it is possible, and you are the proof :)”
Here’s a quick summary. You are FIRE in Geneva with:
- CHF 2.35M net worth
- a monthly budget of CHF 3'880
- and a work rate reduced to 30%
Reading through your story, here are the questions that came to mind."
Our budget, and the reality of being FIRE in Geneva
Are you really independent if you still work?
MP: “What do you say to people who tell you that you’re basically just part-time, since you still work?”
I tell them I can stop whenever I want (financially, since I’ve more than doubled my original target). It’s simply a personal choice, carefully thought through with my wife, because she’s not yet ready to stop working entirely from a psychological standpoint…
Monthly budget: how much does our life in Geneva cost?
MP: “How much do you spend per month? What’s the breakdown by budget category?”
I spend about CHF 3'880 per month. We live, in general, very simply (true frugalists), even though I’ve never kept a formal budget, and I’ve never really deprived myself of much!
That said, without knowing it, I had been following at least 90% of the FIRE movement’s principles, haha (I had a good laugh when I read your book last June).
Here’s a summary of our fixed monthly expenses:
| Category | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Rent (utilities + parking), 4-room apartment in Champel [1] | 800 |
| Health insurance (private + supplementary) | 1'200 |
| Taxes (mostly wealth tax) | 700 |
| Telecom + TV + Internet + Serafe + SIG | 180 |
| Food + restaurants + drinks + coffee | 1'000 |
| TOTAL | 3'880 |
[1] Everyone must be thinking: “There’s no way you pay that little in rent!” And they’d be right. In this neighborhood, a 4-room apartment typically goes for CHF 3k to 4k (and just to be clear: 6th floor, dual-aspect, with a balcony ahah). The parking spot alone is at least CHF 300/month!
The truth is, being FIRE in Geneva with CHF 800 rent is possible thanks to a cooperative housing unit from the Confederation. Since I work at La Poste, I’m eligible. And the cherry on top: even if I leave the company, I can keep it for life (only a 10% increase is applied).
And on the income side:
| Source | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Fixed net income (couple, 30%) | 4'020/month |
| Side activities “for fun” | 2'500 to 5'000/month [2] |
[2] Varies depending on mood and how much time we spend in Geneva (CHF 30k to 60k/year)
MP: “Do you have a safety net (emergency fund, how many months of expenses)?”
Yes, my safety net is a minimum of CHF 100'000 for unexpected costs… and especially to treat myself :)
Net worth and investment strategy
How our CHF 2.35M net worth breaks down
MP: “What’s your current net worth (breakdown in %: real estate, cash, ETFs, etc.)?”
Our current net worth (my wife and I) is approximately CHF 2'350'000.
Here’s how it breaks down:
| Asset | Amount (CHF) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Various real estate investments | 700'000 | 30% |
| Cash (reserves, brokerage, club deals) | 500'000 | 21% |
| 2nd pillar | 450'000 | 19% |
| ETFs, stocks, funds | 400'000 | 17% |
| Apartment in Portugal | 100'000 | 4% |
| Life insurance [3] | 100'000 | 4% |
| 3rd pillar | 100'000 | 4% |
| TOTAL | 2'350'000 | 100% |
[3] Too bad MP’s blog didn’t exist in 1999 when I signed up for it…
Real estate investments in Switzerland (10% minimum)
MP: “What returns have you had on your real estate (cash flow, capital gains, rental yield)?”
I no longer own any rental properties. When I did, I was targeting around 10% return.
Today, I invest in renovation/resale projects or in participatory loans. I still aim for the same target of roughly 10%.
ETFs and the stock market in our financial strategy
MP: “How do you invest in the stock market today (what strategy, percentage in ETFs, how much per month)?”
I invest in the stock market through three ETFs (VT, Swiss, European). I only just started buying ETFs (thanks to you, so a big thank you again! I had never dared before…)
I plan to buy three:
- VT (global)
- Swiss (CHF)
- European (EUR) (as I have 100K in euros that I’d like to put to work)
I plan to buy around 10k per quarter of ETFs, on autopilot. And when there’s a “sale” hehe, I’ll make one-off purchases.
The goal: reduce idle cash and grow our wealth.
A typical week now that we’re FIRE
MP: “What does a typical day (or week) look like during your 3 weeks of ‘holiday’ (schedule, activities, rituals)?”
When I’m in Geneva, my days never start before 9am (mandatory rest!). Then it’s about an hour for a leisurely breakfast, like at a hotel. Between 10 and 11am, I turn on my phone… and the day begins :D
I go for a walk at Parc Bertrand (minimum 30 minutes), then have lunch with friends, clients, or my wife.
