Author Topic: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!  (Read 1472738 times)

jeroly

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8250 on: November 08, 2024, 09:00:39 AM »
No need for the political commentary.
I, for one, do not welcome our fascistic alien overlords, nor do I plan to shut up about it.

Edited to add: This website is fairly expressly political. For those of you who want to avoid political discussion, might I suggest the Bogleheads forums?
« Last Edit: November 08, 2024, 09:38:00 AM by jeroly »

Allie

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8251 on: November 08, 2024, 10:33:17 AM »
We also gained a good bit.  Last I checked was around the peak in mid October and we were at 4.1.  Now we’re at 4.2.  I imagine it will continue to slowly creep up as we make money and the new policies go into effect. 

I’m waiting for the silver linings…maybe we will finally get a male form of birth control, better termination medication options for women, an Elon driven renewable energy breakthrough, a state level series of reformations that limit the federal governments reach and decision making power, a Martian colony, or just maybe a Democratic Party shake up that begins to take into account the leanings of the more moderate members and barely conservatives.

 

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8252 on: November 08, 2024, 10:40:49 AM »
We here are all very lucky because being in this group means we have options no matter what happens.  We are very privileged in that manner.  I can’t help but realize this is why I’m getting the hush money, but I have options when things go sideways.  I’m also a Fed who will be out (aka retired) before things go really sideways there as well so I don’t have work stress either (I retire in July).

But yeah, the hush money bump is crazy. I haven’t added it up but it’s likely above $50k.

lhamo

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8253 on: November 08, 2024, 11:20:18 AM »
Well, if Medicaid/ACA go away I guess I can get off my butt and convert my Trad IRA funds to Roth sooner rather than later and ride my tax free stash on the roller coaster of economic uncertainty.

Not really the future I want for myself, my kids or the country, though...

Exflyboy

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8254 on: November 08, 2024, 11:35:17 AM »
Well, if Medicaid/ACA go away I guess I can get off my butt and convert my Trad IRA funds to Roth sooner rather than later and ride my tax free stash on the roller coaster of economic uncertainty.

Not really the future I want for myself, my kids or the country, though...

I hadn't considered the fact there would be no advantage to not doing ROTH conversions if Medicaid/ACA went away (or means tested).. Heck if Trumps tax cuts are still in place it makes sense to do rather a lot.. Just wish I lived in Washington State and not Oregon..:)

Bateaux

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8255 on: November 08, 2024, 11:35:40 AM »
No need for the political commentary.

It's been quite civil. I've been with many of these folks since the early days of the 1 to 2 million thread. They don't crack over an election.

ROF Expat

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8256 on: November 08, 2024, 12:33:23 PM »
No need for the political commentary.

It's been quite civil. I've been with many of these folks since the early days of the 1 to 2 million thread. They don't crack over an election.

I am approaching "and beyond" territory. 

As I look back, I am struck by how little partisan politics has mattered in terms of my FIRE journey.  From when I started investing, America has seen seven presidents from both political parties.  Sure, policies (good and bad) have had some impact, but economic cycles and my own efforts to live below my means and use my savings to buy and hold low cost index funds were a lot more important.  I don't see much reason to think things will be fundamentally different in the future. 

ATtiny85

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8257 on: November 08, 2024, 02:06:34 PM »
No need for the political commentary.

It's been quite civil. I've been with many of these folks since the early days of the 1 to 2 million thread. They don't crack over an election.

I am approaching "and beyond" territory. 

As I look back, I am struck by how little partisan politics has mattered in terms of my FIRE journey.  From when I started investing, America has seen seven presidents from both political parties.  Sure, policies (good and bad) have had some impact, but economic cycles and my own efforts to live below my means and use my savings to buy and hold low cost index funds were a lot more important.  I don't see much reason to think things will be fundamentally different in the future.

Every election cycle is similar, those on the losing side go into sky is falling mode. Perhaps this time will be different, and all the doomsayers will forget how they said the exact some thing in 2016 and say "see I told you!" It's not about how often you are wrong, it's about being able to claim being right right now. In the meantime, I will keep on with the habits that got me into the beyond zone. I bought about a million dollars worth of stocks during Trump's first term, I can do it in his second, though I will be done working soon so it will not happen. Spouse will still work (unless she decides not to) and she makes good bank, so we might get half a million or so more.

