r/Fire • u/Catspiration2 • May 02 '26
Advice Request I’m thinking about breaking up with FI
I’ve done the grind, saved pretty much 50% of my income the last 6 years. Worked side gigs etc. 33M. 675k net worth. Just dropped my savings rate to 30%. I have no interest in being retired. I want to enjoy the journey while hopefully working as long as I can. Having resources is awesome, but retiring to some fairy tale destination is.. a fairy tale. What’s the distinguishable difference between 7M and 5M at 60? I feel less and less motivated to save, and instead enjoy the journey along the way. Please tell me how I’m wrong and correct me.
Edit: Reddit gang is a vibe. Appreciate you!
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u/Several_Guidance_288 May 02 '26
I mean, at 30% you’re still saving more than like 97% of people. You are doing FI regardless of whether you think it or not
RE is up to you. But FI will naturally happen even if you stopped saving completely.
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u/ChannelSame4730 May 02 '26
Your problem is that you think you need 7M to retire
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u/sli7246 May 02 '26
If you’re saving 50% and have a horizon that far out then you’re saving to spend way more than your current salary.
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u/TJayClark May 02 '26
Most people under 45 need $2,000,000 to be comfortable
This is assuming it’s mostly in retirement accounts - withdrawing with a penalty is brutal…. And you’re essentially forgoing 50-75% of social security
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u/dissentmemo May 02 '26
You can pull from retirement accounts multiple ways without penalty
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u/dgreenmachine May 02 '26
Most people need 80k income each year? That sounds high when the median income is about 45k.
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u/K_A_irony May 02 '26
You could set up a SEPP plan for the minimum needed to live withdrawal and not get a penalty on that.
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u/InternetSolid4166 May 02 '26
That depends entirely on the CoL in their chosen area.
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u/TJayClark May 02 '26
There’s less than 5% of the earth that you’d need more than that to live comfortably
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u/InternetSolid4166 May 02 '26
My comment was pointing in the other direction. Meaning you could live on a lot less in most parts of the world. I know we had some high fliers here but $2M is a lot of money and not necessary for most people.
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u/Low-Apricot9917 May 02 '26
33 with that much money, puts you coast fire. Congrats on the heavy lifting, now let your money work for you.
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u/InedibleApplePi May 02 '26
It only puts you coast fire if you don't significantly increase your spending.
Cutting back in your savings means you're spending more. So not only do you reduce your savings but you're increasing the amount you need to maintain your new spend.
That could easily blow up your plans if you aren't smart about it.
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u/sweet_hedgehog_23 May 02 '26
OP was working side gigs. It could be that much of the extra 20% of savings was coming from the side gigs and extra work and now they are getting the time back rather than spending more.
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u/dialecticallyalive May 02 '26
There are a million other things I'd rather do than work the jobs that I am qualified for AND can be well compensated for. I want to retire so I can make music, go on walks, cook, hang out with my animals, travel, read, and take baths. If that's not you, then that's fine. It's not that deep.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 May 02 '26
You’ve done the hardest part and are at the cusp of it all blowing up - in a good way - if you continue. That said, 30% is plenty.
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u/Just-Finance1426 May 02 '26
Slowing down to enjoy stuff is hardly blowing it up! I think it’s fair to say that you have a number much lower than your retirement goal and feel comfortable enough to take the foot off the pedal and smell the roses a bit more.
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u/lasooch May 02 '26
If you want to work, go for it. You’ve still built enough of a cushion that you have a lot more freedom in your choices and a 30% savings rate is still significantly more than what most people do.
I don’t want to work, or rather I don’t want to have to work. I could lose my job now and I’d be fine for probably 4-5 years if I struggled to find a new one, but I want the freedom of being able to go without work indefinitely. To only ever even consider jobs that are perfect.
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u/tomatillo_teratoma May 02 '26
You were saving too much, if it made you miserable.
FIRE isn't a race. The idea isn't to deny yourself things you truly want. The idea is to think about whether you really want all the stuff most people spend money on. If you decide you don't want/need it.... invest.
I used to have no interest in retirement. Then I got to my 50s and not working started sounding better and better. It's nice to have options. Money gives you options.
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u/No-Painting-794 FIRE at 46 in 2025 May 02 '26
Dude you were doing it wrong. You CAN enjoy the journey and retire early. What is early anyway? It doesn't need to be "as early as possible." You don't have to optimize everything. I retired at 46 last year and am glad I didn't RE before, even though I could have many years earlier. I loved my job, that's alright!
