Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!

[MoneyTree]

I guess we don't really post NW updates here? I'm still relatively new here so maybe I will until I lose interest. I've just been keeping track of when I pass nice round numbers.

Mid 2019 - First passed $1M
March 2020 - dropped to $840K (covid)
April 2020 - reclaimed $1M
June 2020 - passed $1.1M
August 2020 - passed $1.2M
January 2021 - passed $1.3M
April 2021 - passed $1.4M
August 2021 - passed $1.5M
November 2021 - passed $1.6M
June 2023 - passed $1.7M
December 2023 - passed $1.8M
January 2024 - passed $1.9M
March 2024 - passed $2M
June 2024 - passed $2.1M

According to this, I'm only three years before joining this thread, holy shit.  Did you ever stop contributing significant income?

Nope, still contributing income even now. But honestly it doesn’t move the needle compared to market gains.

Im still working because it is a great situation, fully remote, and I mostly work on my own terms.

[Dancin'Dog]

Have you ever been offered a cash discount for a large European purchase?  A property owner offered us the option of paying with cash for their villa, plus the other associated services during our stay.  He said it as if it wasn't unusual.  It would be a substantial discount, so I wanted to ask you all. 


Of course, I realize traveling with over $10K requires filing a disclosure with customs. 


I plan to just pay with a check or EFT.  Traveling with a large amount of cash in a foreign country makes me nervous.  I figure if I get robbed in transit I'll end up paying twice.


In the States, I often ask for cash discounts.  But this feels uncomfortably different.  What do you think?

Presumably, saving $10,000 means you'll be paying a lot more than $10,000.  Personally, I would absolutely not pay that much in cash, and the offer would raise questions in my mind about the legitimacy of the person making the offer and the legitimacy of the property.  Asking for that kind of money in cash is the kind of thing you do if you want to avoid taxes (at best).  It is also the kind of thing you do if you are a scammer (renting out a property you don't own), or a criminal (setting someone up to be robbed by a third party).  And, if you are doing something that isn't strictly legal and above board, you may well find that your recourse to the law is very limited.  Local law enforcement may well view you as part of the problem rather than a victim.  At the very least, this offer would make me take a very hard look at who I am dealing with and how legitimate they are.  Do you have prior experiences with the person involved?

Another poster mentioned that they "don't automatically assume people are simply criminals."  I don't either, but I've spent a lot of years overseas working with Americans who've been robbed or scammed, and this makes me very uncomfortable.  If you thought the villa was a reasonable deal when it was first presented to you, I wouldn't let a desire to save money lead me to do something that doesn't feel right.  If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.  This offer would make me suspicious of the entire deal and encourage me to look hard at their legitimacy and references.

Your points are all valid.


We visited the villa last Fall to meet the owner, see the property, and choose the menus, flowers, tableware, etc.  It was a Medici property, so it's old.  We stayed the night (and didn't see any ghosts).


The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.






 














 






 

[ixtap]

Have you ever been offered a cash discount for a large European purchase?  A property owner offered us the option of paying with cash for their villa, plus the other associated services during our stay.  He said it as if it wasn't unusual.  It would be a substantial discount, so I wanted to ask you all. 


Of course, I realize traveling with over $10K requires filing a disclosure with customs. 


I plan to just pay with a check or EFT.  Traveling with a large amount of cash in a foreign country makes me nervous.  I figure if I get robbed in transit I'll end up paying twice.


In the States, I often ask for cash discounts.  But this feels uncomfortably different.  What do you think?

Presumably, saving $10,000 means you'll be paying a lot more than $10,000.  Personally, I would absolutely not pay that much in cash, and the offer would raise questions in my mind about the legitimacy of the person making the offer and the legitimacy of the property.  Asking for that kind of money in cash is the kind of thing you do if you want to avoid taxes (at best).  It is also the kind of thing you do if you are a scammer (renting out a property you don't own), or a criminal (setting someone up to be robbed by a third party).  And, if you are doing something that isn't strictly legal and above board, you may well find that your recourse to the law is very limited.  Local law enforcement may well view you as part of the problem rather than a victim.  At the very least, this offer would make me take a very hard look at who I am dealing with and how legitimate they are.  Do you have prior experiences with the person involved?

Another poster mentioned that they "don't automatically assume people are simply criminals."  I don't either, but I've spent a lot of years overseas working with Americans who've been robbed or scammed, and this makes me very uncomfortable.  If you thought the villa was a reasonable deal when it was first presented to you, I wouldn't let a desire to save money lead me to do something that doesn't feel right.  If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.  This offer would make me suspicious of the entire deal and encourage me to look hard at their legitimacy and references.

Your points are all valid.


