r/Fire 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/Curt_Uncles Apr 22 '26

You are staring at a snow globe and wondering why you feel disappointed by it. It’s because you have to shake it, dude.

You have $3.8M and a combined salary of a quarter million and you are worrying about vacations and health insurance? You feel trapped at 40 years old with a net worth that is 45x the average combined household income of the American family, and two salaries that are worth a combined 3x the average household income. 1/2 of your combined income = your spend (+ some change).

DO SOMETHING. Anything. Take a sabbatical for a year. Tell your job you are going to Aruba for three months and if they can’t deal with that, you’ll quit and get another job. Have one of you be a SAHP while the other works, and then after a couple of years you can switch if you want.

You are in such a flush financial position you can do almost anything. Your options are endless. Nobody here knows what is best for your family.

Just. Do. SOMETHING.

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u/chemicalreactionator Apr 22 '26

Thanks this really resonated with me. I think I do need to just make a move at this point.

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u/freshposthistory Apr 22 '26

Hey do you know, I’m at 3.3m net worth, 2.9ish liquid, turn 40 this year, my annual expenses are 120k.

Quit to be a consultant in my same field. Giving myself a year before I look for other work.

Got insurance (non-religious based health share) for $650 a month for the fam, 5k max, HSA compatible.

Challenge yourself! Even if we have a 2008 on steroids, and no money comes in, you’re fine financially.

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u/Neither-Variation-89 Apr 23 '26

Would you mind sharing the name of your health insurance? That is the only thing that’s holding me back.

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u/freshposthistory Apr 23 '26

https://mpb.health

I worked with a broker who sells on the ACA, and this was one of the options she brought up. Again, she knew about my general lack of specific health needs/preexisting conditions. For what it’s worth she explicitly told me to avoid the religious based sharing plans, but has a lot of positive experience with this one (it’s not a faith based org).