UPDATED WITH BUDGET NUMBERS Budget Review-- face punches welcomed

[Weisass]

I've been on this forum awhile now (lurked for 2 years before registering), but never posted my own numbers. The truth is that I wasn't sure I would ever want to not work, because my job is pretty niche, and very flexible, and puts me in the middle of my community in ways that I love.

But.

I am definitely seeing some fatigue setting in for myself. I have worked steadily for 16 years (with occasional extended parental leaves after the births of my children), and I have been in my current position for 5 years, and while I can see myself staying another 5, I'm not sure I want to do much more than that. My partner loves his job and will likely work until they kick him out of the office (he's a tenured professor, and it's a HUGE part of his identity). I'm starting to wonder: at what point do we *need* my salary? Or is there a time in the next 5-10 when I could step back, and we could cruise?

Expense	2025 so far	monthly (actual)	budget in 2028(w/o temp exp.)	notes
Mortgage	18301	3050	3050	payoff 2051
home improvement	21908	3651	1000	we will have completed all necessary major improvements/maintenance to house by EOY
Home loan	13704	2284	0	2028 payoff date
groceries	7187	1197	1000	should go down as kids leave home
home maintenance	1497	249	300
auto expenses	3971	662	100	we had some major expenses (RDU replacement and new brakes) this year, not typical for the car
Personal Care (Gym/trainer)	3639	606	600
Child/Dependent Expenses	3423	570	600	expenses for 4 kids
Charity	2974	495	500
Hobbies (garden, music, bikes	2960	493	500
Eating Out	2714	452	300	this could be lower-- we like cooking
Utilities	2344	390	400
Travel	1971	328	350	two trips a year to visit family and local attractions
Healthcare/Medical	2179	363	350
General Purchases (home/house)	1854	309	300
Other Bills (CPA, Lawyer)	1600	267	0	one-time expenses
ATM/Spending Money for me and Husband	1308	218	200
Clothes/Shoes	1081	180	200	clothes for 6, this is pretty good
Taxes	1018	169	200	local taxes, etc
Gifts	810	135	150
Telephone	466	78	45	three cell phones on mint mobile
Entertainment (concerts, movies, etc)	854	142	150
Dues/Subscriptions	811	135	150	newspaper, apple storage, etc.
TOTAL	98574	16429	10495

Our Numbers:

CASH (includes emergency fund): $45k
INVESTMENTS:

• Husband Retirement (TIAA): $616,358
• Roth IRAS: $168,429
• Brokerage Account: $33,507
• IBM Stock: $19,000 (gift from a grandparent)
• 529s for kids: $143298 (four accounts, gift from grandparents)

TOTAL Investments: $980,652

DEBT

• MORTGAGE: $461,462 (2.25%, paying 3,000/month), through 2051
• HOME LOAN: $94000 (7.99%, paying 1700/month (that includes an additional principal payment each month), plus some extra here and there when we can swing it towards extra principal payments, through 2028
• Credit Card: varies, we use this to pay most of our monthly expenses outside of the mortgage and loan, and get points back. This is paid in full every month, so no carried over interest.

In terms of income:
Husband Salary: $150k/year ($9180/month take home after withholding and health care)
My Salary: $77k/year ($6430/month take home pay)

In terms of expenses, we are currently on the speedy side, as you can see above-- some major home repairs and expenses on our 120 year old home all hit at once, but we have gotten past the known issues, and at this point we shouldn't be dealing with any big surprises (knock on wood).

Additionally, we both will qualify for SS, estimated at $40k/year for me if I keep working, halved if I stop before that. I have a pension as well that I am fully vested for, and it would math out to about $20k/year starting at 70 if I stopped working in a few years. My husbands will be significantly higher than mine, and I will admit that I don't know all the ins and outs of calculating pension math yet.

So.... if I keep working I suspect  we would have zero concerns.


