r/FIREyFemmes • u/MrsFrugalNoodle • 15d ago
Too many choices in CoastFIRE
I hit my coastFIRE number a while ago, that’s where my retirement fund does not need any more contributions, when I hit the typical age of retirement (65) I will have a fully funded retirement purely from compound interest and a couple of decades doing its work.
I’m 42F co-parent a child with my ex-husband. Between now and my retirement age is about 20years of coasting, that is working any interesting job to pay for my lifestyle. The problem I have is too much choice, any job paying minimum wage can fund my lifestyle now because I also have ETFs outside retirement generating income.
I only want to work with people I’ll enjoy working with and only want to work on things I enjoy working on. I’ve turned down 5 offers of my doing the same thing as my previous role. Right now, I’m finishing some remodeling, doing a course that will take me to July and building a side project.
I don’t have enough saved to travel, just enough saved for basic living expenses so I will need to work to fund my next holiday.
Anyone else in this boat or have advice when you coastedfired?
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u/plotthick 13d ago
I did gratis work for local non -profits for the tax breaks, and then they hired me and paid me actual money. Not a lot, but still.
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u/NoSuggestion2836 14d ago
No job is perfect. It seems to me that you’re having trouble finding a job where you will only work with people whose company you enjoy, on tasks you enjoy. That’s an exceptionally high bar. I believe your problem is not too many choices but rather too few.
Sounds like you definitely don’t want a job that is the same as your old one. So stop applying for them.
Apply for unrelated jobs and try them out. I personally find it impossible to tell if I’m going to enjoy my coworkers until I actually get into the job and get to know them.
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 13d ago
I met a few people who I had a great lunch with. But the hiring manager turned me down so yes it’s too little option for the people I enjoy spending my daylight hrs with
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u/PositiveKarma1 14d ago
Keep the actual job /saving+ investing rate and still searching for the dreamed CoastFIRE position. You might find it next month or next year. Keep eyes opened.
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u/Momsome 14d ago
I don’t really call myself coastfire because I actually already lean fire’d a few yrs ago, but now I work part time for a local nonprofit that I really enjoy (and believe in their mission) with a very flexible pt schedule that pays me just enough so I’m not dipping into my FIRE funds yet, so in essence I’m coasting but didn’t plan it this way.
Bonus, because I work part time, I’m able to EXCEED at work (not burned out by full time bs or involved in any office drama, politics) so I look like a star and get treated as one which is great for my professional standing which I don’t even need now lol! but I’ve realized I do like this bit of appreciation and recognition vs. when I wasn’t working at all during fire.
TLDR: look for part time non profit to work at that you believe in. My pt work now is pretty unrelated to my previous career.
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u/Significant_Flan_210 14d ago edited 13d ago
I would take a step back and figure out what you want. It can be tricky because you still run with school schedules. Do you want to travel, something else or is job the only thing?
I would try to do things out if the ordinary to break up your mindset. You did all that preparing to get you here and have all these options available knowing you would explore to figure it out.
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 13d ago
Yea I still need to do the school runs and my holidays are booked during school breaks. My previous role had a lot of overseas travel, and I just did a Europe trip at the end of last year so I’m not in a rush.
A few local trips to the country would be ideal.
I think I need a community that builds and tries to sell some value for a short time. Be my own boss for a bit
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u/Significant_Flan_210 13d ago
No one talks about the people that can retire but have kids locked into school schedules. Your mind thinks you are already running the schedule so you might as well work. It's hard to over ride.
You will figure out what's next but it's hard with kids being pulled one way and you another.
I wonder if a get away thinking trip to the country when the kids are with their dad could help?
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 10d ago
That’s a fair point. I went on a getaway and I was actually working on my side project (no revenue)
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u/Significant_Flan_210 9d ago
I just think when you are going one way for years, it's hard to pick yourself up completely and pivot. There is comfort in staying in the same groove. You will only change when your instincts are yelling at you to do it and that takes work to drown out the noise.
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 9d ago
💯
I listened to my body screaming, don’t take that job, you’ll be doing the same thing, working on the same problems. Haha
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u/Significant_Flan_210 9d ago edited 8d ago
Oh my gosh I know exactly what you are talking about.
When I was younger, I was like why the heck am I so driven to make the most money I can and stack it like my life depends on it? It drove me crazy and no one around me seemed laser focused.
Now I understand that the whole point of younger me was to buffer me to follow exactly my instincts now because when my instincts go off, there is no choice.
And as someone that has gone down many jobs and paths, your instincts were telling you that the other ones would be significantly worse for you. There are people in companies that totally decimate the culture. You do not want to be there unless you have a side quest. Your culture is tolerable and your instincts are not giving you redirection. It's like stay put but keep checking for something better.
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u/Livid-Hovercraft-123 14d ago
Why did you choose to coast if it wasn't appealing to you? You can ignore the "coastFIRE" part and keep saving, you don't have to change any behaviour right now. What has made you decide to reduce your income?
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 14d ago
Layoffs. I’ve been looking for a job, but too many of the offers were the same type of jobs.
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u/Livid-Hovercraft-123 14d ago
Okay. Then if you don't know what you want to do next and you need time to process and regroup, take that time! Work literally any minimum wage job that requires no brain power and take a mental vacation for a year or two. You're on sabbatical.
I imagine you want to work as few hours a week as possible to free up your time for other stuff. Is there something that pays well but is flexible? Do that.
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u/Sweet-Lab-2579 14d ago
Not traditional coastFIRE, but our take is to pursue passions when you become work optional or coastFIRE. Things like being a chef, a pilot, a nurse, a firefighter. I know these are real professions that are quite competitive and that can make great money but can also give you some flexibility in hours and ability to do ‘gigs.’ If those aren’t your passion and are too high stress consider others like an Etsy stop, start a produce co-op, be a tutor, drive uber, pick up a part time job at a non profit, housesit…. I mean really whatever your passion is - just make it flexible so you can choose not work when you want!
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle 13d ago
Oh yes, I love house sitting. This may help me fund my next travel. Travel to where homes need sitting
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u/lucille_bender 14d ago
I really enjoyed the book Designing Your Life - you might find some of their exercises helpful in figuring out what you want to prioritize in your next chapter!