Author Topic: 2019 fire cohort  (Read 793073 times)

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1250 on: October 23, 2018, 10:46:38 AM »

Welcome to the cohort!!

What types of things do you like to resell?

LV

Thank you for the welcome!

Oh, I resell anything I can make a few bucks off of. I'll hit up garage sales, estate sales, and thrift stores as well as keep an eye on Craigslist and similar for deals. I'll also throw in a bit of retail arbitrage. eBay is my main selling area but I also sell on Amazon, and larger/heavier items locally. 

It's a treasure hunt and quite fun to me. Also, I can do it when I want, turn it off when I want, and answer to no bosses. I've semi-tracked my time spent to earned profit for a month and it comes out to a wage of around $20 per hour.

A side benefit is since I am looking for deals all the time I often find things I can use myself for cheap.

Nice. I wish I was a bit more entrepreneurial. Do you get stuck with stuff that you can't find a buyer for very often?

Socmonkey

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1251 on: October 23, 2018, 11:13:06 AM »
Do I get stuck with items often? No, not too often. I did recently do a clear out of my eBay listings, removing items that have been listed for a long time without selling. That was about 50 items.

Sometimes I also make mistakes. I might not have inspected the item closely enough or didn't realize that it was missing an accessory, which reduces the price I can get for it.

Don't be scared about that stuff as the profit from the items that did sell vastly outweigh the price I paid for the items that didn't. Any items I take off eBay then go into a box for my own garage sale and anything left from that then goes back as a thrift store donation.


Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1252 on: October 23, 2018, 12:46:43 PM »
Do I get stuck with items often? No, not too often. I did recently do a clear out of my eBay listings, removing items that have been listed for a long time without selling. That was about 50 items.

Sometimes I also make mistakes. I might not have inspected the item closely enough or didn't realize that it was missing an accessory, which reduces the price I can get for it.

Don't be scared about that stuff as the profit from the items that did sell vastly outweigh the price I paid for the items that didn't. Any items I take off eBay then go into a box for my own garage sale and anything left from that then goes back as a thrift store donation.

That's pretty cool.  TH does this done with old games (like game boy) since he knows that space some.  No big no big money makers but he enjoys it. You are far more successful at it.

DreamFIRE

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1253 on: October 23, 2018, 04:34:19 PM »
I hope everyone has the guts to stick to their date after the next correction.......I have yet to experience a significant decline in the markets whilst having my NW tied up in the market.

It will take more than a 10-15% correction for me to declare OMY of full time work, and I have about 6 months to decide, so we'll see what things are like then.  Any changes or continued uncertainty with the ACA would be more concerning to me.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1254 on: October 24, 2018, 12:39:45 AM »
I hope everyone has the guts to stick to their date after the next correction.......I have yet to experience a significant decline in the markets whilst having my NW tied up in the market.

It will take more than a 10-15% correction for me to declare OMY of full time work, and I have about 6 months to decide, so we'll see what things are like then.  Any changes or continued uncertainty with the ACA would be more concerning to me.

Our major FIRE stash is in our current house. We will have to OMY it if we don't get the sales price for our house almost as high as the broker suggested. There is a real chance for that, so I still have a toe of two dipped into the 2020 cohort. Sale will be in spring 2019.

PhilB

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1255 on: October 24, 2018, 02:49:17 AM »
I hope everyone has the guts to stick to their date after the next correction.......I have yet to experience a significant decline in the markets whilst having my NW tied up in the market.

It will take more than a 10-15% correction for me to declare OMY of full time work, and I have about 6 months to decide, so we'll see what things are like then.  Any changes or continued uncertainty with the ACA would be more concerning to me.

Our major FIRE stash is in our current house. We will have to OMY it if we don't get the sales price for our house almost as high as the broker suggested. There is a real chance for that, so I still have a toe of two dipped into the 2020 cohort. Sale will be in spring 2019.
The current 'crash' is all my fault as I'm FIREing today.  Expect all asset classes to head to zero.

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1256 on: October 24, 2018, 03:18:54 AM »
Congrats @PhilB on your last day of work! 

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1257 on: October 24, 2018, 05:45:43 AM »
Way to go PhilB. Champion effort.

Enjoy spending any pennies you have left after the great crash of 2018....(ok minor correction, but I’ve been scrolling through clickbait).

LeanFIRE is what the cool kids do, so you have the consolation of knowing that with every point that comes off the S&P you are that little bit more hip.