We visited the villa last Fall to meet the owner, see the property, and choose the menus, flowers, tableware, etc.  It was a Medici property, so it's old.  We stayed the night (and didn't see any ghosts).


The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.






 

So skipping our on airBNB fees as well as taxes. Yeah, that can add up fast for a cash discount.

[Taran Wanderer]

22% sounds like AirBnB fees rather than taxes. I wouldn’t have any moral qualms about getting that discount!

[oldtoyota]

Some of my holdings are approaching highs today so I just made my move from 80% equities to 75% I've been wanting to do. 

This is an extreme move for a non-trader like me ;-)

I also believe in benign neglect :-)

In fact, have rebalanced our portfolio exactly twice so far in the thirty plus years that we have been investing. We used to be somewhere close to 80/20 when I was still working but after these two rebalancings, we are now at 60% stock, 30% bond and 10% cash equivalents (way too much, I know, but that's what it takes to keep my wife from getting anxious).

More than the rebalancing, I was able to make our portfolio more tax efficient last year by moving a big chunk of our tax deferred money into bonds. Our taxable accounts are mostly stock along with some municipal bonds. See: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Tax-efficient_fund_placement

Thank you for the link. I'd like to learn more about moving tax-deferred money into bonds, so I'll take a read!

[oldtoyota]

Have you ever been offered a cash discount for a large European purchase?  A property owner offered us the option of paying with cash for their villa, plus the other associated services during our stay.  He said it as if it wasn't unusual.  It would be a substantial discount, so I wanted to ask you all. 


Of course, I realize traveling with over $10K requires filing a disclosure with customs. 


I plan to just pay with a check or EFT.  Traveling with a large amount of cash in a foreign country makes me nervous.  I figure if I get robbed in transit I'll end up paying twice.


In the States, I often ask for cash discounts.  But this feels uncomfortably different.  What do you think?

Is this in Italy? I don't think I'd personally do it and would go elsewhere. If your Spidey sense is going off and the offer feels "uncomfortably different," I'd listen to that.

[ixtap]

22% sounds like AirBnB fees rather than taxes. I wouldn’t have any moral qualms about getting that discount!

Fraud is fraud, innit?

[ROF Expat]

Your points are all valid.


We visited the villa last Fall to meet the owner, see the property, and choose the menus, flowers, tableware, etc.  It was a Medici property, so it's old.  We stayed the night (and didn't see any ghosts).


The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.

Italy's basic VAT rate is 22%, so it sounds like you're being offered the VAT back (that won't get paid) if you pay cash.  If that's the case, the owner must be saving somewhere else, like the Air BnB fees.  If he isn't on Air BnB anymore, I'd try to figure out where the owner profits by giving you this discount.  It wouldn't make sense for the owner to take on all the risk of not reporting VAT and give you all the savings. 

Entirely your call, but it is always wise to go in with as clear an understanding as possible of what people (including you) are doing. 

[Taran Wanderer]

22% sounds like AirBnB fees rather than taxes. I wouldn’t have any moral qualms about getting that discount!

Fraud is fraud, innit?

Not with AirBnB fees.  I have a friend who has a vacation home that is rented.  They maintain a calendar where they track family, friends, and other returning renters.  Open dates are posted on AirBnB, but new renters are also told that they can get a discount on future visits if they book directly with the friend rather than through AirBnB.  In their case at least, there is no exclusivity requirement through AirBnB.  And since many places advertise through AirBnB, VRBO, Vacasa, or sometimes even multiple layers of these, I would bet that’s the case everywhere.

But paying cash to avoid VAT seems more like complicity in Italian tax fraud.  I’d steer clear of that one.

[Malossi792]

Your points are all valid.


We visited the villa last Fall to meet the owner, see the property, and choose the menus, flowers, tableware, etc.  It was a Medici property, so it's old.  We stayed the night (and didn't see any ghosts).


The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.

Italy's basic VAT rate is 22%, so it sounds like you're being offered the VAT back (that won't get paid) if you pay cash.  If that's the case, the owner must be saving somewhere else, like the Air BnB fees.  If he isn't on Air BnB anymore, I'd try to figure out where the owner profits by giving you this discount.  It wouldn't make sense for the owner to take on all the risk of not reporting VAT and give you all the savings. 

Entirely your call, but it is always wise to go in with as clear an understanding as possible of what people (including you) are doing.

We have stupid high taxes in Europe and a high VAT is just one piece of the puzzle. For example Hungary has an effective VAT rate of 31.4%! If everything is official, the owner might get to keep around 60% of the total price in this case. So OP would effectively get almost half of the "profit".

[EscapeVelocity2020]

The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.

Don't know if you've seen Season 2 of White Lotus, but this guy sounds like the murderous eccentric that schemes against Jennifer Coolidge...  Hope his name isn't Quentin!

