Author Topic: 2023 FIRE cohort  (Read 202909 times)

friedmmj

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #600 on: January 25, 2022, 07:21:04 AM »
I'm very happy this is happening now and not in January 2023.  We have a little time for it to cycle through.

Yes, I can relate to that.  I moved to the 2022 cohort and am taking the plunge and retiring one month from today!  I gave my notice at the top of the market on Jan 4 lol.  At the rate we are going, I may actually be looking for a job again the  Monday after I retire.

friedmmj

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #601 on: January 25, 2022, 07:59:32 AM »
Another year is in the books, and for many it was a holding pattern.  I certainly fit that description as I am just hanging on for the end right now.

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Investments
==============
Ok, this was another wild year, though not as crazy as 2020.  Not sure what spurred me on, but I decided to get even more hands on with my investments.  And that seemed to give me a boost I was hoping for but really wasn't expecting (details below).

My investments started the year at $1,305,000 and ended at $1,796,000.  As I put $52,000 into my accounts this year, that means the the growth was $439,000 (or a 33.64% growth).  With my yearly expenses near $30,000 that growth is just insane (though when I retire I expect expenses to grow to $50k).  All my contributions were Roth or taxable, no tax deferred as I have too much already.

My pension is still in the haircut zone otherwise I would be leaving today.  I could leave today and get near $27,000/year even so.  If I make it to the end of 2022 my pension will jump to $44,000/year, and it will be paying me $65,000/year until I turn 67.  Given those huge jumps I want to stick it out until then.

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Everything Else
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As of mid-October my employer went from full work from home to 2 days in, and 3 days work at home.  Of course when we are in the office we are supposed to wear a mask 100% of the time and stay six feet away from others.  Yep, this sure makes a lot of sense.  *sigh*  I am carrying 47 days of vacation over to 2022 and I will get another 26 during the year.  As I don't care to carry over any into 2023 I plan on using the whole 73 days in 2022.  So 260 week days less 73 days less 12 holidays less another 15 or so sick days... so only 160 work days for 2022?

The returns in my investment buckets used to be similar, but this year the numbers are different.  I worked on putting higher growth stock into my Roth account and it worked giving me growth of 58.8% in my Roth account, whereas my taxable account grew 30.5% and 457 account grew 29.6%.  Also mid November my accounts were up over $525k, but ended the year up *only* $491k.  I need to remember how far I am up, not that I am down over $30k the last 6 weeks.

The GF & I went south for a three week vacation in Oct/Nov.  As I came into the year with three free timeshare weeks that was to be expected, but she chipped in with one week for the trip.  So I am carrying one week over to 2022 (I wasn't able to get any more free weeks this year) to add to the week I use from my mother and we will do at least two weeks this year, possibly three again.

I had been cleaning out clutter the past few years, and so this fall the garage was the next on my hit list.  It still has a lot in it, but it is so much better already.  Also cleaned up some of my DRIPs.  I got two of them transferred into my brokerage account.  I'm down to four DRIPs left, maybe I will move them to my brokerage this year?

I started working out in a local gym this year.  I think this has helped me get closer to my prior health before lockdown, but I still have a ways to go to get there.

The use of a Limited Flexible Spending Account worked out great this year.  It covered all but $150 of my vision and dental expenses, even including the invsi-braces I got this year. 

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Not so Random Item
===================
I've been trying to do "In Plan Roth Rollover"s in my 457b plan as I have too much tax deferred already.  This year I did $30,000 in rollovers/conversions.  However even with that (and no contributions) the taxable portion of my account grew over $200,000 (now almost $780,000).  Given this I need to change my strategy some this year.

1) I need to convert/rollover more.  Not sure how much more, but definitely more.  And...
2) I need to convert/rollover earlier in the year.  I'm not sure why I didn't do that this year.  My rollovers were in April and November.  Over a decade ago I started contributing as much as I was comfortable into my 457 at the beginning of each year as I figured that would help do better most years, and it did.  Well... the same should hold true with rollovers.  And yet I delayed the last two years.  Live and learn.  My only excuse is my 457b plan will only allow two rollovers per calendar year, so I tend to be cautious about doing one early.  This year I am doing one early, d@MN the consequences.

OK everyone - the end is arriving soon.  But it will lead to a new beginning.

