Author Topic: 2019 fire cohort  (Read 793000 times)

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1500 on: December 21, 2018, 06:34:51 PM »
Baring a miracle, I'm out.


Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1501 on: December 21, 2018, 09:51:07 PM »
Baring a miracle, I'm out.
Are you going to OMY?

gerardc

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1502 on: December 22, 2018, 02:40:41 PM »
With recent market events, I'm not at 4% WR anymore, so no FIRE. Might also need more for a family I hadn't planned for.
I'll just take a few months off, then figure it out. I'm a little sick of planning so much in advance anyway. I don't need to call it retirement or fit this in a well-labeled box. This is becoming more of an obsessive thought for me at this point. I'll work in the future. Maybe not now or next year, but in 10 or 20 years from now. Retirement at this point is premature and just ridiculous. I will take a short break, and maybe work remote for a bit, but stop making it this grandiose mission, or have the arrogance to pretend my whole life is all planned out...

DreamFIRE

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1503 on: December 22, 2018, 03:38:57 PM »
After this week, I'm on target for a 4.1% SWR in 5 months to meet my planned FIRE spending, which is FAT FIRE for me, and I could still get by on less than 2% SWR.  But I'm still considering an additional 10 months of full time employment for other reasons.  The market hasn't tanked enough yet for it to be a factor.  I expected a drop like this to come before too long, although I thought it might not be until "after" I FIREd.

MustacheAnxiety

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1504 on: December 23, 2018, 08:02:59 AM »
Early retirement now is my current favorite fire blog for it's mostly pure math goodness. We are learning toward the 3 year cash buffer that is spent down only once after the market drops 20 percent. Per big ERN it is similarly successful compared to a rising equity glide path but, at least for us is way easier to implement.

Cornbread OMalley

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1505 on: December 23, 2018, 08:30:31 AM »
Early retirement now is my current favorite fire blog for it's mostly pure math goodness. We are learning toward the 3 year cash buffer...
Where are you stashing that cash buffer?  I have a cash buffer that's a good amount and am looking for something to stash it in that is both liquid and less susceptible to erosion from inflation.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1506 on: December 23, 2018, 11:40:38 AM »
We just told told FIL about our Fire plans. He was an early retiree himself in 2000, but we heard today that he still did some consultancy work after that for any years. It was great to talk honestly and open about our plans to a person who has been in the same situation. He gave us some good advice about consultancy work: Work in your own field of expertise pays tenfold of whatever else you could earn. You can only do this for five years. After that you are not enough up to date and people won't take you seriously anymore. Even a short 3 month sabattical can cost you your job, because you are away to long and give others the chance to take over your job.
He thought it was great that we go for this and that we should do this for sure. He found it understandable because DH and I have always been working full time and have no children. FIL has no faith whatsoever in the stockmarket and thinks we should plan extremely conservatively for the future. He has himself lived off the stockmarket and pays his bank to invest for him.
Yesterday we also met my BIL and his wife/GF and children. They just we on an expensive vacation to South Africa. They also have pricy habits of buying expensive cheese. But they do buy fifth-hand toys for their children.  I don't have the impression they will retire soon. But they have seldom worked full-time. Mostly three or four days a week.
FIL has known several people who identified themselves through their work and who never really stopped. But he himself never had that need. He says he has never been so happy as when working on his private projects at home. This winter he built a woodstrip kayak and his next project is an electric guitar.

A few days ago I also hinted to my mother about early retirement, but didn't say it all. I think my mother might have more predudices.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2018, 12:04:30 PM by Linda_Norway »

gerardc

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1507 on: December 23, 2018, 12:05:30 PM »
You can only do this for five years. After that you are not enough up to date and people won't take you seriously anymore.

That's BS. I'm getting more outdated coasting at my big company tech job with their proprietary tech in the same project than I ever would as a consultant switching projects all the time.

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1508 on: December 23, 2018, 01:16:29 PM »
You can only do this for five years. After that you are not enough up to date and people won't take you seriously anymore.

That's BS. I'm getting more outdated coasting at my big company tech job with their proprietary tech in the same project than I ever would as a consultant switching projects all the time.

It is FIL's opinion.
DH has experienced to have a slightly different (more cruising type) job for 2-3 years. After that he came back at his previous level job. But it was probably based on his reputation he built up earlier. In his experience it took three months to get up to speed again.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1509 on: December 24, 2018, 08:38:24 PM »
Baring a miracle, I'm out.
Are you going to OMY?

It really depends on Mr. Markets mood at this point.....if we return to Sept 2018 levels, no.

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1510 on: December 25, 2018, 05:28:36 AM »
Ooommpphh...finally yesterday was rough in the market.