I do wish we could have taken more action on protecting a certain right over the last half century instead of relying on a court case. That was a big miss and the one thing I wish we had a redo on, since it might take another half century to rectify.


SwordGuy

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8258 on: November 08, 2024, 03:39:58 PM »

I am approaching "and beyond" territory. 

As I look back, I am struck by how little partisan politics has mattered in terms of my FIRE journey.  From when I started investing, America has seen seven presidents from both political parties.  Sure, policies (good and bad) have had some impact, but economic cycles and my own efforts to live below my means and use my savings to buy and hold low cost index funds were a lot more important.  I don't see much reason to think things will be fundamentally different in the future.
Are you rich, white, and male?   That would explain some of the blase' attitude.

Because otherwise it might get quite different.   Many wealthy Jews in Nazi-controlled territory thought it would be pretty much the same, maybe with some extra harassment, but they had money, factories, and other assets.   The ones who tried to leave too late ended up in the gas ovens.  There's a lot of hate that's been spread around by MAGA and there will be more to come.  There are a lot of fascists in the MAGA movement and more of them are likely to come out of the closet about it.   Several of the violent alt-right militia terrorist groups actually carry fascist and/or Nazi flags, sing Nazi songs, chant Nazi slogans, and regurgitate Nazi ideas.   Quite a few MAGA folks openly support a dictator.

I'm not convinced we'll still have a constitutional republic in a few years.  I would love to be completely and thoroughly wrong about this.   I would be ecstatic.  I will leap for joy if I'm wrong.  I will weep with joy if, five years from now, each and every one of you posts to remind me of what a foolish Chicken Little I was at this time.

But I studied this in grad school and I am very concerned.  Others who lived thru it in Germany have been just as concerned.  We'll be updating our passports and I've been researching golden visas.   So, yes, money gives options.  For my family and all of yours.   I would prefer those options aren't needed by anyone.

Bateaux

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8259 on: November 08, 2024, 04:06:35 PM »
Swordguy you've got me ready to rewatch Herman Wouk's, "The Winds of War/War and Rememberace."
We know from history what human beings and governments are capable of. I just watched Alex Haley's, "Root's." Again last week.
Last night I was texting back and forth with an old co-worker. We were discussing potential flee to countries. I'm not leaving though. The ones he threatened demographically didn't care according to the election statistics. They didn't show up like in 2020. Sometimes a little bad medicine is good.

ROF Expat

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8260 on: November 09, 2024, 04:00:26 AM »
Are you rich, white, and male?   That would explain some of the blase' attitude.

Because otherwise it might get quite different.   Many wealthy Jews in Nazi-controlled territory thought it would be pretty much the same, maybe with some extra harassment, but they had money, factories, and other assets.   The ones who tried to leave too late ended up in the gas ovens.  There's a lot of hate that's been spread around by MAGA and there will be more to come.  There are a lot of fascists in the MAGA movement and more of them are likely to come out of the closet about it.   Several of the violent alt-right militia terrorist groups actually carry fascist and/or Nazi flags, sing Nazi songs, chant Nazi slogans, and regurgitate Nazi ideas.   Quite a few MAGA folks openly support a dictator.

I'm not convinced we'll still have a constitutional republic in a few years.  I would love to be completely and thoroughly wrong about this.   I would be ecstatic.  I will leap for joy if I'm wrong.  I will weep with joy if, five years from now, each and every one of you posts to remind me of what a foolish Chicken Little I was at this time.

But I studied this in grad school and I am very concerned.  Others who lived thru it in Germany have been just as concerned.  We'll be updating our passports and I've been researching golden visas.   So, yes, money gives options.  For my family and all of yours.   I would prefer those options aren't needed by anyone.

It isn't nice to make assumptions about people. 

Rich?  I suppose so, since I've already said I'm approaching "and beyond" territory.  Male?  Yes.  White?  Not exactly. 

I thought I was pretty clear in my post that I was talking about my FIRE journey, and I stand by my opinion that I see no reason to panic in terms of partisan politics really affecting my long term financial trajectory.   

It seems you want to make this conversation about a greater threat to democracy which will then become a threat to personal finances.  I didn't study the holocaust in graduate school like you did so I'm no expert.  But, with the exception of my great grandparents and their immediate family who emigrated to America, my family was wiped out during the Holocaust.  I have also lived in a number of countries experiencing conflict or collapse, to include Somalia, Lebanon, and Sudan, and even more post conflict countries, so I wouldn't say I'm "blase" about threats to democracy.  I would characterize myself as not panicking because I have a realistic view based on extensive experience. 

