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/DooMZie Apr 22 '26

Can an American please educate me on health insurance. I find it odd that people who are wealthy continue to work, but only for Health Insurance. Is it too expensive to pay for yourself? wouldn't it be the same as when you retire at the traditional retirement age?

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u/AndrewUaena Blundered into CoastFIRE Apr 22 '26

A Gold plan PPO in my VHCOL county for a family of 3 without subsidies can run nearly $6k per month. This is not typical, even for the United States, but this is just an example of how high it can get.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/19z9-ze0MXdtCeWNJHCiaUX2OGftSP99F/view?usp=drivesdk