[Dancin'Dog]

The owner's been on Air B&B for over 10 years with a 5.0 rating, until last month.  All the reviews raved about their weddings & reunions.  So, I'm comfortable that he's legit.  He seemed a bit eccentric, in a hip, energetic, old-money, perhaps gay way.  I'm just a simple Southern fella, so he was a tough read for me.  Maybe offering a cash discount was just a friendly gesture in his mind.   If it had been a local transaction, for a smaller purchase I wouldn't have thought much of it.  22% is a sizable rate, so I can understand why many Europeans might try to avoid it.

Don't know if you've seen Season 2 of White Lotus, but this guy sounds like the murderous eccentric that schemes against Jennifer Coolidge...  Hope his name isn't Quentin!

I thought about that too, but would he have such high AirB&B ratings? 


But just to be safe, I'll sleep with one eye open. 

[ixtap]

Mr. Ixtap didn't get around to talking to his manager this week, but when I did our financial snapshot this morning he did ask "So that is our starting number?" Yeah, and feeling pretty good about that number, too!

We have turned in notice at our marina, so as of the end of next month we will be cruisers.

[Bateaux]

Mr. Ixtap didn't get around to talking to his manager this week, but when I did our financial snapshot this morning he did ask "So that is our starting number?" Yeah, and feeling pretty good about that number, too!

We have turned in notice at our marina, so as of the end of next month we will be cruisers.

Enjoy the cruising life. I've considered it myself. I'm not sure the wife is interested. I've thought about selling our Florida vacation home and getting a boat. Maybe just build a storage shed with some living space on our Florida rural property.
Have fun

[ROF Expat]

Mr. Ixtap didn't get around to talking to his manager this week, but when I did our financial snapshot this morning he did ask "So that is our starting number?" Yeah, and feeling pretty good about that number, too!

We have turned in notice at our marina, so as of the end of next month we will be cruisers.

Enjoy the cruising life. I've considered it myself. I'm not sure the wife is interested. I've thought about selling our Florida vacation home and getting a boat. Maybe just build a storage shed with some living space on our Florida rural property.
Have fun

I was a liveaboard when single and I've dreamed of cruising since I was a kid.  This is not a dream my wife shares, and I love my wife more than I love sailing, so it isn't going to happen.  Our compromise is a waterfront house with a dock so I can keep boats.  I just won't be sailing them around the world.  Happily, my wife has recently (unprovoked by me) expressed interest in joining some of our friends who charter sailboats in various places.  This seems like another good compromise. 

@ixtap Please keep us posted on your cruising adventures so the rest of us can enjoy them vicariously! 

[Bateaux]

@ROF Expat

Chartering is what I'm looking for as well. I may take bareboat lessons soon. With some experience and certifications I could sign up for crewing as well
We own waterfront in Louisiana. We can't get a masted boat due to fixed bridges. I have a trailer sailer that you can lower the mast. We're powerboaters most of the time.

[Dancin'Dog]

@ROF Expat

Chartering is what I'm looking for as well. I may take bareboat lessons soon. With some experience and certifications I could sign up for crewing as well
We own waterfront in Louisiana. We can't get a masted boat due to fixed bridges. I have a trailer sailer that you can lower the mast. We're powerboaters most of the time.

I look forward to hearing about chartering.  We want to try sailing too, and it seems chartering would be the best way to see if we like it.  When are you planning to do it?

[ixtap]

Mr. Ixtap has spoken to his manager, who is checking on including him in the upcoming layoffs.

This week is all boat projects getting ready for haul out next week and final prep when they give us our boat back the following week.

I am cleaning winches, repairing and replacing canvas and general decluttering. Mr. Ixtap is mounting the solar charge controllers he wired in last Fall... Yesterday's plan failed, so it will involve lots of staring and thinking like Pooh.

[ROF Expat]

Mr. Ixtap has spoken to his manager, who is checking on including him in the upcoming layoffs.

This week is all boat projects getting ready for haul out next week and final prep when they give us our boat back the following week.

I am cleaning winches, repairing and replacing canvas and general decluttering. Mr. Ixtap is mounting the solar charge controllers he wired in last Fall... Yesterday's plan failed, so it will involve lots of staring and thinking like Pooh.

Thinking about boats like Pooh? 

“Now then, Pooh," said Christopher Robin, "where's your boat?"
"I ought to say," explained Pooh as they walked down to the shore of the island, "that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends."
"Depends on what?"
"On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it.”


I'm jealous! 

Don't forget to do a final check of (or even just proactively replace) hose clamps, valves and through hull fittings!  It never ceases to amaze me the degree to which an entire boat is dependent on a $5 hose clamp or a $30 through hull fitting that gets brittle with age. 