I do have concerns about the strains that might be imposed on America's social and political systems, but I am not particularly worried about the effects on my finances.  I have posted elsewhere about some  of my efforts to protect my family's financial future from even highly unlikely black swan events and about my own views on what people who are concerned about societal collapse can do to protect themselves.   

 I am currently an expat, but I'm not worried about my eventual return to the US.  I'm confident that America isn't going to become Nazi Germany.  Or Somalia.  Or Lebanon.  I do my part to support democracy by voting, by contributing to politicians I think will support democracy, and by supporting nongovernmental institutions that support democracy like the ACLU and independent media like the New York Times.   

You're entitled to your own opinion, of course. 

chasesfish

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8261 on: November 09, 2024, 04:10:20 AM »
After hanging out just under another milestone, the move in Costco stock put me over yesterday.

$1mil - August 2015
$2mil - February 2020
$3mil - November 2024

Quit working the W2 in April of 2019.

rmorris50

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8262 on: November 09, 2024, 06:20:41 AM »
My concern is this country's hyper-focus on the office of the presidency, and the power Congress seems to defer to that office and not do their job. Half the issues the citizens look to the president "to fix" is really the purview of Congress. The president really doesn't, or shouldn't, have that much impact on our day to day lives. Heck, the Speaker of the House has much more impact, and should get blamed or credited with much of the results that get pinned on the presidency. Yet how many people can even name the Speaker of the House, and look how low mid-term elections are. All to say it wouldn't seem to take much for someone to get into the office of the Presidency and push the country towards fascism or a dictatorship.

FireLane

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8263 on: November 09, 2024, 08:58:34 AM »

I am approaching "and beyond" territory. 

As I look back, I am struck by how little partisan politics has mattered in terms of my FIRE journey.  From when I started investing, America has seen seven presidents from both political parties.  Sure, policies (good and bad) have had some impact, but economic cycles and my own efforts to live below my means and use my savings to buy and hold low cost index funds were a lot more important.  I don't see much reason to think things will be fundamentally different in the future.
Are you rich, white, and male?   That would explain some of the blase' attitude.

Because otherwise it might get quite different.   Many wealthy Jews in Nazi-controlled territory thought it would be pretty much the same, maybe with some extra harassment, but they had money, factories, and other assets.   The ones who tried to leave too late ended up in the gas ovens.  There's a lot of hate that's been spread around by MAGA and there will be more to come.  There are a lot of fascists in the MAGA movement and more of them are likely to come out of the closet about it.   Several of the violent alt-right militia terrorist groups actually carry fascist and/or Nazi flags, sing Nazi songs, chant Nazi slogans, and regurgitate Nazi ideas.   Quite a few MAGA folks openly support a dictator.

I'm not convinced we'll still have a constitutional republic in a few years.  I would love to be completely and thoroughly wrong about this.   I would be ecstatic.  I will leap for joy if I'm wrong.  I will weep with joy if, five years from now, each and every one of you posts to remind me of what a foolish Chicken Little I was at this time.

But I studied this in grad school and I am very concerned.  Others who lived thru it in Germany have been just as concerned.  We'll be updating our passports and I've been researching golden visas.   So, yes, money gives options.  For my family and all of yours.   I would prefer those options aren't needed by anyone.

In case anyone has a short memory, let's not forget that when Trump lost the presidency the last time, he sicced a mob of his followers on the Capitol. They overwhelmed the police, broke into the building, and forced Congress to flee in panic for the first time since... I don't know, the War of 1812?

By all indications, they wanted to lynch the Vice President and most of our elected officials, and they only failed because of poor planning and dumb luck.

Trump received no punishment for this, and he's now been rewarded with reelection. How uninhibited do you think he's going to feel this time around?

Dicey

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8264 on: November 09, 2024, 09:13:17 AM »

10/31/2023   1.55
11/30/2023   1.69
12/31/2023   1.77
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
9/30/2024   2.18
10/31/2024   2.17


Down 10K this month.  I actually took more than 20K for some unexpected expenses, so the market helped me.

