FIRE bloggers fizzling

[soccerluvof4]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

Just read all 3.5 pages of this thread. Agree with everything! :-)  No it is true that you basically get to a point and then its rinse and repeat. Alot of sites mentioned I had followed or stopped in on at the past but always find my way back to here or bogleheads. All I need.

@soccerluvof4  You must be retired ;)

That obvious!? haha

Funny on bottom of that link first page shows to other good ole reads Rootofgood and go curry cracker!

[slappy]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

Looks like he's been updating that page with some regularity. Last post seems to be from August.

[chasesfish]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

He's busy trail running somewhere around where Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia all meet.  I missed him by a half day in Moab, he was one of my favorite bloggers since he retired at roughly the same age/financial capacity as I did along with being in a stressful unfulfilling finance job. 

[salt cured]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

He posts on Reddit quite a bit (or used to). I think he's one of the r/financialindependence moderators--ER10yearsthrowaway maybe?

[EscapeVelocity2020]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

Thanks for the input.  His blog definitely seemed like a fun side hobby for him, vs. some of the others that had become side hustles.  So I figure this one will be around (like Retired Syd) forever even if they don’t post for a while.

[Zoot]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

Thanks so much for mentioning this blog--I was not familiar with it, so I went to check it out.  I've now about 10 articles in a row and it looks like I'll be binging the rest in short order!  I love his style, and there's a lot of food for thought there in many arenas.

[Dicey]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

Thanks for the input.  His blog definitely seemed like a fun side hobby for him, vs. some of the others that had become side hustles.  So I figure this one will be around (like Retired Syd) forever even if they don’t post for a while.

Oh, I miss Retired Syd! She updates once in a blue moon, just about when I give up hope that it will ever happen again.

[soccerluvof4]

I really would love to know what has become of this guy - https://earlyretirementdude.com/ !

He posts on Reddit quite a bit (or used to). I think he's one of the r/financialindependence moderators--ER10yearsthrowaway maybe?

I havent been on Reddit for so long I had to search to find my login information and stuff. Good Content but just never liked the way its set up to view etc... Maybe I am just getting old but to much going on. Going to give it a go though for awhile and see if I get used to it. Glad you mentioned it.

[Much Fishing to Do]

I'd also love to hear the downsides of pursuing FIRE...because the FI piece is really nice, even if I end up with enough income to send the Internet Retirement Police after me on the RE side of FIRE

I think the perceived downside is really just...not spending the money, and all that entails.

I could have driven a Ferrari in my 20s, for example. But instead I scrimped and saved, at least, that's how some would view it.

I say perceived because folks who see this as a negative don't seem to understand that the money is indeed being spent. It's just being spent far in the future, on time for yourself and your life. You may not have purchased a Ferarri, instead, you bought time.

So the downside is: not spending money now.

When my working spendy friends talk about loosening up or working for more....I politely tell them that I have made a far larger purchase than they ever will, far more than a ferrari or a beach house or multiples of those combined.  haha

Yeah, this makes me think of the whole "life is short", "you only live once" type things I hear from people who are saying those words to justify buying shit.  I think those phrases perfectly justify NOT buying shit (and therefore being in control of as many years are left as possible) instead.

[Cb1234567]

I like to think that so many bloggers stop updating after they FIRE because they've ascended to a higher realm, and they no longer concern themselves with the petty cares of mortals.

Me, too. At some point, they should get to go have fun and the life they want, without negatives and inconvenience of creating compelling, clickable content without editing mistakes for the benefit of the rest of us. At least, that’s what I would expect to do.

As many of you said, they change, I change...life progresses (one hopes) through seasons.
What used to keep me riveted to the page (or screen) now is old hat. First Dave Ramsey got us out of debt and on a budget (gads, was that 12 years ago?!?).Then I discovered homesteading and Frugalwoods, next came the FIRE movement at about the same time as Bogleheads. That’s fading for me and I’m enjoying coasting, dabbling in various topics, and - shockingly- avoiding the internet altogether.

[EscapeVelocity2020]

It might just be confirmation bias, but I really enjoyed this post - https://thefinancebuff.com/positive-cash-flow-early-retirement.html

Yes, ER bloggers like PhysicianOnFire, make plenty of money in 'retirement', in addition to having made bank pre-ER...

[Captain Cactus]

Yes, the FIRE bloggers are fizzling.  At a certain points it's tiring to see people who have already earned their freedom continue to make more and more money (ie Mr 1500 with his trailer park).  It's like, great job, but I'm not there yet and I don't find their exponential nest egg growth to be particularly motivating.

I have been reading FIRE bloggers since late 2015.  Reading them and making select changes has improved my financial situation dramatically... allowed me to accumulate a stash bigger than I ever thought possible.  But I'm not quite there yet... I have little kids, one with medical issues, so having a really good health insurance is important to us...