BTW, you mentioned repairing and replacing canvas.  I don't know if it would work for you, but some of my liveaboard friends had a great side gig of making and repairing dodgers, awnings, etc. 

[ROF Expat]

@ROF Expat

Chartering is what I'm looking for as well. I may take bareboat lessons soon. With some experience and certifications I could sign up for crewing as well
We own waterfront in Louisiana. We can't get a masted boat due to fixed bridges. I have a trailer sailer that you can lower the mast. We're powerboaters most of the time.

I don't know if I need to get a certification or not.  If we sail with friends, presumably they can do the paperwork.  I'm not concerned about my skills.  I grew up racing dinghies and club racing and cruising big boats and my best friends and I all had summer jobs as sailing instructors during High School and College.  The last time I chartered many years ago, nobody even asked about my qualifications, but I suspect that insurance regulations probably require a piece of paper these days.  I will find it annoying to have to pay money and spend a week to get that piece of paper, but it may be unavoidable at some point. 

When we move back to the US, I will have the pleasure of boat shopping.  I always lust after bigger and fancier boats, but I know that in real life the smaller the boat the more I actually use it, so the trick is figuring out exactly what I want to be able to do in my boats and then find the smallest boats that let me do those things. 

[ixtap]

Mr. Ixtap has spoken to his manager, who is checking on including him in the upcoming layoffs.

This week is all boat projects getting ready for haul out next week and final prep when they give us our boat back the following week.

I am cleaning winches, repairing and replacing canvas and general decluttering. Mr. Ixtap is mounting the solar charge controllers he wired in last Fall... Yesterday's plan failed, so it will involve lots of staring and thinking like Pooh.

Thinking about boats like Pooh? 

“Now then, Pooh," said Christopher Robin, "where's your boat?"
"I ought to say," explained Pooh as they walked down to the shore of the island, "that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends."
"Depends on what?"
"On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it.”


I'm jealous! 

Don't forget to do a final check of (or even just proactively replace) hose clamps, valves and through hull fittings!  It never ceases to amaze me the degree to which an entire boat is dependent on a $5 hose clamp or a $30 through hull fitting that gets brittle with age. 

BTW, you mentioned repairing and replacing canvas.  I don't know if it would work for you, but some of my liveaboard friends had a great side gig of making and repairing dodgers, awnings, etc.

We have been living on our boat for six of the last ten years and cruising local waters the entire time. We are also getting our insurance survey next week (needs to be done by the end of the year, anyway). We will also spend the first two months in waters known to us here in southern California.

We can help with just a bit any system, but are unlikely to make a consistent gig of it. Mostly barter and good will.

[ixtap]

He put in his three weeks notice! We were already planning to go to Megacorp Town that weekend, so it will be straightforward to turn everything in.

His manager couldn't promise a severance package but told him he had to officially put in notice to be considered for one. Which seems whack, so we are assuming it is a no.

[LightTripper]

That does seem a bit weird @ixtap ... why would they give him a package at that point (unless he can withdraw his notice, is that a thing?) - but in any case THREE WEEKS!  So exciting!  I hope the transition out is as smooth as possible for him and then the transition to being a symmetrically FIRED couple is smooth for both of you!

[2sk22]

He put in his three weeks notice! We were already planning to go to Megacorp Town that weekend, so it will be straightforward to turn everything in.

His manager couldn't promise a severance package but told him he had to officially put in notice to be considered for one. Which seems whack, so we are assuming it is a no.

Finally, congratulations! I do know that several tech companies are asking for "hand raisers" to be considered for a severance package in order to reduce the numbers by attrition rather than laying people off.

[2sk22]

I just booked a couple of business class tickets on Singapore Airlines to attend a wedding early next year in Southeast Asia. I took a look in Quicken and discovered that we have spent $60k on travel this year (including these tickets). I recall that just ten years ago, spending even $5k per year on travel seemed outrageous.

[couponvan]

I just booked a couple of business class tickets on Singapore Airlines to attend a wedding early next year in Southeast Asia. I took a look in Quicken and discovered that we have spent $60k on travel this year (including these tickets). I recall that just ten years ago, spending even $5k per year on travel seemed outrageous.

This resonates.  2024 has been one of our biggest travel years ever, but more back and forth to CA than anything else.  I think it's partly pent up travel fixation after the COVID years as well as realizing that even with how much you spend, your money is still growing.  Where have you been this year?

