The Van Plan is an experiment to see if Financial Independence can be reached within 20 years in South Africa. Although the high inflation makes it very tough for salary-earning South Africans to achieve Financial Independence before the age of 65, I also believe that a third-world country like South Africa offers opportunities for extra income. With the correct mindset, good time management and decent financial habits, I believe Financial Independence, Retire Early – also known as the F.I.R.E. movement – is possible. “That is easy to say, but prove it” you might say. Well, that is precisely what this blog is all about. In this blog, I will tell my story of why I decided to fix my financial situation and the steps I took to get my journey on track to Financial independence. I even quit my job in the Engineering industry and started a brand new career in the Financial space. It is not meant as financial advice, but perhaps my story has some valuable tips and tricks that can inspire your story.