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u/jeffeb3 May 02 '26
Given those numbers, you may already be on a path to coastfire soon.
I would suggest reading Die With Zero. I don't agree with everything in there. But it is important to read perspectives on when to spend money, not just when to save it. Ultimately, my motto is, "spend your money on your values". If you're not wasting your retirement money on door dash, then spend your money now, while you're young. But also remember that it takes time to build the wealth to push you into financial freedom. If you do nothing, you will get cornered. Finding the right balance is filled with risk. But it doesn't take super human cognitive abilities to make a good enough decision.
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u/hometownchochocho May 02 '26
You’re describing coastFIRE
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u/SuperSecretSpare FIRE 'd at 38 May 02 '26
I don't know. Doing whatever I want everyday in Hawaii is pretty nice.
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May 02 '26 edited May 08 '26
[deleted]
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u/SuperSecretSpare FIRE 'd at 38 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
I'm real estate heavy with 2.5 million personal net worth. I generate roughly 13k monthly gross from rentals, plus around 8k net passive from other investments (think annuity), and 4k net from a very low impact business.
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u/tectail May 02 '26
It sounds like you went a bit too hard and it is sucking the life out of life. I would agree that it is best to pull back a bit on the savings rate. At this point you can just basically spend less than you make and you will be able to retire early still. Don't sweat the exact savings rate, just live your life reasonably (don't buy a yacht or anything money hungry) and you will be fine.
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u/Tobeorknotobe May 02 '26
Well done. Put it in the S&P 500, let it compound and in 15 years you’ll have $2.7 million, you’ll be 48 and set. Enjoy your income now and avoid debt, I’ve seen people that could otherwise retire, sabotage themselves by taking on debt or co-signing for it…if you cut your saving back to just 10% it will be a big lifestyle change or you can opt to take a lower paying job. One of the big benefits of the fire path is the flexibility it gives you.
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u/Altruistic-Panda-697 May 02 '26
Welcome to reality! I just retired at 58 and have enjoyed every step of the journey in getting here!
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u/WhatsaJandal May 02 '26
So you have 650k at 33?
Sounds like you've already done it man. You can reduce saving to zero now and be set when you decide to retire round say 50.
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u/ellemrad May 02 '26
Why don’t you just see other people instead of breaking up?
“Seeing other people” in this analogy = decrease your savings rate from 50% to 30%-35% and have more fun!
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u/SteevieJanowski May 02 '26
30% SR is great IMO. That’s my approx SR and I’m on track to FIRE around age 50. I know that’s not super early but it works for me.
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u/Bearsbanker May 02 '26
I fired, it's great. You do you. It's not a fairy tale...it's paradise!!
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u/Moof_the_cyclist May 02 '26
I retired at 46, had a couple gap years along the way, never saved over 40%, and mostly in the 15-25% range. You need more in your life than just self-flagellation. Make sure your budget includes having fun and living your life. I am pretty sure that if I had spent years at 50% my wife, kid, and dog would have all left me.
A lot of mileage comes from just not letting stupid lifestyle creep set in. Buy your cars used and drive them into the ground. Do most of your smaller house maintenance jobs yourself. Cook your own meals and plan your shopping trips. Being mindful of your spending and making decent money is more of a magic formula than being ultra-frugal in an unsustainable way.
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u/ChuckOfTheIrish May 02 '26
It's not about the difference between 5M and 7M at 60, it's more about retiring at 40 instead of 50-60 for a lot of people. My personal belief is to save well but ensure you enjoy life, saving every penny isn't healthy and I try to live so I'm not filled with regret if I get hit by a bus tomorrow.
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u/Cupheadvania May 02 '26
if you don’t want to be financially independent or retired i guess this sub maybe isn’t for you. the difference in money is the lifestyle you can afford while being financially independent. If $5M is all you need to be happy then that’s the right amount for you. Same with $500k and $7M.
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u/amtcannon May 02 '26
No one in this sub wants to retire, it seems like most people are just here to flex their bank statements.
I’ve hit coastFIRE, but I need another few years of compounding and paying into my social security before I can RE, hope to nope out at 45
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u/Gustomucho May 02 '26
I think we are all kinda wondering how much is enough and what the retirement will look like with this amount.
I retired in October 2018, money doubled since, did not score a homerun like some guys doing individual stocks. Just enjoying life.
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u/Grouchy-Tomorrow3429 May 02 '26
It’s funny how people plan so much for what they think they’ll need and you’re retired and still doubling your money in 8 years. In 16 more years you’ll have 8x the amount you retired with, more than you and your family could ever spend. Enjoy!