(PS: I added up all my accounts today. October has not been kind 😢. Easy come, easy go, easy cometh again I hope).
« Last Edit: October 24, 2018, 07:01:55 AM by itchyfeet »

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1258 on: October 24, 2018, 06:19:14 AM »
I hope everyone has the guts to stick to their date after the next correction.......I have yet to experience a significant decline in the markets whilst having my NW tied up in the market.

It will take more than a 10-15% correction for me to declare OMY of full time work, and I have about 6 months to decide, so we'll see what things are like then.  Any changes or continued uncertainty with the ACA would be more concerning to me.

Geeze!!!!  Not thinking about others much are you?

I guess it is fine, so that you can get out early.

Congratulations!


DH and I are thinking May is too far away....

dude

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1259 on: October 24, 2018, 07:20:49 AM »
I hope everyone has the guts to stick to their date after the next correction.......I have yet to experience a significant decline in the markets whilst having my NW tied up in the market.

It will take more than a 10-15% correction for me to declare OMY of full time work, and I have about 6 months to decide, so we'll see what things are like then.  Any changes or continued uncertainty with the ACA would be more concerning to me.

Our major FIRE stash is in our current house. We will have to OMY it if we don't get the sales price for our house almost as high as the broker suggested. There is a real chance for that, so I still have a toe of two dipped into the 2020 cohort. Sale will be in spring 2019.
The current 'crash' is all my fault as I'm FIREing today.  Expect all asset classes to head to zero.

Congrats, PhilB!

I'm now 195 calendar days away. A correction had/has to happen at some point, so if it's gotta happen, I want it to be before I retire!  I went 50/50 a year ago, and it's helped minimize the damage thus far. Will rising glide path my way back up to a higher stock allocation after the first couple years of retirement.

Lews Therin

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1260 on: October 24, 2018, 07:58:20 AM »
181 here!

Avoiding adding the vacation, short leave, holidays in order to make that number get smaller faster!

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1261 on: October 24, 2018, 08:06:14 AM »
Congrats, PhilB.

For me, I hope it is just under a year, given that the first of October is my FIRE date. But I give it a 50% chance.

PhilB

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1262 on: October 24, 2018, 08:22:26 AM »
Thanks peeps.  Those last months will pass, honest, but it's amazing how non-linear time becomes - some months last at least 2 years, whilst others just vanish when you are not looking.  Then all of a sudden you're there!

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1263 on: October 24, 2018, 08:34:20 AM »
Please mark me as confirmed for September 2, 2019!!

Eric

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1264 on: October 24, 2018, 04:20:47 PM »
Woo hoo!  Congrats Phil!

Woo hoo to you too Cornbread!

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1265 on: October 24, 2018, 07:29:07 PM »
Woo hoo!  Congrats Phil!

Woo hoo to you too Cornbread!
Thanks, yo!

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1266 on: October 24, 2018, 07:30:42 PM »
Please mark me as confirmed for September 2, 2019!!
I forgot I can update the chart myself!  lol  Here it is:

01/01/19     MoneyStacher  (50)         OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018
01/31/19     PhilB  (52)                      OLY -- CONFIRMED 10/24/18
02/01/19     Trifele (51)
02/01/19     Cycling Stache (44)
02/08/19     Socmonkey (37)
02/15/19     sui generis  (41)              OLY -- CONFIRMED 8/17/18.
02/25/19     MaybeBabyMustache
02/??/19     zinnie  (35)
03/15/19     exit2019  (40)
03/19/19     ChasesFish
03/??/19     MissNancyPryor  (50)     
03/??/19     Roboturner  (30)
03/??/19     Edgema
03/29/19     JumboShrimp
03/31/19     TartanTallulah  (55)          OLY -- Planning 10/31/2018.   
03/31/19     BlindSquirrel
04/01/19     HalfStached  (41)
04/01/19     Gerardc  (35)
04/01/19     JoJo (45)
04/19/19     Eric
04/23/19     Canadian Ben (29)
04/??/19     Luck12  (41)
05/01/19     Albireo13  (61)
05/??/19     cerat0n1a                         OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018                           
05/??/19     SamIAm38  (29)
05/??/19     FIRE 20/20  (42)
05/14/19     Mr. Ver (40)
05/17/19     Loren Ver (37)
05/31/19     Pylortes  (42)
05/31/19     Odiedog8590  (62)
05/31/19     Livingthedream55  (59)
05/31/19     dude   
06/01/19     Prairie Stash
06/06/19     Bognish (44)
06/07/19     DreamFire
06/21/19     Parizade  (62)
06/22/19     Waffles  (52)
06/??/19     Oldtoyota
06/??/19     Itchyfeet  (47)
06/??/19     Bateaux  (50)
06/??/19     CryingInThePool  (44)
07/??/19     powersuitrecall  (47)
07/??/19     Enigma  (39)
07/??/19     Thedividebyzero  (45)
07/01/19     Freedomin5 (38)
07/03/19     Gerard
07/03/19     Miss Piggy
08/19/18     Chairman                         OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018
09/02/19     Cornbread OMalley  (42)  CONFIRMED
09/??/19     RetirementDreaming
09/27/19     Spreadsheet Man
10/01/19     2Birds1Stone  (32)
10/??/19     Linda_Norway
10/??/19     VoteCthulu  (39)
10/??/19     Trix76  (43)
10/??/19     MoMan  (55)
10/??/19     Dreamer
12/??/19     markbike528cbx  (55)        OLY -- CONFIRMED 6/1/18; checking in as OP
12/??/19     HBFI  (38)
12/??/19     luckyme13  (45)
12/27/19     moxie
12/31/19     texxan1  (47)