Not too many people reporting this month
, seems flat to last month so not too exciting.
Congratulations and welcome to the club! You don't see a lot of detailed reporting of numbers here, except occasional totals. This thread is not really a race. "Glide path" might be a better term. We mostly chat and share ideas. Many of us are still amazed (and grateful) to be here.
« Last Edit: November 10, 2024, 05:50:38 PM by Dicey »

Simpli-Fi

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8265 on: November 09, 2024, 09:16:46 AM »
Trump received no punishment for this, and he's now been rewarded with reelection. How uninhibited do you think he's going to feel this time around?
Then throw in the failed assassination attempt(s)…probably thinks he is not only above the law, he’s invincible

Exflyboy

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8266 on: November 09, 2024, 10:34:41 AM »

10/31/2023   1.55
11/30/2023   1.69
12/31/2023   1.77
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
9/30/2024   2.18
10/31/2024   2.17


Down 10K this month.  I actually took more than 20K for some unexpected expenses, so the market helped me.

Not too many people reporting this month
, seems flat to last month so not too exciting.
Congratulations and welcome to the club! You don't see a lot of detailed reporting of numbers here, except occasional totals. This thread is not really a race. "glide path" might be a better term. We mostly chat and share ideas. Many of us are still amazed (and grateful) to be here.

Stunned to be here quite honestly!

ATtiny85

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8267 on: November 09, 2024, 12:31:39 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Exflyboy

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8268 on: November 09, 2024, 12:38:31 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

ATtiny85

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8269 on: November 09, 2024, 01:50:19 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

2sk22

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8270 on: November 09, 2024, 04:08:57 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

For sure, I'm the biggest advocate for luxury travel on this forum but I'm not sure I can help. I get shouted down when I advocate this :-)

Also, this may sound strange - while I have absolutely no trouble spending $8000 on a couple of business class tickets to Europe, I have a really hard time spending money on cars. I'm very happy with my humble Honda and see no need to splurge on a car. Apart from travel, we don't really have much that we spend a lot on - so my spending is selective.

Fomerly known as something

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8271 on: November 09, 2024, 04:17:19 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

For sure, I'm the biggest advocate for luxury travel on this forum but I'm not sure I can help. I get shouted down when I advocate this :-)

Also, this may sound strange - while I have absolutely no trouble spending $8000 on a couple of business class tickets to Europe, I have a really hard time spending money on cars. I'm very happy with my humble Honda and see no need to splurge on a car. Apart from travel, we don't really have much that we spend a lot on - so my spending is selective.

I’m in baby steps with luxury travel.  $500-600 on a hotel, I’m getting comfortable with that, $3,000-4000 on business ore premium economy flights yup, a more expensive hiking tour or small boat tour yes.  I haven’t gotten to the business class to New Zealand or the $1000 and up night hotel yet.

couponvan

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8272 on: November 09, 2024, 04:40:42 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

For sure, I'm the biggest advocate for luxury travel on this forum but I'm not sure I can help. I get shouted down when I advocate this :-)

Also, this may sound strange - while I have absolutely no trouble spending $8000 on a couple of business class tickets to Europe, I have a really hard time spending money on cars. I'm very happy with my humble Honda and see no need to splurge on a car. Apart from travel, we don't really have much that we spend a lot on - so my spending is selective.
5’6”-I am team economy ticket for 10 hours travel with better hotel rooms to sleep in for an entire week.

bigote2032

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8273 on: November 09, 2024, 05:18:19 PM »

10/31/2023   1.55
11/30/2023   1.69
12/31/2023   1.77
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
9/30/2024   2.18
10/31/2024   2.17


Down 10K this month.  I actually took more than 20K for some unexpected expenses, so the market helped me.

Not too many people reporting this month
, seems flat to last month so not too exciting.
Congratulations and welcome to the club! You don't see a lot of detailed reporting of numbers here, except occasional totals. This thread is not really a race. "glide path" might be a better term. We mostly chat and share ideas. Many of us are still amazed (and grateful) to be here.

Thanks so much Dicey!!!

It is so great to share this space with you guys and have a place to learn and share!

It is interesting how the FIRE number keeps changing during the accumulation phase.  My current number is 4mil, it used to be half that.  HCOL area (Seattle) and now we decided not to own a home, we sold our condo to have more flexibility for moving (noisy neighbors, and other things that might push you to move).  I am solid on this new FIRE number but you will never know.