Furthermore, both of my kids are a royal pain in the ass and my wife is an unambitious homebody who just wants to live a simple life near her parents...so in all reality, quitting my job and slow traveling the world with my family is 99% never gonna happen.  Just isn't in the cards for us. 

So my focus has been on transitioning out of my current line of work (medical sales) and into something more in tune with my personality that I can do long term and be happy with.  Find me a blog like that and I'll be a fan.  Nobody has any advice on that beyond "you should network".  I'm just so sick of reading these blogs that have an agenda to sell me on their dream so I'll buy their book, or their online course, or click on their affiliate links.  Feeling jaded that my readership is a product to sell to advertisers.  UGH.  Sorry, that was a slight venting session.

[EscapeVelocity2020]

Yes, the FIRE bloggers are fizzling.  At a certain points it's tiring to see people who have already earned their freedom continue to make more and more money (ie Mr 1500 with his trailer park).  It's like, great job, but I'm not there yet and I don't find their exponential nest egg growth to be particularly motivating.
...

I think 2020 has exposed the fact that the blogs we read are an important source of their income, and/or that bloggers have other 'jobs' like rentals, flipping, or employed spouses.  Personally, I enjoyed my job more than enjoyed my little stint at blogging (the publishing was fun, but behind the scenes crap - managing email/comments, plug-ins, SEO - sucked).  I thought I'd be happy to ER and make ~10k/yr blogging, but I think I'll make 200k for another year and skip the 20 years of blogging :).

[slappy]

Yes, the FIRE bloggers are fizzling.  At a certain points it's tiring to see people who have already earned their freedom continue to make more and more money (ie Mr 1500 with his trailer park).  It's like, great job, but I'm not there yet and I don't find their exponential nest egg growth to be particularly motivating.

I have been reading FIRE bloggers since late 2015.  Reading them and making select changes has improved my financial situation dramatically... allowed me to accumulate a stash bigger than I ever thought possible.  But I'm not quite there yet... I have little kids, one with medical issues, so having a really good health insurance is important to us...

Furthermore, both of my kids are a royal pain in the ass and my wife is an unambitious homebody who just wants to live a simple life near her parents...so in all reality, quitting my job and slow traveling the world with my family is 99% never gonna happen.  Just isn't in the cards for us. 

So my focus has been on transitioning out of my current line of work (medical sales) and into something more in tune with my personality that I can do long term and be happy with.  Find me a blog like that and I'll be a fan.  Nobody has any advice on that beyond "you should network".  I'm just so sick of reading these blogs that have an agenda to sell me on their dream so I'll buy their book, or their online course, or click on their affiliate links.  Feeling jaded that my readership is a product to sell to advertisers.  UGH.  Sorry, that was a slight venting session.

OMG I'm dying. My kids are also pains in the ass! My husband is a bit of a homebody, and I am as well. I'm sure many people travel with kids quite happily, but certainly not my idea of a good time. Maybe when they are a lot older, they will be easier to travel with.

[Retire-Canada]

So my focus has been on transitioning out of my current line of work (medical sales) and into something more in tune with my personality that I can do long term and be happy with.  Find me a blog like that and I'll be a fan. 

Well that sounds a lot like MMM going from computer engineer to doing carpentry/construction work when he "retired". Then he added the blog at some point and other business stuff he enjoyed like the shared working space.

[partgypsy]

Yes, the FIRE bloggers are fizzling.  At a certain points it's tiring to see people who have already earned their freedom continue to make more and more money (ie Mr 1500 with his trailer park).  It's like, great job, but I'm not there yet and I don't find their exponential nest egg growth to be particularly motivating.

I have been reading FIRE bloggers since late 2015.  Reading them and making select changes has improved my financial situation dramatically... allowed me to accumulate a stash bigger than I ever thought possible.  But I'm not quite there yet... I have little kids, one with medical issues, so having a really good health insurance is important to us...

Furthermore, both of my kids are a royal pain in the ass and my wife is an unambitious homebody who just wants to live a simple life near her parents...so in all reality, quitting my job and slow traveling the world with my family is 99% never gonna happen.  Just isn't in the cards for us. 

So my focus has been on transitioning out of my current line of work (medical sales) and into something more in tune with my personality that I can do long term and be happy with.  Find me a blog like that and I'll be a fan.  Nobody has any advice on that beyond "you should network".  I'm just so sick of reading these blogs that have an agenda to sell me on their dream so I'll buy their book, or their online course, or click on their affiliate links.  Feeling jaded that my readership is a product to sell to advertisers.  UGH.  Sorry, that was a slight venting session.

