Screw The Average: The Couple Chasing Life in the 90th Percentile

Always looking for better ways to live, travel, and grow, Shannon and Sergio aim high without showing off

Shannon and Sergio are behind Screw The Average, a minimalist, financially independent couple who turned a shared desire for more purposeful living into a full-time travel lifestyle. Their blog documents a rare blend of discipline and adventure. It’s not about rejecting normal life, but about designing a better one.

At-a-Glance:

Web Name: Screw The Average
Name: Shannon & Sergio
Generation: Millennials
FI status: Lean FI; achieved long-term travel through minimalism & planning
Travel type: Digital nomads & house sitters
Travel Regions: North America, Europe, Asia, Central America
Media Platforms: Website, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Reddit

Backstory

Before they ever booked a one-way ticket, Shannon and Sergio were deep in the corporate routine. He worked in tech, she in operations. They didn’t hate it. But the structure of routine felt too tight. That sense of being trapped by expectation was the first crack in the dam. As their relationship deepened, they realised they shared a discomfort with the idea of “average”. They began experimenting with saving techniques, scrutinising every expense, and streamlining their lives. By 2016, they had sold nearly everything and reduced their possessions to fit into two 36L backpacks. Their former life receded like a shoreline. They were gone.

The Shift

The shift was cumulative, not one moment. Sergio spoke about wanting to live in the 90th percentile: not perfect, but way past average. This idea became a personal north star. It translated into every choice: financial, physical, mental. In 2016, they left the US and began travelling full-time. Not to escape, but to explore with intention. House sitting became their way in. It offered stability, purpose, and community, all while keeping costs low. Over time, their confidence grew. They realised they didn’t have to return to old patterns. This life could be sustainable.

How They Made It Work

There’s no silver bullet. They approached it as a problem to be solved. First came deep budgeting: what could they live on, truly? They practised frugality while still home-based, testing their limits. Then came house sitting: they built a strong profile, joined multiple platforms, and offered services for free. It wasn’t about undercutting others, but about building trust. Their expenses plummeted. Flights were booked with points, meals cooked in borrowed kitchens. They avoided unnecessary spending, carried just what they needed, and refined every system from gear to finances. Eventually, they created a travel rhythm that matched their pace, not the world’s.

Where They Travel & Why

They’ve crossed through cities and small towns across three continents, choosing places based on sit opportunities, climate, and curiosity. There’s no checklist. Locations come to them as invitations; a lakeside cabin in British Columbia, a flat in Berlin, a home with three dogs in rural Portugal. Each sit offers immersion. They prefer places that allow routine within difference: local shops, dog walks, and quiet evenings. Travel is not a race. They choose slowness. Asia and Europe have offered balance: affordability, quality of life, and cultural richness. North and Central America gave them their start. Wherever they are, they stay long enough to feel local.

Challenges & Real Talk

There have been setbacks. Flights missed, hosts cancelling, or pets with medical needs. Not every sit is smooth. Loneliness creeps in. They miss friends, family, and predictability. Health insurance abroad is complex. The baby added new logistics. Minimalism with a child is possible, but not easy. Still, the trade-offs feel worth it. They are honest about fatigue: the constant planning, the visa research, the packing and unpacking. But they’ve found systems that ease the friction. They don’t glamorise it. What works is simplicity, boundaries, and knowing why they chose this path.

What Keeps Them Going

Their why hasn’t changed. They’re still chasing the 90th percentile. Not perfection, but a version of life that feels earned and examined. They want presence: not just to see places, but to live inside them. That goal extends to parenthood, marriage, wellness. Every sit is a new rhythm, a reminder of adaptability. Their blog and video content keep them connected to others who want the same. It’s not just about them anymore. The ripple is part of the reward. This life may be unconventional, but for them, it feels truer than anything they left behind.

Advice to Readers

Start now. Practise house sitting before you travel. Build habits of simplicity before you pack your bag. Track your spending for six months; build it into a habit. Test minimalism at home. If you plan to travel with a child, trial trips before going full-time. Gear matters, but less than mindset. Expect the work. It’s not a vacation. Shannon and Sergio suggest earning trust by offering house sitting services for free at first. Choose depth over speed. Be useful, stay curious, and remember why you started.

Links to More:

Web: Screw The Average
YouTube: Screw The Average
Reddit: u/screwtheaverage
Facebook: Screw The Average

*Disclaimer: Income, income streams and financial independence details & status are drawn exclusively from publicly available sources. No inference, harm, or misrepresentation is intended toward any individual or entity.