I have have been using EMPOWER (previously personal capital) since 2017 to track our family finances, so I have a pretty good sense of how much we spend, what we might need in the future, and I have played in cFIRESIM (88% chance of success if I walk away in 2030) and the Fioneers COASTFIRE trackers (We are about $100k short of a true CoastFIRE situation, but I suspect with my husband's job, we will be able to keep adding funds to the retirement bucket). According to the Fioneers tracker, I need 1.25 M today if I wanted to walk away that could sit and grow.

So,.... what should I be thinking about? Where should I be directing my energy? IS there information that I am not considering that needs to be incorporated into this thought process?

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Can you share a little more about the credit cards? Is the $8k how much you are charging every month, and then paying off? Or, is this a previous balance/debt that you are carrying? A little unclear based on wording. What are your expenses every month or at the yearly level?

[Weisass]

Can you share a little more about the credit cards? Is the $8k how much you are charging every month, and then paying off? Or, is this a previous balance/debt that you are carrying? A little unclear based on wording. What are your expenses every month or at the yearly level?

Sure-- we use our USAA CC for most of our monthly spend, which right now is averaging 8k. We pay it off at the end of every month. Felt worth sharing, but it isn't debt we are holding.

Our expenses right now are higher-- with four kids, we spent about $150k last year, 64k of which was killing off a HELOC and paying our mortgage.  Before that HELOC our spend was closer to $110k/year, including mortgage payments.

[AMandM]

It looks to me like you are set already. The SS and pension income, plus 4% of your current savings (not including 529s), seems enough to cover your current expenses. Between now and the time you qualify for SS/pension, your husband's salary will cover all your expenses and add ~$100k a year to your savings.

[chasingthegoodlife]

Yeah, I’m confused why you are not at a ‘coast’ stage already, with the assumption your husband will continue working, SS, etc

Are you planning on much higher expenses in retirement?

It seems to me that your expenses will eventually reduce - mortgage paid off, kids leave home etc.

[Dicey]

I would be thinking about not prepaying one red cent on a 2.25% mortgage. I strongly doubt we'll see such good rates again.

Instead of shooting for a CoastFIRE a few years down the line, why not become a full-time Frugalista now and pull the plug immediately?

[314159]

EDIT: now that you've posted your detailed budget & income, it looks like the below is not accurate. I'll respond again in a new post.

What assumptions are you putting into your calculators that give you less than 100% success rates in your calculators?? If you have shareable links please share them!

You said you ran the numbers for you walking away in 2030 and your husband presumably working for a long time, and you got an 88% success rate. Meanwhile, if I assume the high end of your expense range, $120k/yr, and have you quit your job today, by the 4% rule I find that he could join you in retirement, in only (median estimate) 13 years. (confidence interval: in 10% of cases, 9 years or less, in 90% of cases, 20 years or less). I assumed during the years your husband is working, he earns $220k gross and you pay $40k in taxes leaving $180k in takehome pay, and that these taxes are not reflected in your expenses. If I'm wrong the picture is even rosier for you.

That's before we take into account the $20k in Social Security + $20k pension you would take in annually starting at age 70. If we very conservatively say your husband will also have $20k in SS that brings your total to $60k/yr starting at 70. Again, if you trust the 4% rule this is money you will never need if your husband works until you hit 25x expenses and you never earn another cent starting today.

If you don't trust the 4% rule, I have even better news: if we do take this extra $60k/yr into account, it would take a worse market than the US has ever seen to derail your joint retirement, even if you quit today. I ran the numbers in cFIREsim assuming that your household has no earners once you hit a target number of $3,360,000 ($120k * 25 * an extra factor of 1.12 to cover taxes in retirement—yes I'm pulling all these tax numbers out of my butt), and assuming that once you hit age 70 you have an extra $60k/yr. (In the linked simulations I assumed you are currently 38 because you said you've worked 16 years and I assume you started at 22. But luckily your current age has very little effect on the numbers.) This gives no failures at all.

Again, these estimates are very conservative. You will eventually pay off your house which will mean you need less money than indicated here. If you spend less than $120k/yr you need less money. If you get more than $60k/yr at age 70 you need less money. If you tax rates are lower than I indicated you need less money. If you have even the tiniest risk tolerance you need less money.