I've been a little more conservative than a total indexer, staying 90%+ equities but having some lower volatility names.   I also tossed all my available cash into some beat down sectors a week ago and bought some ahead of some cash coming in over the next six to twelve weeks.

Officially down 12.81% from my high watermark on net worth, investment returns are probably around -13.5% from the high because there's a little ongoing investment.  I should be cheering about this since its working exactly as designed, but being down over $200k is a little startling.

At least I finally understand the math behind the panic, time will tell if this pace of interest rate increases will break some of the corporate debt thats out there. 


waffles

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1511 on: December 25, 2018, 08:32:21 AM »
I'm at work today, working for the federal government that will, eventually, pay me when they get done with THEIR holiday and get back to doing their job. In theory.

After 27 years of working the vast majority of holidays, this should be my last Christmas spent at work! I am so looking forward to having actual holiday time at the holidays :-).

SpareChange

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1512 on: December 25, 2018, 09:28:50 AM »
I'm at work today, working for the federal government that will, eventually, pay me when they get done with THEIR holiday and get back to doing their job. In theory.

After 27 years of working the vast majority of holidays, this should be my last Christmas spent at work! I am so looking forward to having actual holiday time at the holidays :-).

I feel ya. About to start an 18hr shift in at 1pm. Will so NOT be doing that next year. :)

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1513 on: December 25, 2018, 02:57:52 PM »
The markets really are taking a beating.  I'm really glad DH and I were going to put at much into our 401ks in Q1, hopefully the sale will still be going.

On the sad front, we both hit our max in November, so we have missed out on most of the sale :(.

LV

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1514 on: December 25, 2018, 06:19:01 PM »
The markets really are taking a beating.  I'm really glad DH and I were going to put at much into our 401ks in Q1, hopefully the sale will still be going.

On the sad front, we both hit our max in November, so we have missed out on most of the sale :(.

LV

I think you'll see that sale get deeper through year-end.  Its been a long time since there's been this much tax loss harvesting activity at year-end

Eric

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1515 on: December 26, 2018, 01:26:27 PM »
The markets really are taking a beating.  I'm really glad DH and I were going to put at much into our 401ks in Q1, hopefully the sale will still be going.

On the sad front, we both hit our max in November, so we have missed out on most of the sale :(.

LV

I think you'll see that sale get deeper through year-end.  Its been a long time since there's been this much tax loss harvesting activity at year-end

You may be the official jinx.  Just to be safe, could you make some more dire predictions please?

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1516 on: December 26, 2018, 03:58:19 PM »
@Eric I was probably more thrilled than anyone about the rally today.

I've always had a habit of buying deep when a couple signals start flashing.   Mainly the VIX, every time it gets above 25, we're enterting into panic mode.  Panic may drive it higher, but its rare and you're usually buying at a nice discount.

 Its not been a problem before because I've been so far away from retirement I didn't mind going all into equities or even borrowing some in advance of deposits to my account. I did it again between 10-15% down.  Seeing it drop to 20% was a gut check, I shouldn't be doing that as much anymore as a 2019 cohert. 

I'll never be a 100% indexer, but I don't need to blow through my bond allocation and go into my margin line again.  Unwound a few things today at a profit, need it to get back to -10% before any of those moves are in the green.

I'll be finalizing a formal investor policy statement after this :)  No longer will it just be in my head

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1517 on: December 26, 2018, 05:42:54 PM »
It was nice to see some upward motion today, even if I have no money moving around. 

Today DH and I spent time working on our retirement budget.  We are still tweaking and tuning.  Now that we have all of our 2019 money pulled out of the market, the stress on what is going on is pretty low.  Don't need to think too much on it until late 2019, when we look at pulling for 2020.

LV

DreamFIRE

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1518 on: December 26, 2018, 06:45:58 PM »
With today's rally, I've only lost about 3 years of FIRE spending since late Sept.  Hopefully, it will start trending back up.  But I'll be more concerned in the final month or so leading up to FIRE and beyond.

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1519 on: December 26, 2018, 09:13:11 PM »
By the time we FIRE in June we should hold 3 years expenses in cash deposits. At some point during the 3 years immediately post FIRE we will prob sell our house in Sydney and buy a cheaper place. This will give us another pile of cash which will top up our cash reserves and we will also be buying more stocks With the sale proceeds as well.

In summary, it’ll be years before we sell any stocks. In fact we will even be reinvesting dividends for at least 5 or 6 years.

What is happening in the stock market these past few months is really of no relevance to me, but it still plays with the brain re: whether I am financially ready to FIRE..... does anyone have a crystal ball for 5 years from now??

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1520 on: December 27, 2018, 08:52:03 AM »
Crystal Ball - five years from now you are blissfully retired and continuously forgetting to look at the daily market performance.