Good time for more roth conversions Phrugal.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #602 on: January 25, 2022, 11:23:25 AM »
  I gave my notice at the top of the market on Jan 4 lol.  At the rate we are going, I may actually be looking for a job again the  Monday after I retire.

That's funny.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #603 on: January 25, 2022, 11:24:44 AM »
Bringing this to the new page....

01/2023 RWTL (51)
02/2023 MaybeBabyMustache(46)
02/2023 Thriftyc (49)
03/2023 Retiring gaijin
03/2023 mtnrider
04/2023 PhrugalPhan (60)
04/03/2023 AccidentalMiser (55)
04/2023 SEAK
04/2023 FIREupDOOON
05/2023 Wanttobehome (55)
05/2023 dougules (44) - could vary a lot
05/2023 paideuma
05/2023 Locksmith (46)
05/2023 drumstache (53)
05/2023 lutorm (52)
05/2023 watchmaker (40)
05/31/2023 mistymoney (55)
06/2023 marblejane
06/2023 fuzzy math (41)
06/2023 HuffDuf41 (41)
06/2023 Present Muse
06/1/2023 2Birds1Stone (35)
07/2023 pdxvandal (48)
08/2023 Erutio (43)
09/2023 FrugalShrew (36)
10/2023 Phryne
10/2023 Mathew675
11/2023 frugal rph
11/2023 garyjames8 (49)
12/2023 Bateaux
12/2023 beer-man
12/2023 CindyBS
12/2023 FI Curious
12/2023 Landlady
12/2023 NESailor
12/2023 PVkcin
12/2023 RedHotLama
12/2023 rpr
12/2023 SpeedReader
12/2023 Spiffsome
12/2023 Stache-O-Lantern (48)
12/2023 stupidiot8
12/2023 wannabe-stache
12/2023 bottlerocks
12/2023 lauren_knows (42)
12/2023 TomTx (50)
12/25/2023 moof (46)
12/31/2023 StarBright (41)
12/31/2023 Peony2019
12/31/2023 BFGirl (56)


OLY:

12/2019 I'm Fred
??/2020 Mmm_Donuts
12/2021 Arbitrage
02/22/2022 friedmmj
?  Le Dérisoire
11/10/2022  Slow road to freedom
2022 Blissful Biker

OMY:

02/2024 grantmeaname
12/2024 OurTown
12/2027 FireryFIRE
Ardrum (39)
« Last Edit: April 05, 2022, 02:50:05 PM by RWTL »

2Birds1Stone

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #604 on: January 25, 2022, 11:40:02 AM »
I'll be 35 :)

PhrugalPhan

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #605 on: January 25, 2022, 12:35:55 PM »
Good time for more roth conversions Phrugal.
I did my early year rollover last Wednesday (I can only do 2 per year).  Maybe I didn't hit the bottom, but its sure lots better than if I did it the first week of the year.  So I'll look at it as glass half full.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #606 on: January 25, 2022, 12:54:08 PM »

mtnrider

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #607 on: January 29, 2022, 01:18:36 PM »
I think I can be added for the next refresh of the list, although I'm not sure of the criteria.

Bringing this to the new page....
03/2023 Retiring gaijin
03/2023 mtnrider         <------- you can add me here
04/2023 PhrugalPhan (60)
04/03/2023 AccidentalMiser (55)
04/2023 SEAK
04/2023 FIREupDOOON

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #608 on: January 29, 2022, 02:56:04 PM »
I think I can be added for the next refresh of the list, although I'm not sure of the criteria.

Bringing this to the new page....
03/2023 Retiring gaijin
03/2023 mtnrider         <------- you can add me here
04/2023 PhrugalPhan (60)
04/03/2023 AccidentalMiser (55)
04/2023 SEAK
04/2023 FIREupDOOON

I added you to the list!  Let me know if you want to declare an age at retirement.

bottlerocks

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #609 on: February 01, 2022, 11:09:51 AM »
In the past month I've waffled from OLY to OMY to now idk what.  I think it's a good sign I need to bust out the spreadsheet and get extreme about tracking and analysis for at least the rest of the calendar year.  Reverse budgeting is great for my mental but throw in a couple large-ish one off expenses over the past year (new house, vehicle replacement) and I really lost sight of variability/risk.  Not to say I haven't built up anti-fragility muscles over my FIRE journey, but they've definitely atrophied some since hitting FU numbers and getting married.