So to recap:

- Quit your job today. Or as soon as you like.
- Enjoy watching the money stack up as your husband's earnings cover your expenses with at least $60k/yr left over in savings
- Once in a while use a calculator to ask "will we have enough money to maintain our spending indefinitely if husband quits and we get $XXk per year in Social Security + pension starting at age 70?". Currently there is a lot of uncertainty because age 70 is far in the future. As it draws a bit closer and your 'stache gets bigger the uncertainty will be reduced.
- Once the answer is yes, husband can quit
- Probably he won't quit, and you'll have to decide what to do with all this money that keeps stacking up.

It's hard to overstate the position of financial strength that you are in. Now go figure out whether and why you want to keep working, because "for the money" is no longer a valid reason. :-D  Congratulations! You won the game!

[Weisass]

Well shoot. Y’all are far rosier than I am! What a great problem to have.

I suspect my concerns mostly stem from:
A) family systems shit: I’m one generation away from serious rural poverty, and my dad and mom raised me with the ethos that you take care of your financial house, you work your ass off, and you save save save. Somehow, retiring and enjoying it never made it into the story.

B) kids: we have four kids, and they throw just enough uncertainty in there to make me get a case of the “what ifs” from time to time.

C) meaning: my job is a big part of my identity, which is not long term sustainable, but it is honest. Walking away is not as simple as pulling the plug- I pastor a church full of people that I deeply care about, and that dynamic complicates the leaving part.

What I am seeing here, at the least, is that I can ease off a little. Time to enjoy some of this good life, plan some fun with the kids while they are still young, and know that if I choose to work a little longer, that’s just extra cushion.

[roomtempmayo]

I know you say you have a good handle on your spending, but $8000 a month on the credit card plus a $3000 mortgage adds up to $132,000 per year.  And that assumes you don't spend a dime of cash on anything else.  I'd start by rechecking your numbers to confirm you're accounting for all of your costs.

But that's not critical if your husband wants to keep working for at least another decade.  If so, you can quit today, never save another dime, and just let your nest egg grow until retirement.

[Zikoris]

Am I missing something? The title is budget review and as far as I can see, there is no budget to review.

[Weisass]

Am I missing something? The title is budget review and as far as I can see, there is no budget to review.

Fair, Fair. I will post a fuller budget later tonight.

@roomtempmayo, thanks for that feedback, too. I will recheck, and see if I can share the numbers I have more intentionally.

[yachi]

I don't know how much you've read the blog vs the forums, but the "hidden" purpose of the blog is actually reducing our impacts on the environment and wisely using our resources.  The early retirement part is the carrot to get people to care.  It's funny you didn't like the carrot enough to make lifestyle changes, but still appreciate the community here.  The advice here - live close to where you work, or work close to where you live, bike to work, use muscle over motors, make your own pizza instead of getting someone to deliver one to you is all good for your wallet AND the environment.  And a lot of it scales, so a motorboat is way worse for your budget than other recreation, but it's also worse for the environment than other recreation.

I too don't see a lot of budget things to comment on, but I did want to comment on this:

Additionally, we both will qualify for SS, estimated at $40k/year for me if I keep working, halved if I stop soon. My husbands will be significantly higher, AND my job has a pension, estimated around $20k/year starting at 70.

So.... if I keep working, we are DEFINITELY in good shape.

I have two thoughts/questions on this:

1) It looks like you're not accounting for spousal benefits at all.  As his spouse, you are entitled to up to 50% of your husband's benefit amount.  They only pay using your own earnings record if it's higher than what you'd get as a spouse.  Actual estimates for you husband's SS would be helpful here.  If his is something like $80,000, then you'd get to collect $40K based on his record whether you continue working as planned, or stop working now. It's a benefit to acknowledge that a spouse who might have a lower earning is doing a greater share of other stuff in the household to help the higher earning spouse.  So that's cool.

