Whiling away the days to FI

[An Unassuming Moose]

So I'm feeling pretty good about my financial situation. I have enough assets to carry me to FI, but I am extremely leveraged. Like a debt load of about $670k leveraged. I like my job, but given the choice I'd do less of it, or at least only the parts I enjoy. By the end of this year, I will be cash flow positive to the tune of about $50k a year, after all incomes and expenses and leaving a generous margin for error. So about 11 years, give or take, to knock out the debt and claim FI. Realistically, I'll be FI in about four years, but I want to kill off the debt before I accept the status. I've applied just about every Mustachian tip I can find (apart from not using debt, but I'm comfortable with my choices and there is zero consumer debt in there). I'm re-reading the MMM blog and a few others to see if I can further haul back the debt repayment schedule. I figure I can probably get 5 or 6% more efficient before I start affecting my lifestyle, but I'm running out of potential big wins. What's more concerning, though, is I'm coming to a realization that worries me.

I'm BORED with finances. And I feel bad and elitist about being bored. Here I have this machine throwing ungodly amounts of cash at me, and a simple, surefire way to reach FI. Once I do reach it, I have plans to give my time and energy to all these causes which excite me, and I can't wait to get started. Right now though, my job consumes pretty much my entire day, five days a week, and my weekends are spent maintaining the rest of my life. It's sustainable, holistic, and an efficient way to get to my goals as fast as possible. I'm not unhappy, and by all accounts I'm leading a great life. If I can keep it up for about four years, I can modify my life at will to be exactly what I want. It's perfect. Yet, I'm unfulfilled. There's no more challenge.

Am I doing something wrong? Did I miss something? Am I just an elitist asshat who should shut up about his first world problems when so many others have it much harder?

Anyone else find themselves just counting the days while the income machine does its thing?

[LightStache]

Yes I also struggle with these feelings and what to do about them. Obviously the excitement of the possibility of FIRE wears off over time. I expect that when I achieve FI I won't experience any elation really -- it's just something that I know will happen at some point like a birthday or getting grey hair. Once you've built the FIRE machine, you need to look elsewhere for your next project.

People often point out that FIRE won't bring fulfillment, so if you're not content before FIRE, you won't be afterwards. For those who find joy in the little things -- a hobby, family, walking the dog, etc. -- they can start doing more of that pre-FIRE. It's the idea behind barista FIRE.

But I'm into big ticket challenges that aren't compatible with working a 9-to-5 or would otherwise be really expensive and therefore incompatible with my desire to be FI. I want to sail around the world, hand-build a house, and build a wood boat. Not things that are compatible with my megacorp job and fourth-floor city apartment.

Right now my only big goal is FIRE. I have a few other balls in the air that I expect to land by the end of 2020 and then I'll probably pick up another big challenge. So maybe I'm just never really satisfied, just content with having something big to go for and maybe you're that way too.

[Freedomin5]

Yes, it’s normal. Our finances are pretty automated at this point of time so we’ve used the extra time to build joyful and meaningful activities into our life outside of focusing on FIRE. Use the extra time to explore and build a fulfilling life even though you still work. If you haven’t read it yet, the book Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans presents some really good ideas.

[Maenad]

I think you hit the nail on the head with "there's no more challenge". A lot of people thrive on challenges.

I think if you can think up your next big challenge, especially something that will take a few years to come to fruition and will align with your FI timeline, it may help you feel more energized. Especially if it's something with tangible progress, like how you can physically see a house being built, or your physical fitness improve, or something. Money can get awfully abstract and become just numbers on a screen.

[LightStache]

Yes, it’s normal. Our finances are pretty automated at this point of time so we’ve used the extra time to build joyful and meaningful activities into our life outside of focusing on FIRE. Use the extra time to explore and build a fulfilling life even though you still work. If you haven’t read it yet, the book Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans presents some really good ideas.

Appreciate the book suggestion @Freedomin5 -- I'm going to order it.

[mozar]

Can you change jobs? It may seem like there isn't enough time but there is always time for being challenged.

[An Unassuming Moose]

Thank you all for your insights. I'm reassured that I'm not too far out in left field here. After further pondering, I think it really is the challenge aspect that's the root issue. I've solved the puzzle and gotten the emotional payoff already, but am still waiting for the actual thing to materialize. In retrospect, this is not the first time this happens to me, and I should probably have seen it sooner. I guess it is somewhat scary to think that a critical aspect of everyday life such as money really can be made to be simple with the proper processes in place. I think I will need to meditate on this further before it stops being a little surreal...

I don't think changing employers is the right move just now, because I really do have a sweet deal at my current company with nearly unlimited flexibility, reasonable benefits and bonuses, plus my office is in this really cool historic building which I enjoy coming in to every morning. What might be interesting though, is changing roles within the company itself. I'll see what kind of plan I can draft up.

I'm leery of starting a new project outside of work, because my job can take up so much of my week. Like FatFI, I tend to go for multi-year, all-encompassing projects (which I then try to get done in six months...). Though it occurs to me that half the fun of a project is the planning, and I could probably plan a heck of an escapade, given four years' worth of idle time.

Merits more thought, but I feel somewhat better about this than yesterday. You're all invited aboard my pirate ship once I set sail.

EDIT: Just re-reading this thread, and noticing that pretty much every solution suggested has less to do with money and more with values/lifestyle. I find that very cool.

