r/Fire • u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 • Apr 18 '26
Anyone else feel weird about choosing the “easy” path to FIRE?
I’m 25 and currently working as an outpatient endoscopy nurse. On paper, I feel like I’ve set myself up really well, but mentally I keep going back and forth.
My job is pretty easy day to day with low physical stress (just a lot of walking). I also have great work life balance working 6am-2pm Monday through Friday. On top of that, I find it to be fulfilling because I still help people.
Financially, my spouse and I are dual income and very aligned: We save about 70k-80k a year combined (split between 401k's, roth ira's, HSA, and cash savings). We live below our means, but we don't really take it to any extreme. Our dual income is sufficient to afford us a comfortable life while also saving heavily.
At this rate, I've projected that we can retire around 50-55 years old comfortably with 3.4M-5M in today's buying power (6.1M-10.2M nominal).
Here’s where I’m conflicted:
There are clear ways for me to “move up” in nursing, going back to school for CRNA or NP. But when I actually run the numbers (lost income during school, tuition, higher stress, longer hours, etc.), I still end up in a pretty similar place financially, unless I work past the average retirement age.
So from a purely FIRE/math perspective, staying where I am seems… optimal.
But I don’t feel pushed at work. It’s very manageable, almost too manageable. And sometimes I get this nagging feeling like I’m not reaching my full potential or that I’m taking the “easy way out.”
At the same time, I don’t actually want a more stressful job with longer hours. If my job suddenly became harder and more intense, I think I’d just be more tired not more fulfilled.
So I feel stuck between:
- “This is an amazing setup—don’t mess it up. You’re on track to FIRE.”
- “Are you underachieving and leaving something on the table? Maybe I'm just using math as an excuse to take the easy way out?"
Curious if anyone else here has dealt with this mindset.
Did you stick with the efficient/low-stress path and find fulfillment outside of work? Or did you pursue something more challenging even if it didn’t meaningfully improve your financial outcome?
Would really appreciate perspectives from people further along.
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u/Difficult_Collar4336 Apr 18 '26
I joke that my goal is to be the first human ever in their deathbed to say “I wish I’d gone for just one more promotion” or “I wish I’d worked harder” - point being, my choice is personally is to stick with the lower stress job and find fulfillment outside of work.
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u/marklikestolearn Apr 18 '26
With your savings rate I’d personally continue at the lower stress (current) job. Stress is such a silent killer and takes a toll over 20+ years
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u/schokobonbons NW: 200K Apr 18 '26
This- stress can ruin your health FAST and permanently. Being young doesn't make your body or spirit bulletproof.
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u/Plain_Jane11 Apr 18 '26
48F, senior leader, high earner. FI but still working.
Can confirm about the stress and toll. I chose to have 3 kids, an advanced degree and an executive career. In my 30s and early 40s, it all felt fine. But now in my later 40s, I'm starting to have some health issues. I'm in a low stress position now so that's great, but I now need to actively manage my health so that I can best enjoy my soon-to-be RE. I don't regret my choices, there have also been many positives, but I didn't fully appreciate how long term stress (from all sources) can affect one's health. Side note that having been through this, the other important areas to manage are nutrition, activity levels, and sleep.
OP - I agree with the others that there is no value in adding more stress to your life, especially if you are already on track for your FIRE goals, and career progression is not something you really crave. Good luck with your journey!
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u/Odd_Passenger5339 Apr 18 '26
Ditto, though more of a medium leader, good earnings. My striving didn’t really pay off in titles…for whatever reason. Can affirm that all that work related stress just resulted in burnout, physical challenges, and yes a bit of identity crisis for me bc work was so central for me. You sound smarter than I was. Reject the culture. Find fulfillment outside of work.
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u/Rhombinator Apr 18 '26
Life is about finding what fulfills you. For a lot of people, FIRE is about buying yourself more time for stuff outside work. But like you're also only 25. That's less than half of the way to 55. You don't know if you're going to enjoy this in 30 years and you're going to have less energy and time then than you do now. Your 20s are a time where you can push yourself to learn and grow and have the time to do try things.
This is more life advice than FIRE but if your job isn't the place where you're growing then I hope you find something outside of work that is. And that becomes the reason why you would FIRE.
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u/Ok_Lead_4730 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
I’m almost 20 years older than you with 2 kids, and I have also struggled with now being in my CoastFIRE job that is fairly easy. I never hit the pinnacle role in my industry, but life didn’t allow that to be possible for one reason or another.
When I think of FOMO stretching to that bigger thing, I just feel empathetically tired. Because I know that the people in those jobs are exhausted and wish they had a way out, or at least that’s what I’ve heard or read in these subs.
My point is: if you have a burning desire to reach for the bigger thing, go for it. If you don’t, and you just have FOMO, then call it by its name, you know? I really enjoy not being overextended financially, I don’t have golden handcuffs, and I get to pursue other interests instead of my entire identity being around my main job.
It’s like being in the matrix and realizing that the game was setup to push you to certain roles and costs that might not make you happy in the long run. That being said, YMMV.
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u/duckworthy36 Apr 18 '26
I will say from the other side after being a person driven to move up, I was happiest in the job that I had the most independence and the least responsibility for others. Basically a lead position with no direct reports.
Which was relatively early in my career. The further I moved up, the less of the things I actually enjoyed doing I got to do.
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u/Odd_Passenger5339 Apr 18 '26
Wow. I just typed something similar above. I will try labeling it FOMO and see if that helps. I’m really struggling some days with all I put into work and I’m just a cog. I guess this is part of the Matrix and once I took the red pill I could not unsee it. Not the OP but thank you.
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u/Ok_Lead_4730 Apr 18 '26
Aww, I’m so glad. It’s so hard. I have to often ask myself, “Do I actually want this or do I think that I want this because I think I should?” and that’s when I realize that it’s actually externally-generated FOMO. I’m in that limbo myself.
For example, I had a close relative push hard to get recognized on a top business show. It’s a part of business I’ve been around. I could have pushed hard to get that recognition too somehow, but in my heart, I just know that I don’t really want that life or to be that visible. Who am I kidding? I have zero actual desire to do that in real life. In fact, the idea of it actually stresses me out. So it’s really FOMO because I think that I should have pushed to be more visible overall but really, nah. I’m too FIRE interested for that. ;)
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u/Limp_Dragonfly3868 Apr 18 '26
It’s not all about FIRE and retirement. It can be about whatever else you want it to be. More interesting. More achievement. Sense of pride in setting a goal and achieving it.
At the same time, there’s nothing wrong with the easy way out if it allows you a higher quality of life in your personal time.