2) Check the details of you pension.  Most have a working duration to become eligible for pension, followed by a starting age for the pension.  You nailed the starting age of the pension, and the payout if you work until then, but what's the minimum years you need to work to get something, and what would that be?

[CrustyBadger]

I'm curious what your plan or expectation is, for your 4 kids and any college expenses?

You have $143,000 in 529s for four children. Are some of them already done with college or not planning on going? Are you expecting them to get need or merit-based financial aid? or scholarships? Attend community college and work to put themselves through college? Or would you plan to assist them from your salary or savings?

[yachi]

I'm curious what your plan or expectation is, for your 4 kids and any college expenses?

You have $143,000 in 529s for four children. Are some of them already done with college or not planning on going? Are you expecting them to get need or merit-based financial aid? or scholarships? Attend community college and work to put themselves through college? Or would you plan to assist them from your salary or savings?

Yeah, I'd have this concern too.  Maybe OP's husband being a professor means the kids get their college covered?  At the husband's income level I doubt the FAFSA provides much need-based financial aid.

[CrustyBadger]

Yeah, I'd have this concern too.  Maybe OP's husband being a professor means the kids get their college covered?  At the husband's income level I doubt the FAFSA provides much need-based financial aid.

Oh! Actually I missed that detail. Yes, OP's spouse being a professor might well bring some benefits in lower college tuition.

[Weisass]

I'm curious what your plan or expectation is, for your 4 kids and any college expenses?

You have $143,000 in 529s for four children. Are some of them already done with college or not planning on going? Are you expecting them to get need or merit-based financial aid? or scholarships? Attend community college and work to put themselves through college? Or would you plan to assist them from your salary or savings?

These are good questions. To answer them:

1- yes, my partner's university will tuition match up to 50% of their institutional tuition, and covers almost all of his school if they get in there (no guarantees) so its a significant assistance.

2- My mother in law has also made it clear that she intends to assist with college tuition, although I'm never inclined to count on a promise until I see it.

3-We are hoping that each person's 529 will grow to a point that it will cover a year of tuition by the time they go to college, with a combo of the university benefit and some merit/financial aid covering the balance. For myself, it was a useful "stick" to have some financial skin in the game, but at the current prices, I don't want to saddle our kids with stupid debt. So we have been clear with them that they have assistance, but that they will need to keep in mind what we can all afford.

For reference, kids are aged 6 through 14, so we have some time on our hands here.

[Weisass]

I don't know how much you've read the blog vs the forums, but the "hidden" purpose of the blog is actually reducing our impacts on the environment and wisely using our resources.  The early retirement part is the carrot to get people to care.  It's funny you didn't like the carrot enough to make lifestyle changes, but still appreciate the community here.  The advice here - live close to where you work, or work close to where you live, bike to work, use muscle over motors, make your own pizza instead of getting someone to deliver one to you is all good for your wallet AND the environment.  And a lot of it scales, so a motorboat is way worse for your budget than other recreation, but it's also worse for the environment than other recreation.

I too don't see a lot of budget things to comment on, but I did want to comment on this:

Additionally, we both will qualify for SS, estimated at $40k/year for me if I keep working, halved if I stop soon. My husbands will be significantly higher, AND my job has a pension, estimated around $20k/year starting at 70.

So.... if I keep working, we are DEFINITELY in good shape.

I have two thoughts/questions on this:

1) It looks like you're not accounting for spousal benefits at all.  As his spouse, you are entitled to up to 50% of your husband's benefit amount.  They only pay using your own earnings record if it's higher than what you'd get as a spouse.  Actual estimates for you husband's SS would be helpful here.  If his is something like $80,000, then you'd get to collect $40K based on his record whether you continue working as planned, or stop working now. It's a benefit to acknowledge that a spouse who might have a lower earning is doing a greater share of other stuff in the household to help the higher earning spouse.  So that's cool.

2) Check the details of you pension.  Most have a working duration to become eligible for pension, followed by a starting age for the pension.  You nailed the starting age of the pension, and the payout if you work until then, but what's the minimum years you need to work to get something, and what would that be?

