An article at WikiHow offers advice on how to retire in your 30’s

The financial freedom of a modest, early retirement is actually achievable for many smart and motivated people in college or their early 20’s. If you make early retirement your highest priority in life and follow a disciplined path to obtaining it, you should be able to leave work permanently in your 30’s and spend your life and time at your complete discretion.

This guide is a bit extreme, so I think it only applies to a very small population of people, however there is plenty to take from the article.

One interesting thing to note is that it suggests renting rather than buying unless you’re in an area of low costs. I’d have to say I agree with them– I regret buying sometimes as I was in a much better financial position until I started “paying the man” every month, including all of the other things that come with ownership (needing furniture, etc). While I’m slowly building equity, I think I could have done better on my own by renting and socking the difference into an index fund or something of the sort.