Ours is

Jan - CA SF/North Bay/San Lus Obispo/San Diego - Drove 1 way from North Bay to San Diego via San Luis Obispo
Feb - Norfolk/Puerto Rico
March/April - lots of weekend trips.  Strange we didn't leave VA.
May - IL Chicago then Mexico San Jose del Cabo
June - CA/San Luis Obispo/North Bay drove one way along Highway 1 from SLO-North Bay
July - CA North Bay again/Sacramento
August - CA North Bay yet again
(And I'm gong back to CA for a week in September to celebrate my grandma's 99th birthday)

Airfare RT is only $300 with a checked bag though, so that's why we're doing so many trips there....Plus we have a free place to stay.  Some are work trips, so they don't cost anything.  We're doing Japan in October, IL in November, and CA LA/San Diego in December.  I haven't added up all the spending.

[2sk22]

I just booked a couple of business class tickets on Singapore Airlines to attend a wedding early next year in Southeast Asia. I took a look in Quicken and discovered that we have spent $60k on travel this year (including these tickets). I recall that just ten years ago, spending even $5k per year on travel seemed outrageous.

This resonates.  2024 has been one of our biggest travel years ever, but more back and forth to CA than anything else.  I think it's partly pent up travel fixation after the COVID years as well as realizing that even with how much you spend, your money is still growing.  Where have you been this year?

Ours is

Jan - CA SF/North Bay/San Lus Obispo/San Diego - Drove 1 way from North Bay to San Diego via San Luis Obispo
Feb - Norfolk/Puerto Rico
March/April - lots of weekend trips.  Strange we didn't leave VA.
May - IL Chicago then Mexico San Jose del Cabo
June - CA/San Luis Obispo/North Bay drove one way along Highway 1 from SLO-North Bay
July - CA North Bay again/Sacramento
August - CA North Bay yet again
(And I'm gong back to CA for a week in September to celebrate my grandma's 99th birthday)

Airfare RT is only $300 with a checked bag though, so that's why we're doing so many trips there....Plus we have a free place to stay.  Some are work trips, so they don't cost anything.  We're doing Japan in October, IL in November, and CA LA/San Diego in December.  I haven't added up all the spending.

4 day hiking trip to Nevada and California with friends (wife did not joint me on this one)
Vacation in Ireland
Trip to the Bay Area
Trip to LA - attend a wedding
Visit friends in Seattle
Help my younger daughter move into a new apartment in Atlanta
Visit older daughter

It starts adding up after a bit :-)
It starts adding up

[jeroly]

I just booked a couple of business class tickets on Singapore Airlines to attend a wedding early next year in Southeast Asia. I took a look in Quicken and discovered that we have spent $60k on travel this year (including these tickets). I recall that just ten years ago, spending even $5k per year on travel seemed outrageous.

This resonates.  2024 has been one of our biggest travel years ever, but more back and forth to CA than anything else.  I think it's partly pent up travel fixation after the COVID years as well as realizing that even with how much you spend, your money is still growing.  Where have you been this year?

Ours is

Jan - CA SF/North Bay/San Lus Obispo/San Diego - Drove 1 way from North Bay to San Diego via San Luis Obispo
Feb - Norfolk/Puerto Rico
March/April - lots of weekend trips.  Strange we didn't leave VA.
May - IL Chicago then Mexico San Jose del Cabo
June - CA/San Luis Obispo/North Bay drove one way along Highway 1 from SLO-North Bay
July - CA North Bay again/Sacramento
August - CA North Bay yet again
(And I'm gong back to CA for a week in September to celebrate my grandma's 99th birthday)

Airfare RT is only $300 with a checked bag though, so that's why we're doing so many trips there....Plus we have a free place to stay.  Some are work trips, so they don't cost anything.  We're doing Japan in October, IL in November, and CA LA/San Diego in December.  I haven't added up all the spending.

Travel's gotten pricier for me post-pandemic:  whereas I used to budget $1k/wk on average, I now plan for $1.5.  Granted some of that is from me deciding to be more 'splurgy' in my travels, but a lot of it is from higher prices.

If I were in a position to be able to 'slow travel' my travel expenses would be considerably lower - I wouldn't be paying for 12 expensive round-trip flights (and probably 3-4 cheap ones) a year, but perhaps only 2 or three.  Maybe one day...

(Edited to add:...)

Feb-Mar New Zealand
Mar - Apr Indonesia
Apr - May Balkans
July Wales, Capitol Reef NP

Upcoming:
Oct Hunan, China
Nov Guatemala (Tentative)
Dec Costa Rica (Somewhat tentative)

(college visits and move-ins not included)

[Arbitrage]

I guess we don't really post NW updates here? I'm still relatively new here so maybe I will until I lose interest. I've just been keeping track of when I pass nice round numbers.