Indeed a privilege to be here! :)

bigote2032

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8274 on: November 09, 2024, 05:22:05 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

For sure, I'm the biggest advocate for luxury travel on this forum but I'm not sure I can help. I get shouted down when I advocate this :-)

Also, this may sound strange - while I have absolutely no trouble spending $8000 on a couple of business class tickets to Europe, I have a really hard time spending money on cars. I'm very happy with my humble Honda and see no need to splurge on a car. Apart from travel, we don't really have much that we spend a lot on - so my spending is selective.

How much of a difference is from economy to business? I have never gone first class or business, last time I tried to travel first class to Europe it was like 8K per ticket so it was a big noo, maybe one my stache is larger I would just not think about it.  I have a herniated disc on my back and economy seats kill me, I wish I had one of those fully horizontal bed/seats like first class, would make such a greater experience.  And this is why I rarely travel!

Thanks for sharing your flight knowledge :)

Taran Wanderer

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8275 on: November 09, 2024, 08:50:24 PM »
The last few times I flew internationally, there were four classes. Different airlines call them different things, so I’ll try to be generic.

1. Economy
2. Economy Plus - same seat as economy but with more legroom
3. Premium - wider seat and more legroom like first class on a domestic Alaska Airlines flight
4. Business - lie-flat seats sometimes with privacy partitions

In my younger days, I suffered through Economy. Tried to get exit row, but a few times I didn’t, and those 10-12 hour flights were long.  Now, I go at least Economy Plus, but I’ve also flown Premium. To be honest, the two are pretty similar if I’m sitting next to DW in two seats by the window.  The extra width is nice in Premium, as is the space on the arm rest to set down a drink without using the tray table.  But the extra legroom in either Economy Plus or Premium is what makes it possible for me to sleep at all.

Business Class sounds fantastic, but it’s a lot of money. I’m just not there yet.

2sk22

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8276 on: November 10, 2024, 02:39:33 AM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

@2sk22 , flyboy needs your help! You’ve done a great job at it.

For sure, I'm the biggest advocate for luxury travel on this forum but I'm not sure I can help. I get shouted down when I advocate this :-)

Also, this may sound strange - while I have absolutely no trouble spending $8000 on a couple of business class tickets to Europe, I have a really hard time spending money on cars. I'm very happy with my humble Honda and see no need to splurge on a car. Apart from travel, we don't really have much that we spend a lot on - so my spending is selective.

How much of a difference is from economy to business? I have never gone first class or business, last time I tried to travel first class to Europe it was like 8K per ticket so it was a big noo, maybe one my stache is larger I would just not think about it.  I have a herniated disc on my back and economy seats kill me, I wish I had one of those fully horizontal bed/seats like first class, would make such a greater experience.  And this is why I rarely travel!

Thanks for sharing your flight knowledge :)

@Taran Wanderer has already given a nice summary of the benefits of upgrading. Let me add that US domestic first class domestically is not anywhere as good as international business class which typically features a full flat bed. I think that domestic first class is roughly equivalent to premium economy on international routes. United also offers these business class seats on a few domestic transcontinental routes such as Newark-San Francisco and Newark-Los Angeles. In fact, we flew United business class when we attended a wedding in the LA area earlier this year.

How much to spend on airfare is a function of several parameters. Apart from having the money to afford it, you also need to consider how long you are going to be traveling. My wife and I typically go for short trips, max 10 days as she is still working. The value of a good nights sleep on a plane diminishes as the trip gets longer.

$8k for a business class ticket seems ridiculously high. I have never paid over about $4k for business class tickets to Europe. The most expensive business class ticket I've bought so far was $6500 on Emirates for a trip to Asia.

For hotels, we have a typical budget of about $300 per day which is more than enough in many parts of the world. For the really high end hotels, I find that you can get good deals by redeeming Chase reward points. I pay for all travel with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card so we tend to accumulate a lot of points (currently have over a quarter of a million points).

jeroly

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8277 on: November 10, 2024, 12:23:28 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.
Heck, I can’t even bring myself to pay more to avoid a 20-hour layover, nor to pay $250 for a hotel room for those 20 hours - I’ll just sleep in the airport instead!

My hotel budget varies greatly depending on whether I’m by myself or with my sweetie. I’m happy to stay in a hostel (provided it’s clean) but my sweetie likes her creature comforts at least to the minimum of an en suite bathroom and a private room!