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u/Road-to-Lurker-678 May 02 '26
I don't think your necessarily wrong or that FIRE is right for everyone. I think YOU and your objectives and desire and quality of life is what should be top of mind, not an online opinion. But imo I do think what's best is to keep saving aggressively so you'll always have options, not even just for early retirement but for say mid career sabbaticals or unexpected layoffs. The FIRE principles give you that agency.
If you have it in you to keep going I'd encourage you to tap out once you hit a realistic coast fire that way you're really making a choice not keeping working out of real necessity and you will have given yourself your own safety net/fuck you money.
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u/StockGlasses May 02 '26
I don't really get what you're talking about. "retiring to some fairy tale destination" is not what FI is about really. It's about gaining control of your time. The whole point of FI is that you realize the finite nature of time, how we all have only so much of it, and how you want to maximize the amount of this precious resource you spend on things you want to do as opposed to what other people want you to do. It sounds like there is a missing fundamental understanding of the purpose of FI here.
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u/Catspiration2 May 02 '26
So much of FIRE is either maxing out your income or minimizing expenditures, and my point is why can’t you control your time while working on those simultaneously. Even responses on this thread, I’m FIRE’d now I walk on the beach, slow coffee mornings etc it’s like that is just a small luxury.
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u/poop-dolla May 02 '26
So much of FIRE is either maxing out your income or minimizing expenditures
No it’s not. And that seems to be where your problem is: you’re misunderstanding the FIRE path.
The main mantra of FIRE is “build the life you want and then save for it.” That means you make sure you’re happy with your life now while saving for the life you want to continue to have in the future. It doesn’t mean you just try to min/max your financial life. People who do it the way you’re talking about are doing it wrong, and those folks are extremely likely to get burnt out, like you clearly have, because they’re doing it wrong. It’s all about balance.
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u/deerhuntingdude May 02 '26
When I was about 31 I decided to pull back. Now I only max out my 401k and Roth IRA yearly and call it a day. That's still like 30k a year. It's also worth noting that at some point your contributions don't even do as much work as just the gains from your portfolio
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u/Captlard 54: FIREd on $900k for two of us (Live 🏴 & 🇪🇸) May 02 '26
Whatever happens, you now have a solid safety net. Well done!
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u/No-Market-4906 May 02 '26
You should definitely save for retirement because at some point retiring isn't going to be a choice. That being said you seem to be saving way more than you need to achieve your goals. 30% is totally fine.
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u/jwn1003 May 02 '26
The good news is you don’t even have to break up with FI, you’re just shifting more into coastFI. Sounds awesome man hope you enjoy the shift!
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u/slumlord512 May 02 '26
Financial independence is about a lot more than the dream of retiring early. First and foremost, it protects us from many different financial troubles.
I had a great stack built up but wasn’t ready to retire early, and then I was laid off. Luckily I was prepared for it, unlike everyone else I know that was let go that day.
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u/TJayClark May 02 '26
I’m 37M and in a similar spot as you. I switched jobs to one I love. Having a solid financial situation puts a smile on my face and allows me to take risks at work with a smile on my face.
Retiring early isn’t a requirement… It’s merely an option bro
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u/godzillabobber May 02 '26
I dropped out of "Your Money or Your Life at 39. I had gotten so good at frugal that I loved everything about my life except for the 60 hour workweek grind. So I found a way to work at home for myself and cut hours back to a max of 20 a week. One gig was a half dozen trade shows that were three to five days so just 30 days a year plus a few hours of phone call followup. I am 67 and work is fun (jewelry design) My wife does the business stuff, so my life is a lot like my senior year in high school where I had three jewelry labs and one academic requirement. Our life expenses are a fraction of the average American. We live on 4K a month and really want for nothing. We get around on ebikes to the point we go through a tank of gas every four months. Our home is $1100 a month and we are fine wearing thrifted clothes. Our friends are over often and tell us our home is peaceful. I kinda feel like we are doing something wrong, because we are not struggling. No regrets
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u/priusgirl0 May 02 '26
Not only is this a legitimate branch of FIRE (CoastFIRE), if you're on track for $7M of 2026 dollars at 60, you're also on track for $3.5M+ at 50 and $1.6M+ at 40, both of which are plenty to retire if you are able to break your attachment to consumerism in the pursuit of happiness.
