I just bought 2 days per year of free life, indefinitely. 363 to go.

[Anette]

Simply love this idea! Thank you!
And Ptf

[LeftA]

I’m at 129 days now, which is May 9th. Looks like I’m gaining about 1 week of freedom per 3 months of work. Is this considered a good pace?

It seems to align well with my my overall goal date for retirement though.

[Jaayse]

2017
April 14 - 66.9
July 24 - 72.32
October 1 - 85.18
November 1 - 89.49
December 1 - 91.60

2018
January 1 - 94.16
February 1 - 99.53
March 1 - 98.25
April 1 - 99.81
May 1 - 129.12
June 1 - 133.36
July 1 - 138.76
August 1 - 143.95
September 1 - 148.73
October 1 - 151.87
November 1 - 146.53
December 1 - 150.11

2019
January 1 - 144.60
February 1 - 155.47
March 1 - 160.02
April 1 - 163.63
May 1 - 170.82
June 1 - 166.11
July 1 - 176.81
August 1 - 179.72
September 1 - 178.89
October 1 - 183.41

I think I just barely hit the halfway point, but that is huge!

[zeli2033]

1/2018: January 13
4/2018: January 18
7/2018: January 22
9/2018: January 27
10/2018: January 29
1/2019: January 31
6/2019: February 8
10/2019: February 19

[Jaayse]

2017
April 14 - 66.9
July 24 - 72.32
October 1 - 85.18
November 1 - 89.49
December 1 - 91.60

2018
January 1 - 94.16
February 1 - 99.53
March 1 - 98.25
April 1 - 99.81
May 1 - 129.12
June 1 - 133.36
July 1 - 138.76
August 1 - 143.95
September 1 - 148.73
October 1 - 151.87
November 1 - 146.53
December 1 - 150.11

2019
January 1 - 144.60
February 1 - 155.47
March 1 - 160.02
April 1 - 163.63
May 1 - 170.82
June 1 - 166.11
July 1 - 176.81
August 1 - 179.72
September 1 - 178.89
October 1 - 183.41
November 1 - 189.27

Up to July 8th!

[Bird In Hand]

Oct 2017: 234 days (through August 22nd each year)
Jan 2018: 258 days (through Sep 15th each year)
Aug 2018: 273 days (through Sep 30th each year)
Feb 2019: 273 days (through Sep 30th each year)
Nov 2019: 300 days (through Oct 27th each year)

I think we bought about 7 days since February (not including ~2 days toward mortgage principal), and the market gave us another 20.

[haypug16]

April 13th 2018 = 23 days
April 30th 2019 = 32 days
July 31st 2019 = 33 days
October 31st 2019 = 37 days

4 more days in the past 3 months. Hoping I can get up to 40 by year end.

[urover]

My current expenses are 36000/year (high because of city living). But, assuming same expenses post-FIRE and 7% ROI, I need 1650$ per freedom-day. So far:

59 days down.
306 days to go.

68 days down.
297 days to go.

70 days down.
295 days to go.

72 days down.
293 days to go.

91 days down.
274 days to go.

106 days down
259 days to go. Feeling like there still is a mountain to climb. Made some shitty progress.

118 days down
247 days to go. Reaching my tolerance point with I.T job and only making slow progress here.

146 days down. 219 to go.

[Calimerostache]

June 2016: Jan 29th
June 2017: Feb 2nd (+9 days)
June 2018: Feb 26th (+19 days)
June 2019: Mar 6th  (+8 days)

Goal:
Dec 2019: Mar 11th
June 2020: Mar 23rd
Dec 2020: Mar 27th

Not a lot of progress this month, so will add the time of the day
Jul 2019: Mar 7th and it's 8pm

Nov 2019: Mar 17th
Yeahhhh. Almost a week ahead of my projection from early July (thanks to the market plus lower spending)
Unfortunately from there I’m going to go backward as I quit my job this month. Will be interesting to see how much it’s going to delay my plan.