Generally, I try to keep travel expenses under $1,500/week (was $1k/wk pre-pandemic). That’s with 21 weeks of travel in the year, though - when I slow down I’ll probably feel ok with spending more per week.

oldtoyota

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8278 on: November 10, 2024, 05:56:24 PM »
No need for the political commentary.
I, for one, do not welcome our fascistic alien overlords, nor do I plan to shut up about it.

Edited to add: This website is fairly expressly political. For those of you who want to avoid political discussion, might I suggest the Bogleheads forums?


I support that. Political decisions directly affect our money and lives, so I'm glad they are talked about here.


couponvan

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8279 on: November 10, 2024, 07:09:45 PM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.
Heck, I can’t even bring myself to pay more to avoid a 20-hour layover, nor to pay $250 for a hotel room for those 20 hours - I’ll just sleep in the airport instead!

My hotel budget varies greatly depending on whether I’m by myself or with my sweetie. I’m happy to stay in a hostel (provided it’s clean) but my sweetie likes her creature comforts at least to the minimum of an en suite bathroom and a private room!

Generally, I try to keep travel expenses under $1,500/week (was $1k/wk pre-pandemic). That’s with 21 weeks of travel in the year, though - when I slow down I’ll probably feel ok with spending more per week.
I will pay for a hotel to sleep off my jet lag versus business tickets. I’m with your sweetie. No more hostels for me. Well, if it was clean I might be ok with it. We are around $3K goal for a week, so if your $1,500 is just for you, I think our budgets are similar. We like free hotels on points, though. We try to have only 1-2 night paid hotels per week.

Turtle

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8280 on: November 12, 2024, 10:08:00 AM »

I am approaching "and beyond" territory. 

As I look back, I am struck by how little partisan politics has mattered in terms of my FIRE journey.  From when I started investing, America has seen seven presidents from both political parties.  Sure, policies (good and bad) have had some impact, but economic cycles and my own efforts to live below my means and use my savings to buy and hold low cost index funds were a lot more important.  I don't see much reason to think things will be fundamentally different in the future.
Are you rich, white, and male?   That would explain some of the blase' attitude.

Because otherwise it might get quite different.   Many wealthy Jews in Nazi-controlled territory thought it would be pretty much the same, maybe with some extra harassment, but they had money, factories, and other assets.   The ones who tried to leave too late ended up in the gas ovens.  There's a lot of hate that's been spread around by MAGA and there will be more to come.  There are a lot of fascists in the MAGA movement and more of them are likely to come out of the closet about it.   Several of the violent alt-right militia terrorist groups actually carry fascist and/or Nazi flags, sing Nazi songs, chant Nazi slogans, and regurgitate Nazi ideas.   Quite a few MAGA folks openly support a dictator.

I'm not convinced we'll still have a constitutional republic in a few years.  I would love to be completely and thoroughly wrong about this.   I would be ecstatic.  I will leap for joy if I'm wrong.  I will weep with joy if, five years from now, each and every one of you posts to remind me of what a foolish Chicken Little I was at this time.

But I studied this in grad school and I am very concerned.  Others who lived thru it in Germany have been just as concerned.  We'll be updating our passports and I've been researching golden visas.   So, yes, money gives options.  For my family and all of yours.   I would prefer those options aren't needed by anyone.

A neighbor down the street now has a WW1 German Battle Flag flying at the same height as an American one.    Very glad they are not directly next to or across from me, but still wary about having them in the neighborhood.

dividendman

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8281 on: November 12, 2024, 11:16:56 AM »
If you're really feeling down about the election you can spend only 1-2% of your stash on per year on the "get away from trump" cruise:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/cruise-line-offers-4-year-journey-americans-mourning-trump-win-skip-forward

I think Trumps policies have a decent chance of causing a recession so I can finally get a deal on a used car!

EscapeVelocity2020

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8282 on: November 12, 2024, 12:01:36 PM »
If you're really feeling down about the election you can spend only 1-2% of your stash on per year on the "get away from trump" cruise:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/cruise-line-offers-4-year-journey-americans-mourning-trump-win-skip-forward

I think Trumps policies have a decent chance of causing a recession so I can finally get a deal on a used car!

Sorry but I only trust The Onion when it comes to fake news -

Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village
'9/11 Conspiracy Theories Ridiculous' - Al Qaeda
Hostages Trapped Inside Walmart Insisting They Never Shop At Walmart

rmorris50

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8283 on: November 12, 2024, 01:01:23 PM »
If you're really feeling down about the election you can spend only 1-2% of your stash on per year on the "get away from trump" cruise:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/cruise-line-offers-4-year-journey-americans-mourning-trump-win-skip-forward

I think Trumps policies have a decent chance of causing a recession so I can finally get a deal on a used car!