I resemble this statement. Yeah I'm not really an early retirement person, my goal is 62 but I'd prefer it to be 60 if I can arrange it. While I do have some itchy scratchy feelings at times (about everything, how slow it is to accrue $, my house, lack of time to do hobbies) at the same time I am pretty happy with my situation and I just need to shift to have more of what I want in my life, that's all. So maybe no jet setting, multiple rentals, and 0 waste situation, but maybe yes more hikes and walks, more local food markets and less HT, maybe plan a couple trips, but more, increase happiness with friends and being more productive. I guess I'm not a super ambitious person. I AM ok reading early retirement blogs because it is a good perspective and I can choose what is helpful to me and leave what is not. But yeah ere people are young often high income jobs, who travel a lot more than I do and that part I don't really identify with.

Only other comment, reading gocurrycracker blog OMG both how cheap and how luxurious that couple's birth and postpartum care was! I remember for my second child I was discharged the day after I gave birth. Right after I was like, why did I do that? Even just 1 more day of being able to chill in bed with my newborn, watch tv and have people bring me meals in bed would have been SWEET. I could have done that when at home, but realistically having a 4 year old, once I was back home it was, back to normal. Sigh. 

[Metalcat]

@partgypsy, can you just clarify something for me? When you say "I resemble that statement", do you mean that to be deeply sarcastic/comedic? As that's the only use of that phrase that I know, but I'm having a hard time parsing it into the context of your post, or maybe I'm reading your post too seriously?

[Retire-Canada]

I always considered blogging as a hobby.

Unless someone already has a track record of blogging professionally before FIRE I would say that earning $10K+ a year in FIRE doing that is optimistic. Doesn't hurt to try if you enjoy it and you could be successful, but given the low barrier to entry and the maturity of most blogging niches the competition is fierce.

[arebelspy]

The people who make significant money blogging about FIRE you can count on two hands, if that.

Someone linked to this blog in this thread a few days ago, and this post sums up the issue well, IMO:
If you think FIRE bloggers are all getting rich, why aren’t you writing your own? Or: Here’s How Much I Earn From Blogging.

[shelivesthedream]

I still mourn think I absence of Lacking Ambition. http://lackingambition.com/

Like Dr Doom, I don't feel he should be cranking out posts for my pleasure, but I would so love a brief update once a year or so to know what they're doing with their life/freedom.

[vand]

The people who make significant money blogging about FIRE you can count on two hands, if that.

Someone linked to this blog in this thread a few days ago, and this post sums up the issue well, IMO:
If you think FIRE bloggers are all getting rich, why aren’t you writing your own? Or: Here’s How Much I Earn From Blogging.

OTOH he's written 4 blog posts this year, so it's still pretty good side-hustle money on something he doesn't put a great deal of effort into anymore.

[partgypsy]

@partgypsy, can you just clarify something for me? When you say "I resemble that statement", do you mean that to be deeply sarcastic/comedic? As that's the only use of that phrase that I know, but I'm having a hard time parsing it into the context of your post, or maybe I'm reading your post too seriously?

unlike the op I'm not married with an unambitious wife (don't share his particulars) but I have certain things in my life that will not allow me to make dramatic changes to become ere. So I'm cominserating with the poster and being ok not being ere, and making incremental progress instead. Not being sarcastic.

[Metalcat]

@partgypsy, can you just clarify something for me? When you say "I resemble that statement", do you mean that to be deeply sarcastic/comedic? As that's the only use of that phrase that I know, but I'm having a hard time parsing it into the context of your post, or maybe I'm reading your post too seriously?

unlike the op I'm not married with an unambitious wife (don't share his particulars) but I have certain things in my life that will not allow me to make dramatic changes to become ere. So I'm cominserating with the poster and being ok not being ere, and making incremental progress instead. Not being sarcastic.

Yeah, that's why I was confused, as I only know that phrase to exist as a very sarcastic joke/pun, so I couldn't make sense of it as the intro statement to what seemed like an earnest post.

[Plina]

I always considered blogging as a hobby.

Unless someone already has a track record of blogging professionally before FIRE I would say that earning $10K+ a year in FIRE doing that is optimistic. Doesn't hurt to try if you enjoy it and you could be successful, but given the low barrier to entry and the maturity of most blogging niches the competition is fierce.

True. I'm sure if someone like Dave Ramsy officially FIREd and just blogged he'd still earn a mint from that.  However us regular FIREd people who haven't been professional bloggers or financial gurus with big followings at some point before would likely earn a few bucks...if that. MMM and others are the outliers who started interesting blogs at the right time so that they became very popular. Now, for some reason (pandemic? Boredom? Nothing new? People feel the prophets are false?), readership has drop here as well as elsewhere.

I come here for the forum. I might read the blog post if it has an interesting subject but mostly not. I would not even know there has been an update at MMM if I didn’t see it in the blogfeed for some blog I read.

I find that most bloggers fizzle after a while and that the main reason I bother to show up is for the sometimes interesting discussions in the comment sections. I have a blogger that has most of the blogs that I read on her bloglist so I go to her blog every day and look at the headlines of the post and if check the blog if the subject is something that interests me.