1000 Days until Retirement

[Giro]

So, I'm new to MMM but not new to frugal living etc.  I've been reading the forum and trying to get myself really excited and motivated for early retirement.  Today, I thought of something that would keep my goal in front of me, if you will.  I have 1000 work days until I retire.  I am buying a 1000 page small notebook and putting it on my desk.  Similar to a Dilbert type calendar that gives you something to look forward to each day.  I will write on it something I did that day to reach my goal.  e.g. transferred $100 to Vanguard, skipped my afternoon soda and put .50 in the drawer for future Vanguard transfer, carpooled to work, etc. 

This will hopefully keep me motivated and thinking about retirement.  I want it to also stave off my spending.  Do I want to spend $100 on a massage and a new pair of shoes and add a day to my notebook when I just tore off 5 days this week??? 

I'm very excited about this idea.  It may sound really lame to you guys, but I need something at my desk to keep me going. 

:)

[Giro]

I also think this will help to keep me moving extra cash into my investments quicker.  I have automatic investments, but in months where I may have extra cash in my checking (no property taxes due, no maintenance, bought cheaper groceries, electric bill was cheaper, sold something, kid is visiting relatives so saved on day care, etc) I would be motivated to transfer the money right away and put it down in my notebook versus just letting it sit in my checking.

[desk_jockey]

I love it.  This is a great medium-term motivation practice.   I think I may copy the idea and start my own 1000-pager by the end of this year. Thanks!!!

[Giro]

My first page - used free notepads from office supply cabinet instead of spending money on a notebook!   I have to do two days per page since it's 500 pages, but free is awesome and I can start right now.  woo.

haha

yes, I'm a geek.

[CopperTex]

That's a great idea, but make sure you are investing time into today as well. You don't want to be so future oriented that you feel like your life begins once you FIRE.

[Giro]

That's a great idea, but make sure you are investing time into today as well. You don't want to be so future oriented that you feel like your life begins once you FIRE.

very true.  But I'm doing it at work, which is why I'm doing business days and not calendar days, and unfortunately, I have the downtime to spare.  :/ 

[Cookie78]

2 days ago I also calculated an estimated 1000 work days remaining!

Yesterday I decided I'm going to count down (999!) and see how close my estimate was. It's based on a lot of variables and a lot of luck, so we will see. :D It'll also keep me motivated and hopefully that's make me more likely to hit that target.

I like the notebook idea. I was trying to think of a good way to keep track, and this might do the trick. Thanks. :)

[h2ogal]

Giro -

1000 is nice round number! 

Journaling is very powerful.  I started a 1000 days to Freedom journal in Oct 2014.  I'm now at 837 days to Freedom.  I plan to retire June 2017, just in time for a nice lazy summer by the pool.  So this is total calendar days.

I don't log daily, but make an entry at least once a week.  Im a geek, so my journal is a spreadsheet....I log my actual asset values vs. plan, my monthly spending vs. budget, and what I've done to either save money or improve ROI that week, as well as my thoughts, insights, experiences with friends and family etc.

Keeping a journal will help you put great focus on your goal and I believe it will definitely help. 

Since starting my 1000 day plan, I boosted up my savings rate much higher than I thought possible - Im currently putting 50% of my paycheck into my 401K, and another several hundred dollars per month in treasury bonds and taxable accounts. I've cut my day to day spending a great deal.  I've cut my grocery budget in half.  I chose a high deductible health care plan and HSA reduced my Health Insurance costs by 1/3.    I also did a bit of re-balancing on my portfolio, Im now at 60% stocks, with the rest in a mix of bonds, cash, and real estate.   I sold off some high risk and high fee funds, and bought into Vanguard total market funds, etc.

I'm currently ahead of "plan" by almost 3 months.   If this keeps up I can either retire even sooner or retire with more assets and a larger safety net. 

Please, keep posting! I'm very interested in how your 1000 day plan works out for you.

[DMoney]

Love this idea, thanks for sharing!

I've calculated a more depressing ~2500 days till retirement :)

[Bateaux]

I'm  1088 days till  FIRE!

[Retired To Win]

I love it.  This is a great medium-term motivation practice.   I think I may copy the idea and start my own 1000-pager by the end of this year. Thanks!!!

Just don't prop the notebook up on your desk at work where your supervisor will see it.

I did something similar many, many years ago and put up a "countdown sheet" on my cubicle wall.  I crossed off each day as it concluded.  Sure as heck, in a while my boss called me in and asked me what the countdown was for/to.

Try to avoid that conversation until you are much closer to your end date.

Good luck.

[hybrid]

I like countdown timers a lot, they keep you focused. We have a couple of countdown timers, one for when the missus retires (18 months, 9 days) and another for paying off the rental and residence mortgages.

[steveo]

Love this idea, thanks for sharing!

I've calculated a more depressing ~2500 days till retirement :)

I'm at about this figure as well.

[Prepube]

I have 725 workdays until December 31 2017, a Sunday 2 years 9 months and 8 days from today.

Fun calculator: http://www.workdaysuntil.com/12/31/2017

I have to add all the Sundays and Saturdays in there since i own my business, but this calculator works great for you five-days-a-week people.

Sorry if somehow this is double-posted.  My browsers never like this forum and i have to do everything twice before it happens....