Hi @yachi  and thanks for the comments. Yes, I am aware of the environmental emphasis of this blog, and it is in fact the reason I feel more in line with this community than any other. As a result of our personal environmental priorities, we have remained a one care family for the entirety of my marriage (15 years) and I mostly ride public transit. My husband barely ever gets to work in a way other than biking or training, I commute locally on my e-bike, we live smack in the middle between both our jobs on a train line in a walkable neighborhood with decent schools.

Over the past few years, we have prioritized choices that will reduce our environmental impact-- we inherited a Tesla when my father in law died, and installed solar that is already making major improvements to our energy efficiency. More importantly, when we bought our house, we bought one of the smaller houses in our township, at a price that we could absolutely manage, and refi-d our mortgage during COVID. We have made one major improvement to the house in the nearly 10 years we have lived there, but have resisted anything more than that (one was enough!). We grow much of our own vegetables and fruit in the summer months, although with four kids (the most expensive decision we have ever made!) it is hard to keep up!

I think the thing that is hardest from my perspective is balancing low impact on the environment and the reality that there are always financial costs to every decision. Earlier in our marriage, I made a decision to stay home for a period because I wanted the time with the kids and the math was questionable for being worth my working. Now, the math is much more straight forward. It is typically worth it for me to work, and I get alot of meaning out of it but it is also tiring me out. So I'm trying to find the balance once again.

Re: the pension-- I have earned enough credits to get the pension. I am well aware of the rules, and at this point, working more just icnreases the monthly benefit. I have played with their calculator enough to know that if I work another 15 years, it works out to an additional 1200/month and I don't think it is worth it.

[Dicey]

Okay, so you're a pastor.* That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish vs. a humdrum timecard job. That important tidbit changes my answer somewhat, and I want to rethink it, if I may. Are you solo or part of a staff?

*Sorry, DH adores Shania Twain.

[mspym]

Okay, so you're a pastor. That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish vs. a humdrum timecard job. That important tidbit changes my answer somewhat, and I want to rethink it, if I may. Are you solo or part of a staff?

That is an important factor - if you can feel you have ~5 years left in you, then now is a good time to start thinking about transitioning your work to other people. This could be starting to bring someone onboard if you are solo, or who in the team you could move your work to/what training would be needed to make this possible.

My father is a retired vicar and part of that was moving from being the vicar for the parish to being emeritus - helping curates and those studying for their ordination/doctorates with theology and resources, plus standing in for the vicar if needed. This was for about 5 years until he retired-retired at 75. Is that an option for you?

[Weisass]

Okay, so you're a pastor.* That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish vs. a humdrum timecard job. That important tidbit changes my answer somewhat, and I want to rethink it, if I may. Are you solo or part of a staff?

*Sorry, DH adores Shania Twain.

Loved Shania when I was younger ;) yes, solo pastor over here, pretty flexible job in a solvent church, which ain’t nothing in this economy (have you seen the trend lines for mainline Protestants?). I like it in so many ways, but I also know that it can consume you if you let it, and I don’t want that.

[Weisass]

Okay, so you're a pastor. That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish vs. a humdrum timecard job. That important tidbit changes my answer somewhat, and I want to rethink it, if I may. Are you solo or part of a staff?

That is an important factor - if you can feel you have ~5 years left in you, then now is a good time to start thinking about transitioning your work to other people. This could be starting to bring someone onboard if you are solo, or who in the team you could move your work to/what training would be needed to make this possible.

My father is a retired vicar and part of that was moving from being the vicar for the parish to being emeritus - helping curates and those studying for their ordination/doctorates with theology and resources, plus standing in for the vicar if needed. This was for about 5 years until he retired-retired at 75. Is that an option for you?

Maybe? My particular system (pcusa) is similar in some ways to the episcopal structure, and very different in others. Certainly, I *could* explore structures that allow transition while I am still in place. For now, I’m waiting to hear if I will receive a grant that will allow significant time away next spring as a sort of mini retirement, and it will force some of what you are describing, and also give me a chance to test some things out.

