This 38-year-old is financially independent with passive income. Here's how he built a 7-figure real estate portfolio

The idea of financial independence can mean different things to different people, but one common way to define it is having enough money that you no longer need to rely on a job, a paycheck or someone else to sustain your lifestyle.

While the path toward financial independence can feel daunting, there has been one tried and true method of success: live below your means and invest what you save.

That's exactly what Shu Matsuo Post did to achieve the freedom he has today. Over the course of about seven years, the 38-year-old consistently poured over 50% of his and his wife's dual income into real estate investing.

Now, Matsuo Post owns a $2 million real estate portfolio consisting of six rental properties located in the U.S. and three in Japan, according to documents seen by CNBC Make It.

"I'm very fortunate to be able to say this, but I don't have to work for money," Matsuo Post told CNBC Make It. "I enjoy earning money, but I can focus on what I want to do... it's completely the other way around."

Today, Matsuo Post lives in Japan with his wife and two kids. Besides managing his investments, he also creates online educational content about real estate investing and runs his own consulting business Post FI, which helps foreigners purchase property in Japan.

Matsuo Post's journey toward financial independence was not straightforward. Pivoting his career multiple times, he worked in industries like journalism, retail and technology before entering real estate.

Born and raised in Japan, he moved to the U.S. at 15-years-old and ended up staying for about eight years to study and begin his career. Following his stint in the U.S., Matsuo Post also worked in Hong Kong for several years before settling down back in Japan with his wife,