Question for the cohort, where do you keep your cash or highly liquid investments?  I am mostly stocks, but DH and I are looking for a place to put earmarked money that we don't want sitting in cash.  We need to find homes for:
Emergency fund (safe and highly liquid)
Two years emergency mortgage payments (safe but low liquidity)
2019s out of pocket max for medical (medium liquid, safe)
2019 spending money (highly liquid monthly, very safe)

I've been looking at vanguards total bond market, not so great if the fed is raising rates, but is performing around inflation (I know so little about bonds it is kinda sad).  There are some CDs (1 year 18 month) that might work out, (I know slightly more about those).  And some high interest checking accounts, but we need something that doesn't require a direct deposit as our 2019 money is in a pile right now not coming out over time.

I have some of the funds in a money market right now, but the returns are so sad.  Inflation is just chipping away.

Thoughts?

Loren

dude

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1521 on: December 27, 2018, 09:58:02 AM »
Crystal Ball - five years from now you are blissfully retired and continuously forgetting to look at the daily market performance.

Question for the cohort, where do you keep your cash or highly liquid investments?  I am mostly stocks, but DH and I are looking for a place to put earmarked money that we don't want sitting in cash.  We need to find homes for:
Emergency fund (safe and highly liquid)
Two years emergency mortgage payments (safe but low liquidity)
2019s out of pocket max for medical (medium liquid, safe)
2019 spending money (highly liquid monthly, very safe)

I've been looking at vanguards total bond market, not so great if the fed is raising rates, but is performing around inflation (I know so little about bonds it is kinda sad).  There are some CDs (1 year 18 month) that might work out, (I know slightly more about those).  And some high interest checking accounts, but we need something that doesn't require a direct deposit as our 2019 money is in a pile right now not coming out over time.

I have some of the funds in a money market right now, but the returns are so sad.  Inflation is just chipping away.

Thoughts?

Loren

Vanguard has CDs from 2.55% (6-month) to 3.0% (1 year) and up for longer periods. I'm thinking of building CD ladder for the next two years with my cash. Almost no chance I'd need it all at once, so a ladder should provide me with enough liquidity (you can always bail early and take the penalty, which is usually only a couple months' worth of interest) and at least keep pace with inflation.

chasesfish

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1522 on: December 27, 2018, 01:59:18 PM »
I second just building a CD ladder with Fidelity or Vangaurd

DreamFIRE

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1523 on: December 27, 2018, 03:53:15 PM »
Crystal Ball - five years from now you are blissfully retired and continuously forgetting to look at the daily market performance.

Question for the cohort, where do you keep your cash or highly liquid investments?  I am mostly stocks, but DH and I are looking for a place to put earmarked money that we don't want sitting in cash. 

I currently keep a smaller amount of cash in my local bank.  I'm still working, so it's continuously replenished.

I have quite a bit invested in the Vanguard Prime MM, which is yielding 2.44% compounded now.  Although it's lower than a 1 year CD that's paying around 2.50% now though VG, the VG MM rate keeps edging up.

After the new year starts, I am looking at moving some into 1 year CDs or treasuries.  I would prefer more income delayed to 2020.

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1524 on: December 27, 2018, 04:06:02 PM »
Thank you for the feedback!! That was the direction I was leaning as well, but it is really nice to have others confirm :D.

LV


Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1525 on: December 28, 2018, 02:44:14 PM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

Pulling the list forward.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  2019 is almost here!!!

2019 FIRE Cohort:

01/01/19     Bingeworker (52)
01/31/19     Trifele (51)
02/01/19     Cycling Stache (44)
02/08/19     Socmonkey (37)
02/25/19     MaybeBabyMustache
02/??/19     zinnie  (35)
03/15/19     exit2019  (40)
03/19/19     ChasesFish (36)
03/??/19     MissNancyPryor  (50)     
03/??/19     Roboturner  (30)
03/??/19     Edgema
03/29/19     JumboShrimp
03/31/19     BlindSquirrel
03/31/19     Mr. Ver (39)
03/31/19     Loren Ver (36)
04/01/19     HalfStached  (41)
04/01/19     Gerardc  (35)
04/01/19     JoJo (45)
04/01/19     Ryder (39)
04/19/19     Eric
04/23/19     Lews Therin (29)
04/??/19     Luck12  (41)
04/??/19     PowerStache (43)
05/01/19     Albireo13  (61)                   
05/??/19     SamIAm38  (29)
05/??/19     FIRE 20/20  (42)
05/31/19     Pylortes  (42)
05/31/19     Odiedog8590  (62)
05/31/19     Livingthedream55  (59)
05/31/19     dude   
06/01/19     Prairie Stash
06/07/19     DreamFire
06/21/19     Parizade  (62)
06/22/19     Waffles  (52)
06/??/19     Oldtoyota
06/??/19     Itchyfeet  (47)
06/??/19     Bateaux  (50)
06/??/19     CryingInThePool  (44)
07/??/19     powersuitrecall  (47)
07/??/19     Enigma  (39)
07/??/19     Thedividebyzero  (45)
07/??/19     Keeks
07/01/19     Freedomin5 (38)
07/03/19     Gerard
07/03/19     Miss Piggy
08/01/19     SugarMountain
09/02/19     Cornbread OMalley  (42)  Date Confirmed
09/??/19     RetirementDreaming
10/01/19     2Birds1Stone  (32)
10/01/19     Linda_Norway
10/??/19     VoteCthulu  (39)
10/??/19     Trix76  (43)
10/??/19     MoMan  (55)
10/??/19     Dreamer
12/??/19     HBFI  (38)
12/??/19     luckyme13  (45)
12/27/19     moxie
12/31/19     texxan1  (47)