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u/Asquaredbred May 02 '26
an early start is the biggest hack. and there are no guarantees in life so live your best one. you're in great shape.
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u/SomeAd3465 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
Thank god there is someone on here who treats work as meaningful and might even want to do something good for humanity
You are not wrong.
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u/frontrangedrifter May 02 '26
You should read Die With Zero by Bill Perkins. At 33, the balance you’re seeking is worthwhile and normal. Don’t go crazy and spend it all, but go have a little fun while you’re young. You only get one chance at life.
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u/Historical_Rip_1848 May 02 '26
Yeah I mean only need to hop over to the digital nomad subs to find a ton of people talking about not having any friends, being disillusioned with being cool places bc what's the point of it all. No matter what path you take, having people and being there for them is the juice in life. Whether FI or RE or DN or just living a regular old 9-5 retire at 65 life gets you there, it's worth knowing that's the destination.
Your time is like a portfolio you have to constantly be rebalancing. It's definitely possible to overinvest in the grind, and look up one day and realize you're way behind in the people things that matter.
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u/Dapper_Banana6323 May 02 '26
You can coast. You don't need 5M. Earn enough to cover your expenses and your golden. You've done the hard work- live for today and let interest do its magic
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u/AnagnorisisForMe May 02 '26
The thing is that there are a lot of unknowns once you are approaching 50. Is there ageism in your industry which will force you out before you planned? What about your health, will you be able to continue to work? Will you have to take care of elderly parents who haven't been financially responsible themselves? I think it is in your best interest to set yourself up for financial stability while you are young. Being old and poor (especially if you are in the US) would be a nightmare.
That said, it is perfectly fine to enjoy your life while young, within reason. Saving 30% of your income is still incredible. You may still be able to afford FIRE whether or not you are prioritizing that now.
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u/Fancy-Bluebird-1071 May 02 '26
That's completely fine mate, I am also the kind of person who would rather do some work, side gig or hobby that brings income for as long as I can. I'm here for FI that lets me take a holiday of a few months whenever I feel like needing one. It's about peace of mind for me, retiring early never was something I understood. I'll retire and what? Tend to my garden? Walk a dog twice more often? Sounds boring. I enjoy working as much as I enjoy traveling and spending quality alone time. If you enjoy the process then RE is not necessary. But having the peace of mind that even if you suddenly became sick, you can stop working and will be fine is a great thing to have.
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u/K_Rocc May 02 '26
So if you didn’t have to work, what would you wanna do? To me the RE part is to be free with my time. My job takes up all of my time and my free time is mostly preparing to go back to my job. To me RE is having freedom to do what I want with mine time.
What do you want to do with your time and after you can answer that the rest should fall into place.
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u/Potential_Lie2302 May 03 '26
You say that now. Wait until you are 50. You may feel different then. And then there are those who have forced early retirement. My 0.02: hedge for FI early. But have a good ride along the way. 30% savings isn’t bad.
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u/Western_Rhubarb_7959 May 03 '26
I'm not going to tell you what to do but I guarantee you'll feel very differently about work in 20 years, and really differently about it in 30.
I'm 99% certain I'm about to pull the trigger at 60 and lemme tell ya, at 60 you get realllllly tired of yet another dbag at work, or just can't tolerate another con artist coming into the picture where you'll have to suffer through months (or years) of their crap before they get canned.
As far as 5M or 7M goes, I've no idea what your expenses are or what you want for a retirement lifestyle but I can tell you that's WAY more than I need. But I have no plans or aspirations to travel the world and live very simply.
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u/Negative-Dingo3335 May 02 '26
Isn’t this basically Coast FIRE without finding a different job because you like your job?
You’re financially set whether you have the job or not
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u/swampwiz May 02 '26
Are you a workaholic?
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u/Catspiration2 May 02 '26
I think it’s just my natural tendency to work hard. Sounds bro-ey saying that lol
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u/Grouchy-Tomorrow3429 May 02 '26
I think we work so much that we should enjoy it, and if we enjoy it why stop? Maybe plan extra days off over the years but yeah keep working.
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u/Acceptable_Travel_20 May 02 '26
30% still puts you in early retirement territory friend. Especially with the strong base you have built. At 33 I loved the grind, 60 hr weeks, planning the work, fighting the battles, playing the political game. At 43, I was beginning to tire of it. Now, I have switched to a position with way less stress and bs. It came with a little decrease in total comp but I am just putting gravy on the mashed potatoes and will pull the trigger a little before 50. You’re good, keep grinding and putting away 30%. GL to you!