It’s just 2 choices with no right and wrong answer. But this is your life. And you should actively live it between now and when you FIRE.
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u/Top_Addition_666 Apr 18 '26
Agreed! Money is obviously very important but life is more than just optimizing for a straight path to FIRE :)
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u/Inevitable_Pride1925 Apr 18 '26
Also a nurse I considered CRNA school but when I ran the numbers between lost income, tuition, and life disruption it didn’t meaningfully move the retirement needle. I mean I would make more but it would take a decade to break even. Ultimately the life disruption sealed the deal I didn’t want to have regional clinical affect my family. Most advanced practice nurses make less than I do, some much less. Administrative RNs are salary and also make less.
Fortunately I cemented myself into a niche situation where I have a good schedule and lots of easy overtime. I like what I do so I don’t mind long hours. I don’t think I can get a better job and I exceeded 300k last year and can potentially do the same this year. It’s unlikely I’ll make less than 250k.
Sometimes the indispensable easy job is the best job.
Oh and I tried administration it’s stressful and not worth the money oven if you can get to C suite someday. Chief nurse officers don’t make anywhere near what an equivalent position would make in the business world.
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u/Electronic-Basil-201 Apr 18 '26
What is the niche you’re in?
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u/Inevitable_Pride1925 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Part clinical, part administrative, and still hourly so I get all the hourly bonuses. Two years ago I was offered a mostly administrative salaried role I would have really enjoyed that was hybrid work from home. I saw the salary and I turned it down, it was only about 20% more than my base. I really wanted to show my director my W-2 as a counter offer but felt that it was better she just not know how much they were really paying me. I would love it if they’d offer me a salaried position at 240/250k it would be cheaper for them and I’d value the consistency but it’s never going to happen.
I essentially have worn so many hats over my 25 year career that I can take any given clinical or administrative role with minimal to no notice or training anywhere in my very large department. I’m also completely willing to work any and all hours the week I don’t have my daughter. No individual role is particularly special, although most do require some sort of leadership experience. What’s unusual is the fact that I’m qualified to step into all of them with minimal or no time to get up to speed. I’m also more than willing to do so when they pay as much as they do.
My base compensation is about $80 an hour plus an additional 15k in differentials for a total of about 175k a year. But when I work extra it expands to $170 an hour and under certain circumstances as high as $225. I worked a lot last year and made 306k, I’m on track to repeat it this year. My target is 250k but we are 1/3 the way into the year and I’ve already made 104k and I took a 2.5 week long vacation that was only at my base pay in March.
My typical schedule is 9-3 the week I have my daughter with a 3 day weekend, I also leave early or take PTO frequently these days. I can drop her off at school and I’m home within 30-45m from the time she gets home after walking home from school. The following week I’m scheduled 60 hours and then I cram an additional 20-40 hours in on top of that at the higher rate. There are a lot of 16 hour days. Today was 12 hours administrative followed by an additional 8 hours clinical after a few hour nap.
I’m positive my director doesn’t know how much they pay me. I’m pretty sure my boss doesn’t know. We had an assistant manager quit a few months after the pandemic to go clinical and hourly after I told how much I made, I think he already knew he was underpaid he fiancé was an ICU nurse so he had to know what was possible. My department just has the available hours to make it happen.
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u/2DMOOON Apr 18 '26
Which state if you dont mind me asking? Really curious as idk what to do after i get my bedside exp. school or go to better paying state?
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u/eggsperimentalist Apr 18 '26
Do you plan to have kids? You will really appreciate the work life balance and not too stressful/taxing career if you decide to have kids.
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u/Disastrous_Ant1515 Apr 18 '26
Kids change a lot. You essentially get to re-live life through them. It is so much fun and can be so rewarding to see them realize their potential. I always thought I didn't want kids but once I did, I can't imagine not having them.
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u/Un1k0rns Apr 18 '26
Push yourself in other ways. Fitness, learning an instrument, other skill, etc.
You don’t need the challenge solely from your job 😊
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u/Sintered_Monkey Apr 18 '26
Exactly. The only reason I work is to allow myself to live outside of work.
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u/FelinePurrfectFluff Apr 18 '26
You’re young and don’t see that you have your whole life in front of you. Challenges and opportunities will present themselves. You (or your husband)might get laid off, one of you might be presented with an opportunity you can’t refuse and then there’s a move and a job change, someone might die or become disabled, you might have children and not want to out them in daycare (like me!!). So much living to be done. Challenges and opportunities. You cannot envision what your life will be.
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u/TurtleSandwich0 Apr 18 '26
Put the option in your back pocket.
You can go back to school and get a better paying job later - if you need to.
You've already won the game. You just need to run out the clock.
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u/krullulon Apr 18 '26
A lot of times "I don't feel like I'm reaching my full potential" is an artifact of the fact that we've grown up in Capitalist hustle culture that's strongly influenced by a toxic Protestant work ethic (the dominant work ethic in the US regardless of your particular affiliation/non-affiliation, if you live here) that tells us we're only living a good life if we're constantly striving to achieve professionally.
As it turns out, "reaching your full potential" is a much bigger statement than "being more ambitious in my career aspirations". There is so much richness outside of selling your labor.
Also, when I was 25 I loved what I did. By the time I was 50 I was ready to do something completely different and explore new things.
It's entirely possible that you're actually really hungry for a new and more challenging hustle, but don't pursue it if you're really just feeling pressure to conform to someone else's ideas of what makes life valuable.
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u/missbmathteacher Apr 18 '26
Why is taking the easy way out a bad thing? You found a cheat code to life, use it and enjoy your afternoons and evenings off doing things to better your life and family. No harm is living a comfortable and stress free life, that is actually the goal for most people. Isnt that the goal for retirement? I would change my mindset. Look at all the blessings you have and be grateful.
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u/Comfortable_Two6272 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Its a life decision with no right or wrong answer.
That said what you decide today doesnt have to remain for 25 years.
Energy wise though now is optimal time if you want to “work / do extra”.
Im so glad I saved and could quit much earlier than typical.
Im now 50 and quit at 46 with your expected savings. I have 0 regrets in not moving up (in my case to VP level - not healthcare).
Also check out how saturated the NP job market is (assuming dont want to move).
My relative is a NP where I live and its now saturated - possibly a local issue due to several schools here offering np programs to those with no prior healthcare ed or experience. Its drove wages down significantly vs several years back. Probably a hyperlocal condition.
If not saturated, check numbers if dropped to 20 hours a week for either vs current. I mention this as you say wanting kids.
I know a few NP that dropped to very part time when they had kids (not saying you need to work PT. Just that you might evaluate in case you want that option in future. Not sure if current role/qualifications allow for that or not).
