Author Topic: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?  (Read 4705 times)

drpassiveincome

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Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« on: May 26, 2017, 04:36:33 PM »
You could cut down on your stash requirements greatly by having a job while you're FIRED.

I'm thinking something easy, like a starbucks Barista...much better than a 9-5 white collar corporate job. Something really chill. I'm not sure if I'm being nostalgic but I greatly enjoyed my non-office jobs.

redbird

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2017, 05:23:45 PM »
My husband temporarily un-FIREd himself for less than a year to get a bit more house buying-related stash and to also get a mortgage. Mortgages are very hard to get post-FIRE, we found. Banks don't seem to care how much assets you have or how great your credit is. If you don't have active job income, they don't know what to do with you and sometimes will just turn you away so they don't have to deal with it. But he's FIRE again.

I have not held any sort of job since being FIRE. I may start a small business for another interesting hobby later on. But it will really just be for hobby reasons. If I make money, great. Otherwise, I don't plan to have any sort of job. FIRE for me is so I can enjoy my hobbies, learn new things, travel around and go on adventures, and overall improve my health and my life. But I never enjoyed working any sort of job, even when I did still work.

Raenia

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2017, 06:24:34 PM »
I wouldn't count on Starbucks barista being an easy, low-stress job - I have a friend who's been working there for a few years, and it sounds both miserable and incredibly stressful.  Expect incompetent coworkers, pissy customers, little support from management, and awful schedules.  Some probably depends on the branch manager, but still.

Your point stands, though I can't understand the nostalgia for basic service industry jobs.  People suck too much.  Especially pre-caffeinated people.  ;)

dividendsplease

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2017, 07:35:04 PM »
My dad FIREd and then worked part time mornings loading UPS trucks to stay in shape for fun

Syonyk

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2017, 10:01:33 PM »
You know, if you ignore the extra caps in the title, the question is pretty absurd. ;)

Seriously, though.  Starbucks?

"Excuse me.  EXCUSE ME.  I ordered a grande half-caf, half-sweet, no-whip, coconut milk, cinnamon dolce latte with agave and no topping, and this is clearly about 55% caf and barely 28% sweet.  What sort of slob are you?"

Perks of FIRE: Financially Independent.  You can do whatever you want.

I would say, if you need a job, you're not FI, though.

TartanTallulah

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2017, 02:43:31 AM »

I'm thinking something easy, like a starbucks Barista...much better than a 9-5 white collar corporate job. Something really chill. I'm not sure if I'm being nostalgic but I greatly enjoyed my non-office jobs.

There have been times when I've caught myself thinking along similar lines, usually when I've been working as a volunteer at a cyclosportive or an ultramarathon and had the time of my life as part of a team supporting mostly appreciative people. "Once I've retired, a couple of half-days a week doing a minimum wage job, or some casual seasonal work in a nearby town that's popular with holidaymakers, will make a noticeable difference to our total household income and won't have the same stresses as my current job."

Then I go into a restaurant or a shop and see how the staff are treated and how hard they work. Different but equivalent stresses, I suspect. And much lower pay.

I was quite pampered in my younger days. The only jobs I had were pleasant and largely unpressurised clerical support jobs with a very limited customer-facing role. My own children and my husband have all served time in retail and/or hospitality, and although they've all enjoyed working in these environments they don't paint a picture of a relaxing work life.

It's definitely an option, though.


Greystache

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2017, 06:27:27 AM »
I work (technically, I'm a volunteer) at a golf course 12 hours a week in exchange for golf and use of practice facilities. It's pretty chill, just greeting people on the first tee, making sure they tee off on time and marshaling on the course. It gets me out of the house and helps support my golf habit.

aperture

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2017, 04:56:04 PM »
I am working OMY past technical FI (never RE, so this is a bullshit answer to OP's question, but it's my pain and you are reading, so share with me). OMY gets me full retirement benefits including access to a pension now (will cash it out) and somewhat difficult to judge healthcare benefits when I am Medicare eligible at 65 (God willing). Many is the day I think - "what the fuck am I still doing here?" 