2019 Cohort with date TBD:
Lowerbills (40)
getoutsoon (52)
IPlawyer
MustacheAnxiety
forward

OLY FIRE-ees:
markbike528cbx  (55)      OLY -- CONFIRMED 6/1/18; checking in as OP
MoneyStacher  (50)         OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018
PhilB  (52)                      OLY -- CONFIRMED 10/24/18
sui generis  (41)              OLY -- CONFIRMED 8/17/18
TartanTallulah  (55)          OLY -- CONFIRMED 10/2018
cerat0n1a                       OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018 
Chairman                        OLY -- CONFIRMED 2018
Bognish (43)                   OLY -- CONFIRMED 11/16/18
Elaine amj (40)               OLY -- CONFIRMED 11/30/18   
« Last Edit: December 28, 2018, 05:57:14 PM by Trifele »

Bingeworker

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1526 on: December 28, 2018, 05:31:45 PM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

Pulling the list forward.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  2019 is almost here!!!

Add me ... January 1, 2019.  I will work a 12 hour shift on New Year's Eve, and then will stop working for money.  I will actually still work two days a month to keep my skills current as a precaution, since my < 3% withdrawal rate still makes my husband nervous (plus, as pathologically cautious person myself, it might be too scary otherwise to quit completely), but Jan. 1 is my freedom date.  I can't wait!

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1527 on: December 28, 2018, 06:04:30 PM »
Welcome @Bingeworker! Got you added.  What's your story?  Have you been planning FIRE for quite a while? 

ScreamingHeadGuy

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1528 on: December 29, 2018, 06:23:59 PM »
I am posting a pre-emptive “Congratulations!” to all of you in the upcoming year’s cohort.  I shall live vicariously through your triumphs in these next 12 months, so kick some butt.

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1529 on: December 29, 2018, 08:53:19 PM »
I am posting a pre-emptive “Congratulations!” to all of you in the upcoming year’s cohort.  I shall live vicariously through your triumphs in these next 12 months, so kick some butt.

As OP, I command thee to RE on time (kick some butt).  OMY, "X"MY shall be cast into (insert your least favorite place, if that be OMY or a lake of fire, OR bed of tarantulas OR whatever your sick imaginations take you). 

But really, join us, it's really nice here in the FIRE hot tub/pool/paradise of your choice.

Disclaimer: binge watching Game of Thrones with DW. 

Edit: spelling.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2018, 06:00:17 AM by markbike528CBX »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1530 on: December 30, 2018, 05:21:31 AM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

Pulling the list forward.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  2019 is almost here!!!

Add me ... January 1, 2019.  I will work a 12 hour shift on New Year's Eve, and then will stop working for money.  I will actually still work two days a month to keep my skills current as a precaution, since my < 3% withdrawal rate still makes my husband nervous (plus, as pathologically cautious person myself, it might be too scary otherwise to quit completely), but Jan. 1 is my freedom date.  I can't wait!

Good luck on your last shift. 12 hours is a long day.

Smart of you to maintain your skills a bit. That gives you some flexibility and choices.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1531 on: December 30, 2018, 06:52:58 AM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

Not officially, as I'm less confident in my ability to put up with bullshit at work than markets rebounding.

Happy Early New Year to my fellow 2019ers, it's going to be an epic year.

FIRE 20/20

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1532 on: December 30, 2018, 12:37:16 PM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

I'm still in for now.  My plan accounted for a drop like we saw recently, but if we get another 20% drop before my planned date I will reassess. 

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1533 on: December 30, 2018, 12:50:28 PM »
Welcome @Bingeworker !  That sounds like a great retirement date!