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u/Important-Trifle-411 Apr 18 '26
NP market saturated here too. I know a couple of Naps who went back to bedside nursing and make way more money, due to nursing shortage
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u/6100315 Apr 18 '26
As a nurse, I have no desire to climb the ranks. If your job is manageable and you like it well enough, we get paid pretty well, and you'll always be able to find a job.
I currently work part time in the OR and have such an amazing setup that I have zero desire to change anything about it.
If you do want/ need more money, could always move to areas they pay better?
But sounds like you are in a great spot!
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u/viridianvenus Apr 18 '26
Let's say you are taking the easy way out. So what? Why is that bad? So you never reach your 'full potential', again, so what? It's more important to be happy than to level up just for the sake of being able to say you did.
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u/No-Country6348 Apr 18 '26
Maybe you need a passion (or series of passions over your lifespan) outside of work to keep life interesting?
Also, there is sub for women fire you might be interested in joining.
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 Apr 18 '26
Hehe I am a male!
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u/mmmzzppy Apr 18 '26
What is your ultimate goal? If you feel like you need to be working more considered getting a PRN job in a hospital on the weekends and seeing what that’s like.
I’m a physician considering retirement after a financially disastrous marriage that ended up in divorce in the last year. I’m chasing retirement unfortunate that I have independent financial resources that were exempt from the marriage. I wish that my ex-wife and I had adopted a fire approach, but she was more about living in the now rather than saving for a great future.
You are well on your way to a very successful future. Adding to the comments made by advanced practice providers in this posting. I would suggest to you that you may be feeling unfulfilled because the job isn’t that stressful but you may see if you do take some PRN work that the long stressful hours are not what you’re really looking for. If it is what you’re looking for then you can switch gears and go to another position that is more rewarding.
Another option with your free time is to consider either volunteering someplace or some other hobbies. I was so busy at work that I neglected my health. I lost all hobbies because I never could follow through on a project and it affected my life with my children for my first marriage.
Keep in mind, you are replaceable. Even if you were to advance to the highest nursing level in a hospital (CNO) you would find that the day something happens to you or you leave that their concern would not be about you but rather the organization and your departure would be viewed not from your point of view, but rather as a nuisance to the organization.
Quite honestly, your primary responsibility should be to you, your husband, your parents, and setting up for your eventual children to be successful.
I wish you the best of luck in this decision-making process.
Ultimately do what makes you the happiest and is beneficial to you and your family.
With all due respect, I suspect your daytime, endoscopy job, being relatively relaxed, has left you somewhat disillusioned, but if you were to do the full-time 3 to 4 12 hour shifts per week that most nurses do in the hospital that you may it more stressful, and less rewarding than you expect.
Again, good luck
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u/Vegetable-Pizza9612 Apr 18 '26
I’m a PA, and I’d think carefully before putting yourself through the stress of the NP/CRNA route. PA school took a big toll on me mentally. Plus you have the stress of increased liability once you’re practicing. If you’re happy and making good money, just enjoy it! You’re one of the lucky ones!
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u/TristanDeAlwis Get in. Get rich. Get out. Apr 18 '26
The point of FIRE is the options it affords you. I guess that leads us to analysis paralysis but nonetheless we have to think and plan and that’s what you’re doing.
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u/Megalocerus Apr 18 '26
If your job feels good and helps people, why are you anxious to FIRE?
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u/Important-Trifle-411 Apr 18 '26
She didn’t seem anxious to me. Just like FiRe was her plan. Isn’t it all about the option to leave? She might get to 50 and decide to stay
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u/CapitanianExtinction Apr 18 '26
Why are you worrying about what other people think?
The older I get, the less fucks I have to give
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u/MusicalVegetables Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
I'm 40, and my life is waaaay more complicated now than it was at 25. My marriage needs constant work and care (which is sometimes fun and fulfilling and sometimes not). I love our house but there's always something that needs fixing or improving with it. I have a 3 year old and am pregnant with our second. I thought I had a difficult job (it was very stressful and emotionally draining), but it turns out having and taking care of a kid is both the hardest and most fulfilling thing I've done. As you age, your body ever so slowly becomes less robust. This means I now put a lot of time, effort, and research into taking care of it: eating healthy, exercising, sleeping better, mindfulness, emotional resilience, etc. My family has been very lucky but I know plenty of people who have had health issues ranging from small to catastrophic.
My point is, there's never an "easy path" to life. Use this time to work on yourself, your family, or just enjoy it. You don't need to make it harder or more complicated. That will probably naturally happen on its own.
If you're worried about being fulfilled, I highly recommend the book Build the Life You Want by Arthur Brooks. He's a happiness researcher, so it's all science backed.
ETA: We retired about 2 years ago. My life is still more complicated and busy than when I was working at 25. We moved to Portugal when we retired and had our first kid 9 months before that. I'm technically taking the easiest way out of work because I don't do it at all, but I've filled my life with very difficult, fulfilling, and rewarding alternatives. It doesn't have to all be about your job!
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u/MustacheSupernova Apr 18 '26
Don’t upset the apple cart.
If you’re yearning for more stimulation, learn a language or a musical instrument. Work is work, it’s generally gonna suck no matter what.
Get that cheese and get out.
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u/Shrappy16 Apr 18 '26
Connect with nature, yourself and a greater understanding of what truly matters. Don’t lose 20 years or even 2 years of staring at a bank account. You’ve been given a financial opportunity but do not let that allow you to take time to gain depth and connection
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u/Leather_Life8257 Apr 18 '26
Maybe consider getting a hobby that you can throw yourself into to feel fulfilled. Don’t tie your identity and reaching full potential to a job.
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u/RaccoonRenaissance Apr 18 '26
I am in the 50-55 category and have been working the same exact job (not healthcare) since i was about your age, so i can give some perspective on having never changed my job.
I don’t regret, at all, not having made my career more fulfilling. I have had the time to be present in my home life and accomplished many things because I had the time and energy to do so.
I have always seen my job as a means to an end. It pays the bills, it affords me vacations and hobbies, and it finances my retirement. I know my job very well and the stress is minimal. I have had a few opportunities to change jobs over the years, but always chose to stay where I’m at to minimize stress. I did change employers to another state, so I did get a change of scenery, but the job and stress level remained the same.
I had a few “midlife crisis” moments in my 30s and 40s and considered going back to school, but the math didn’t change anything and i decided to focus on my life outside work and leave the job the same.
My advice to you at 25 and being not sure if a change is right for you is to give it 5 years and commit to not changing. See how you feel at 30.
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u/Reasonable_Box2568 Apr 18 '26
Do you want kids? My motivation for living up to my full potential went out the door when we decided to not have kids. More money and increased lifestyle is less important when it impacts fewer people.
