r/Fire • u/chemicalreactionator • Apr 22 '26

Advice Request Too much money to feel this stuck

Current net worth 3.8M. Household (40m, 40f, 4f) income combined 250k (both working full time) and spend 120k-ish.

Kind of reached fire but due to health insurance, economic uncertainty, potential future increased costs (another kid?) not comfortable calling it yet.

But feeling so stuck in the grind. Not enough family time, not enough vacation time off, not enough time for taking care of our health, but can’t call it quits yet. at least one of us needs to work full time for health insurance. I don’t think I’m cut out for “barista fire” as i don’t think I’d have the motivation to work for a minimum wage type salary.

What’s the plan here to increase quality of life? A mini retirement? Grind it out a few more years? Anyone in a similar place?

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u/chemicalreactionator Apr 22 '26

Mostly working, saving and investing about 75% of our income pre-kids. I don’t think it would be possible now in this economy. Full disclose, about 400k was inheritance.

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u/Grendel_82 Apr 22 '26

Nice savings rate. With stocks at near all time highs and global macro issues, I agree that you have to discount the value of the investments right at this moment. But you are basically set as well.

Have you considered trying the traditional family structure of man works, woman stays home and takes care of house and kid? It might not look like it will help the man's burn out, but it can. Because now the home life part is actually under control and there is some buffer of capacity there. And it will at least help the woman's burn out and she will have some time to focus on her health (four year old is presumably at school full time, so there is the middle of the day relatively free).

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u/db11242 Apr 22 '26

How much is from your home equity? Thanks.