Mid 2019 - First passed $1M
March 2020 - dropped to $840K (covid)
April 2020 - reclaimed $1M
June 2020 - passed $1.1M
August 2020 - passed $1.2M
January 2021 - passed $1.3M
April 2021 - passed $1.4M
August 2021 - passed $1.5M
November 2021 - passed $1.6M
June 2023 - passed $1.7M
December 2023 - passed $1.8M
January 2024 - passed $1.9M
March 2024 - passed $2M
June 2024 - passed $2.1M

According to this, I'm only three years before joining this thread, holy shit.  Did you ever stop contributing significant income?

Nope, still contributing income even now. But honestly it doesn’t move the needle compared to market gains.

Im still working because it is a great situation, fully remote, and I mostly work on my own terms.

Your progression numbers are eerily similar to my own, at least considering our liquid net worth only.  Got out of sync a bit in mid-2021 when we moved/switched houses (converting some equity to LNW), and we switched to part-time, fully remote work (thus slowing our savings quite a bit).  You'll probably pass us in the next 6-12 months, especially since we may see a further reduction in income/savings soon.

[mizzourah2006]

Investments Only
Jan. 1, 2016: $181.7k
Jan. 1, 2017: $249.5k
Jan. 1, 2018: $377.3k
Jan. 1, 2019: $499.2k
Jan. 1, 2020: $710.5k
Jan. 1, 2021: $1,055.8k
Jan. 1, 2022: $1,312.5k
Jan. 1, 2023: $1,349.9k
Jan. 1, 2024: $1,634.4k
April 1, 2024: $1,838.9k
May 1, 2024: 1,816.2k
June 1, 2024: 1,875.3k
August 1, 2024: 1,956k
Sept. 1, 2024: 2,022k

Officially/Unofficially passed the 2 million mark in investments/retirement accounts this month. Moving over here to the bottom of the totem pole :)

[bigote2032]

1/31/2024   1.78
2/29/2024   1.87
3/31/2024   1.94
4/30/2024   1.89
5/31/2024   1.94
6/30/2024   2.01
7/31/2024   2.02
8/31/2024   2.08 +56K

Progress.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@couponvan - here are our travel details. A couple of things. I was laid off at the end of February, so more travel than planned. And, we were supposed to go to Turkey to meet up with ILs from Iran, but the political situation in the middle east meant that my ILs didn't feel comfortable traveling. Therefore, we have a zillion United credits to use before they expire:

January - ski trip to Tahoe. Weekend trip to Arizona to tour colleges & hang out with my nephew on a dude ranch in Tucson.
February - more skiing in Tahoe
March - I did a half in Napa with my mom & sister, and we stayed a few extra days & went wine tasting
April - ski trip over spring break (Tahoe), Sedona with my mom for hiking, admitted students day for DS18 in Oregon
May - no traveling!
June - Oregon, for DS18's grad celebration with family. Las Vegas with DH. Teens went to Bend. DS18 did his senior trip in LA
July - took 21 year old nephew to Las Vegas for super impromptu trip. Back to Oregon for orientation for DS18.
August - relay in Portland, although I was injured, but went with DS18 & got some stuff done with family.
September - Moab hiking trip with a friend. Move in trip to Oregon with DS18
October - anniversary trip to Costa Rica with DH
November - parents weekend in Oregon
December - traveling to Portland for Christmas, and then likely skiing in Tahoe
January - skiing in Tahoe
February - skiing in Tahoe
March - ?
April - DH & I are going to Spain

[ixtap]

1/31/2024   1.78
2/29/2024   1.87
3/31/2024   1.94
4/30/2024   1.89
5/31/2024   1.94
6/30/2024   2.01
7/31/2024   2.02
8/31/2024   2.08 +56K

Progress.

I am most impressed that you know tomorrow's data!

We are working feverishly on a lot of little projects and that fine line of being ruthless about decluttering without getting rid of anything important.

[Fomerly known as something]

Wow.  My TSP is up $250,000+ this year.  I remember in 2013 how excited I was to have $250k in my TSP.

[Simpli-Fi]

1/31/2024   1.78
2/29/2024   1.87
3/31/2024   1.94
4/30/2024   1.89
5/31/2024   1.94
6/30/2024   2.01
7/31/2024   2.02
8/31/2024   2.08 +56K

Progress.

Funny enough, I just reviewed these same stats…I was shocked to see April was the only down month this year.  The snowball is taking form.

[Fomerly known as something]

In my starting to not be so tight on travel.  I’m currently sitting in my hotel room paid via the Capital 1 venture credit and points about to start my um not on points backroads tour tomorrow.  Whole trip has been a combo.  Some point redemptions mixed with not worrying about how I spent $50 pounds on a combo ticket to Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral only to spend all day at Stonehenge and not being upset about it.  At the same time I find myself debating if I should eat at a restaurant dinner vs just going to the grocery store.  It’s about a 60/40 split on that.