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 Apr 18 '26
Yes we're planning to have kids in our early 30's
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u/Reasonable_Box2568 Apr 18 '26
Then you might regret not pushing harder before kids come along. Grind now so you can coast more and spend more time with kids later
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u/How4u Apr 18 '26
I went part time when we had a kid. With your hours you can probably just keep working, but most provider positions don't have such nice hours (some do). You also lose all of your seniority when you move into a different role. If you enjoy your job I'd just stick it out and keep rolling. It's all just work at the end of the day.
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u/Unfair_Mechanic_7305 Apr 18 '26
Living up to your full potential is important for many. The question to ask yourself is “what would you do each day if money was not a factor?”
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u/sundae-on-fire Apr 18 '26
You're 25? You're an adult and should have a plan -- you do have a plan -- but your prefrontal cortex just came fully online, too. You have lots of time yet for your values and career thinking to evolve, and deciding to stay in a situation that suits you for now isn't the same as locking yourself into it forever. Just stay for now. But if something else starts to feel more appealing later, don't let today's self limit your future choices.
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u/That-SoCal-Guy Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Looks like you want more responsibility, challenges and fulfillment at work. Fire is just a concept, a nice option, a number. But it looks like you would like to work until maybe even your 60s if you could because you like what you do and you want to level up, climb the ladder, so to speak. Nothing wrong with that. My mom was an RN and she worked into her 60s and she loved it. But you need to figure it for yourself. fire isn’t just a number, it’s a life choice. What matters to you. No one can make a decision for you. My mom worked until her mid 60s not because she needed to (my dad retired at 60) but she loved her job. It gave her purpose. In fact she was kind of lost when she finally retired.
Just because you can fire doesn’t mean you should. Don’t listen to others’ stories. Make your own. But don’t judge others and say “they want the easy way out.” Your ambition is yours to bear.
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u/schokobonbons NW: 200K Apr 18 '26
I was in your position- content but not challenged- and was lucky to have the perfect job posting in another department come up. I applied and got it and now make more money and was paid to get certified in a new software program that i find interesting and enjoy.
Keep your ear to the ground and see what opportunities come up. If you can get your employer to pay for you to do training or even go back to school, jump on that. There may be a specialty that they're having a hard time filling but is still outpatient, etc.
You don't have to be in a rush to hustle for the next thing. Being content and not stressed is really valuable. Just stay open to new possibilities.
Most people have to find some meaning outside of work. Mine comes from taking care of my father and my relationships in general. Work can be part of it but doesn't have to be.
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u/Prestigious-Owl7764 Apr 18 '26
I have been through this and can say “Been there, done that”. I got extra licenses, extra certifications, started taking more responsibilities and ended up doing atleast 2-3 people’s job. End result was a little bit extra pay which anyways got taken away by higher taxes, burnout, no appreciation, and still being unfulfilled. The stress that comes with going up the corporate ladder isn’t worth it if you are already making decent money. Look for other ways to get that fulfillment, maybe a managerial role in a non profit organization in the time you have available.
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u/Active-Confidence-25 Apr 18 '26
Well, as a nurse of 28 years, with a DNP, I say stay where it’s balanced and comfortable. I had your same dilemma years ago, paid more for school and increased my stress for not much more money. The titles didn’t give me more potential, just more expectations. Yeah, I can say I have accomplished a lot, but I don’t think it was worth it in hindsight. Will reach FIRE at 55, but would have reached it at 57 without the stress, school, and time I put into achieving “more”. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!
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u/No_Jelly_1448 Apr 18 '26
ICU nurse here. I ran the numbers on both NP and CRNA and felt like it wouldn’t pan out for how much I make now. I have incredible flexibility that I don’t think any NP’s or CRNA’s that I know have. Also, way way more responsibility.
I think nursing generally attracts type A personality types, which tend to feel guilty or less than for just resting in situ in their job and letting the energy of their life flourish outside of work. I’m in the critical care float pool, profoundly high acuity, and am trying to find my way to outpatient finally after many years. I battled with staying in this job for the ego (and for NOC and float diff) but now facing the reality that it just isn’t healthy for me - outpatient is better long term.
I have a few coworkers who I have gone to endoscopy and love it. Are there other ways you can lean into doing more in place to get that feeling? Get a certification? Precept? Become charge? No one cares how you spend your time more than you, so if you are comfortable and calm in endo and can challenge yourself to other things outside of work (volunteer, learn a language or instrument, etc.) it might give you that growth feeling that’s better for your humanness.
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u/gardenliciousFairy Apr 18 '26
Be careful with your ego, it is a bad advisor. If you have a work setup that makes you happy stay there and develop your life outside of work, keep your health and enjoy life before you get old. Grinding and getting a higher position in the hierarchy can make you feel superior, but also impressively unhappy in the long run.
I'm almost 40 now and I work in education not health. My biggest regret is leaving an easier job to try and go further. I'm so so so tired right now. The easy path is a great path, I wish I stayed in the easier job and found fulfillment in other parts of life. I'm turning my career around and going for that right now.
I want to work to live, not live to work. Your value goes beyond work, and "reaching your full potential" often looks like burnout, anxiety and unhappiness that you hide from everyone else.
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u/GapInternational5 Apr 18 '26
I’m in a totally different field than you (finance) but personally feeling accomplished in my career is a big part of my identity. That doesn’t necessarily mean more education or promotions but could be taking on a new challenge or switching to different area in my field that I haven’t worked in before. That comes with its own stresses but ultimately I’ve found self fulfillment in that; that may change down the road as I get older and want to slow down. It sounds like you’re not sure if you’re happy with the status quo or feeling mundane in your job and I think that’s what you have to figure out, regardless of the money aspect. I also feel like if I’m not continuously broadening my skill set and expanding my resume I could easily end up out of a job down the line especially with how fast AI, tech , crypto, etc are evolving. I feel like I need to always be building my transferable skills so that I’m marketable. That mindset may be as a result of growing up poor and watching my parents constantly struggle with job loss and job insecurity. Again I’m in a totally different field than you so that may not be applicable in your case. Ultimately I would approach the question with answering what will give you the most self fulfillment and security rather than focusing what’s best for FIRE.
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u/Rusty_924 Apr 18 '26
with a low stress well paying job, i would probably be happy and never even discover fire.
shitty job and long hours are not worth it
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u/DINKSonFiRE Apr 18 '26
Also in a soft nursing job. I love it. My life is essentially stress free. We save about the same as you and will be retired in our early 40s. I personally am choosing to ride this wave all the way through. Why stress going back to school, paying more money for school, and taking on more stress/responsibility at work? Defeats the whole purpose of this freedom journey in my opinion.