In the afternoon: I either wrap up my tasks or go for a walk in nature, depending on how I feel.
We have dinner around 7 to 7:30pm, then the evening is free. We try to get at least 8 hours of sleep, so lights out before midnight.
On holiday, the rhythm is a bit different. We might get up earlier if something is planned, but we stick to our rest routine. Breakfast is sacred (minimum 1 hour). Then: total freedom!
We love beaches, hikes, museums, and local traditions. Always outdoors, if possible!
MP: “What pleasures do you allow yourself (travel, restaurants, expensive hobbies, vs. simple everyday things)?”
I don’t deprive myself of anything, because as we say: “I’ve worked hard enough to deserve it!” But once a frugalist, always a frugalist, I think…
So, we look around, we compare, we find deals:
- Leave on Tuesdays
- Outside school holidays
- Optimized car rental searches (cancel/rebook if the price drops)
Here are a few of our little luxuries we indulge in:
- Beautiful hotels (tip: say you’re on your honeymoon, and you’ll often get upgraded or find a surprise in your room)
- House rentals
- Eating well and healthy (with the Yuka app)
FIRE as a couple, and what other people think
Let’s talk budgets and finances as a couple
MP: “How does your couple handle the different views on money and the future (you being very FIRE, her being more carpe diem)?”
We’ve been together for 22 years, married for 2 (yes, I made her wait a long time!). I told her one week after we met: “I don’t want marriage or children.” But since only fools never change their mind, I married her.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have children.
She’s the love of my life. Without her, I probably would never have made it. She’s the one who endured and sacrificed so much, and she’s the one I want to enjoy the rest of my life with.
Today, everything is simple. Money is no longer an issue, but I have a duty to make sure she never runs out, and above all, to make her happy.
How people react when you cut your work rate to 30%
MP: “How did your family and friends react when you went down to 30%?”
My family and friends reacted with total disbelief. And yet, I could have stopped entirely! I think they never really believed it was possible.
And the cherry on top: the successful negotiation to work only 1 week per month!
MP: “Do you ever feel like an outsider or misunderstood in your social circle?”
Often… The rare times I’ve told my story, people thought I was making it up!
Very few people understand our lifestyle.
I’ve been told:
- “Is your thing some kind of cult!?”
- “Yeah right… Prove it!”
Today, I don’t talk about it anymore. I just say I work a little and that I’m an investor in my spare time… I completely understand why you want to stay anonymous, MP!
MP: “Have you ever had doubts or moments of financial fear? How did you deal with it?”
Yes, ever since I was 18, from the moment I set that goal. And even after reaching it. A bit like you, without fully realizing it. To reassure myself, I more than doubled my original target…
And I’d say it’s only been about a year since I’ve truly felt at peace with it.
The world is in such bad shape, people are harsh, the planet is suffering… so the only thing that worries me these days is health: for my wife, our families, and our loved ones.
Stay in Geneva or move abroad?
MP: “Are you planning to stay in Geneva or move (Portugal, elsewhere)?”
Great question.
We’re both Swiss citizens.
We live in the best country in the world, but the cost of living and social contributions (AHV/AVS, health insurance, etc…) for someone who is FIRE really make you think.
We’re considering splitting our time between:
- Switzerland (I’m keeping “the gem” that is my apartment, because it’s worth more than a maximized AHV/AVS!)
- And abroad (Mallorca, which we love, or Portugal as a bit of a default option)
But if we were to leave, we think we’d like to end our days here.
And apart from that, we just want to make the most of life, and above all, try to stay healthy.
MP: “Do you think about passing on your wealth (inheritance, helping family, philanthropy)?”
I do think about it, yes… I wrote my first will at 30.
Like you, I believe money should be used to enjoy life.
If there’s anything left, my heirs will split it.
I donate to a few charities, but I prefer to help directly, by assisting there in person.
3 lessons after 24 years on the path to financial independence
MP: “What was your biggest sacrifice to reach your goal?”
Working relentlessly for several years, 7 days a week. My record: 32 hours straight!…
MP: “What was your biggest stroke of luck?”
Buying my apartment in a development zone in Geneva:
- Bought at CHF 5'851/m², sold 10 years later at CHF 12'500/m²
- That’s +213%!
MP: “What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self if you could go back in time?”
Nothing is impossible! If you want it and you put in the work, you’ll get there. Educate yourself, become the best in your field. And if you want to become FIRE, buy the book “Free by 40 in Switzerland” by Marc Pittet and follow his blog… (just to be clear, I’m not getting paid for this ahah!)
Last updated: March 5, 2026