Hi! What a great goal but I agree with everyone to pay off debt first. My husband was able to retire early but I am still working and my love for what I do weans every year. We have just come up with a plan to pay off our mortgage by September 2015. By that time we will only have a home equity loan to pay off. No mortgage, no car payment & no credit card debt! Trying to build up our savings too. It is fun to have a goal that we are going to work on together & keep each other accountable for. I love your idea if trying things out part-time. Sounds solid. I hope in a few years to be able to just have a job with much, much less stress just for the health benefits. We live in a small ranch house that suits us fine & dropped the idea of buying a bigger & better house with more land b/c neither of us wanted to work until the age of 80. Quality of life is so important. Anyway, good luck with your side business & I wish you much success!!