I mean, it is only $110 per day per person for a double occupancy room, all inclusive. Better really love your spouse though!

Bateaux

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8284 on: November 13, 2024, 08:33:31 AM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8285 on: November 13, 2024, 08:56:16 AM »
Yeah, agree, suddenly things started snowballing. A million here, a million there, suddenly we have real money. Definitely crazy, but it does take some habits and commitment.

Its stopping the commitment is the problem i face! After a lifetime of living cheap its almost impossible to turn off some of those habits.. I still can't bring myself to fork over a few thousand of an international business class ticket.

I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We had a bunch of large flight credits for various things that needed to be used before they expired. We were also limited on who could use the credits (e.g. we couldn't use them by including our teens, and/or sharing them with family members). That means DH & I flew to Costa Rica in business class a few weeks ago, and are going to Spain in April, also in business class. I've flown in business class a handful of times for work (London, Tokyo), but it's new for DH & I can already tell that it's going to be a problem to drop back down to economy after this!

BECABECA

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8286 on: November 13, 2024, 09:02:11 AM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.

Dicey

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8287 on: November 13, 2024, 09:49:16 AM »
In order for my old eyes to read, I have to blow up the screen so I can't see the poster's name. I read the Bateau's post and thought, "This sounds like a case for @BECABECA."  I should ping them. Then I read the reply above and knew there was no need. The ripples of the Magnificent Moab Meetup keep on widening. ❤️

BECABECA

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8288 on: November 13, 2024, 12:00:52 PM »
In order for my old eyes to read, I have to blow up the screen so I can't see the poster's name. I read the Bateau's post and thought, "This sounds like a case for @BECABECA."  I should ping them. Then I read the reply above and knew there was no need. The ripples of the Magnificent Moab Meetup keep on widening. ❤️
Haha, I love this!

Fomerly known as something

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8289 on: November 13, 2024, 09:22:58 PM »
As mentioned.  Travel is one of the two places I splurge.  (The other is the cat).  I think it’s because I can always roll back or find a bargain if I need to.  I fly premium class minimum if not business depending on cost.  I also have recently upped my budget for boutique hotels I don’t find value in say a Ritz Carlton in Tahoe but I’ll pay for Rush creek lodge near Yosemite.  The thing is I can go cheaper and will “if I need to” but guess what I don’t need to and I do find those places do offer value over a hostel for me.

Exflyboy

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8290 on: November 14, 2024, 12:36:45 AM »
In order for my old eyes to read, I have to blow up the screen so I can't see the poster's name. I read the Bateau's post and thought, "This sounds like a case for @BECABECA."  I should ping them. Then I read the reply above and knew there was no need. The ripples of the Magnificent Moab Meetup keep on widening. ❤️
Haha, I love this!

Made me smile too!.. I've barely got my voice back from laughing so hard for a whole week!

couponvan

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8291 on: November 14, 2024, 04:32:39 AM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.
Now THIS is a really interesting point…cruise for not much more than airfare ans a reason to take a longer time getting there. Off to Google, because I have been eyeballing some.

alienbogey

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8292 on: November 14, 2024, 10:29:08 AM »
Hours cooped up with hundreds of people I don't know, or weeks cooped up with thousands of people I don't know.

I'll take the flight, thanks.

Dancin'Dog

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8293 on: November 14, 2024, 10:54:12 AM »
Hours cooped up with hundreds of people I don't know, or weeks cooped up with thousands of people I don't know.

I'll take the flight, thanks.


So you can visit millions of people you don't know quicker.  ;)

secondcor521

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8294 on: November 14, 2024, 01:13:44 PM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.
Now THIS is a really interesting point…cruise for not much more than airfare ans a reason to take a longer time getting there. Off to Google, because I have been eyeballing some.

The repositioning cruises are cheap in relative terms.  However, to some people including me they are boring - you're mostly on a featureless ocean for the majority of the trip.  The cruise ships expect to make up their revenue based on bored passengers choosing to shop, gamble, and purchase other upsells to while away the time.

baludon

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8295 on: November 14, 2024, 06:13:41 PM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.
Now THIS is a really interesting point…cruise for not much more than airfare ans a reason to take a longer time getting there. Off to Google, because I have been eyeballing some.

