. >> reporter: and even for debt- free higher earners like mark and sina ebersole, becoming financiallyependent began as a heavy li. >> it was pretty hard at the beginning for me, paring it down, and saving, saving, saving, saving. that w a very foreign concept for me. >> reporter: did you like it? >> no. it felt a little bit like, are we wasting away our good yea? >> reporter: ten years later, the former dance instructor is grateful that she and mark, an engineer, work only when they want to. >> we're working on opening a ballroom dance hall. >> it's kind of like a dance-- ballroom dance studio, but more. social-focus >> reporter: ellen robinson relishes the reward of scrimpind thves the fire men and women seeking financial independence. >> so, it's not necessarily about not working, but it's the freedom th comes with not having to work. right now, my kidsre four and two, and i'm home with them all day everyday, and not worrying about whether or not we can buy our groceries. >> reporter: as for mr. money stache himself? >> the gl is just to live a happy existence and maybe leave the wo