Bateaux

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #610 on: February 21, 2022, 09:48:30 AM »
In the past month I've waffled from OLY to OMY to now idk what.  I think it's a good sign I need to bust out the spreadsheet and get extreme about tracking and analysis for at least the rest of the calendar year.  Reverse budgeting is great for my mental but throw in a couple large-ish one off expenses over the past year (new house, vehicle replacement) and I really lost sight of variability/risk.  Not to say I haven't built up anti-fragility muscles over my FIRE journey, but they've definitely atrophied some since hitting FU numbers and getting married.

The recent loss of 200K in our portfolios has me questioning our Fire Month.  Officially I'm in the list here as 12-2023.  I'd started to plan 5-2023.  Now using PTO strategically I may stick to the end of 2023.  I can work one day in 2024 and reboot 7 weeks of PTO.  Giving me till nearly March with a paycheck and benefits for one day of work.

SwordGuy

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #611 on: February 21, 2022, 02:43:01 PM »
In the past month I've waffled from OLY to OMY to now idk what.  I think it's a good sign I need to bust out the spreadsheet and get extreme about tracking and analysis for at least the rest of the calendar year.  Reverse budgeting is great for my mental but throw in a couple large-ish one off expenses over the past year (new house, vehicle replacement) and I really lost sight of variability/risk.  Not to say I haven't built up anti-fragility muscles over my FIRE journey, but they've definitely atrophied some since hitting FU numbers and getting married.

The recent loss of 200K in our portfolios has me questioning our Fire Month.  Officially I'm in the list here as 12-2023.  I'd started to plan 5-2023.  Now using PTO strategically I may stick to the end of 2023.  I can work one day in 2024 and reboot 7 weeks of PTO.  Giving me till nearly March with a paycheck and benefits for one day of work.

Ok, we'll cut you 1 workday's worth of slack to get 7 weeks of pay.  But just this once! :)

Watchmaker

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #612 on: February 21, 2022, 03:38:08 PM »
I can already see that I'm going to struggle with my timing. Right now I'm down for 5/2023 because I think it would be nice to retire with the summer ahead of me. The way my pay is structured, I get a big lump sum in April (~25% of total pay) and a bigger lump sum in November (33% of total pay). If I stay through November, I might as well stay through the end of the year to get 4 more weeks of vacation (not as good as 7 weeks, but still), but then that puts me only a few months out from April and another big chunk...

Bateaux

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #613 on: February 21, 2022, 08:34:16 PM »
In the past month I've waffled from OLY to OMY to now idk what.  I think it's a good sign I need to bust out the spreadsheet and get extreme about tracking and analysis for at least the rest of the calendar year.  Reverse budgeting is great for my mental but throw in a couple large-ish one off expenses over the past year (new house, vehicle replacement) and I really lost sight of variability/risk.  Not to say I haven't built up anti-fragility muscles over my FIRE journey, but they've definitely atrophied some since hitting FU numbers and getting married.

The recent loss of 200K in our portfolios has me questioning our Fire Month.  Officially I'm in the list here as 12-2023.  I'd started to plan 5-2023.  Now using PTO strategically I may stick to the end of 2023.  I can work one day in 2024 and reboot 7 weeks of PTO.  Giving me till nearly March with a paycheck and benefits for one day of work.

Ok, we'll cut you 1 workday's worth of slack to get 7 weeks of pay.  But just this once! :)

I'm still scheduled for vacation time May 15 to July 1 in 2023.  I'm still planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail during that 45 day period.   If I want to keep hiking, I'll just retire July 1.  It's crazy, but each day at work keeps getting better.  I'll still be 55 till the end of June 2024.  My company benefits are locked in at 55.  We'll see how bad the the coming recession is.  I'd rather it come now, but the Fed is dragging ass raising interest rates.

ardrum

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #614 on: March 09, 2022, 10:35:33 AM »
Hey, 2023 cohort.  I did some calculations to update projected living expenses, including taking into account inflation trends and travel plans, and I am unfortunately thinking this is going to push me into the 2024 cohort (at least).  I used to have >80% progress to FI, but with new updated estimates, I am not quite 70% to FI. 