[Linea_Norway]

I think it is time for you to learn a new skill, which could be anything that interests you, as long as it is challenging to learn it. Like my DH (a very technical person) started to sew and has gotten pretty skilled after 1,5 year or so. Try to have some fun (by learning new skills) until your FIRE starts.

[mistymoney]

So I'm feeling pretty good about my financial situation. I have enough assets to carry me to FI, but I am extremely leveraged. Like a debt load of about $670k leveraged. I like my job, but given the choice I'd do less of it, or at least only the parts I enjoy. By the end of this year, I will be cash flow positive to the tune of about $50k a year, after all incomes and expenses and leaving a generous margin for error. So about 11 years, give or take, to knock out the debt and claim FI. Realistically, I'll be FI in about four years, but I want to kill off the debt before I accept the status. I've applied just about every Mustachian tip I can find (apart from not using debt, but I'm comfortable with my choices and there is zero consumer debt in there). I'm re-reading the MMM blog and a few others to see if I can further haul back the debt repayment schedule. I figure I can probably get 5 or 6% more efficient before I start affecting my lifestyle, but I'm running out of potential big wins. What's more concerning, though, is I'm coming to a realization that worries me.

I'm BORED with finances. And I feel bad and elitist about being bored. Here I have this machine throwing ungodly amounts of cash at me, and a simple, surefire way to reach FI. Once I do reach it, I have plans to give my time and energy to all these causes which excite me, and I can't wait to get started. Right now though, my job consumes pretty much my entire day, five days a week, and my weekends are spent maintaining the rest of my life. It's sustainable, holistic, and an efficient way to get to my goals as fast as possible. I'm not unhappy, and by all accounts I'm leading a great life. If I can keep it up for about four years, I can modify my life at will to be exactly what I want. It's perfect. Yet, I'm unfulfilled. There's no more challenge.

Am I doing something wrong? Did I miss something? Am I just an elitist asshat who should shut up about his first world problems when so many others have it much harder?

Anyone else find themselves just counting the days while the income machine does its thing?

I actually have been too - which is unusual for me! I've cultivated a great career and made some sacrifices to put myself ahead of the curve there, and then just when it's about to really pay off, both with professional recognition and $$ - I'm feeling a lot less engaged.

I'm wondering if it is temporary, if it is the impact of my recent promotion (more responsibility and more hours), or something else.

I also have a lot of debt which is an immediate drag on any FIRE plans. I do have the means to lean FIRE now if I downsized and changed my life a bit radically. It's a comfort to know that if I needed to - I'd be ok from here on out, but I have no immediate plans to go that route.

I've been trying to right my ship as it were after adding a bit of consumer debt into the mix and got involved here. I wonder if the constant focus on money everyday makes "the income machine" drag a bit? It's more fun when you are busy and payday just pops up unexpectedly with auto increases to your NW on the regular.

[terran]

I'm BORED with finances. And I feel bad and elitist about being bored.

This is what's supposed to happen. Welcome to what it feels like to be rich: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/08/16/what-it-feels-like-to-become-rich/

[An Unassuming Moose]

I'm BORED with finances. And I feel bad and elitist about being bored.

This is what's supposed to happen. Welcome to what it feels like to be rich: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/08/16/what-it-feels-like-to-become-rich/

DAMN! This is exactly it. I literally used the video-game-on-cheat-mode analogy to my friend yesterday. This is eerie. I would eventually have stumbled onto this article during my read-through, but THANK YOU for poking me with it.

[terran]

I'm BORED with finances. And I feel bad and elitist about being bored.

This is what's supposed to happen. Welcome to what it feels like to be rich: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/08/16/what-it-feels-like-to-become-rich/

DAMN! This is exactly it. I literally used the video-game-on-cheat-mode analogy to my friend yesterday. This is eerie. I would eventually have stumbled onto this article during my read-through, but THANK YOU for poking me with it.

You're welcome! Prompted me to do a reread on it too.

[dblaace]

I've found myself living paycheck to paycheck. Payday comes and I get to figure out how best to move money around. That takes maybe 30 minutes then it's another 2 weeks to wait till I get to do it again.

[RyanAtTanagra]

I've found myself living paycheck to paycheck. Payday comes and I get to figure out how best to move money around. That takes maybe 30 minutes then it's another 2 weeks to wait till I get to do it again.

This is where I am too.  Still paycheck to paycheck, but in a different way.  I still like playing with spreadsheets and seeing progress, even though it's slow (it's such a long-term goal).  I'm working on pulling back and letting it run more on autopilot, since I think that'd be healthier.  Though I'm also hesitant to go too much on autopilot as I have a tendency to get lazy and let my savings rate drop, and keeping an eye on things (and coming to these forums) helps keep me in check.

[skeptic]

I've seen lots of threads on this topic. A lot of us get really involved in becoming kickass personal financial managers... and then we got that, and we need a new mountain to climb.

Personal finance doesn't take a lifetime to master.

The big problem comes for people who actually retire before they've figured out what they are exciting about in life besides the thrill and achievement of retiring early. Luckily you're not in that boat.

What's great is you get to practice being retired... one minute, one hour, or one day at a time... whatever time you have available. What gets you excited, what are some of your passions, what new interests can you discover if you look around and explore this world?

For some people, it turns out what they most enjoy is... a job! And that's ok!

For others... art/music, activism, spirituality, volunteering, philanthropy, travel, starting a business [though try not to put any of your nest egg in it except what you feel 100% happy pissing away just for the experience... most businesses fail!] , writing, spending time with friends and loved ones, etc etc. There's really no limit to the breadth of human experience available.