Well, I've been hiding in the shadows for quite some time now, but I guess it's time to come forward in order to say thank you MMM, thank you MMM forums, thank you crazy stock markets, thank you FU money, and last but not least, thank you very much young rubberduck from five years ago. I went past 100 K on 14 June 2018, and as of today, I reached the 250 K mark (let's see for how long), holding 240 K in index funds and an emergency fund of 10 K in cash. My coast FIRE target is approx. 500 K, so today really marks a milestone worth contemplating.
It wouldn't have been possible, though, without my SO (who on the whole is even more financially responsible than me, albeit with a more conservative approach, holding 100 % in cash), without my grandma (who was able to burn through cash like nothing else, always convinced of having superior money handling abilities, yet in her generosity leaving me a single bedroom condo, which---not having any use for it myself with a family of four---I was able to sell for a good price), nor without my dad and his support.
After discovering MMM early 2016 most of the advice really resonated with me. I took up biking to work again (10 km commute), revoked some costly pension insurance plans (the contracts were already 5 years old or even more, but I was able to find formal errors in the paperwork), finally started saving 40 to 50% of my paycheck in index funds (while having carried only 10 K investments in the years before), then decided to switch to a 60% part-time schedule for well over a year, invested almost all of my inheritance, went into parental leave in 2020 again (9 months total, no pay). Yes, we did make some costly decisions, but always in return for stress reduction: Bought a used car in 2016 (10 K, cash) for the 20 min kindergarten commute (with a bike carrier, so I would drive there, then ride to work, and my SO could pick up the kids on her way home). Relocated, with 50% increase in rent, so our older son could visit a suitable school; now he's got a 50 m walk to school. Rented a lot and built a cabin at a lake 1.5 hrs from home (~20K, paid for in cash). Bought a small sail-boat (almost 40 years old, there's nothing more to depreciate) for the lake; really helps me re-charge my batteries. All the while, I never cashed out on any market gains, and neither did I bat an eye when Covid hit the markets.
Finally throwing down the gauntlet instead of only bragging about the lucky run I had these past 5 years, I am aiming to reach 500 K in 2028. See you around in the race from 250 K to 500 K.