[obstinate]

I must be missing something. The other posters are saying you are already set on your current level of spending, but the math isn't mathing for me. You've spent $100k this year so far (so are on track to spend $200k). You have $1M of investments, which would support an annual spend of about $40k if nobody was working. If you continue at the current level of spend, then your husband's salary would not even be enough to cover all your expenses, to say nothing of leaving excess to save.

That being said, maybe the spend is atypical this year? If we go by your 2028 budget, you still don't have enough for both of you to retire, but, assuming the husband keeps working until regular retirement age, you will be fine.

As far as where to save, there are a few that jump out. That gym membership had better be gold plated for how much you're spending on it. Your grocery spend is approx double mine, and I live in NYC where groceries are not cheap. We only have two young children though, so that might explain that difference.

Mainly though if the home improvement spending is irregular and much lower in most years then it will turn out fine. You're not, as far as I can tell, close to being ready to retire right now.

[Josiecat22222]

I must be missing something. The other posters are saying you are already set on your current level of spending, but the math isn't mathing for me. You've spent $100k this year so far (so are on track to spend $200k). You have $1M of investments, which would support an annual spend of about $40k if nobody was working. If you continue at the current level of spend, then your husband's salary would not even be enough to cover all your expenses, to say nothing of leaving excess to save.

That being said, maybe the spend is atypical this year? If we go by your 2028 budget, you still don't have enough for both of you to retire, but, assuming the husband keeps working until regular retirement age, you will be fine.

As far as where to save, there are a few that jump out. That gym membership had better be gold plated for how much you're spending on it. Your grocery spend is approx double mine, and I live in NYC where groceries are not cheap. We only have two young children though, so that might explain that difference.

Mainly though if the home improvement spending is irregular and much lower in most years then it will turn out fine. You're not, as far as I can tell, close to being ready to retire right now.

I agree- I'm confused--you have roughly 1 million in investments, monthly takehome of 15K and a monthly spend of 16K, if I'm reading this right.  You anticipate the spend in 2028 to be 10K monthly (which is not covered by husband's income alone, if you were to step down).  Furthermore, you have 4 kids and while childcare expenses go away, these are often replaced by sports fees, car insurance increases, cell phones, etc as they become teens and young adults.

There is no criticism here, but I am not seeing the "go ahead and stop working" numbers that others seem to.  Am I missing something?
Josie

[AMandM]

I am not seeing the "go ahead and stop working" numbers that others seem to.  Am I missing something?
Josie

Some of those "go ahead and stop working" responses were based on earlier estimates of spending. Mine was also based on having misread or misremembered the husband's income as $220k (no idea how I did that!).

[Weisass]

I must be missing something. The other posters are saying you are already set on your current level of spending, but the math isn't mathing for me. You've spent $100k this year so far (so are on track to spend $200k). You have $1M of investments, which would support an annual spend of about $40k if nobody was working. If you continue at the current level of spend, then your husband's salary would not even be enough to cover all your expenses, to say nothing of leaving excess to save.

That being said, maybe the spend is atypical this year? If we go by your 2028 budget, you still don't have enough for both of you to retire, but, assuming the husband keeps working until regular retirement age, you will be fine.

As far as where to save, there are a few that jump out. That gym membership had better be gold plated for how much you're spending on it. Your grocery spend is approx double mine, and I live in NYC where groceries are not cheap. We only have two young children though, so that might explain that difference.

Mainly though if the home improvement spending is irregular and much lower in most years then it will turn out fine. You're not, as far as I can tell, close to being ready to retire right now.