[MoneyTree]

Your progression numbers are eerily similar to my own, at least considering our liquid net worth only.  Got out of sync a bit in mid-2021 when we moved/switched houses (converting some equity to LNW), and we switched to part-time, fully remote work (thus slowing our savings quite a bit).  You'll probably pass us in the next 6-12 months, especially since we may see a further reduction in income/savings soon.

I think it goes to show that past certain point, market forces will largely dictate how our net worth increases, barring major financial life changes like purchasing a home. Although I'm still working and contributing to my investments, in the short term it doesn't move the needle much. I'm still working by choice, and not out of need.

It has also been helpful psychologically to help me transition from an "accumulate at all costs" mindset to a "stop worrying and just spend if it improves your life" mindset. If I can mentally partition that all the work paychecks I'm still getting is just "extra income" beyond what I'm intending to live on, it gives me to permission to spend it. Its been a mental crutch to help me transition to a healthier mindset towards spending. Its kind of wild how ingrained our attitudes towards money are.

[MoneyTree]

Investments Only
Jan. 1, 2016: $181.7k
Jan. 1, 2017: $249.5k
Jan. 1, 2018: $377.3k
Jan. 1, 2019: $499.2k
Jan. 1, 2020: $710.5k
Jan. 1, 2021: $1,055.8k
Jan. 1, 2022: $1,312.5k
Jan. 1, 2023: $1,349.9k
Jan. 1, 2024: $1,634.4k
April 1, 2024: $1,838.9k
May 1, 2024: 1,816.2k
June 1, 2024: 1,875.3k
August 1, 2024: 1,956k
Sept. 1, 2024: 2,022k

Officially/Unofficially passed the 2 million mark in investments/retirement accounts this month. Moving over here to the bottom of the totem pole :)

Welcome! I moved over here earlier this year and its quite a stark difference between this thread and the $1M-$2M thread, but not in a bad way.

In the previous thread, it seems that most are laser-focused on net worth. Here....not so much. Its actually kind of reassuring that some point, you start caring about other things more than where your net worth is.

Can't say that I'm quite there yet (old habits die hard), but hearing from the folks who have been here for a long while is pretty eye opening.

[Simpli-Fi]

In my starting to not be so tight on travel.  I’m currently sitting…<snip>

Replied to from a 7 day Alaskan cruise!

[ixtap]

In my starting to not be so tight on travel.  I’m currently sitting…<snip>

Replied to from a 7 day Alaskan cruise!

I have to say, final prep for our private cruise is really adding up...oops, that reminds me, I need to go make some plans for our road trip while the boat is in the yard...

[Taran Wanderer]

Finally building the shop I’ve been wanting for twenty years. Since I’m still working and WFH is becoming increasingly difficult, the shop will include an office. This puts more pressure on to actually finish it, but construction cost inflation is a very real thing. We’re having to make some adjustments. I realized that in the beyond territory, it really is just a capital allocation problem. It’s wild.

[Fomerly known as something]

[quote author=Arbitrage link=topic=68568.msg3290347#msg3290347 date=

It has also been helpful psychologically to help me transition from an "accumulate at all costs" mindset to a "stop worrying and just spend if it improves your life" mindset. If I can mentally partition that all the work paychecks I'm still getting is just "extra income" beyond what I'm intending to live on, it gives me to permission to spend it. Its been a mental crutch to help me transition to a healthier mindset towards spending. Its kind of wild how ingrained our attitudes towards money are.

I think I’ve move farther along in this spectrum because I made a dramatic change 3 years ago and move to the SF Bay Area.  I know that I could make different daily life decisions and spend less, but I gave myself permission to live more or the less the same as I did at my MCOL midwestern home previously.  The main difference is only that I’m in a condo vs a SFH but that is a lifestyle decision for me.  But because I moved to an overall more expensive place to live, the cost of blueberries doesn’t shock me as much.

[Dicey]

Wow.  My TSP is up $250,000+ this year.  I remember in 2013 how excited I was to have $250k in my TSP.

Funny how that works...Congratulations!

[Louise]

Finally building the shop I’ve been wanting for twenty years. Since I’m still working and WFH is becoming increasingly difficult, the shop will include an office. This puts more pressure on to actually finish it, but construction cost inflation is a very real thing. We’re having to make some adjustments. I realized that in the beyond territory, it really is just a capital allocation problem. It’s wild.

Do you mean trading investments for home equity? If so, I'm trying to convince my spouse of the same thing regarding a lake property lol.

[ixtap]

Mr. Ixtap is struggling with what to tell folks as he arranges his final meetings at work.