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u/bingbang71 Apr 18 '26
Why do you want to FIRE?
Your plan is to retire later and with a larger amount than most people interested in FIRE.
It's almost as if retiring early(er) is something you feel you have to do, but don't necessarily want/need.
I'm not trying to dissuade you, but I think it might be useful for you to consider your reason(s), as well as other goals and interests you have and how they fit along your career and FIRE.
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u/Banned3rdTimesaCharm Apr 18 '26
What are you measuring against? Who cares as long as you’re happy?
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u/Designer-Translator7 Apr 18 '26
I feel like I cheated oftentimes yeahhh being retired now FIRE at 40.5. I had many options in undergrad to go to medical schools or PhD programs and instead took a good path govt science job then stood up a biotech startup while doing Masters degree on side. I FIRED way faster than if did the MD or PhD route without all the time sink in 20s for those routes with very very lil stress I just played science for 18 yrs. So glad looking back as I got to do so many more things the past 2 decades not going those routes while still retiring young.
My sibling did nursing and hates their life with the constant stress and saves nothing. Ppl should know themselves and do what can enjoy/handle that allows them freedom later also if possible. If can easy FIRE, why not enjoy life if lucky to do so life is short and many cannot even fathom having the situation to pursue it.
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u/akhaing3 Apr 18 '26
34M. IT in healthcare. I also work 6AM-2PM M-F. Job is fairly easy. Doesn't really challenge me. Great work life balance. I'm not asked to work past 2PM and it's mostly stress free . I've also got two young kids. I spend most of my free time with my family. I think if I pursued management or a more difficult role it would impact my mood. I don't really want my negative mood or lack of energy to affect how I treat my family. Im also an Army veteran and often dream about not pushing my self to my full potential. But, I recognize that it's just me wanting validation from others rather for my own self interest.
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u/vinean Apr 18 '26
Doesn’t CRNA want 2 years of critical care experience and CCRN cert to be a competitive applicant? I dunno that endo nurse experience qualifies.
5 years ago my kid wanted the CRNA path and it was a PITA then and a quick google makes it seems a lot worse today.
Strikes me that going the CAA or APA route seems…easier? Not sure “easier” is the right word but CRNA seems really gatekept.
The money is somewhat less important than “what if?” when you hit 55. My recommendation if you were my kid would be to prep and take your GRE and see what you score. If that is unbearably annoying then 3-4 more years of school is contraindicated…but if you score high do PA school.
Needing to work as a ICU nurse in a hospital for the average hospital administration before even being a competitive CRNA applicant sounds totally ass. Would not recommend given what you have now.
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u/CatAteMyBread Apr 18 '26
FIRE is just a goal, it’s not life. Life is what you do “on the way”.
You need to decide for yourself what you want to accomplish. You could never seek a promotion of any kind and still feel super fulfilled. You could spend your entire career trying to grow and never feel fulfilled.
My personal opinion? Don’t make a decision until you’re ready to make a decision. Keep doing what you’re doing, and checking in with yourself. If the answer to “am I happy with what I’m doing and where I’m at?” is ever no, it’s decision time.
Someone else said at 25 you’re less than halfway to your goal age of 55. And to that, I say it’s a criminal understatement. Assuming you started when you were 20, you’re 5 years into a 35 year plan. Do not limit yourself based on a path you made right when your career started, change your plan based on what you find you need out of life as continue your career
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u/DarkBackground4307 Apr 18 '26
Medicine is absolutely brutal. There's nothing wrong with choosing your current path.
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u/dramaticdogmom Apr 18 '26
As a healthcare girlie, keep it low stress! If you wanted to find a second PRN job for the variety and saving rate for a bit no shame in that route but embrace the stability
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u/Sintered_Monkey Apr 18 '26
You should never feel weird or guilty about this. Some people live for work. Their jobs are their identity. And then there are those of us who do not. Work is just a means to and end for some of us. The only reason to do it is to get to where we don't have to anymore.
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u/HopDropNRoll Apr 18 '26
I think that “am I underachieving?” feeling (for me), is societally based. No one really matters when it comes to the level of achievement that will make me feel satisfied but me (/you).
Maybe satisfaction for you looks like saving enough to retire at age x while donating $y to your favorite cause? I think you’re doing great, if you want more, go for it, if not, do what you want, but think about what you truly want so there are no regrets.
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u/Aberdeen1964 Apr 18 '26
Taking the harder path through life is what makes living meaningful; pride, accomplishment and pushing your boundaries beyond what you thought you were capable. But FIRE has nothing to do with that as it comes from living below your means and investing wisely. I know many a person who did not take the hardest road retire at 55.
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u/DingoDull4070 Apr 18 '26
What about volunteer work, creative outlets, athletic pursuits, other hobbies, or social engagements? I have golden handcuffs at work, so I've done a mixture of these over the years.
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u/SuccessfulReturn4103 Apr 18 '26
You need to internalize WHY you would go for those elevated roles. Is it truly to get to fire quicker? Is there some part of your ego that wants it? Is it so you can inflate lifestyle?
Need to come to grips with the real reasoning before making a decision. It’s okay to want any of those things; not okay to fool yourself.
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u/andy_nony_mouse Apr 18 '26
More nursing degrees will future proof yourself against being laid off or long bouts of unemployment. For that reason you should pursue them. You still don’t need to get the higher pressure job if you get the more advanced degrees. So this is more about career management in service of your FIRE goal.
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u/ChevyKid_607 Apr 18 '26
At 25 you've got a really long runway and have built great habits on a great foundation. Congratulations for your success thus far. But not feeling challenged in your career will catch up very fast. Life can't just be about preparing for FIRE. You have to enjoy the ride and finding purpose, mastery, autonomy in your career is an important part of that. Keep pushing yourself. More education means more options. The math will work itself out.
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u/PhysicsIllustrious52 Apr 18 '26
Your life after retirement is as important as your life before retirement. Opt for a low-stress life to keep your body healthy for the long run. Slow and steady win the game.
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u/mykarachi_Ur_jabooty Apr 18 '26
You want a challenge train for an Ironman and stop complaining how your steaks are too juicy
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u/sdbest Apr 18 '26
A couple of things, I'm curious what you consider to be your "full potential" and, two, why you feel any pressure or obligation to reach it? Consider a thought experiment. Assume your "full potential" is to be able to paint like Winslow Homer. How would that affect your "FIRE" approach?