As for me, I started getting the Sunday blues on Friday and I don't have to go back to work until Jan 2nd.  Aww man, not cool.  There is a very large study that is waiting for my review once I get back.  I am not looking forward to that. 

The markets have been rough with us, but we are still good for our end of March dates even if we get no growth in 2019.  If we have major losses in 2019, things will get interesting, but we don't plan to pull out any money until Dec 2019, and don't HAVE to pull out money until a few months after that to refill some coffers.  I am really looking forward to adding money in at a discount. 

Some 2019 plans:

I have a two week trip with my mother in law end of Jan/Early Feb.  Great way to split up the last three months!

Our "good-bye work" travel starts April first (HA!).  We are planning on driving the route 66 (what is left of it) with plans to hit the Trinity site on one of the two days per year that it is open, among other things.  We like tacky things, as well as lovely views, but mostly tacky things :).

Then in July we have a family reunion in Wisconsin, so we plan on hitting some of the local sites on our voyage (more tacky things).  None of the family knows our FIRE plans, so that should be interesting.  Many of them have also not met DH, so that should be interesting as well. 

So exciting!!

Loren

Livingthedream55

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1534 on: December 31, 2018, 08:15:06 AM »
Sounds like there are several people on the fence now, watching the markets and weighing their options.  I don't think anyone has officially decided to OMY yet . . . ?

Pulling the list forward.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  2019 is almost here!!!

Add me ... January 1, 2019.  I will work a 12 hour shift on New Year's Eve, and then will stop working for money.  I will actually still work two days a month to keep my skills current as a precaution, since my < 3% withdrawal rate still makes my husband nervous (plus, as pathologically cautious person myself, it might be too scary otherwise to quit completely), but Jan. 1 is my freedom date.  I can't wait!
@Bingeworker   Congratulations on your last day of full-time work! Woohoo!

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1535 on: December 31, 2018, 09:00:03 AM »
I'm going to take an 8-10 week LoA regardless of what happens in the markets. And moving that date up to July 8th :)

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1536 on: December 31, 2018, 02:02:09 PM »
..snip.....
Our "good-bye work" travel starts April first (HA!).  We are planning on driving the route 66 (what is left of it) with plans to hit the Trinity site on one of the two days per year that it is open, among other things.  We like tacky things, as well as lovely views, but mostly tacky things :).  ..snip...

Loren
Glad I'm not the only nerd. It is amazing how many people show up at TRINITY, yet are freaked out by a Geiger counter.
Other sights "nearby", include Robert H. Goddard ( rocket pioneer) museum in Roswell, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, the VLA (Very Large Array, background to the movie Contact).

Fortunate NON-conversation:
TSA Agent, what's this in your carry on?
Me, a GM, a nuclear radiation detector.
TSA Agent, What are you doing with it?
Me, going on vacation.

I realized later that my entry and exit airports were probably the only ones where an Eberline (based in Albuquerque) GM wouldn't have caused much interest.

Edit new museum name, GM story.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2018, 02:23:14 PM by markbike528CBX »

Rubyvroom

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1537 on: December 31, 2018, 05:52:03 PM »
I am posting a pre-emptive “Congratulations!” to all of you in the upcoming year’s cohort.  I shall live vicariously through your triumphs in these next 12 months, so kick some butt.

Pretty much what I am here for too (aka, PTF). Get at it 2019! :)

itchyfeet

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1538 on: January 01, 2019, 03:36:08 AM »
Well folks, finally after the long haul of accumulation we have made it to OUR year. Congratulations to all of you.

I still have not whispered a word of my intentions to anyone other than DW.

Over XMas I was having a drink with a friend and saying that I had suffered enough in my job and would repatriate to Australia this year. I mentioned that my aim was to get out of work as early as I could so was not so focussed on further career progression. He asked when was I going to stop work... I wasn’t ready to share my dreams of FIRE this year so said 55 (I am 47).

He replied “why would you want to retire at 55??  You will most likely live to over 90!!  What would you do for 40 years?”.

He certainly isn’t looking at the opportunities the world presents in the same way as me, so i let the conversation move on.

I still feel that telling people I am going to stop working at 47 to be a full time adventurer, middle aged athlete (I am very far from this atm) and coffee connoisseur is rather outrageous and preposterous, and even ridiculous. Even when I FIRE I doubt I will tell anyone what my long term dreams are. For now it will just be “taking a break between expat life and finding a new job back home”.

2019 is going to be EPIC!

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1539 on: January 01, 2019, 04:44:40 AM »
Happy New Year everyone!  After all our planning, hoping, dreaming, and talking -- 2019 is here. 

