“The idea of a life where I’m not chained to a job is a great motivator”: This tech start-up director is on track to retire at 45

Who: Sidharth Iyer, 37, director at an event technology start-up Where: Etobicoke Current savings: $300,000 Cash needed to retire: $1 million Planned retirement age: 45, in 2033

I immigrated to Toronto from Mumbai in 2017, when I was 29 years old. I’d had an upper-middle-class upbringing, and my dad and I often discussed how to value every rupee. I learned how to track my income and expenses. After arriving in Canada, I came across a blog by a guy who went by Mr. Money Mustache. He’d retired at 30 by cutting his expenses in half and saving 50 per cent of his income. I loved the idea of owning my time and pursuing my passions, like screenwriting, even if they didn’t bring in much money. I set a goal to save $1 million by 2033.

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I knew I’d be at a disadvantage. I didn’t have a local education, which makes it harder to get hired. Still, I figured it was doable with the right attitude. My first job in Canada was as a marketing co-ordinator for a semiconductor company, for $48,000. I didn’t love it, but it felt like an important stepping stone. Luckily my rent wasn’t too high because I was living in Scarborough with two housemates.

I’d been going out with friends to eat or catch a movie a few times a week, but I cut that back to twice a month at most. I started using a meal service called Delish Meals, which sends me a meal per day for $15. It’s enough food for lunch and dinner, and it’s cheaper than buying groceries.

I slowly worked my way into higher-paying roles. I got a gig as a senior SEO strategist at a marketing agency, where I made $80,000 a year, then I switched companies again to make $110,000. But the biggest jump was to remote work for an American tech company. Now I earn more than $200,000 a year. A new gig always comes with risk. One time, the person who hired me was laid off on my first day, then I was laid off eight months later. Still, I’ve found it pays to take chances.

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I also started picking up consulting gigs. For 10 hours of work a week, I’d make an extra $25,000 to $30,000 a year. Very rarely, I’ll have to cancel on someone if a work commitment comes up last-minute. Generally, though, I’ve been able to set good boundaries. I won’t take calls on a Friday evening and never have meetings on weekends.

By 2020, I was saving 45 per cent of my income. I bought a one-bedroom condo in Weston for $300,000 and started living there. Since then, I’ve purchased two other properties to rent out. Real estate investments are unpredictable; they leave me vulnerable to the market. The value of my condos went down in 2025, but I’m not worried. I think their value will recover soon.

Last year, I moved from my one-bedroom in Weston into a spacious two-bedroom and den I own in Etobicoke. I lose a little in rental income, but it allows me to host my parents when they visit from Mumbai. When they’re here, I splurge a bit on taking them out. It’s important to me that they enjoy their time in Canada.

Being aggressive about saving does come at a cost. When I became a Canadian citizen, in 2021, I was excited about having access to so many visa-free destinations. But, because of my saving goals, I rarely go on trips outside of work and visiting home every two years. Still, the idea of a life where I’m not chained to a job is a great motivator. As a first-generation immigrant, I had to build my life here from scratch. I didn’t have an inheritance or anyone to help me. Now that I’m so far along, I feel like I’m proof that early retirement is possible for almost anyone, as long as they have the right mindset.