BTW - worked as a waiter x years in my 20s and I would say it was the most stressful work I have ever done.  (I used to wake at night trying to get the veal piccante to table 9).  I doubt Starbucks Baristas are living on easy street. -Best to all, ap

startingsmall

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2017, 06:06:22 PM »
I definitely envision myself working PT once FIRE'd, but I definitely don't plan for that work to be in a customer-service capacity. Although I have fond memories of my retail, bookstore, and grocery store jobs when I was young, I'm pretty sure that I'm viewing those experiences through rose-colored glasses. For all of the stories about nice customers, I have an equal number of stories about crappy schedules, crappy managers, and crappy customers.

My current career has a heavy customer service component and that is, by far, the most stressful part of my job.

MonkeyJenga

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2017, 07:03:54 PM »
I may end up not retiring at all, but if I do, I don't want my schedule to be determined by some random manager who doesn't care about my plans for an afternoon nap.

lemonde

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2017, 10:18:56 PM »
It's hard to find a job that agrees with the ego once FI.

respond2u

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2017, 10:41:33 PM »
You could cut down on your stash requirements greatly by having a job while you're FIRED.
If you're working to achieve financial security, you're neither FI nor RE, right? You may be D, but I'm not sure what that stands for. I think the label here is "part-time worker". Nothing to sneeze at!

I retired (early) for 10 months and then took a 2 month part time job because the money was extraordinary and the w*rk was rewarding.

However, earned income is taxed so heavily (federal income, employment, loss of ACA subsidy) that it's hardly worthwhile to w*rk for a little unless the real value is not the income.

nancyjnelson

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2017, 07:35:09 AM »
I went back to work part-time when I found out I needed an extra $5k to top off my daughter's college fund.  Being a Home Depot garden associate was educational - I learned that what I thought were attractive perennials in front of my house were actually fairly expensive bushes that were being eaten down to the nub each winter by the rabbits.  This last fall I put in a temporary fence and now for the first time I have beautiful, full-sized bushes.

Another reason to work in garden departments is that the vast majority of your customers are happy, which really improves the quality of your work hours - this is major.  Most of the larger home improvement stores - Home Depot, Lowe's and (in my region) Menards - all hire seasonal workers for garden. 

Cpa Cat

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2017, 08:42:25 AM »
I know someone who works seasonally in garden centers every year. She is a Master Gardener and just likes interacting socially with customers and being outside.

You can also hop into retail for a Christmas seasonal shift just about anywhere. The pay sucks a bit, but it usually come with store discounts. Whether you find it stressful or fun depends on your brain space.

Goldielocks

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2017, 10:43:29 AM »
I am teaching one class a semester at the local college.

Problem is that they want to bump me up to 3 classes in the fall, and I am not sure I want to do that, so am pushing back a little...

It's $10k extra for vacations or spendy things, which is nice as I have kids at home still.

doggyfizzle

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #15 on: May 28, 2017, 10:48:13 AM »
Working PT at REI for healthcare and a decent 401k match (and ability to still defer $18k) is always at the back of my mind.

Clean Shaven

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #16 on: May 28, 2017, 06:37:20 PM »
Working PT at REI for healthcare and a decent 401k match (and ability to still defer $18k) is always at the back of my mind.
I've read about REI and their benefits (which sounds fun and like a great P/T option), but also seen comments that it's hard to get enough part time hours to keep benefits. Anyone here have experience working there?

Paul der Krake

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #17 on: May 28, 2017, 06:41:16 PM »
I'm actively looking for a job that lets me work as little as I want on the weekend and pays me with a 1099. Doesn't matter if it pays poorly, but it's gotta be paid and easy to pick up shifts.

It's actually really hard to find side hustles that don't require any upfront work or demanding schedules. Please let me know if you find something like that.

nara

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #18 on: May 28, 2017, 08:28:58 PM »
Starbucks used to be one of the few companies that offered full health benefits for part time employees. Do they still do this? I definitely would not want to work with the public when FI--but a small, quaint coffee shop/bookstore sounds a whole lot better than Starbucks.

Spiffy

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Re: Does anyone have a job while FIREd?
« Reply #19 on: May 29, 2017, 11:05:34 AM »
I joke that my dad works harder now than before he retired. My parents bought a small "farm" a few years before he retired and it is a lot of work. But he also gets paid by neighbor farmers to help with things that need a large tractor. And he takes care of a large farm/ranch for a family friend when they travel or just need extra help. It is pretty good money and he enjoys it.