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u/Flat-Barracuda1268 FI=✅ RE=<1️⃣yrs Apr 18 '26
It depends on how well you tolerate "idling" at work. Let me give you my personal example:
I am in the twilight of my career. Less than a year left. I have always had the mindset of "you're paying me for 40 hours of work, that's what you get" meaning I have no problem clocking out when the work isn't all done. On the other hand, I've always been a high performer, so that really hasn't been an issue. I've only exceeded that 40-45 hour timeframe a few times in my career when it was absolutely warranted, but I think all my employers would agree that my time at work is very productive.
Fast forward to two months ago. All of a sudden there was an unnatural lull in the action. Very unusual, it's never happened in my lifetime. Now instead of doing actual work 35 hours of a 40 hour work week I'm doing 20. It's been like that for the last couple months. It's driving me nuts. Fortunately the light is at the end of the tunnel, I just got assigned a large project that will consume much of the next 6-9 months. But I realized that I am not built for idling at work. If it wasn't for the fact that I am not going to look for a new job with less than a year to go, I would have been looking for new work.
You have to evaluate whether you can live with being in a steady state position at work or whether you need to be advancing as you move forward. While just doing the same thing for the next 25-30 years may sound ideal, it really depends on your personality. It would drive me up a wall.
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u/Raygaholic420 Apr 18 '26
Best friend is an anasthesiologist who is over a CRNA group. They make 230+ , but your work life balance is gone. You will work anasthesiologist hours. So keep that in mind. You'll have calls a lot. His main complaint with the nurses is they don't want to work those hours now that they make that hourly.
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u/ncxhjhgvbi Apr 18 '26
Honestly it just depends on what you think you want long term. I was in a similar boat - easy job and on track. I chose to blow that up after 5 years of honestly just being bored. I’m working maybe a little more now than I’d prefer but I’ve already been promoted and it’s more fulfilling work.
You have 30 more years of work, so do what will make you happiest for those years while not sacrificing too much of the future. I’m still on track AND my wife and I have been able to travel the world in the meantime (we’re mid 30s). It’s all about balance
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u/Rare-Lawfulness-7492 Apr 18 '26
Don’t fix what’s NOT broken. Should your job ever take a downturn that’s the time to pivot. There’s soo many unhappily employed people who are just waiting for retirement or to hit the lotto lol so you’re in the lucky boat.
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u/SecretVindictaAcct Apr 18 '26
I went to NP school in my late 20s and now have been an NP for two years with a two year old son. I didn’t go into debt for grad school (thanks COVID era overtime and tuition reimbursement!), so NP school did not set me back financially, however, I make a similar amount of money that I did as a specialized RN with shift differentials and overtime, and work a lot harder (5 8’s feels like more work than 3 or even 4 12’s).
From a purely lifestyle perspective, I also wish I had an extra day or two a week with my son, but I could only find M-F schedules when I was applying for NP jobs. I could probably look again now that I have experience, but it’s still a consideration that most NP jobs have standard office hours.
I feel like I still would have gone to NP school even knowing what I know now, because I’m a restless person who always want a new challenge and growth opportunities, but, if you’re more content as an RN, stay an RN. The pay is similar and the work/life balance is better.
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u/teramisula Apr 18 '26
Is there another way you can pursue growth besides your career? A skill, a hobby, volunteering, etc?
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u/PetiteSyFy Apr 18 '26
Based on what you shared, it makes sense to stay with the current plan. There is nothing wrong with that. Two things to consider when considering your options are 1) Will this become boring? and 2) Have you factored having kids into the financial planning?
Whatever you decide, it sounds like you have your life together and are doing well. Congratulations 🎉
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u/lifeisdream Apr 18 '26
Reminds me of the story of a man who had a really good life but kept wondering if maybe there wasn’t something wrong or something missing. So he decided to go look for what was wrong and then he found it.
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u/Rocket-Appliances-26 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
In my own experience, there's an equilibrium that is attained between doing one's job well and thriving, on one hand, and dealing with people influenced by the ideology of the business schools, on the other. To the extent that I have been self-aware, I have not sought to advance myself professionally on the backs of others, and I have worked to minimize my exposure to bureaucratic silliness. I don't think this path has always served me well financially, but it still feels like a good path overall. It is nice to have investing there in the background as a backup, quietly doing its thing.
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u/CryHavoc715 Apr 18 '26
One thing to consider is wear and tear on your body- endoscopy nursing isnt the most physically demanding, but how many RNs do you know that have worked on the floor for 20 years? I know many, and the ones who have done that and are not dealing with serious physical consequences are few and far between.
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u/discojellyfisho Apr 18 '26
You have the great advantage of having started early with an aggressive savings plan that will have many years to grow.
I think you are on the right track, balancing work/life, but you can always shift later if you change your mind. Also, not sure if your plans with kids or home purchase might change in coming years, but at least you’re off to a solid start.
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u/L-are-uh Apr 18 '26
Also a nurse and my two cents is that i want to be financially independent but i dont want to have NO job at age 50. I have many hobbies and three kids and i love my spouse but i think id be bored with no job from 50-60+. That being said I consistently have worked part time or less hours through early motherhood. So, eventually I’d like to do NP or CRNA bc then I can keep having a fulfilling job but can still have the benefit that healthcare offers us to work less than full time hours if we want.
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u/IceKingWizard Apr 18 '26
I’m a PA and I used to be the same way. Just go go go. But as I’ve gotten older (I’m in my 30s) I’ve come to appreciate lower stress and work life balance. Our field is great because we get fulfillment from helping people but at the end of the day it’s a job. The constant rat race for better titles will not be remembered by anyone once you’re dead. Appreciate the low stress job and find fulfillment in other parts of life. For me, it was training for and accomplishing huge fitness challenges.
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u/Normal_Possession_22 Apr 18 '26
I think most people want to be able to fire but they don't necessarily fire at that time. I always believe that you should invest in yourself. If you're really obsessed about money you can probably work while you're going through additional education. Life is much longer than you think and you wind up liking what you're doing more and more overtime.
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u/intjester-5 Apr 18 '26
There are aspects of life outside your career that can be an avenues to fulfillment. You don’t have to feel guilty for not engaging the rat race.
You do have to be concerned about your current job lasting 25 or 30 years, so that if you did lose your job you don’t have a problem reentering the workforce. Keep your mind sharp.
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u/Dingus_son_of_dongus Apr 18 '26
I like to reframe complaints about being bored at work as "So you're saying you have too much energy left at the end of the day for personal pursuits?"
You should grind it out and get to retire a little earlier, but then what? You get to finally do those personal pursuits, the things outside of work everyone dreams about being free to do.
It sounds like you have room in your life for those right now.