2019 Cohort with date TBD:
Lowerbills (40)
getoutsoon (52)
Elaine amj (40)
IPlawyer

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1267 on: October 24, 2018, 07:43:59 PM »
Please mark me as confirmed for September 2, 2019!!

I was wondering how you could CONFIRM a date 11 months in the future then I remembered that your military runway is of a very specific length.

at first I was thinking you misprinted 2018 vs 2019.   

Congratulations after my self-imposed confusion!

PhilB

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1268 on: October 24, 2018, 10:40:46 PM »
Congratulations Cornbread!  I wonder if that's a record for earliest confirmation?

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1269 on: October 25, 2018, 04:58:21 AM »
Please mark me as confirmed for September 2, 2019!!

No OMY for you!!  Congrats!!

Lews Therin

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1270 on: October 25, 2018, 09:18:39 AM »
Well then, if we're playing that game.... I'm confirmed 23 April. my paperworks in and everything.

Course with the military you can remove the paperwork up to the actual retirement date (For Canada)

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1271 on: October 25, 2018, 09:34:28 PM »
I was wondering how you could CONFIRM a date 11 months in the future then I remembered that your military runway is of a very specific length.

at first I was thinking you misprinted 2018 vs 2019.   

Congratulations after my self-imposed confusion!

Congratulations Cornbread!  I wonder if that's a record for earliest confirmation?

No OMY for you!!  Congrats!!

Well then, if we're playing that game.... I'm confirmed 23 April. my paperworks in and everything.

Course with the military you can remove the paperwork up to the actual retirement date (For Canada)
Congrats, Lews Therin!  And thanks, everyone!

Yes, for us military folks, once the retirement date is approved it is locked in as the end date.  Once the end date is locked in most events along the timeline become rather predictable.  I had some anxiety waiting for the confirmation notification to come because human errors could've misplaced my paperwork packet, somebody may have forgotten the packet in a pile of other folders, etc.

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1272 on: October 26, 2018, 04:37:06 AM »
Well then, if we're playing that game.... I'm confirmed 23 April. my paperworks in and everything.

Course with the military you can remove the paperwork up to the actual retirement date (For Canada)

Congrats to you too.  Now just don't remove your paperwork ;).

Lews Therin

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1273 on: October 26, 2018, 08:49:42 AM »
So far they've "forgotten" my paperwork on a person's desk (never would have advanced) and given the paper back to me without doing anything then signing it, instead of passing it to the people to whom it should go.
I've also been offered a different job to keep me interested, bit I passed. If they find an awesome position I might say yes, but they keep those for motivated and useful people, not retirees!

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1274 on: October 26, 2018, 01:44:14 PM »
Left the office a few hours ago for the weekend.  20 weeks to go

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1275 on: October 26, 2018, 03:47:20 PM »
So far they've "forgotten" my paperwork on a person's desk (never would have advanced) and given the paper back to me without doing anything then signing it, instead of passing it to the people to whom it should go...
This was the kind of thing that I worried me about my paperwork.

Lews Therin

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1276 on: October 26, 2018, 03:57:13 PM »
I have a step-by=step alert on my calendar.

I will be making sure things advance correctly.

Anette

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1277 on: October 26, 2018, 04:50:47 PM »
Ptf  for motivation, you people are awesome!


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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1278 on: October 26, 2018, 05:20:54 PM »
@chasesfish - you inspired me to check. 13 weeks to go! May extend ever so slightly to include an international work trip that my husband can join me on. We shall see.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1279 on: October 26, 2018, 05:59:27 PM »
If the market keeps crashing we should invest in tons of canned dog food.