I just wanted to share so that I can be shamefully admitted to the OMY category.  :/

Good luck to everyone in making 2023 the year!!!

mistymoney

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #615 on: March 09, 2022, 10:53:09 AM »
Hey, 2023 cohort.  I did some calculations to update projected living expenses, including taking into account inflation trends and travel plans, and I am unfortunately thinking this is going to push me into the 2024 cohort (at least).  I used to have >80% progress to FI, but with new updated estimates, I am not quite 70% to FI. 

I just wanted to share so that I can be shamefully admitted to the OMY category.  :/

Good luck to everyone in making 2023 the year!!!

if these trends continue, I may follow you soon!

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #616 on: March 10, 2022, 03:02:27 AM »
Hey, 2023 cohort.  I did some calculations to update projected living expenses, including taking into account inflation trends and travel plans, and I am unfortunately thinking this is going to push me into the 2024 cohort (at least).  I used to have >80% progress to FI, but with new updated estimates, I am not quite 70% to FI. 

I just wanted to share so that I can be shamefully admitted to the OMY category.  :/

Good luck to everyone in making 2023 the year!!!

I put you down for OMY.  Did you want to set a month in 2024?

I feel the same as misty money....lots of variables that could impact my date.

frugal rph

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #617 on: March 13, 2022, 10:42:40 AM »
In September I was really burned out so I stepped down from my pharmacist in charge position to on call. I had been working every other weekend for 20 years, so I told them I would work Mondays and Wednesdays for awhile. I ended up switching to a different district because my manager couldn’t stop pressuring me to work more. Now in my new district I just tell them when I can work and they are happy to have me because I work hard and take care of management tasks no matter which pharmacy I’m working in. I’m pretty content and probably going to keep working 1 to 3 days a week for several more years instead of retiring in Nov 2023. It’s so thrilling to have control over my schedule that I don’t mind dealing with the public so much anymore!

AO1FireTo

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #618 on: March 13, 2022, 11:45:27 AM »
In September I was really burned out so I stepped down from my pharmacist in charge position to on call. I had been working every other weekend for 20 years, so I told them I would work Mondays and Wednesdays for awhile. I ended up switching to a different district because my manager couldn’t stop pressuring me to work more. Now in my new district I just tell them when I can work and they are happy to have me because I work hard and take care of management tasks no matter which pharmacy I’m working in. I’m pretty content and probably going to keep working 1 to 3 days a week for several more years instead of retiring in Nov 2023. It’s so thrilling to have control over my schedule that I don’t mind dealing with the public so much anymore!

Sounds like the best of both worlds.  Low stress job, flexibility and protection from the ups and downs of the market.  Well done.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #619 on: March 14, 2022, 04:25:30 AM »
In September I was really burned out so I stepped down from my pharmacist in charge position to on call. I had been working every other weekend for 20 years, so I told them I would work Mondays and Wednesdays for awhile. I ended up switching to a different district because my manager couldn’t stop pressuring me to work more. Now in my new district I just tell them when I can work and they are happy to have me because I work hard and take care of management tasks no matter which pharmacy I’m working in. I’m pretty content and probably going to keep working 1 to 3 days a week for several more years instead of retiring in Nov 2023. It’s so thrilling to have control over my schedule that I don’t mind dealing with the public so much anymore!

Do you want me to leave you on the list or move you to OMY?

Thanks for what you do.  Being a pharmacist is really important to our healthcare system.  I have a number of family members who want to go talk with their pharmacist before they go see the doctor.

PhrugalPhan

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #620 on: March 27, 2022, 05:55:56 PM »
Ok guys, 2023 is approaching and this group is just too quiet.  I know the market has been down, but it's recovering, right?  I'm currently down less than $100,000 from the start of the year, which given I was up well over $400,000 last year doesn't stress me at all.  Hopefully everyone else is seeing their stash re-inflate.

Anyone have some good plans for this last full year to make it more enjoyable?  I have yet to use any of my planned days off for this year, but I just planned a couple weeks off to do a cross country drive in June and then some more weeks in Florida in November.  The drive is due to me getting a Tesla in May and I figure that will be a good way to break it in (but hopefully not break down!).  Other than these, I still want to take off another ~50 days so I should be taking a number of long weekends once the weather gets warmer.

TomTX

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #621 on: March 27, 2022, 06:58:34 PM »
Hey, PP!

Thanks for poking at the group!

Doing OK here. Planning on a re-evaluation come September due to the vagaries of the pension, inflation rate, etc.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #622 on: March 28, 2022, 03:38:19 AM »
Still watching and waiting to determine my final date.  In the meantime, I have a week off in another two weeks.  This will be one of four weeks I'm taking off this year!