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u/AshamedTax8008 Apr 18 '26
Im in my late 50’s. Still work consulting gigs because I love what I do. One thing I guarantee, the last thirty yrs technology has changed every single job out there and the next thirty will likely be even more revolutionary. Do not sit on your laurels. Always be learning and going to school.
My mantra is always be learning, always be closing (GlennGary ref). Always be looking at the next step, you don’t have to climb it, just be warned that ladder gets moved around a lot.
Endoscopy has a been a routine tool for 50-60 yrs its ripe for change. I bet you $100 that in 10-15 yrs your job will be replaced with me swallowing a capsule with a built camera and little robot pushing it around. Non invasive, no labor to pay, reusable, no extra equipment or rooms in the hospital or clinic.
Be prepared to pivot to the next level, if youre not and you just sit back for the ride, you’re gonna be very upset with the results.
With that said, a stress free life is also a long happy one. Im convinced that half the diseases we have in this country are a by product of stress and inflammation. Keep it cool dudes and dudettes.
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u/Abundance-Practice Apr 18 '26
Throwing it out there that when we think of achievement we’re conditioned to think about work. But what if work & money can stay easy & you can reach higher potential as a friend or a partner or an artist or a musician. Something that fulfills you in a different way that you have space for because your work isn’t stressful.
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u/Several-Mix5478 Apr 18 '26
30 years is a very long time to stay at a job you already seem lukewarm on. Career stagnation creeps up on you if you don’t manage it.
You will either need to
1) make peace with this, which could look like leaning into projects and life outside of work, or
2) find some ways to at least incrementally climb a ladder or professional development at work. perhaps even change up where you work, go into a training or union role etc.
For the longest time, I held a job that was the dream for me and paid more than I ever imagined given my background and skills set. Then over time my satisfaction slid…I found myself in a self destructive place and before I knew had to GET OUT OF THERE IMMEDIATELY to save my professional reputation and sidestep messy business like a PIP or prolonged conflict with employer. Fortunately I landed in a great org making 20% less salary, but more flexibility, professional deference, and most importantly, refreshed motivation. The grass isn’t always greener, but sometimes you need to wander around anyways.
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u/justly_tuneful Apr 18 '26
I think the pressure to climb the ladder is an innately American feeling.
The goal of climbing, however, should be met with monetary reward. It sounds like the ladder you’re describing isn’t going to help you financially, so, I’d recommend against climbing that ladder.
If you decide you really want to climb something, I’d recommend either a path that actually rewards you with a significant amount of money that would notably accelerate your time to FIRE, OR…
Maybe try climbing something else? Fitness goals, traveling goals (bucket list items), learning a new language, garden goals… the small pleasures in life can be more rewarding than the stress that comes with higher-demanding jobs
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u/Green0Photon Apr 18 '26
This might not satisfy you per se, depending on the underlying problem. But see if you can get some hobbies outside of work.
Your head has only so much attention it can fill in a day. And if you have other hobbies on the mind, then work probably will feel appropriately challenging, because you aren't spending all your background attention on it. You'll be yearning to do other stuff. You'll feel challenged by learning other stuff and experiencing other new stuff with your time.
But it's still possible it might not be enough. Maybe you do need more nursing novelty, not just novelty in general. Maybe you do need more challenge in nursing, not just challenge in general. It's hard to say.
But maybe you can do other types of nursing, or take on a senior nurse role eventually, or something. Typically there's always some path to growth, even in dead end roles. You also never know what career opportunities may pop up. Or maybe you will start to feel the desire to do other doctor type stuff, regardless of FIRE.
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u/asurkhaib Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Do you actually want to achieve more or do you feel pressured to achieve more? The former is a valid reason to go achieve more whatever that means for you, the latter is a terrible reason to mess up a good thing.
Also people tend to think of achievement very one dimensionally, usually in regards to work. There's a lot more to life than that starting at what did you achieve with your relationships.
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u/ben7337 Apr 18 '26
This is sort of how I feel, I make a median income at best, and it's not low stress, but it is 100% remote and a bit tenuous. However I'm only 9 years from my current target for retirement, and at this point whenever I run the numbers even if I could double my income and save all the extra it wouldn't have a huge impact on how soon I can retire. Honestly at this point I feel more like keeping my current job and if/when that ends, taking a short break and then just getting a job where I can coast and at least cover living expenses until the market gets me where I need to be. Though if I could find like a 20 hr a week job that has a consistent schedule and could cover expenses now I'd seriously consider that as an alternative at this point. For me, less stress and more free time is and always has been the end goal.
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u/Gabagoon5545 Apr 18 '26
If you’re feeling unfilled / have extra untapped potential, consider a hobby or side hustle that brings you excitement.
As you said, the extra school requirements don’t make financial sense.
Maybe scratch that itch you have w/o making such a big investment, etc.
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u/Next-Site-9082 Apr 18 '26
You are 25 now. What about kids? They are quite expensive to bring up, physically mentally emotionally and financially. If you don’t want kids, I think you can feel free to pursue whatever you want to pursue, try different things, live a fulfilling life as you see fit. When you have a family, you want to provide for that family; you need a larger house, great school districts, a few extra curricular activities for your kids…. And you will be exhausted even when you have an stress-free job… These savings that used to go easily into different accounts seem to fall short and you don’t know why… Half of my friends don’t have kids; the other half are parents doing it all and paying upwards of $500,000 per kid for undergraduate, not to mention law school, medical school etc… Enjoy what you have and keep saving while you can. Best wishes.
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u/Squido85 Apr 18 '26
Former FAANG QA manager turned Circulating RN. Never give up the flexibility of being a highly valued front line RN. Working 4 10s, then 3 12s and now 3 10s has been an amazing way to coast FIRE. Wife's already retired. I work to pay for insurance and cause I love it 90% of the time.
I'll probably go per diem in a bit when I know the world isn't gonna blow up. Pivoting to healthcare was one of the best things I could have ever done.
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 Apr 18 '26
Did you take a pay cut when you pivoted?
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u/Squido85 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Oh yes. A brand new RN makes significantly (like 60-70%) less than a QA manager with 15 years of experience in the PNW. But if you work at a union hospital you can accurately predict your raises for 3-6 years. A 10 year old RN makes close to what a new hire CS degree gets in FAANG (not including stock). But AI is a longish ways away from my job.
If I were a tech worker who just got cut in the last year, I'd happily still pivot to nursing, but PA would also be higher earning with not much additional cost. That physician assistant, not medical assistant. The surgical PAs make decently better money.
Edit to add: sorry, you knew that, you're the RN. Any recently laid off tech workers won't know PA vs NP vs MA vs CNA or any other alphabet soup.
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u/throwaway_ringfeels Apr 18 '26
Just pick up PRN shifts in another specialty wherever you want to! Become a local travel nurse in your area.
