A woman has "no regrets" burning through her savings and taking a micro-retiring in her 30s - after being laid off from her software job."

Liz White, 34, was working as a customer success manager at a tech company for seven years before she was laid off in March 2025.

Instead of jumping back into the nine to five grind, Liz used her savings and leaned into micro-retirement - a concept where individuals take planned, temporary breaks from their careers.

Liz is planning a year long micro-retirement to travel the country - and plans to visit

England and Italy - and spend more time with her family.

She says micro-retiring in her 30's has been "freeing" as it has enabled her to be active and do things she might struggle to do when she's able to retire in her 70s."

Liz says since micro-retiring, she has realized there is "more life" outside of work, but admits she will have to go back to full-time work by the end of the year after."

Liz, a content creator, from Charlotte, North Carolina, said: "Since micro-retiring, I have more time in my day."

"The best part of micro-retirement is having the flexibility to go on trips with my family."

"It has allowed me to have the time to be there for people I love."

"Financially, I will have to go back to work within the next year or so."

"I am earning money from social media, and that has given me a steady income."

"Life isn't guaranteed, so you have to make the most of the time you have now."

"I don't have any regrets."

Liz decided not to jump straight back into the jobs market after getting laid off in March 2025.

She said: "When you first get laid off, it is scary thinking about the future and what it is going to look like."

"I am so used to working a nine to five, I have been doing that grind for over a decade."

"I had to decide whether or not I would use up my time looking for jobs or not."

"The job market isn't great right now, and I wanted to take advantage of my time now."

Using savings she had accumulated over more than a decade of working, Liz decided to take a break and micro-retire.

Liz said: "When people talk about retirement, it is in the later part of your life."

"Right now, I am young and healthy, but if I spend money now I won't be able to do so when I am retired - it is all part of the journey and worth it."

Liz said the best part of micro-retirement is having the flexibility to go on trips that she would previously have had to say no to.

Her new lifestyle has allowed her to go on last-minute vacations with her family and surprise her twin brother with a visit on their birthday.

Liz said: "The best part of micro-retirement is having the flexibility to go on trips."

"My brother, and sister-in-law were going on a trip to Florida, I was able to get a last-minute flight with them, which I couldn't have done if I were working."

"I also have a twin brother who was celebrating our birthday mid-week in Philadelphia, and I was able to attend as I wasn't working."

Since micro-retiring, Liz realized how many people "make work their identity" and "don't have much of a life outside of their job". "

She says micro-retiring has enabled her to have more time for friends and family, as she is not getting home tired after a day in the office.

Liz said: "I'm so far removed from work life now, even though I was in it for so long, it feels foreign to me."

"I'm realising how much there is in the world to invest in."

"I never made work my identity, but a lot of people do. It has made me realise that there is so much to life outside of work."

"I say yes to more things, and be more social as I am not getting tired from the work day."