I'm going to approach my boss in the second half of the year about moving to another state.   He works remotely full time, and one of his other indirect reports works out of state, so I think this should be a reasonable request.  That said, when I talked about working at my other home for a week, he reluctantly agreed. 

I think if the conversation doesn't go well, I'll pull the plug on my current job and look for something else.  My current job can't be beat for medical, salary, and duties...but I do want to move.


Wanttobehome

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #623 on: March 28, 2022, 06:46:19 AM »
Ok guys, 2023 is approaching and this group is just too quiet.  I know the market has been down, but it's recovering, right?  I'm currently down less than $100,000 from the start of the year, which given I was up well over $400,000 last year doesn't stress me at all.  Hopefully everyone else is seeing their stash re-inflate.

Anyone have some good plans for this last full year to make it more enjoyable?  I have yet to use any of my planned days off for this year, but I just planned a couple weeks off to do a cross country drive in June and then some more weeks in Florida in November.  The drive is due to me getting a Tesla in May and I figure that will be a good way to break it in (but hopefully not break down!).  Other than these, I still want to take off another ~50 days so I should be taking a number of long weekends once the weather gets warmer.

I have mentally divided my remaining time into thirds.
I have travel plans for Italy and Spain in first segment. Travel in Wales and glamping at a festival in the second segment. Finally a cruise around Canary Islands and upto Spain, next April just before I finish.
Still on track for May 2023

FrugalShrew

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #624 on: March 29, 2022, 11:46:07 AM »
Okay, I think I'm in for 2023 FIRE.

It's a lot less exciting than I thought it would be for a variety of reasons, one of the major ones being that I have developed some health issues that leave me exhausted pretty much all the time. On the other hand, work has gone from being just a pain to something that I don't think I could even physically do indefinitely. So FIRE will be a huge relief.

FIRE shall come...not with a bang, but with a whimper. 

pdxvandal

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #625 on: March 29, 2022, 12:27:24 PM »
I'm still on track for July 2023, despite some of the market turmoil. I just read "Die With Zero" and it's really helped me with my mindset that I can't afford NOT to retire and live my life without being shackled to a job.

I can always go back to work if I have to, and I probably will at some point for lower-paying things I'd rather do, but won't be full time ever again. Interviewing with some other companies out of boredom (and some interest), but can't imagine starting somewhere new with 15 months left to go ... despite the fact I could get 25-30% more pay.

mistymoney

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #626 on: March 29, 2022, 01:56:55 PM »
Okay, I think I'm in for 2023 FIRE.

It's a lot less exciting than I thought it would be for a variety of reasons, one of the major ones being that I have developed some health issues that leave me exhausted pretty much all the time. On the other hand, work has gone from being just a pain to something that I don't think I could even physically do indefinitely. So FIRE will be a huge relief.

FIRE shall come...not with a bang, but with a whimper.

wishing you good thoughts for upgrading that whimper by 2023.

FrugalShrew

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #627 on: March 29, 2022, 02:31:12 PM »
Okay, I think I'm in for 2023 FIRE.

It's a lot less exciting than I thought it would be for a variety of reasons, one of the major ones being that I have developed some health issues that leave me exhausted pretty much all the time. On the other hand, work has gone from being just a pain to something that I don't think I could even physically do indefinitely. So FIRE will be a huge relief.

FIRE shall come...not with a bang, but with a whimper.

wishing you good thoughts for upgrading that whimper by 2023.

Aww thanks. I am trying to improve my health, but I am also grateful that I will be able to FIRE. I would probably skinny FIRE today if it weren't for the fact that my job is a temporary position and my boss is super nice and I would be leaving him in the lurch. I just have to hold out until the job naturally ends, and then I can collapse in a heap!

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #628 on: March 29, 2022, 06:43:56 PM »
Okay, I think I'm in for 2023 FIRE.

It's a lot less exciting than I thought it would be for a variety of reasons, one of the major ones being that I have developed some health issues that leave me exhausted pretty much all the time. On the other hand, work has gone from being just a pain to something that I don't think I could even physically do indefinitely. So FIRE will be a huge relief.

FIRE shall come...not with a bang, but with a whimper.

wishing you good thoughts for upgrading that whimper by 2023.