[diapasoun]

At January 14, which is a 7-day improvement so far this year from last year. Slow and steady, slow and steady. I've at least guaranteed myself two weeks of vacation for life. ;)

To January 15.

January 25. This will go down, as I calculate my "spending per day" on a yearly basis and so far 2019 has been very, verrrry cheap -- it will not stay this cheap, and so my calculations will move back. However, it's nice to see the leap, even if I know it's false. ;)

Still at January 26!

January 27! Yessss! So close to an entire month funded.

[Vashy]

28 April, based on £35k expenses, 3% SWR, and current NW of £377k.

Ofc, the very lean £18k expenses and more optimistic 4% SWR gets me to 2 November, so now I have a colour-coded calendar at work with four different scenarios to stay motivated.

[Imma]

I jumped to 4.17 days this month! From 3.83 last month. Should hit 5 in by the end of summer!

Reached 5 today! Will hopefully reach 6 before the end of the year.

Am at 6.1 right now. Should hit 7 by summer. Progress is slow but steady.

7.05!!!!!

Reaching a full week feels really big. I get paid weekly so from now on there's one extra payday per year and it goes straight to the stash. Should reach 8 by the end of summer, but it might be earlier. I'm really starting to feel the compounding effect, I've been seriously investing for 4 years now.

8! Should be at 9 by the end of the year. Next year, one line in my budget will disappear and the money gained from this will go directly to the stash. My goal is to be at 9 days by the end of 2019 and at 14 by the end of 2020.

9,1! Should hit 10 by March and 14 by the end of 2020.

[Jaayse]

2017
April 14 - 66.9
July 24 - 72.32
October 1 - 85.18
November 1 - 89.49
December 1 - 91.60

2018
January 1 - 94.16
February 1 - 99.53
March 1 - 98.25
April 1 - 99.81
May 1 - 129.12
June 1 - 133.36
July 1 - 138.76
August 1 - 143.95
September 1 - 148.73
October 1 - 151.87
November 1 - 146.53
December 1 - 150.11

2019
January 1 - 144.60
February 1 - 155.47
March 1 - 160.02
April 1 - 163.63
May 1 - 170.82
June 1 - 166.11
July 1 - 176.81
August 1 - 179.72
September 1 - 178.89
October 1 - 183.41
November 1 - 189.27
December 1 - 195.86

Up to July 14th!

[haypug16]

April 13th 2018 = 23 days
April 30th 2019 = 32 days
November 30th 2019 = 38 days

Goal is to end the year at 40. It's still a possibility since my contributaitons in my 401k equal 1.5 days so I just need the market to make up the difference. Easy right. ;P

Goal for 2020 will be to end with 60 days.

[arebelspy]

I attached our own path to FIRE
...
Of course, in the subsequent years while FIRE'd, we've funded through about June of the following year

Update to this post. The final sentence refers to total NW.

Instead, calculating second FI based on paper portfolio, we are currently at 70 days of freedom, March 11.

19% of the way to FIRE!

[Assetup]

I've been tracking stuff like this for a while but don't post a ton on this forum.  We managed to gain 5.3 days in one month and get to 28.67.  Hoping to get to get out of January by the end of the month but it'll be tight.

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk

[GettingClose]

Just thought I'd check this ... 18 days to go (and 19 days left in the actual year)

[Dicey]

I attached our own path to FIRE
...
Of course, in the subsequent years while FIRE'd, we've funded through about June of the following year

Update to this post. The final sentence refers to total NW.

Instead, calculating second FI based on paper portfolio, we are currently at 70 days of freedom, March 11.

19% of the way to FIRE!

Wait! You RE'd before you hit FI? I'm so confused! What does the 19% represent?

[dandarc]

I attached our own path to FIRE
...
Of course, in the subsequent years while FIRE'd, we've funded through about June of the following year

Update to this post. The final sentence refers to total NW.

Instead, calculating second FI based on paper portfolio, we are currently at 70 days of freedom, March 11.

