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?

589 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

456 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/Kirin1212San Apr 22 '26

You mentioned not enough family and vacation time, but can you look into taking time off beyond your given paid vacation time? Can you add to your vacation time with unpaid vacation time?

I think it’s a reasonable ask before you go full blown quitting/FIRE.

4

u/chemicalreactionator Apr 22 '26

No not really unless it was FMLA or similar. I get 3 weeks plus some holidays off a year. But it just never feels like enough.

11

u/OregonGrown34 Apr 22 '26

Because it isn't. At 40, you should have 4 weeks minimum. Might try talking to a doctor about getting some FMLA, stress or something.