[Turtle]

Investments Only
Jan. 1, 2016: $181.7k
Jan. 1, 2017: $249.5k
Jan. 1, 2018: $377.3k
Jan. 1, 2019: $499.2k
Jan. 1, 2020: $710.5k
Jan. 1, 2021: $1,055.8k
Jan. 1, 2022: $1,312.5k
Jan. 1, 2023: $1,349.9k
Jan. 1, 2024: $1,634.4k
April 1, 2024: $1,838.9k
May 1, 2024: 1,816.2k
June 1, 2024: 1,875.3k
August 1, 2024: 1,956k
Sept. 1, 2024: 2,022k

Officially/Unofficially passed the 2 million mark in investments/retirement accounts this month. Moving over here to the bottom of the totem pole :)

Welcome! I moved over here earlier this year and its quite a stark difference between this thread and the $1M-$2M thread, but not in a bad way.

In the previous thread, it seems that most are laser-focused on net worth. Here....not so much. Its actually kind of reassuring that some point, you start caring about other things more than where your net worth is.

Can't say that I'm quite there yet (old habits die hard), but hearing from the folks who have been here for a long while is pretty eye opening.

Another recent graduate here.  I’m still tracking mine on Mondays that I’m working and at home, but I don’t bother when I’m working from my kid’s places or am on vacation.  Also mostly doing monthly checks, so I know I’m already a quarter of the way to another second comma.  I’ve eased up on the gas a bit and am using income to cover a few things that I want to do prior to full retirement. 

[mizzourah2006]

Investments Only
Jan. 1, 2016: $181.7k
Jan. 1, 2017: $249.5k
Jan. 1, 2018: $377.3k
Jan. 1, 2019: $499.2k
Jan. 1, 2020: $710.5k
Jan. 1, 2021: $1,055.8k
Jan. 1, 2022: $1,312.5k
Jan. 1, 2023: $1,349.9k
Jan. 1, 2024: $1,634.4k
April 1, 2024: $1,838.9k
May 1, 2024: 1,816.2k
June 1, 2024: 1,875.3k
August 1, 2024: 1,956k
Sept. 1, 2024: 2,022k

Officially/Unofficially passed the 2 million mark in investments/retirement accounts this month. Moving over here to the bottom of the totem pole :)

Welcome! I moved over here earlier this year and its quite a stark difference between this thread and the $1M-$2M thread, but not in a bad way.

In the previous thread, it seems that most are laser-focused on net worth. Here....not so much. Its actually kind of reassuring that some point, you start caring about other things more than where your net worth is.

Can't say that I'm quite there yet (old habits die hard), but hearing from the folks who have been here for a long while is pretty eye opening.

Another recent graduate here.  I’m still tracking mine on Mondays that I’m working and at home, but I don’t bother when I’m working from my kid’s places or am on vacation.  Also mostly doing monthly checks, so I know I’m already a quarter of the way to another second comma.  I’ve eased up on the gas a bit and am using income to cover a few things that I want to do prior to full retirement.

Yeah, I can definitely see that from our end. We've definitely lightened up in the past year. The kids are still in elementary school, so no immediate plans to hang it up, so now that we are coming very close to our 4% number, even with some additional meat, we've decided we can be a bit more flexibile, especially on 1 time purchases like a bathroom remodel or going out to dinner a little more often knowing we could tighten it back up if needed.

[SwordGuy]

Mr. Ixtap is struggling with what to tell folks as he arranges his final meetings at work.

"I'm going to have a great time doing the things I choose to do," is a workable answer.  :)

[ixtap]

Mr. Ixtap is struggling with what to tell folks as he arranges his final meetings at work.

"I'm going to have a great time doing the things I choose to do," is a workable answer.  :)

I suggested "sailing sabbatical." It seems he thinks of it as retirement and feels the need to justify that at 40. I reminded him he doesn't owe anyone an explanation.

[markbike528CBX]

Mr. Ixtap is struggling with what to tell folks as he arranges his final meetings at work.

"I'm going to have a great time doing the things I choose to do," is a workable answer.  :)

I suggested "sailing sabbatical." It seems he thinks of it as retirement and feels the need to justify that at 40. I reminded him he doesn't owe anyone an explanation.

This https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/post-fire/share-your-enthusiasms!-how-do-you-answer-the-'what-do-you-do'-question/msg2948030/#msg2948030 and other threads give serious and not so serious answers.

Short scan favorite

Some stock answers.

1.  Training to make the 2024 Olympic in (insert hobby) for (insert obscure small country).
For example, "I'm training to make the 2024 Olympic Equestrian team for Djibouti." 

2.  Seeking new opportunities in (insert area of interest)

3.  I was a (blank) and didn't like the way the industry was headed and looking to (insert new industry of interest).

4.  I watched Office Space and decided to follow Peter Gibbons and do nothing.

Too bad the Jamaican bobsled team is already a thing.