19% of the way to FIRE!

Wait! You RE'd before you hit FI? I'm so confused! What does the 19% represent?

Second FI. I believe ARS has re-calibrated first FI to be "we have the gigantic real estate portfolio". Is now working on FI a 2nd and only counting stocks / bonds.

[diapasoun]

At January 14, which is a 7-day improvement so far this year from last year. Slow and steady, slow and steady. I've at least guaranteed myself two weeks of vacation for life. ;)

To January 15.

January 25. This will go down, as I calculate my "spending per day" on a yearly basis and so far 2019 has been very, verrrry cheap -- it will not stay this cheap, and so my calculations will move back. However, it's nice to see the leap, even if I know it's false. ;)

Still at January 26!

January 27! Yessss! So close to an entire month funded.

Ahhh as of today I have bought 31 days of FI. JANUARY IS MINE.

[BobTheBuilder]

Fantastic way of measuring it. With 4% as SWR, i am now at January 13th, assuming current expenses.
Aim for Dec 2020: Reach February 2021.

[jojoguy]

This is a great calculator and big time motivation!

1. The barebones(Covering minimum expenses) of 4% SWR has us through May 12th. $18,000 is our lowest yearly expenses if we live really frugal and don`t have some sudden emergency expense. We would also have to throw out birthdays, vacations, and Christmas if I don`t at least pick up a basic job I may not want to devote myself to. Not ideal at all. It is still cool to be at the 1/3 mark on the basic expenses.

2. For $25,000 yearly budget we are through April 5th. Hey, 1/4 there. Still wouldn`t breathe that easy at this point, but I could supplement our income with part-time work and have plenty.

3. Our goal is $35,000 yearly to really provide that buffer room we would be comfortable with. We`re through March 9th at this point. I`d work for fun to just have the extras at this point!

[LeftA]

I'm now up to day 141 or May 21st.

Slowly but surely...

[haypug16]

April 13th 2018 = 23 days
April 30th 2019 = 32 days
December 31st 2019 = 38 days

I'm still at 38 days because I had the wrong amount in my spreadsheet for my yearly expenses. It was short by a few thousand, not really sure where that number even came from??? Anyway, spreadsheet is fixed.

Here are my goals for the next 10 years
2020 - 60 days
2021 - 90
2022 - 120
2023 - 150
2024 - 180
2025 - 210
2026 - 240
2027 - 270
2028 - 300
2029 - 330
2030 - 365

[Jaayse]

2017
April 14 - 66.9
July 24 - 72.32
October 1 - 85.18
November 1 - 89.49
December 1 - 91.60

2018
January 1 - 94.16
February 1 - 99.53
March 1 - 98.25
April 1 - 99.81
May 1 - 129.12
June 1 - 133.36
July 1 - 138.76
August 1 - 143.95
September 1 - 148.73
October 1 - 151.87
November 1 - 146.53
December 1 - 150.11

2019
January 1 - 144.60
February 1 - 155.47
March 1 - 160.02
April 1 - 163.63
May 1 - 170.82
June 1 - 166.11
July 1 - 176.81
August 1 - 179.72
September 1 - 178.89
October 1 - 183.41
November 1 - 189.27
December 1 - 195.86

2020
January 1 - 202.81

Strong finish, broke the 200 day mark!

[gaja]

I've been wondering how best to calculate this, with pensions and disability payments, and uncertainties about expenses. But I've landed on using the state calculations for what we need to live a modest life, and only count the money in the group of mutual funds that are mentally targeted for FI savings. That gives us a target of $2500/day. We are focusing on the mortgage this year, so don't expect to gain more than 5-6 days in 2020.

January 2020: January 5th

[Assetup]

I've been tracking stuff like this for a while but don't post a ton on this forum.  We managed to gain 5.3 days in one month and get to 28.67.  Hoping to get to get out of January by the end of the month but it'll be tight.

