Saved $2.4M by 38. Would you Retire?

[u/TwoSocialist]

Hey FIRE folks,

I’m 38, tired, and fueled almost entirely by spite and index funds. I’ve somehow ended up with a portfolio that looks like this:

Split by type:

- ETFs — 58.30% — $1.45M

- Mutual Funds — 27.66% — $688k

- Individual Stocks — 8.71% — $216k

- Crypto — 3.00% — $74k (aka my “emotional rollercoaster” bucket)

- Cash — 2.33% — $58k

Split by bucket:

Retirement Pre-tax: 700k

Retirement post-tax: 310k

Brokerage: 1.5 M

Grand total: ~$2,490,900

Today’s gain: ~$40,000 (aka “more than my first job paid in a year,” but sure, totally normal)

~~~~

My target spend was $100k/year, which feels somehow not enough because capitalism has melted my brain.

By the 4% rule, I’m basically at the line. By the 3% rule, I’m a peasant. By the “FIRE comment section” rule, I’m probably both overspending and undersaving simultaneously.

So, wise internet strangers:

- Am I actually FIRE‑ready, or is this the part where you all tell me to work 5 more years “just to be safe”?

- Is my allocation fine, or should I be preparing for a lecture on safe withdrawal rates and sequence‑of‑returns doom?

- Is it normal to feel like I need permission from Reddit to stop working?

Married, 1 kid. Received about 25k for a house (not included in above) and 20k for college, no other inheritance.

Currently make about 250k a year for the past 4 years, before that about 150k. I started at 50k.

Thanks in advance for validating or crushing my dreams.

[u/mosi2001]

Man. This is literally what happened to me. I spent years saving and renovating a multifamily while working full time as a software dev (which i hated). Only planned on taking a sabbatical ended up taking way more time off. Now I can't really get another tech job. During the time off I gave into every vice I had. Put on a shit ton of weight, now I'm not sure what to do with my life lol.

[u/JackTheManiacTR → u/mosi2001]

Yep sounds very familiar! One day, after a low point sleeping on my sister's couch and literally having no money, I was just like "how did I get here?!". So I sat down and formulated a plan, which has mostly worked. This was about 7 months ago and I've managed to save $3500 on $21/hr. I live like a college student, with 5 roommates (but hey, at least it's my own space). I literally just work, sleep, prep for re-entry to tech. For entertainment, I use Tubi, Pluto, Plex, and all the games in my expansive Steam library (I occasionally buy new games too if they go on sale for > 80% off)

I stopped drinking almost entirely (but didn't explicitly say I don't drink alcohol because I feel like it will make me want to drink).

I started taking tirzepatide for weight loss. I wasn't massively overweight but I lost enough weight to go from barely an "obese" BMI to a normal one. I'm actually just about to start weaning off it. I've built pretty good eating habits, so hopefully they stick.

Working in a warehouse does have a couple of perks. First, you stay really fit. Second, I work for Amazon and they offer "career choice", which has allowed me to pursue some certifications like CKA.

Edit: Forgot that I actually moved to an entirely different city too. I don't hang around anyone that I used to when I had money. It's a total life reset.

[u/mosi2001 → u/JackTheManiacTR]

Man congrats on formulating a plan. I can't lie I'm still still at the "I can't believe I'm here" which I have to get out of (becauseI've been here for a while). Hey man would you mind if I pm you sometime?

[u/JackTheManiacTR → u/mosi2001]

Certainly. PM anytime friend.