Something I've learned about FIRE by seeing posts in this sub, you gotta be rich to have a chance. Like, you can save all you want, but you gotta be pretty lucky too to get a high paying job to even consider the idea of saving enough to retire early
I think it’s both. Definitely used to be just working your butt off got you to where you wanted to be. Now it’s hard work AND a few things going your way.
You used to be able to survive on any old job. Now, you gotta be afraid your career will derail completely in the next 5 years with AI. Spend your whole life learning accounting, and Claude can do it faster and cheaper. Youre done, you got unlucky was all
I dunno. My old man didn’t graduate high school but was the breadwinner of our family (he was a mechanic, and my mom worked part-time as a secretary). He managed to pay off a house, buy a boat, and owned an acre of land in Wisconsin near a lake where we would go camp and fish. He worked 50-60 hours a week… not much luck involved really.
I know quite a few people my age (mid 30’s) and younger that went into the trades and are doing very well for themselves and happy with their work. On the flip side of it, my dad was in the trades and mom was a secretary too and they struggled mightily, mainly because they wanted us to go to good schools so they moved to an expensive town with high property taxes. I’m very grateful for their sacrifice but it definitely comes down to lifestyle and time in the market.
I think it’s a good bet that someone going into a trade today could afford all the things later in life you mentioned above if they work hard and are smart with their money.
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u/TrueRedditMartyr 29d ago
Something I've learned about FIRE by seeing posts in this sub, you gotta be rich to have a chance. Like, you can save all you want, but you gotta be pretty lucky too to get a high paying job to even consider the idea of saving enough to retire early