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk

Made it to 32.4 days!  Hopefully we can keep this momentum up

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk

[urover]

My current expenses are 36000/year (high because of city living). But, assuming same expenses post-FIRE and 7% ROI, I need 1650$ per freedom-day. So far:

59 days down.
306 days to go.

68 days down.
297 days to go.

70 days down.
295 days to go.

72 days down.
293 days to go.

91 days down.
274 days to go.

106 days down
259 days to go. Feeling like there still is a mountain to climb. Made some shitty progress.

118 days down
247 days to go. Reaching my tolerance point with I.T job and only making slow progress here.

146 days down. 219 to go.

152 days down. 213 days to go.

[zee dot]

As of 12/31/2019
34 days aka February 3
At current expense level each day costs $4692

[Arbitrage]

November 6th.  Getting close...but will Mideast tensions spoil things? 

[determinedcat]

209 days down, 156 days to go

[Bird In Hand]

Oct 2017: 234 days (through August 22nd each year)
Jan 2018: 258 days (through Sep 15th each year)
Aug 2018: 273 days (through Sep 30th each year)
Feb 2019: 273 days (through Sep 30th each year)
Nov 2019: 300 days (through Oct 27th each year)
Jan 2020: 313 days (through Nov 9th each year)

Wow, 40 days closer to freedom over the last ~11 months.  I guess that's what a 28% (S&P500) year does to a portfolio that was already 75% of the way to FI.

[OtherJen]

This method makes my brain happy. At our current level of spending, we have ~15 days in my accounts alone. I really need to get my hands on husband’s paperwork. It’s a long way to go, but it’s so much easier for me to think of this in “daily” increments.

I’ve continued to pay into my IRA and the HSA, and husband finally tracked down and updated his investment accounts. We’re now at 43 days.

We're now up to 51 days, or ~14% of the way there. Onward and upward!

[GettingClose]

351 down, 14 to go!

[LinneaH]

I need to calculate this properly, but I am most likely heading towards a divorce in 2020. Money wise it will be tough but certainly not a catastrophy. I am somewhere in spring according to this really nice way of calculating, but will come back here after the dust settles.

[Arbitrage]

351 down, 14 to go!

Nice!  Market has been stealing my days of freedom lately.  Alas.

[Imma]

I jumped to 4.17 days this month! From 3.83 last month. Should hit 5 in by the end of summer!

Reached 5 today! Will hopefully reach 6 before the end of the year.

Am at 6.1 right now. Should hit 7 by summer. Progress is slow but steady.

7.05!!!!!

Reaching a full week feels really big. I get paid weekly so from now on there's one extra payday per year and it goes straight to the stash. Should reach 8 by the end of summer, but it might be earlier. I'm really starting to feel the compounding effect, I've been seriously investing for 4 years now.

8! Should be at 9 by the end of the year. Next year, one line in my budget will disappear and the money gained from this will go directly to the stash. My goal is to be at 9 days by the end of 2019 and at 14 by the end of 2020.

9,1! Should hit 10 by March and 14 by the end of 2020.

Already at 10.16, the stock market is really helping me along. Should be at 11 in late March. End of year goal is still 14 days.

[Mrs. D.]

We can get to February 24th assuming $50K in annual expenses, March 10th assuming $40K.

I love this idea of tracking progress. DH thinks it's silly. He just asks me to convert it back into a percentage :P

[Jaayse]

2017
April 14 - 66.9
July 24 - 72.32
October 1 - 85.18
November 1 - 89.49
December 1 - 91.60

2018
January 1 - 94.16
February 1 - 99.53
March 1 - 98.25
April 1 - 99.81
May 1 - 129.12
June 1 - 133.36
July 1 - 138.76
August 1 - 143.95
September 1 - 148.73
October 1 - 151.87
November 1 - 146.53
December 1 - 150.11

2019
January 1 - 144.60
February 1 - 155.47
March 1 - 160.02
April 1 - 163.63
May 1 - 170.82
June 1 - 166.11
July 1 - 176.81
August 1 - 179.72
September 1 - 178.89
October 1 - 183.41
November 1 - 189.27
December 1 - 195.86

2020
January 1 - 202.81
February 1 - 203.69

I'm just happy I'm still moving forward.  One more day down!