FIRE 20/20

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1280 on: October 26, 2018, 06:49:17 PM »
I might be on the run from the Internet Retirement Police for the next few years.  Long story short (or as short as I can make it):

In my field having an active certification is absolutely critical.  No one - no matter how good or experienced - can legally work without an active certification and the only way to keep it up is by working.  Because this is the only industry I've ever worked in and the skills aren't transferable, I feel like it's the only one I can make a decent living at.  My hourly pay is about 10x what I could make at the next highest paying job I think I could get.  The result is that I'm really scared about quitting in May 2019 because my certifications will expire in December of 2019.  Logically I know my withdrawal rate (about 3.6-3.9% at current stock valuations) should be safe, but the knowledge that I'll be totally locked out of my relatively high paying career gives me minor panic attacks. 

So - I just met with the president of a company that does consulting work in my field.  He contacted me because he'd heard about my plans from a director in my company, and the consulting company wants to bring me on.  I could keep my certifications up with just one to two 6 week blocks of work each year, and the pay would be high enough that each 6-week block should cover roughly 40% my annual expenses.  I could even work 3 or more and make more than I need for a year, although I don't think I'm interested in that. 

While I want to cut the cord and just never work again, the idea of making a silly amount of money for working for 6 weeks and then taking 4.5 months off sounds too good to pass up.  And if I do it for a year or two and realize that my spending is below what I planned then I can quit for real. 

There are a few details to work out, but if this works out I will feel a LOT better about quitting in May as planned.  I may even quit earlier, pick up a 6-week assignment for the fall, and then take it from there.  The IRP will probably say I'm not really retired, but if I'm able to spend 4 months in New Zealand hiking around the south island I think I'm ok with that.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1281 on: October 26, 2018, 08:51:54 PM »
I might be on the run from the Internet Retirement Police for the next few years.  Long story short (or as short as I can make it):

In my field having an active certification is absolutely critical.  No one - no matter how good or experienced - can legally work without an active certification and the only way to keep it up is by working.  Because this is the only industry I've ever worked in and the skills aren't transferable, I feel like it's the only one I can make a decent living at.  My hourly pay is about 10x what I could make at the next highest paying job I think I could get.  The result is that I'm really scared about quitting in May 2019 because my certifications will expire in December of 2019.  Logically I know my withdrawal rate (about 3.6-3.9% at current stock valuations) should be safe, but the knowledge that I'll be totally locked out of my relatively high paying career gives me minor panic attacks. 

So - I just met with the president of a company that does consulting work in my field.  He contacted me because he'd heard about my plans from a director in my company, and the consulting company wants to bring me on.  I could keep my certifications up with just one to two 6 week blocks of work each year, and the pay would be high enough that each 6-week block should cover roughly 40% my annual expenses.  I could even work 3 or more and make more than I need for a year, although I don't think I'm interested in that. 

While I want to cut the cord and just never work again, the idea of making a silly amount of money for working for 6 weeks and then taking 4.5 months off sounds too good to pass up.  And if I do it for a year or two and realize that my spending is below what I planned then I can quit for real. 

There are a few details to work out, but if this works out I will feel a LOT better about quitting in May as planned.  I may even quit earlier, pick up a 6-week assignment for the fall, and then take it from there.  The IRP will probably say I'm not really retired, but if I'm able to spend 4 months in New Zealand hiking around the south island I think I'm ok with that.

I think it sounds like a great plan! I'd be very tempted to pursue the plan, but I'm conservative, so . .. :-)

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1282 on: October 27, 2018, 01:32:29 AM »
I might be on the run from the Internet Retirement Police for the next few years.  Long story short (or as short as I can make it):

In my field having an active certification is absolutely critical.  No one - no matter how good or experienced - can legally work without an active certification and the only way to keep it up is by working.  Because this is the only industry I've ever worked in and the skills aren't transferable, I feel like it's the only one I can make a decent living at.  My hourly pay is about 10x what I could make at the next highest paying job I think I could get.  The result is that I'm really scared about quitting in May 2019 because my certifications will expire in December of 2019.  Logically I know my withdrawal rate (about 3.6-3.9% at current stock valuations) should be safe, but the knowledge that I'll be totally locked out of my relatively high paying career gives me minor panic attacks. 

So - I just met with the president of a company that does consulting work in my field.  He contacted me because he'd heard about my plans from a director in my company, and the consulting company wants to bring me on.  I could keep my certifications up with just one to two 6 week blocks of work each year, and the pay would be high enough that each 6-week block should cover roughly 40% my annual expenses.  I could even work 3 or more and make more than I need for a year, although I don't think I'm interested in that. 

