...well, $497k in 401k/checking. This does not include a couple paid-for cars, and about 50k in home equity. Close enough!
Thanks for the inspiration ya'll!! brief bio below
Graduated with a BS Chemical Engineering in 2000; zero debt, about $5k in assets. Worked my ass off to pay for school; parents provided room & board over the summer, but I financed tuition, car, books, dorm, food, the works, with the help of a couple small scholarships. Mowed 45 laws a week during the summers!
Working in the food industry since then. Not the best pay for an engineer but steady work, good people, reasonable hours. Saved nothing but $10k/yr in 401k till about 2007. Started investing in the market just before the big crash. Oddly, when oil hit $145/barrel (sticks in my mind) I though Wow, this is stupid, and sold everything. Very lucky!
Maxed out 401k, investing, and been living fairly frugally since then. Around $100k/yr salary, we live on about $35k including mortgage, insurance, homeschooling expenses, etc. God bless TEXAS and cheap houses!! If only the scenery was nicer & the produce tasted good ;)
Dear Wife (and 5 kiddos) are on-board with frugality, DIY, etc. Job is an entertaining 40-45hrs a week, 25min bike ride away (for which they pay me $2.25/day), 5 weeks paid time off a year. Very close to SWAMI. Life is great.
The website & forum has been an inspiration to examine life choices through a cleaner lens, tighten things up, absorb some great ideas, groom the 'Stache more than I would otherwise over the last couple years. Thanks again to you all!!