Waiting to hear from @Bingeworker.  We may have our first FIRE-ee of the year already?

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1540 on: January 01, 2019, 06:48:48 AM »
Welcome 2019!!!  We have been waiting so (or not so) patiently for you!!!

I have to go back to work tomorrow but I'm not done being on vacation :(.


..snip.....
Our "good-bye work" travel starts April first (HA!).  We are planning on driving the route 66 (what is left of it) with plans to hit the Trinity site on one of the two days per year that it is open, among other things.  We like tacky things, as well as lovely views, but mostly tacky things :).  ..snip...

Loren
Glad I'm not the only nerd. It is amazing how many people show up at TRINITY, yet are freaked out by a Geiger counter.
Other sights "nearby", include Robert H. Goddard ( rocket pioneer) museum in Roswell, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, the VLA (Very Large Array, background to the movie Contact).

Fortunate NON-conversation:
TSA Agent, what's this in your carry on?
Me, a GM, a nuclear radiation detector.
TSA Agent, What are you doing with it?
Me, going on vacation.

I realized later that my entry and exit airports were probably the only ones where an Eberline (based in Albuquerque) GM wouldn't have caused much interest.

Edit new museum name, GM story.

HAHA!  No, not the only nerd.  I've worked in radioactive labs for about 10 years, so actually appreciate well functioning Geiger meters.  If they are totally quiet, something has gone wrong :). 

Thank you for the other suggestions, we are still looking to fill in the rest of the trip (adding in the limiting or dated options first).  It is nice to have a trip where we have a start date, but the end date is when we are ready to be home again. 

Loren

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1541 on: January 01, 2019, 09:52:32 AM »
Year end numbers are in, and I have just three months until freedom!

7/15: 41.6% FI
10/15: 40.1%
1/16: 45.6%
4/16: 50.4%
7/16: 53.7%
10/16: 60.7%* (due to reducing expenses and better modeling, we reduced our FI target from 1.8million to 1.7)
1/17: 63.5%
4/17: 75.3%
7/17: 44.4%* (Condo purchase. FI target reduced from 1.7million to 1.3, not including condo.)
10/17: 50.6%
1/18: 56.3%
4/18: 62.3%
7/18: 64.6%
10/18: 71.6%
1/19: 63.8%

Well, that was a rough quarter - we lost about 100K with the market drop. However, everything has been set in motion and there is no looking back! Even with this, between my severance package, my wife's work and my salable collectables, we'll be fine. March 5 here we come!

LadyMaWhiskers

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1542 on: January 01, 2019, 11:35:20 AM »
And just like that, quite lacking fanfare, mortgage is paid off! It didn’t seem too real sending the check, but getting a $1.87 refund is helping to make it real.

Murphy paid a timely visit in December, with hospital bills to calm the exuberant cash-stacking that would otherwise have commenced today

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1543 on: January 01, 2019, 01:14:28 PM »
And just like that, quite lacking fanfare, mortgage is paid off! It didn’t seem too real sending the check, but getting a $1.87 refund is helping to make it real.

Murphy paid a timely visit in December, with hospital bills to calm the exuberant cash-stacking that would otherwise have commenced today

Congrats on paying off your mortgage.

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1544 on: January 01, 2019, 07:44:41 PM »
Year end numbers are in, and I have just three months until freedom!

7/15: 41.6% FI
10/15: 40.1%
1/16: 45.6%
4/16: 50.4%
7/16: 53.7%
10/16: 60.7%* (due to reducing expenses and better modeling, we reduced our FI target from 1.8million to 1.7)
1/17: 63.5%
4/17: 75.3%
7/17: 44.4%* (Condo purchase. FI target reduced from 1.7million to 1.3, not including condo.)
10/17: 50.6%
1/18: 56.3%
4/18: 62.3%
7/18: 64.6%
10/18: 71.6%
1/19: 63.8%

Well, that was a rough quarter - we lost about 100K with the market drop. However, everything has been set in motion and there is no looking back! Even with this, between my severance package, my wife's work and my salable collectables, we'll be fine. March 5 here we come!

Congratulations for powering through the tough quarter! 
There are people on the 2M-3M thread who are backpedaling (OMY, TMY,IndefiniteMY) much faster than they got there.

markbike528CBX

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1545 on: January 01, 2019, 07:58:34 PM »
Welcome 2019!!!  We have been waiting so (or not so) patiently for you!!!

I have to go back to work tomorrow but I'm not done being on vacation :(.


..snip.....
Our "good-bye work" travel starts April first (HA!).  We are planning on driving the route 66 (what is left of it) with plans to hit the Trinity site on one of the two days per year that it is open, among other things.  We like tacky things, as well as lovely views, but mostly tacky things :).  ..snip...