While I want to cut the cord and just never work again, the idea of making a silly amount of money for working for 6 weeks and then taking 4.5 months off sounds too good to pass up.  And if I do it for a year or two and realize that my spending is below what I planned then I can quit for real. 

There are a few details to work out, but if this works out I will feel a LOT better about quitting in May as planned.  I may even quit earlier, pick up a 6-week assignment for the fall, and then take it from there.  The IRP will probably say I'm not really retired, but if I'm able to spend 4 months in New Zealand hiking around the south island I think I'm ok with that.

I think it sounds like a great plan! I'd be very tempted to pursue the plan, but I'm conservative, so . .. :-)

It is a very good plan indeed. Walking around with anxiety during FIRE because of the loss of your cerfiticate is not great. And working a few periods, perhaps in the least attractive parts of the year to do other stuff, gives you great financial security.

Lews Therin

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1283 on: October 27, 2018, 07:22:18 AM »
If the market keeps crashing we should invest in tons of canned dog food.

Look at the rich guy buying things. You should be making your own from strays.

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1284 on: October 27, 2018, 01:01:38 PM »
If the market keeps crashing we should invest in tons of canned dog food.

Look at the rich guy buying things. You should be making your own from strays.

Leave the poor strays out of this.....
.....but if 2birds1stonecomes up with a good recipe for roadkill that could be of benefit to us all in these uncertain times.

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1285 on: October 27, 2018, 02:15:01 PM »
I might be on the run from the Internet Retirement Police for the next few years.  Long story short (or as short as I can make it):

In my field having an active certification is absolutely critical.  No one - no matter how good or experienced - can legally work without an active certification and the only way to keep it up is by working.  Because this is the only industry I've ever worked in and the skills aren't transferable, I feel like it's the only one I can make a decent living at.  My hourly pay is about 10x what I could make at the next highest paying job I think I could get.  The result is that I'm really scared about quitting in May 2019 because my certifications will expire in December of 2019.  Logically I know my withdrawal rate (about 3.6-3.9% at current stock valuations) should be safe, but the knowledge that I'll be totally locked out of my relatively high paying career gives me minor panic attacks. 

So - I just met with the president of a company that does consulting work in my field.  He contacted me because he'd heard about my plans from a director in my company, and the consulting company wants to bring me on.  I could keep my certifications up with just one to two 6 week blocks of work each year, and the pay would be high enough that each 6-week block should cover roughly 40% my annual expenses.  I could even work 3 or more and make more than I need for a year, although I don't think I'm interested in that. 

While I want to cut the cord and just never work again, the idea of making a silly amount of money for working for 6 weeks and then taking 4.5 months off sounds too good to pass up.  And if I do it for a year or two and realize that my spending is below what I planned then I can quit for real. 

There are a few details to work out, but if this works out I will feel a LOT better about quitting in May as planned.  I may even quit earlier, pick up a 6-week assignment for the fall, and then take it from there.  The IRP will probably say I'm not really retired, but if I'm able to spend 4 months in New Zealand hiking around the south island I think I'm ok with that.

I think that sounds fabulous.  If someone would give me a deal like that, I'd probably take it. 

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1286 on: October 28, 2018, 12:37:18 AM »
Yesterday I listened to a podcast with a macro economic person in it. Her prediction for the Norwegian housing market (in the vicinity of the capital) is that prices will go down in 2019 (when we plan to sell) because of the higher interest rate and will go up again in 2020. It already is taking a longer time to sell houses. Our FIRE plan requires to get a good price for the house after all selling costs.
I mentioned this to DH and said that maybe we should try selling in 2019, but might need to try again in 2020, if we couldn't sell for high enough price.
DH answered that we have enough stash to live of for some years, without selling the house. So his plan is to FIRE in 2019 anyway and sell the house later.
My objection to this is that we in that case don't have the house money in the stock market and don't have the expected growth og stash. And what if the house market stays low for many years to come? And what if the stock market stays low for a long time? So far I have lost several months of saving in my index funds, while buying new stocks.
So if we would FIRE without selling the house immediately, I think we would need to generate some extra income to cover for 2020 expenses. I could either continue to work 80% in my current job during the winter, as October is not the best time of the year to FIRE. And/or DH could start his consultancy firm as he had planned to do occasionally in the future. For me that wouldn't be full FIRE, but it would be the easiest way to generate extra income for me. I can also, like this year, generate some hobby income that is free for income tax, but that is not very much. It covers our expenses for a few weeks only. It least, it covers the cost of my hobby and a little more.
As long as we both work regularly, we need to keep 2 cars, which is also an extra cost because of the taxes. Although car number 2 is really old and as low cost as it could be.