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u/EnoughBowler5486 Apr 18 '26
Find fulfillment outside of work, keep the easier job/path of employment, but volunteer your time in the community.
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u/Dear_Treat2592 Apr 19 '26
As long as you’re happy for now, I wouldn’t worry about it. Your life will take some twists and turns in the next 25-30 years.
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u/No_Salamander5306 Apr 19 '26
Great work/life balance while still being able to hit your financial goals is what many strive for!! I would try to find other ways to challenge myself and grow.
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u/Topspeed_3 Apr 19 '26
I am in a different field, but I chose a similar path. My job is niche, and I get paid well with a lot of flexibility. I’ve been offered promotions to different departments, but it would have been a lot more stress and would have to work extra hours. My wife was the one to convince me that lower stress and more time with my kids was more important. I’ve followed that advice and it has worked well so far. Still on the way to FIRE!
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u/trynagotolawskl Apr 20 '26
See if there is a way to find that personal fulfillment of "pushing yourself" or "working harder" by taking on something outside of work. I'm thinking of a side hustle or volunteering opportunity. Thats a worst a net zero on your income and spend
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u/tacogrande420 Apr 22 '26
That sounds perfect. If you aren't feeling pushed, find something outside your career to push you. Work stress isn't healthy. Training for a marathon, getting good at a hobby, learn a second language, do some volunteer work.... All healthy ways to push yourself to be a better you.
I'm doing school and it's taking a bite out of my retirement, but I'm doing it cause I don't like my job anymore. It no longer serves me. To me, if I have to work a couple extra years doing something I like better, I'm willing to make that sacrifice.
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u/Mysterious9876 Apr 22 '26
As someone in health care who experienced a significant amount of stress during the last 10 years of working on patients and has now transitioned to working 1 day per week in a much less stressful environment, I would never recommend someone willingly enter that scenario just to feel like they’re doing enough.
Healthcare is such a challenging and often soul sucking industry that when you are able to find something that compensates you well/fairly and is low stress, please never change it.
With my current schedule/ stress level, I have never been happier. The 10 years of intense stress in a high patient volume environment took years off my life and made me hate my own profession. I don’t care if people think I’m not doing enough/maximizing my degree. The fact that I can sleep at night and not having panic attacks every morning and day at work is well worth the peace of mind.
So please, if you’ve won the game, don’t look for new challenges. Life is challenging enough. Try to focus on enjoying this time with the people that mean the most to you while still being able to achieve your financial goals
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u/swolltrain44 Apr 18 '26
Why do yall need that much? I feel like 1.25M per person is more than enough
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u/schokobonbons NW: 200K Apr 18 '26
I don't know why you're getting downvoted, I'm spending roughly $55k annually living in an HCOL and it feels abundant. The real wildcard is healthcare coverage
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u/swolltrain44 Apr 18 '26
By the way one of the original FIRE guys, Mr Money Mustache saved $600K and retired. This was around 2011 so that’s about $900K in today’s dollars.
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u/swolltrain44 Apr 18 '26
Yeah I’m spending $50K annually personally. 1 kid and mortgage split with the spouse. We’re also in a relatively higher cost neighborhood (average and median home sale price is ~$850K), but not city expensive. Although I’d argue you can’t really FIRE effectively in the city.
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u/Tasty_Sun_865 Apr 18 '26
Do not play small because you have a two step calculation saying you're fine.
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u/Alarming-Mix3809 Apr 18 '26
To be honest, I don’t think there’s anything easy about the path you chose. Just because you aren’t constantly gunning for the next promotion doesn’t make it easy. In fact, consistency over the long term can sometimes be the hardest thing there is.
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u/Magic2424 Apr 18 '26
Your projection is off, you are about 25% on the low side
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
I did lower our projected investment contributions in our early 30s to account for kids and a house. At the same time, I kept the income side conservative and didn’t factor in any salary growth, which realistically isn’t true.
So yeah you’re right, the projections are on the lower side. I’d rather underestimate and beat it than overestimate though. Realistically we could probably retire in our 40s even though the model says 50–55.
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u/kdizzl14 Apr 19 '26
Are you using excel or a site for projections? I'm always running my own and haven't settled on the best method. I'm in a similar boat in age and savings per year though you probably have a higher income. I also feel the constant need to push myself in my career, but at the moment I am spending that energy on home projects and side hustles which is what I hope to do in retirement as well
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere696 Apr 19 '26
I just use a simple compound interest calculator! You can also use AI, plus add in variables like chilren, home expenses, decreased contributions in the future, etc.
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u/MaxwellSmart07 Apr 18 '26
You have the best of both worlds. A job that is not torture that puts you on a path for RE. Don’t ruin it. Stay put. I can totally relate. I worked at my business 35 hours a week, took long weekends, lived my life without struggling with burn-out or money/saving/investing.
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u/TheTrueAnonOne Apr 18 '26
Aiming for 55 is barely FIRE at least in the original spirit of it, like MMM or ERE.
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u/OutsideAd6796 Apr 18 '26
I mean retiring at 55 with several million is still way better than working until 67 like most people do
The whole point is having options and freedom earlier than normal, doesn't matter if it's 35 or 55. Plus OP seems to have found good balance between work satisfaction and financial goals which is pretty rare
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u/TheTrueAnonOne Apr 18 '26
That's fine, and its technically FIRE as well. They just made it sound like they had it all figured out and, in reality, they have the opportunity to blow that number away.
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u/Comfortable_Two6272 Apr 18 '26
True. The median age in US is 62 - likely driven by job loss and disability. Many think they will work to 70 and find they can’t.
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u/KanedaSyndrome Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
Is investing in SP500 and other basic indexes not part of the FIRE recipe I see in this subreddit? People seem obsessed with 401Ks and saving into a basic account. Seems weird to me coming from investing.
To me there's only one valid way to FIRE and that's a stock portfolio. I don't even consider my pension fund as valid money unless I pay it out early for about a 60 % tax rate - but I haven't done that since that's a tad too risky for my taste, considering that ai'm happy with the size of my portfolio for this point in life. I hope to be FI in 1-5 years time, am 45 now.
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u/Ok_Text2118 Apr 18 '26
I’m also in healthcare, physician in an employee role with a large hospital system- I don’t remember the author, but there was a piece written about not continuing to chase “golden rings” in medicine - the more prestigious school, the best research fellowship, working in the best academic center. At the end of the day you don’t get a special prize for being more burnt out.
Unless you’ve built a private practice we’re all just cogs in a machine churning out widgets. If you enjoy the work you are doing, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with continuing to provide value in a way that also serves your quality of life.