Loren
Glad I'm not the only nerd. It is amazing how many people show up at TRINITY, yet are freaked out by a Geiger counter.
Other sights "nearby", include Robert H. Goddard ( rocket pioneer) museum in Roswell, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, the VLA (Very Large Array, background to the movie Contact).

Fortunate NON-conversation:
TSA Agent, what's this in your carry on?
Me, a GM, a nuclear radiation detector.
TSA Agent, What are you doing with it?
Me, going on vacation.

I realized later that my entry and exit airports were probably the only ones where an Eberline (based in Albuquerque) GM wouldn't have caused much interest.

Edit new museum name, GM story.

HAHA!  No, not the only nerd.  I've worked in radioactive labs for about 10 years, so actually appreciate well functioning Geiger meters.  If they are totally quiet, something has gone wrong :). 

Thank you for the other suggestions, we are still looking to fill in the rest of the trip (adding in the limiting or dated options first).  It is nice to have a trip where we have a start date, but the end date is when we are ready to be home again. 

Loren

If you are on a plane, no sound is best.   
If people who intentionally go to Trinity and are freaked out by a clicking GM, imagine the reaction on a plane at 30,000 ft , (10K cpm x 10% efficiency, ~1666 Bq).   
Trinity at waist level at the tower footings was ?<5k cpm?  Socorro background 4600 was ~500cpm.
I felt like Moses parting the Red Sea of people.

I made damn sure the sound was off (triple self check).

Bingeworker

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1546 on: January 01, 2019, 08:04:16 PM »
Happy New Year everyone!  After all our planning, hoping, dreaming, and talking -- 2019 is here. 

Waiting to hear from @Bingeworker.  We may have our first FIRE-ee of the year already?

Thanks everyone for the welcome!  Yes, I am FIREd.  Today was my first day of not working for a living any more.

My story in a nutshell:  I never really planned on FI, as I was someone who realized within 3 years of finishing university that full-time work was not for me.  I took two stabs at being a normal person with a full-time job within that span. One lasted 4.5 months, the other lasted 3 months.  I'd had part-time jobs in there too, and realized that I was not a big spender, and my middle-class income level (I am a nurse) was enough to support my modest lifestyle.

Back then (1989), working minimalist like I did was not really a thing, and many warned me against it, saying that those were my most important earning years, and that I would get behind and never catch up.  While I am not a math person, I am pretty good with big-picture financial estimations, and I knew I was on the right track, despite swimming completely against the flow.  I also just LOATHED working full-time and not having my freedom, and I was very frugal naturally, and was unwilling to trade my life for money.  My brother actually was planning to retire early though, and I read a book that he had read, Charles Long's "How to Survive Without a Salary", 1992, which gave me the reassurance that part-time work by design might be unconventional, but would work just fine.

What I didn't expect, is that I would gradually reach FI anyway.  I had just assumed I would work part-time forever as that would be the trade-off for not being a conventional full-time employee.  I'm not sure when exactly I became FI, but I noticed it last year, when I was concerned my 40% part-time job was going to end, and I examined my finances to see how much less I could work if I had to look for a new job.  I did the math and was surprised to find that the answer was that I really did not have to work at all.  That's when I came back to this forum and read some threads and looked at the links to the various FI calculators, and added up what I would get for CPP and OAS (I am Canadian), and no matter what scenario I fed it, I was getting 100% success rates if I quit immediately.

Well, this of course increased my job dissatisfaction, and I eventually resigned from my part-time gig, effective end of November.  However, during my one-month's notice, a 10% part-time job in a different unit of the same department of my employer was posted.  I applied, not expecting to get it as I really did only want to work the 10% and they usually want someone desperate for work who will pick up extra work, but I did get it.  This led to a very weird retirement transition scenario, where 3 days after my old job ended, I had to immediately start full-time at the new one for a month, to get oriented to the new position.

So that ended yesterday, and now I am free!  I will work one day every two weeks, which keeps my husband from getting nervous, and me too actually, as we are pathologically cautious and responsible with money.  It's not for the actual money, I don't need it and I know it, it's rather a way to preserve my ability to earn an income, as a hedge against any future rampant inflation events.  I know it's unlikely to occur, but in these early years of retirement at least, it puts the last duck in a row for total security, or as close as anyone can ever get.

Even though I have been part-time all my working life, it still feels AMAZING to be free.  Even 40% was just eating up so much of my time!  Work consumes mental energy and seeps into free time.  My tiny remaining gig should not do so too much, it's a "show up once every 14 days, work 8-12 hours, and go away again" type of job, the one I had before that was a little more involved.