It seems that DH is now in the mood the FIRE from his job no matter what, while I still want the security of selling the house for the expected price. I guess we will know after spring 2019 when/if we sell the house. And we won't quit both our jobs completely before we at least have a good plan that we both agree on. But I see it as an option that DH starts consulting before I FIRE. And that my FIRE perhaps moved to 2020.

PhilB

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1287 on: October 28, 2018, 02:08:23 AM »
If the market keeps crashing we should invest in tons of canned dog food.

Look at the rich guy buying things. You should be making your own from strays.

Leave the poor strays out of this.....
.....but if 2birds1stonecomes up with a good recipe for roadkill that could be of benefit to us all in these uncertain times.
My dad once screeched to a halt when he saw the car in front hit a pheasant.  It was a busy road so he leapt out, grabbed it, threw it in the passenger footwell and took off again.  My mother, in the passenger seat, was not impressed.  She was even less impressed when it recovered consciousness...

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1288 on: October 28, 2018, 03:36:50 AM »
It seems that DH is now in the mood the FIRE from his job no matter what, while I still want the security of selling the house for the expected price. I guess we will know after spring 2019 when/if we sell the house. And we won't quit both our jobs completely before we at least have a good plan that we both agree on. But I see it as an option that DH starts consulting before I FIRE. And that my FIRE perhaps moved to 2020.

We are in much the same boat.

We don’t plan to sell for a few years, but house prices are dropping it does create a lot of uncertainty about what we will actually get when we finally sell. It a bit of a headache. Things would be far simpler if we sold before FIRE but DW is not ready to close the door on Sydney just now.

We are still of the mind to cross our fingers and toes and to leap into the unknown. I hope our leap doesn’t end in a splat.

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1289 on: October 28, 2018, 05:50:18 AM »
It seems that DH is now in the mood the FIRE from his job no matter what, while I still want the security of selling the house for the expected price. I guess we will know after spring 2019 when/if we sell the house. And we won't quit both our jobs completely before we at least have a good plan that we both agree on. But I see it as an option that DH starts consulting before I FIRE. And that my FIRE perhaps moved to 2020.

We are in much the same boat.

We don’t plan to sell for a few years, but house prices are dropping it does create a lot of uncertainty about what we will actually get when we finally sell. It a bit of a headache. Things would be far simpler if we sold before FIRE but DW is not ready to close the door on Sydney just now.

We are still of the mind to cross our fingers and toes and to leap into the unknown. I hope our leap doesn’t end in a splat.


That is a hard one with the house being such a large investment.  :(.  Uncertainty really makes the short term part of long term planning difficult.

If you know you want to sell, would it be worth it to sell now, then rent where you need to be.  That way you know how big the stache is before going into retirement?  It will involve moving more than once, but it could be a lower price to pay to know where you stand.  Assuming this isn't timing the market with real estate....

LV

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1290 on: October 28, 2018, 06:01:25 AM »
It seems that DH is now in the mood the FIRE from his job no matter what, while I still want the security of selling the house for the expected price. I guess we will know after spring 2019 when/if we sell the house. And we won't quit both our jobs completely before we at least have a good plan that we both agree on. But I see it as an option that DH starts consulting before I FIRE. And that my FIRE perhaps moved to 2020.

We are in much the same boat.

We don’t plan to sell for a few years, but house prices are dropping it does create a lot of uncertainty about what we will actually get when we finally sell. It a bit of a headache. Things would be far simpler if we sold before FIRE but DW is not ready to close the door on Sydney just now.

We are still of the mind to cross our fingers and toes and to leap into the unknown. I hope our leap doesn’t end in a splat.

Put us in this category as well.  We know we want to move and can sell our house without too much pain.  We don't have the new house or final destination.  We figure there's at least five options that are decent, but nothing we absolutely love and are itching to go buy.

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1291 on: October 28, 2018, 07:41:18 AM »
I haven't posted much lately, as there have been new developments at work and I am mentally chewing through them and trying to process/plan.