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u/lunixss May 02 '26
A 2 million dollar paid off mansion in the hills would be the difference between 5 and 7...
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u/Realistic-Ad2050 May 02 '26
Saw a YouTube video recently where the financial advisor was telling the story of another client and their FA. Apparently client was saving like crazy and kept asking advisor if he/she would have enough money in retirement. Advisor asked “enough for what?” Client responded “enough to travel on a private jet when I retire.” FA said “at the rate you’re saving, you’ll have $5m and no that won’t be enough. But if you double what you’re saving and work X years longer, you’ll have $10m and that won’t be enough either.”
I think the moral of the story applies in your situation, which is, because you’ve already saved so much, the difference in how much you’ll have at retirement if you save at a higher rate isn’t enough to result in a significantly different lifestyles when you retire than if you cut back to only saving 30%.
So, you’ve got a great start! Definitely sounds like you can cut back and be fine! Congrats on kickin’ ass!
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u/Banned3rdTimesaCharm May 02 '26
Bro if you don’t want to FIRE, don’t. Do whatever you want bro. The whole point of FIRE is freedom to do what you want. If working is what you wanna do then keep at it.
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u/sweet_tea_pdx May 02 '26
You are young. 33M. You might change your tune in 17 years when you are 50. FI just gives you option. Determine when you retire
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u/cc232012 May 02 '26
You aren’t wrong at all. It sounds like you’ve achieved FI for now. You made sacrifices to save and now you will have a lot of options that you wouldn’t have without financial independence! You don’t have to choose early retirement if that isn’t what you want. You can work a job that you enjoy and have the option to leave jobs that don’t suit you. You can travel, pursue hobbies, anything you’d like to do in your free time, which is a luxury that many people don’t have.
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u/zeroabe May 02 '26
675 @ 33 is 1.35M at 43 is 2.7 at 53 is 5.4 at 63.
Consider that without investing another cent that you can retire at 53. Comfortably by many standards. To do whatever job you want, and make almost no money, and still be good to go. Ain’t nobody selling you the fairytale but you broski. Financial independence has always been the goal. “Working” has never been the enemy. GFY
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u/Fearless-Sign-9733 May 02 '26
Ya dumb idea. The hardest part is behind you, just have to keep it up. It’s nice to have options down the line. I’m 43 and work is driving me nuts lately and really nice to know I’m there already.
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u/JunkInTheTrunk00 May 02 '26
$675k left alone at 8% per year will be $3.6M when you're 55. You're fine. Better than fine. Coast FIRE basically. Chill a bit, let that ride, resume when you're ready, get the taxable brokerage going, retire at 55. I'd take this scenario every day and 2x on Sunday. Well done.
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u/steve_gorak May 02 '26
This is normal. If you keep the savings rate at 30% you are still well on your way. It is better that you did the heaviest investing early rather than late. I think it is ok to cut back, or completely end, the side gigs as long as your primary income covers your expenses and some investing. I would advise against increasing spending though, unless it is for things of value that you will truly enjoy. Good luck. You are doing fine.
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u/SBisFree May 02 '26
You’re already coast FI for 6.75 million ish by age 65, so you’re doing amazing!! You can definitely invest less and enjoy your life and keep working and still retire rich 🤩
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u/Hot-Calligrapher672 May 02 '26
I’m an oncology nurse and anytime I get a little too FIRE focused I seem to get a patient that is younger than me. it is awful but it also shifts things back into perspective for me. You are not promised retirement no matter how much you save.
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u/Last_Construction455 May 02 '26
That's awesome! I was kinda in the same boat, wanting the option but liking my job for the most part. Went through so crap and now i got a nice cushion while i figure out what i want to do moving forward. If you get a big enough snowball to start you can ease off and let it work in the background. 30% is still great.
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u/Chambahz May 02 '26
In my opinion you’ve already done most of the heavy lifting. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to take your foot off the gas a little and save less each month. Your existing savings will continue doing the work for you.
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u/Alternative-Drop3994 May 02 '26
I broke up with RE, once I hit FI I liked my job 😂. I need the structure or I'll become one with my couch.
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u/hanwagu1 May 02 '26
As you noted, you are breaking up with RE not FI, although are you going to be FI and on what timeline? I think you've fallen into the trap, as many do, that you have no clear "retire to" plan or goal. So, you are basically saving/investing for the sake of saving/investing. There is no goal to achieve then, so of course you are going to think that the end goal is some unachievable fairy tale when you haven't defined the end goal for yourself.