Oh I agree with you. This year has been absolute shite for our spend. WE had a number of unexpected things break in the house and the car that really f'd our budget up, and I absolutely hate that. Our budget is also significantly impacted by the HELOC we took out 3 years ago, but that will be knocked down in a couple years. Our food budget continues to vex me-- I meal plan, batch cook, etc, but with 6 people in our house, two of whom are teens, it just adds up. I frankly feel like a spendypants, and it is a little embarrassing sometimes, but then I drill down in to the numbers, and it's hard to figure out exactly what to kill.

with respect to the gym-- my membership is 74/month, but the personal training is more expensive. it is the one major thing I am doing for myself, and I'm doing it 2-3 hours a day. So it has definitely been worth it for my mental health and personal health.

That said, please tell me what you would cut, because I am open to suggestions!

[Weisass]

So just to clarify again,.... what I am mostly wondering is-- what can I do to optimize COASTing as soon as possible with my husband's salary, and possibly some side gigs on my end? What would you prioritize? How would you position yourself? Because that is what I am mostly trying to figure out, and I feel like I am not seeing things that others might.

[314159]

I am not seeing the "go ahead and stop working" numbers that others seem to.  Am I missing something?
Josie

Some of those "go ahead and stop working" responses were based on earlier estimates of spending. Mine was also based on having misread or misremembered the husband's income as $220k (no idea how I did that!).

Same here! Before OP shared detailed income and spending, the estimates provided were household spending in retirement $100k-120k, and husband's salary $220k—or else you and I both misread the original post. But with the updated numbers, his salary is actually $150k gross (maybe OP originally planned on reporting household income as 150k+77k = about 220k?). And household expenses this year are already 98k and we're only halfway through the year.

So to update my original response:

Again let's assume your 529s (plus tuition benefits/student loans) grow to cover your kid's education. We'll ignore both the expenses and the assets; let them cancel each other out.

If you can keep spending to the lower of $120k/yr vs husband's takehome pay, then you have a true CoastFIRE situation. If you never save another cent and you quit your job today, husband would have to work 21 more years (very wide confidence interval: 13 to 34 years at 10% and 90% of cases respectively).

Strikes me as kind of a long time. With these new numbers it makes sense what you were saying earlier, that your calculations showed you could maybe coast starting in 5 years.

So just to clarify again,.... what I am mostly wondering is-- what can I do to optimize COASTing as soon as possible with my husband's salary, and possibly some side gigs on my end? What would you prioritize? How would you position yourself? Because that is what I am mostly trying to figure out, and I feel like I am not seeing things that others might.

I'm np good at critiquing budgets, so I hope other forum members will chime in (on both the financial and non-financial side).

[AMandM]

Since you are looking to reduce expenses, it might help to think of the set of categories that are, broadly speaking, discretionary fun spending: hobbies, eating out, travel, spending money, entertainment. Together these add up to about $1500/month, which feels like it has room to cut. I know that in my own case, for instance, we have a lot of hobby materials that could be used before we really need to buy more. Eating out also seems like low-hanging fruit, because cutting out just one meal makes a noticeable difference in the budget.

I've never used a personal trainer, so take this fwiw, but can you reduce the frequency of sessions and do the work on your own in between?

And I sympathize on the food--my young adult kids are home for the gap between college/new job/new training program and the grocery bill has exploded!

[obstinate]

That said, please tell me what you would cut, because I am open to suggestions!

To me, besides the gym, there is no one thing that jumps out as completely unreasonable. You could certainly cut in almost every category. For example, there are people who do not eat out at restaurants. But without knowing how much you are willing to sacrifice and what goal you're trying to get to, or what's most important to you, it's hard to say more.

I think it might make sense to start drilling down on individual purchases, sorted by magnitude, and ask the question, "was that specific thing worth it." E.g. one thing I've been questioning to myself recently is whether having drinks when I'm out to eat is worth it. Historically, I have, and I may continue getting a single beer or something of the like. However, going out specifically for drinks may be a thing of the past in my future budget, because I've realized that the cost and the benefit are no longer mathing for me.

(FWIW, I understand that for you the gym is non-negotiable. However, I am never not going to question whether it makes sense to spend 6% of your planned annual budget on the gym. My family spends a lot on skiing, but, we will soon have a paid off house, be retired, etc. And it is still a good deal less than what you spend annually on the gym.)