My company is currently being bought by Megacorp, and the next steps in the acquisition are slowly becoming clear.  Last week my boss formally spoke with me about what my role may be after the takeover.  (Now, I haven't let on a hint of my FIRE plans to anyone at work, so as far as they know I'm in the same boat as everyone else -- needing a job and desperate for news of what's going to happen.)  So the role being offered to me is a substantial step down in responsibilities, but my current pay level is guaranteed for one year "while everything shakes out."  So I truthfully reply to my boss that the new role is a substantial step down, and I would not be happy with those reduced responsibilities.  And my boss says "I understand that, and if I can't persuade you to take it, then I will support you in getting a severance package." 

The severance is for three months' pay, not as high as what some people get when laid off, but since I had not expected anything this is a very unexpected gift they are offering.  I need the boss's support to get severance (because I'm turning down an offered role at the same pay level), but he is freely offering said support.   I'm having some mild moral qualms about this.  It feels undeserved . . . and yet it's apparently being offered up to me on a plate, so a large part of me thinks I'd be a fool to turn it down.   

Anyway, that's the Mustachian People Problem (MPP) I'm having right now. It's a very good problem to have.   

The next step is that I meet directly with Megacorp management next week.  Hopefully they do not like me so much that they offer me a better job than the first one, haha.  That would put the kibosh on any severance.   But whatever.   Soon I'm gone baby, gone . . . .   :)

Freedomin5

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1292 on: October 28, 2018, 08:43:47 AM »
If someone offered me the same amount of money to do less work, I’d probably take them up on the offer “while things shake out”, then quit after the year was up. Especially if the markets take a tumble.

Nords

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1293 on: October 28, 2018, 10:36:58 AM »

The severance is for three months' pay, not as high as what some people get when laid off, but since I had not expected anything this is a very unexpected gift they are offering.  I need the boss's support to get severance (because I'm turning down an offered role at the same pay level), but he is freely offering said support.   I'm having some mild moral qualms about this.  It feels undeserved . . . and yet it's apparently being offered up to me on a plate, so a large part of me thinks I'd be a fool to turn it down.   

Anyway, that's the Mustachian People Problem (MPP) I'm having right now. It's a very good problem to have.   

The next step is that I meet directly with Megacorp management next week.  Hopefully they do not like me so much that they offer me a better job than the first one, haha.  That would put the kibosh on any severance.   But whatever.   Soon I'm gone baby, gone . . . .   :)
This is why employees give the minimum required notice when they're leaving.

Years ago a member of Early-Retirement.org was planning his exit from his MegaCorp.  He extensively discussed all of the factors on E-R.org and decided to give just the minimum required two weeks' notice.  The day before his big announcement, his boss called him in (along with many others) to announce a mass layoff.

He left with a large severance package and was even told to keep the company laptop.  His boss didn't really care about the employee's situation because the boss had another dozen people to lay off.  The company clearly didn't care about any of the dozens of people it laid off.  Everyone was in survival mode and not interested in hearing about financial independence.

If your boss really felt that you were worth keeping at your company as it's subsumed by Megacorp, then they would have done a better job of defending your value to the acquiring staff.  Your boss could at least have described how valiantly they stuck up for you and what reasons went into the battle to retain you.  Upon learning that you wouldn't be happy, they could've even discussed other options with HR or tried to find you another role at the company.  Instead, as soon as you say you wouldn't be happy, your boss brings up the severance package.

That's a pretty strong signal on your future with the new company, and any qualms you may feel are certainly not being reciprocated by Megacorp.

You could tell your boss that you'd hoped for more career support and say that now you expect them to offer more "support" in the severance discussion.  If they want a smooth, quiet exit from you then they should be willing to pay you for it...

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1294 on: October 28, 2018, 02:12:44 PM »
It seems that DH is now in the mood the FIRE from his job no matter what, while I still want the security of selling the house for the expected price. I guess we will know after spring 2019 when/if we sell the house. And we won't quit both our jobs completely before we at least have a good plan that we both agree on. But I see it as an option that DH starts consulting before I FIRE. And that my FIRE perhaps moved to 2020.

We are in much the same boat.

We don’t plan to sell for a few years, but house prices are dropping it does create a lot of uncertainty about what we will actually get when we finally sell. It a bit of a headache. Things would be far simpler if we sold before FIRE but DW is not ready to close the door on Sydney just now.

We are still of the mind to cross our fingers and toes and to leap into the unknown. I hope our leap doesn’t end in a splat.


That is a hard one with the house being such a large investment.  :(.  Uncertainty really makes the short term part of long term planning difficult.

If you know you want to sell, would it be worth it to sell now, then rent where you need to be.  That way you know how big the stache is before going into retirement?  It will involve moving more than once, but it could be a lower price to pay to know where you stand.  Assuming this isn't timing the market with real estate....