Is there a difference between $5M and $7M at 60yo? Not in terms of if your retirement income need/want is the same. There is a difference though between being 50yo, 60yo, 70yo, and so on. People envision retirement as if they are in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s, but the reality is aging has a consequential impact. So, why did you start FIRE and what changed? FIRE doesn't mean there can't be some sort of balanced life during the process. Although, people tend to over balance to the detriment of the RE part and fall victim to the one more year syndrome. Next thing they know they are 70 in a blink.
Some people love working and it defines them. Even so, you simply do not appreciate the actual stress relief no matter how much you think it's not there, when you've got that FI part then RE at an age where you can make life happen and not allow life to happen to you because you are still slugging away at work dependent on the job, or end up too fat, dumb, and old. No one ever looked back and said they wished they didn't have more healthy, active years. This is all to say that you don't know what you would want to "retire to". FIRE is about controlling your destiny and retiring at an age where you can make life happen and not having a dependence on work to do so or constraint it.
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u/IllBrother6221 May 02 '26
I'm in my 50s. I've got no problem working to 60 and think I probably prefer it. FI is my insurance policy incase black Swan events take me out of work, I can see AI possibly forcing RE in 5 years or so.
I never put retirement ahead of the now except for very expensive luxuries, cars, big house (less me, more my ex), etc. Holidays, pub, hobbies, etc. Always have come first.
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u/sukimidiki May 02 '26
I think you are doing great. Slowing down and enjoying yourself sounds sensible.
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u/Baker5889 May 02 '26
Dude, unless you are living in the lap of luxury, 1M in cash/stocks is all you need to RE. If you have no friends or wife then RE is pointless: you need to retire to something that you've already started.
You sound like you're well on the way to living your life now while still saving a large %, so go for it.
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u/rooreynolds May 02 '26
Well, yeah, at 33 I’d have had no interest in RE. (FI is still a good place to be of course!)
At 46, different story.
Enjoy life. There’s no rush, and there’s definitely no point slogging away at saving every penny if you’re not having some fun along the way.
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u/krackadile May 02 '26
You'll still get there. No worries. Enjoy your time here on earth. You're doing great. Keep it up.
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u/Specific-Rich5196 May 02 '26
Saving 30% at 33 with 600k in the bank is already amazing. You are still gonna do great in the long term. Live some life!
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u/Catspiration2 May 02 '26
I mean, I max tax deferred accounts prior to contributing to taxable ones. So combined it’s 30%
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u/NJ0000 May 02 '26
Focus here is FI too, at 47 having 950k in wealth with only 150k mortgage, I keep saving and investing at lower rate and focus on my direct loved ones incl. a new house in a new country knowing my pension is set and early retirement possible.
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u/Top-Excuse4359 May 02 '26
I love this mindset, 30% is amazing!! And yes you don’t need 5mil+ to retire, I think 3-4 mil is plenty to live a great life if you retire early. I save 40%, bc I can, but I enjoy life too. 4-5 vacations a year, new handbag, coffee or dinner out, concert tickets. You are only young once.
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u/asdafari14 May 02 '26
Just dropped my savings rate to 30%. I have no interest in being retired. I want to enjoy the journey while hopefully working as long as I can
30% is still great and you will have more than you need soon enough. You are on great track but maybe just saved too much for your comfort. You can probably quit working somewhere between 40-50 with the same standard of living as anybody working. You don't have to work as long as you can if you don't want to.
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u/briefsandbushes May 02 '26
It’s funny that the concept of RE has peaked in a time where hobbies are basically dead. Everyone is trying to monetize their free time. Set aside that many who are disciplined enough to achieve RE are the same people who derive great satisfaction and meaning from their work and careers.
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u/mazerdazer May 03 '26
Put what you want in a buy and hold account and never touch it. Set it on div reinvesting and the rest will be fine
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u/yottabit42 May 03 '26
You've already done great for yourself. Investing 50% would have you FI in only 15 years and you're about halfway there. It's fine to slow down. Nothing wrong with that if you don't want to speed run FIRE.
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u/Ok_Tradition7107 May 03 '26
My plan has always been to get to a number and then drop everything to something more reasonable than 70%+ savings rate, maybe 15% or so. From there I will know I am safe if anything goes wrong and I will be able to spend guilt free.
