In 2010 purchased a small home in VHCOL, 2 kids in elementary school, maybe $800k NW - home equity was 2/3 of that, so we could afford the mortgage (had accumulated it from previous condo equity). Lived within our means but not saving much, except through increasing real estate value - however, I’ve managed to only work part-time, mostly for myself, throughout the kid-raising years. Financially literate but not a huge priority. Started reading MMM about 1 year ago.
2019: same house, may be getting divorced, first year of college paid, (hopefully) 7 more to go. About $1.7m NW as a couple, still about 2/3 in home equity, mostly accumulated through coasting. Hope to sell home in next 2 years, and continue with, effectively, a coast-fire situation of PT self-employment. 2 likely inheritances make this feel less absurdly risky than it otherwise might.
We’ve been lucky, so far, and am grateful for that. Very grateful to have been able to drop off / pick kids up from school for most of their lives, make dinner, etc.