LV

Our house won't sell in the winter half year. The roads to it are extremely steep and every car without 4x4 risks getting stuck in the snow. We will have to wait until the road is clean after the winter. Somewhere in April normally.

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1295 on: October 28, 2018, 05:32:15 PM »
I haven't posted much lately, as there have been new developments at work and I am mentally chewing through them and trying to process/plan.

My company is currently being bought by Megacorp, and the next steps in the acquisition are slowly becoming clear.  Last week my boss formally spoke with me about what my role may be after the takeover.  (Now, I haven't let on a hint of my FIRE plans to anyone at work, so as far as they know I'm in the same boat as everyone else -- needing a job and desperate for news of what's going to happen.)  So the role being offered to me is a substantial step down in responsibilities, but my current pay level is guaranteed for one year "while everything shakes out."  So I truthfully reply to my boss that the new role is a substantial step down, and I would not be happy with those reduced responsibilities.  And my boss says "I understand that, and if I can't persuade you to take it, then I will support you in getting a severance package." 

The severance is for three months' pay, not as high as what some people get when laid off, but since I had not expected anything this is a very unexpected gift they are offering.  I need the boss's support to get severance (because I'm turning down an offered role at the same pay level), but he is freely offering said support.   I'm having some mild moral qualms about this.  It feels undeserved . . . and yet it's apparently being offered up to me on a plate, so a large part of me thinks I'd be a fool to turn it down.   

Anyway, that's the Mustachian People Problem (MPP) I'm having right now. It's a very good problem to have.   

The next step is that I meet directly with Megacorp management next week.  Hopefully they do not like me so much that they offer me a better job than the first one, haha.  That would put the kibosh on any severance.   But whatever.   Soon I'm gone baby, gone . . . .   :)

That sounds like what you were waiting for, sorta.  Do you have a timeline on when this will happen.  I know you have been moonlighting on the 2018 thread so this may all play out really well for you.

LV

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1296 on: October 29, 2018, 05:38:37 AM »
I haven't posted much lately, as there have been new developments at work and I am mentally chewing through them and trying to process/plan.

. . . .

But whatever.   Soon I'm gone baby, gone . . . .   :)

That sounds like what you were waiting for, sorta.  Do you have a timeline on when this will happen.  I know you have been moonlighting on the 2018 thread so this may all play out really well for you.

LV

Yeah you nailed it @Loren Ver -- I'm gone very soon no matter what, so this is all an amusing sideshow/potential extra cash.  When the acquisition was announced many months ago I thought "wow, what are the odds this could play to my favor?" 

Thanks for your thoughtful reply @Nords -- you are absolutely right, though I hadn't thought of it that way.  This illustrates a very good reason to only give the minimum notice.  And yes -- their actions are sending a strong signal about my situation.  I think my boss will be relieved to help me get the severance, honestly.  He has more employees than he has future slots, so someone has to go . . . And he's a decent person, so he doesn't enjoy laying people off. 

@lhamo -- My situation is skinny/lean FIRE -- I'm at about 22X, but have some safety cushions with a side gig and an at-home spouse that's going mildly stir crazy and wants to re-enter the workforce.   I am not even tempted by the year-long Megacorp reprieve with the guaranteed salary.  The time is worth far, far more to me right now than the money, and soon I will be gone.   But to your point -- yes, if I was more worried about finances, or if I wanted to look for another job, I would stick around for a bit and take advantage of the year guaranteed salary.  That's what almost all my coworkers are doing.

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1297 on: October 29, 2018, 09:36:04 AM »
Sounds like it could be a huge win for you @Trifele ! Fingers crossed :-)

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1298 on: October 29, 2018, 12:41:34 PM »
Hmm, so I'm down to 189 calendar days. So I did a calculation, subtracting weekends, holidays, and all my available vacation and sick time between now and May 7, and I found out I have a whopping 71 more work days until I gain my freedom. Only 71 more times that I'll have to show my face in this place. Oh man, did that give me new perspective!

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1299 on: October 29, 2018, 06:30:00 PM »
Hmm, so I'm down to 189 calendar days. So I did a calculation, subtracting weekends, holidays, and all my available vacation and sick time between now and May 7, and I found out I have a whopping 71 more work days until I gain my freedom. Only 71 more times that I'll have to show my face in this place. Oh man, did that give me new perspective!


Woohoo!!  I was running the same math today, 86 more times as of this evening I have to drive to work before the notice drops.  They'll likely exit me the day I quit so thats my number.

I'm trying to get my total number of pullups in a gym session up to the number of days remaining at work.  The gap was 51 today