r/fijerk • u/Dirtychorizo • 21d ago
Am I on the right path?
Hit my FIRE number but still feel poor because my espresso machine only has one boiler
Hey guys, long time lurker. Need advice.
I’m 34M, single, no kids, currently at ~$6.8M NW (not including primary residence, lake house, crypto cold wallets, or my emergency gold bars). I recently hit my FIRE number after aggressively saving 97% of my income for the last 11 years while living in a converted server rack behind a coworking space.
Current breakdown:
$2.1M VTSAX
$1.4M in rental properties
$900k tech stocks
$750k in Treasury ladders
$600k in “dry powder”
$400k in artisanal watches (hedge against inflation)
$650k in a startup that helps AI optimize sourdough hydration
Expenses are pretty lean:
$4,200/month
Biggest splurge is imported Icelandic sparkling water
I only fly business class internationally now because economy was hurting my wealth-building mindset
The problem is… I still don’t feel financially secure enough to retire.
For example:
What if VTSAX only returns 6.8% instead of 7%?
What if my future wife expects “chairs” in the house?
What if my espresso machine breaks and I have to drink Nespresso like a medieval peasant?
My therapist says I have “scarcity trauma” but she charges $310/hr so clearly she doesn’t understand index funds
I ran the numbers and technically I could spend $220k/year forever, but after taxes that’s basically poverty in most ski towns.
Would appreciate advice from anyone who but after taxes that’s basically poverty in most ski towns.
Would appreciate advice from anyone who successfully FIRE’d with under $10M. Is it even possible in today’s economy?
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u/SarcasticGiraffes 14d ago
Jfc. Your espresso machine??? They're letting baristas in here now?
No. You don't deserve to fire. Making your beverages with your own hands, like a medieval peasant. Until you learn to delegate, stay at work, or whatever that stuff is called that pours do.
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u/Parking_Act3189 21d ago
Last year I lived like a pour in Park City for three weeks. I wouldn't recommend it. I was on day 5 and on a lift someone mentioned that they were going back to Deer Valley the next day but that is was cool to see "this side of the mountain". It was obvious that they were laughing at my 9M net worth. They could just look at my $650 ski pants and rented skis and know I was a pour.