[Bird In Hand]

I love this idea of tracking progress. DH thinks it's silly. He just asks me to convert it back into a percentage :P

I think it's fun to see on the calendar.  But like your H, I find that a percentage is a more straightforward way to measure FIRE progress.

[Dicey]

Since I'm around 7+ years away from my ideal FIRE I've realised it can be more motivating to look at what your day to day actions are worth.

My current cost of living is 25000 per year.

That means my cost per day is $68

I just invested $2000.

Assuming 7% returns over the long term (10+ years), without even taking into account compounding, the return on $2000 will be around $140 per year.

That's two days of financial independence, every year, for the rest of my life.

For every $1000 I save I have instantly bought 1 day of financial independence, every year, forever

EDIT: Check out the awesome calculator the user CCCA has made to calculate this!

https://engaging-data.com/freedom-calculator/

Hey @intotherealworld, you haven't posted an update since 2017! Thanks for starting such an inspirational thread.
Perhaps you could give us an update and change the number in the title. I think it's a really cool tool that deserves to stay at the top of the list, so it can keep inspiring people.

[OtherJen]

I love this idea of tracking progress. DH thinks it's silly. He just asks me to convert it back into a percentage :P

I think it's fun to see on the calendar.  But like your H, I find that a percentage is a more straightforward way to measure FIRE progress.

I love the visual aspect of ticking off days on a yearly calendar. However, both that and the percentage rate make my husband panicky. The total dollar amount in the accounts is less daunting for him.

[Assetup]

Up to 35.  Hoping to gain 4+ days over the next month

[ChickenStash]

This is a really cool way to track FIRE progress, skipping over all the fancy calculations and just use something fun and easily relatable.

I'm 117 days in. Yay!

[IslandFiGirl]

This thread is literally the reason I finally felt able to leave my job.  I show people the formula all the time. I only made it to 340 days when I decided to quit, I figured, eh, close enough, and if I have to work a little bit more later to finish building the stash, I’m totally ok with that. Thanks to the OP for coming up with this!

[Dicey]

This thread is literally the reason I finally felt able to leave my job.  I show people the formula all the time. I only made it to 340 days when I decided to quit, I figured, eh, close enough, and if I have to work a little bit more later to finish building the stash, I’m totally ok with that. Thanks to the OP for coming up with this!

If only @intotherealworld would come back and give us an update!

[gaja]

January 2020: January 5th
February 2020: January 6th

[zeli2033]

1/2018: January 13
4/2018: January 18
7/2018: January 22
9/2018: January 27
10/2018: January 29
1/2019: January 31
6/2019: February 8
10/2019: February 19
1/2020: February 28

Barring future leap years, that's 2 months down! 10 to go.

[diapasoun]

At January 14, which is a 7-day improvement so far this year from last year. Slow and steady, slow and steady. I've at least guaranteed myself two weeks of vacation for life. ;)

To January 15.

January 25. This will go down, as I calculate my "spending per day" on a yearly basis and so far 2019 has been very, verrrry cheap -- it will not stay this cheap, and so my calculations will move back. However, it's nice to see the leap, even if I know it's false. ;)

Still at January 26!

January 27! Yessss! So close to an entire month funded.

Ahhh as of today I have bought 31 days of FI. JANUARY IS MINE.

Current calculations give me through February 7. Current per-diem spending is lower than usual, though (no big expenses yet this year, like car insurance or travel), so if I use last year's per diem I'm pretty much just holding steady right now.

[zee dot]

As of 12/31/2019 / 34 days aka February 3 /
At current expense level each day costs $4692

As of 1/30/2020 / 51 days aka February 20 /
At current expense level each day costs $4692