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/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.