I am really looking forward to watching the rest of you meet your 2019 exit dates!  Whoohoo!  Let the freedom begin!!!

Trifle

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1547 on: January 02, 2019, 04:08:49 AM »
Congratulations to Bingeworker, our first FIRE of the year! 


2019 FIRE Cohort:

01/01/19     Bingeworker (52)   CONFIRMED
01/31/19     Trifele (51)
02/01/19     Cycling Stache (44)
02/08/19     Socmonkey (37)
02/25/19     MaybeBabyMustache
02/??/19     zinnie  (35)
03/15/19     exit2019  (40)
03/19/19     ChasesFish (36)
03/??/19     MissNancyPryor  (50)     
03/??/19     Roboturner  (30)
03/??/19     Edgema
03/29/19     JumboShrimp
03/31/19     BlindSquirrel
03/31/19     Mr. Ver (39)
03/31/19     Loren Ver (36)
04/01/19     HalfStached  (41)
04/01/19     Gerardc  (35)
04/01/19     JoJo (45)
04/01/19     Ryder (39)
04/19/19     Eric
04/23/19     Lews Therin (29)
04/??/19     Luck12  (41)
04/??/19     PowerStache (43)
05/01/19     Albireo13  (61)                   
05/??/19     SamIAm38  (29)
05/??/19     FIRE 20/20  (42)
05/31/19     Pylortes  (42)
05/31/19     Odiedog8590  (62)
05/31/19     Livingthedream55  (59)
05/31/19     dude   
06/01/19     Prairie Stash
06/07/19     DreamFire
06/21/19     Parizade  (62)
06/22/19     Waffles  (52)
06/??/19     Oldtoyota
06/??/19     Itchyfeet  (47)
06/??/19     Bateaux  (50)
06/??/19     CryingInThePool  (44)
07/??/19     powersuitrecall  (47)
07/??/19     Enigma  (39)
07/??/19     Thedividebyzero  (45)
07/??/19     Keeks
07/01/19     Freedomin5 (38)
07/03/19     Gerard
07/03/19     Miss Piggy
08/01/19     SugarMountain
09/02/19     Cornbread OMalley  (42)  Date Confirmed
09/??/19     RetirementDreaming
10/01/19     2Birds1Stone  (32)
10/01/19     Linda_Norway
10/??/19     VoteCthulu  (39)
10/??/19     Trix76  (43)
10/??/19     MoMan  (55)
10/??/19     Dreamer
12/??/19     HBFI  (38)
12/??/19     luckyme13  (45)
12/27/19     moxie
12/31/19     texxan1  (47)

2019 Cohort with date TBD:
Lowerbills (40)
getoutsoon (52)
IPlawyer
MustacheAnxiety
forward

« Last Edit: January 02, 2019, 05:50:40 AM by Trifele »

Linea_Norway

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1548 on: January 02, 2019, 04:58:14 AM »
@Bingeworker : welcome. How is your husband's situation? Is he also FIREd? Do you have shared finances?

Loren Ver

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Re: 2019 fire cohort
« Reply #1549 on: January 02, 2019, 06:29:32 AM »
Welcome 2019!!!  We have been waiting so (or not so) patiently for you!!!

I have to go back to work tomorrow but I'm not done being on vacation :(.


..snip.....
Our "good-bye work" travel starts April first (HA!).  We are planning on driving the route 66 (what is left of it) with plans to hit the Trinity site on one of the two days per year that it is open, among other things.  We like tacky things, as well as lovely views, but mostly tacky things :).  ..snip...

Loren
Glad I'm not the only nerd. It is amazing how many people show up at TRINITY, yet are freaked out by a Geiger counter.
Other sights "nearby", include Robert H. Goddard ( rocket pioneer) museum in Roswell, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, the VLA (Very Large Array, background to the movie Contact).

Fortunate NON-conversation:
TSA Agent, what's this in your carry on?
Me, a GM, a nuclear radiation detector.
TSA Agent, What are you doing with it?
Me, going on vacation.

I realized later that my entry and exit airports were probably the only ones where an Eberline (based in Albuquerque) GM wouldn't have caused much interest.

...snip

Loren

If you are on a plane, no sound is best.   
If people who intentionally go to Trinity and are freaked out by a clicking GM, imagine the reaction on a plane at 30,000 ft , (10K cpm x 10% efficiency, ~1666 Bq).   
Trinity at waist level at the tower footings was ?<5k cpm?  Socorro background 4600 was ~500cpm.
I felt like Moses parting the Red Sea of people.

I made damn sure the sound was off (triple self check).

HAHAHA!  Yes, no sound, or off would have been good for a plane ride!

Congratulations to @Bingeworker!! One down many to go!!  @Trifele you are next, are you ready??

LV