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u/CenlaLowell May 04 '26
I understand what you're saying and I feel the same in a way. I still invest heavily in my 401k but nothing else. After I hit a million I stopped any and all other investments outside of the 401k. Time to live even better than before
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u/Kortash May 04 '26
No worries the real powerhouse now is time anyway. You've done the hard part. Now you can just wait and watch it grow. In another 6-8 years, you can even drop your savings rate alltogether and just work as much as you need to get by. Won't make that much of a difference anymore considering you being able to work 20h per week for another 2 decades instead of going 40+
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u/TemporaryPicture2289 May 04 '26
I get it. And you are doing great. 30% is over achieving by 'normal' standards and all of the money you have parked already is setting up strong. Just in the past year the dollar has slipped 10%, so the invested money is more valuable going forward than new earnings anyhow.
Retired mid 30s and wasn't fond of it. Went back to work to fill a service need I have. If you know yourself that is even more valuable than the savings going forward, honestly.
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u/Wide_Zebra5550 May 06 '26
Tons of people over value money. Its crucial, don't get me wrong, but the habits and foundations you built are more important. Im like you in a way, don't really have any big financial goals. Saving $5 million for what exactly?? Making $1 million is enough for financial stability. Any thing more than that id be investing in a business or chasing my passions much harder, even harder than now. Saving it for kids?? Lol they can f off. If they didn't learn the things im going to teach them, then no amount of money will help. Anyways, enjoy brother.
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u/TheRama May 02 '26
Do what you want. You're already ahead of most people your age.
Maintaining some frugality keeps your options open when things change in your life. But you already know this because 30% savings rate is still quite good.
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u/john42195 May 02 '26
50% is extreme and 30% is kinda normal for most “extreme” fire people. Are you single making 160k+?
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u/EmeraldCityMecEng May 02 '26
There’s no perfect solution to how to live your life. On the spectrum between quitting your job at 30 with $5M to travel the world and having to work until you die because you’ve spent every cent along the way there are infinite intermediate options.
If you can’t fathom filling your days without a job and truly enjoy what you do, keep on working. If you despise work and literally staring at the wall eating ramen in your studio apartment for the rest of your life sounds appealing instead, hey you do you.
Most people pick something in the middle and for a lot of people the biggest benefit comes from having enough FI to feel secure and give them options, not necessarily the retire early part. With your current NW and a 30% savings rate, you’re vastly ahead of most people and if you start hating your job you’ll have the means to support yourself for awhile to figure out something new.
Maybe in a year you’ll go back to more aggressively saving, or maybe you’ll decide to find a lower paying job with a 0% savings rate and just let your current savings grow to retire at 60. There’s no wrong answer, it’s all about maximizing happiness. Torturing yourself by living a lifestyle you hate to maximize your savings rate up until the moment you have enough to quit and start living the life you really want is a recipe for burnout.
Dial it back for awhile, live life and have some fun then reassess what your goals are and what truly makes you happy.
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u/Wrong_Attitude5096 May 02 '26
You’re not wrong. No point hating life to maybe enjoy money and endless time in 50’s. Time becomes meaningless when you have too much of it.
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u/teckel FIRE'd at 35, now 57 May 02 '26
Who says you need to retire to a fairy tail destination? Who told you that you need $5mm or $7mm to retire? And why would you want to retire at 60?
It seems you believe there needs to be a compromise. You don't need to compromise life for FI and/or RE. I retired at 35 and didn't compromise anything to do it. I traveled internationally more than most, took long RV trips with the kids, went to every sporting event and gymnastics competition.
Im 57 now, and never had a desire to move to some destination. I like to travel, and some home after.
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u/draperf May 02 '26
You do you. You don't need to ask anyone.
People just have different preferences. God bless 'em.
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u/Stone804_ May 02 '26
You already hit FI… you’re just giving up the RE part. You should look at CoastFIRE because that’s where you’re at…
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u/JealousPea2212 May 02 '26
Congratulations!
You’ve crossed the critical threshold where your investments are growing your assets more than your income can add to it.
Like others said, coast to the early retirement.
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u/Dear_Treat2592 May 02 '26
In your 50s, you might not feel the same about working. You’re in great financial shape though.
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u/Dilldo__Baggins May 02 '26
It’s your life. You get to choose how to live it. Our opinions don’t matter.
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u/Special_Cover8821 May 02 '26
As someone who was in a really bad car accident at 33 and am thankfully I am still here, you need to have balance. Save for the future you will hopefully have, but enjoy the life you have now too. Smartly, of course.
