A Spanish professor struggled to save money in the US. Moving abroad helped him reach Lean FI at 47.

Miguel Marquez teaches French, Spanish, and personal finance at a university in Shenzhen, China. Courtesy of Miguel Marquez After years of living in the US, Miguel Marquez moved to Brazil and later to China to teach. A lower cost of living helped him save 70% of his income and achieve "Lean FI." He still plans to teach, travel, and keep working toward traditional financial independence. Something clicked for Miguel Marquez when a job opportunity brought him to Campina Grande, Brazil. The professor was earning roughly the same amount he had made while living in Bloomington, Indiana, but the lower cost of living allowed him to save significantly more. "I managed to save 10 or 12 times the amount that I was saving in the US," Marquez told Business Insider. After completing a PhD in French linguistics at Indiana University Bloomington, Marquez hoped to remain in the US.