The repositioning cruises are cheap in relative terms.  However, to some people including me they are boring - you're mostly on a featureless ocean for the majority of the trip.  The cruise ships expect to make up their revenue based on bored passengers choosing to shop, gamble, and purchase other upsells to while away the time.

I did this from Tokyo to Vancouver as I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I enjoyed the trip immensely. I spent nothing on the ship. Would do it again though not in an interior room. 


Bateaux

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8296 on: November 15, 2024, 08:33:55 PM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.
We may still be on the Carnival Valor out of New Orleans for the trip over to Spain. The convenience of one of our kids dropping us in our home port of New Orleans April 24th is temping. However Virgin's Scarlet Lady is leaving out of Miami May 3rd. We've never cruised with Virgin, but YouTube videos of people onboard make us want to try it. The food looks absolutely delicious. No passengers under 18 onboard as well. I'm probably going to take the Carnival Valor home to New Orleans whether we fly one way or go by ship both ways. I've been looking at land tours to fill the interim period. We'd depart Barcelona on June 11th, my wife's birthday and return home to New Orleans on June 26th. I'm hopeful my wife can make it this long without homesickness. Even though  it would be convenient to just sail and return out of New Orleans. Have fun and I'll keep in touch if we sail out of New Orleans. It would be great to share a dinner or drink with you.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2024, 08:37:21 PM by Bateaux »

BECABECA

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8297 on: November 15, 2024, 11:03:54 PM »
I'm looking at some transatlantic cruises out of New Orleans and Florida. We would get dumped off in Portugal, Spain or Italy. From there I'm looking at some inclusive tours where they take care of you daily. I'd thrown around the idea of booking a few nights on the Orient Express. Holy crap it's expensive! Think I'll save the Orient Express for later.
I'd need to book flights back from somewhere. Madrid maybe. But, my cheap ass won't be paying for business class. I can already feel the blood clots forming from lack of circulation on the plane. I've tried finding a ship back to the US but in the Spring they are leaving the US and headed for Europe .

We’re taking a 16 night transatlantic cruise on Carnival in late April from New Orleans that drops us off in Barcelona. The same ship then makes the return trip something like a month and a half later, but we’re going to spend the full 3 months Schengen visa, so we might end up having to take a flight back home. But cruises are the way we prefer to get across the oceans… deals can be had for about double the cost of a good priced economy flight but they also feed, house, and entertain you for a couple weeks and you don’t deal with jet lag.
We may still be on the Carnival Valor out of New Orleans for the trip over to Spain. The convenience of one of our kids dropping us in our home port of New Orleans April 24th is temping. However Virgin's Scarlet Lady is leaving out of Miami May 3rd. We've never cruised with Virgin, but YouTube videos of people onboard make us want to try it. The food looks absolutely delicious. No passengers under 18 onboard as well. I'm probably going to take the Carnival Valor home to New Orleans whether we fly one way or go by ship both ways. I've been looking at land tours to fill the interim period. We'd depart Barcelona on June 11th, my wife's birthday and return home to New Orleans on June 26th. I'm hopeful my wife can make it this long without homesickness. Even though  it would be convenient to just sail and return out of New Orleans. Have fun and I'll keep in touch if we sail out of New Orleans. It would be great to share a dinner or drink with you.
Ha! That would be awesome if you end up on our same cruise, we would definitely want to meet up for a meal! Virgin looks nice, I’ve never cruised with them either. But if they don’t work out, the nice thing about all the ocean crossings I’ve done is that there were never more than 10 total kids on any of them, regardless of the cruise line.


Much Fishing to Do

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8298 on: November 19, 2024, 02:54:18 PM »
This past week I've been heartbroken over an 18 year old daughter who is seriously struggling with her mental health.  It's quite literally the first time in years I readily admit to being scared to death.  I am reminded of both how great it is that I have financially succeeded and I and spouse can take any and all time to be there with her needed, and provide any healthcare needs helpful, and also how little wealth matters when health and happiness of yourself and loved ones are in jeopardy.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Race from $2M to $4M...and Beyond!
« Reply #8299 on: November 19, 2024, 04:17:19 PM »
@Much Fishing to Do - having that kind of flexibility is such a gift during times of stress, or when a family member or friend needs support. I'm really happy you have that flexibility right now, and sending good thoughts for your family as you all navigate this together.