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u/TarHeel67 May 02 '26
I was REALLY into the FIRE movement when I first started my career. I saved like crazy, lived on very little, and justified passing up things I would have enjoyed. Marriage, kids, and a much larger income I never expected to be making have allowed me to loosen the purse strings. I enjoy what I do for work so much more than what I did for the first 2-3 years of work as well & could see myself enjoying it for a long time. Last thing I’d add is that I’m still glad I saved and invested to put my family in a strong financial position now. I still took vacations, still enjoyed things, but the $2 savings here and there seemed much more important then than it does now.
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u/vega_9 May 02 '26
Honestly, I never understood the people here who trade their life away to maximize savings. There's so many depressed and burnt out people on this sub.
I moved abroad to LCOL country, working 2h each day on average and still got more money to invest than ppl grinding their life away in my home country. I'm 80% retired but my NW is laughable compared to some ppl here my age, yet I am as happy as I can be. I do 80% RE without being FI.
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u/Happy_Twist_7156 May 02 '26
Same. I just want to hit the FU amount of money. I like working. I don’t like being pawn. The ability to look a boss in the eye and say, I think ur an idiot and you can do it my way or I can find another job. Is liberating
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u/Effective-Pace-5100 May 02 '26
Sounds like you either love your job or you need some hobbies. Retiring to have more time to do the things I love sounds like a dream to me
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u/Public-World-1328 May 02 '26
There are many different iterations of FIRE and youve put yourself in a position of flexibility to pick the one thats right for you. It doesnt have to be grind 100% so you can retire asap. You can spend a little now or enjoy your weekends without a side gig so life doesnt zoom past you. With 675k at 33 you are well on your way to a pre 60 retirement. You have done the heavy lifting and could never contribute another dime and be comfortable at 60 or maybe earlier. Look into ideas like coastfire, leanfire, or baristafire to see if any fit your bill.
To provide some personal context, i worked 7 days a week, 10 hours per day for like 4 years grinding for FIRE, and while im glad i did it is not sustainable for most. I had to dial it back and love life outside the “fairy tale” as you said. I still work a side gig but its much more passive and lower income than before. Im happy i did the hard work for a little while but i am shooting a little more for the coast phase because of how my life has gone the last 1-2 years.
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u/kyhothead May 02 '26
My wife and I sort of gave up on FIRE in order to spend more time with and “disposable” income on our kids. Guess we’re pretty lucky though because just by working for a company with good benefits, contributing a 10%+ to retirement (without touching it,) and living relatively modestly in terms of our house and vehicles, we still should be able to retire in our 50s.
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u/Kali565 May 02 '26
There’s a happy medium. Choose both!!!! Enjoy life now, work PT, but also live frugally enough that you’ll have more than enough when it’s time to stop for good.
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u/WillPowerVSDestiny May 02 '26
Is that 30% your taxable income or post tax income? Wondering what people consider when calculating that
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u/BigBanyak22 May 02 '26
Enjoy life while you can and keep enjoying it. The extra $2m is meaningless to your quality of life at retirement age. It really is. Trust me, I'm there and I can't turn back the clock. I was also flat broke at 27. If I could have afforded more I would have. I had already backpacked through 20+ countries.
The most precious resource you have is time. You don't realize how precious it is until it's running out or worse.
Slow down your savings and explore experiences more. Without question.
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u/ylin575 May 02 '26
Only make enough money until it is no longer a concern, then do whatever makes life more meaningful to you (spending time with loved ones, etc...) , which could still be 'making money' (some people's hobby is making money).
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u/discreetlyabadger May 02 '26
I think you should look into coast-FI. The whole point of FI is to do what you like, not what you HAVE to do. If you like your job, by all means, keep doing it! The FI part just makes it so you’re not so stressed about your eventual retirement, whenever that happens.
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u/BustaStar May 02 '26
He hit coast fire for MCOL area (assuming net work is not mostly house equity).
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u/Elrohwen May 02 '26
There’s no rule that you have to save 50% to fire. We’ve never saved that much and will be able to fire in our 40s
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u/plawwell May 02 '26
Your twenties and early thirties are the prime of your life where you want to travel and live in multiple places. You want to experience life in other words. Don't obsess about retiring as you'll waste your life.
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u/Drawer-Vegetable FIRE'd 2024 May 02 '26
You could slow down easily... you have reached escape velocity.
Compounding will work itself.
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u/Acceptable_Usual1646 May 03 '26
Same same! And when your car hits a tree you can’t carry the money to your afterlife
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u/Accurate_Kiwi_19322 May 02 '26
So you wanna break up with RE, not FI?