Aww thanks. I am trying to improve my health, but I am also grateful that I will be able to FIRE. I would probably skinny FIRE today if it weren't for the fact that my job is a temporary position and my boss is super nice and I would be leaving him in the lurch. I just have to hold out until the job naturally ends, and then I can collapse in a heap!

Did you want to declare a date and your age for the list @FrugalShrew ?

garyjames8

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #629 on: March 30, 2022, 03:41:16 AM »
Hi RWTL,

Many thanks for keeping our FIRE 2023 group list up-to-date.

Much appreciated.

FYI: I would be 49 in November 2023.  Feel free to add my FIRE age to your roll call list.

Best Regards,

Gary

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #630 on: March 30, 2022, 03:51:02 AM »
Hi RWTL,

Many thanks for keeping our FIRE 2023 group list up-to-date.

Much appreciated.

FYI: I would be 49 in November 2023.  Feel free to add my FIRE age to your roll call list.

Best Regards,

Gary

Updated!

FrugalShrew

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #631 on: March 30, 2022, 08:58:42 AM »
Did you want to declare a date and your age for the list @FrugalShrew ?

Oh sure! I don't know the exact day, but it will definitely be by the end of September. I guess you could just say Sept 30.

I will be 36.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #632 on: March 30, 2022, 03:32:54 PM »
Did you want to declare a date and your age for the list @FrugalShrew ?

Oh sure! I don't know the exact day, but it will definitely be by the end of September. I guess you could just say Sept 30.

I will be 36.

Awesome!  Welcome to the party.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #633 on: March 30, 2022, 03:41:49 PM »
@Dicey Did "Mr. Dicey" move to the 2022 cohort?

FrugalShrew

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #634 on: March 30, 2022, 03:52:48 PM »
Awesome!  Welcome to the party.

Thanks! I feel really great about joining this cohort and declaring my intention--it seems real all of a sudden. And I love the phrase that someone said above: I will be retiring next year!

Dicey

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #635 on: March 30, 2022, 08:41:13 PM »
@Dicey Did "Mr. Dicey" move to the 2022 cohort?
Whoops! I thought I'd updated that. Happy to report that today was his last working day. He'll be on vacation until July 1, 2022 and then he's OUT! He turned in his company cell phone today, but no one asked him for his company CC. It's still in his wallet. He texted his boss that he could just shred it, but no reply yet. I guess they're not too worried about him.

Good luck to everyone in the cohort. Tiny violin: there was no cohort for 2012, so I've been have having fun posting his journey.

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #636 on: March 31, 2022, 04:32:14 AM »
@Dicey Did "Mr. Dicey" move to the 2022 cohort?
Whoops! I thought I'd updated that. Happy to report that today was his last working day. He'll be on vacation until July 1, 2022 and then he's OUT! He turned in his company cell phone today, but no one asked him for his company CC. It's still in his wallet. He texted his boss that he could just shred it, but no reply yet. I guess they're not too worried about him.

Good luck to everyone in the cohort. Tiny violin: there was no cohort for 2012, so I've been have having fun posting his journey.

Tell him congrats! 

mistymoney

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #637 on: April 16, 2022, 09:19:40 AM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

ixtap

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #638 on: April 16, 2022, 09:40:12 AM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

Does this mean that you are wondering if your FI projections will pan out because you were planning to turn in your resignation when you hit a certain number?

Or are you starting to question the whole plan in the face of inflation and uncertainty?

Personally, I don't make detailed models. I have a general structure and stay aware of the shifting factors that affect it.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2022, 09:44:07 AM by ixtap »

PhrugalPhan

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #639 on: April 16, 2022, 10:18:32 AM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?
Right now its a tale of conflicting issues.

On the bad side I'm digging into my money a year ahead of time (ugh).  I have a Tesla ($$$) on order and currently supposed to be delivered within the next month.  Other bills have come up in the past few months and this is the part of the year I contribute extremely high amounts to my retirement account (457).  So I am not to the point my savings can't handle the expenses, but I do get concerned.

On the good side I am getting a Tesla (yay), and my pension is going to come online with no haircut by Christmas of this year (retire any time after that and I am guaranteed $5k/mo.).  I have 74 annual leave days I can take between now and year end.  And the employer is talking about giving everyone an extra two weeks of annual leave due to all the extra work in the past two years.  And I have no plans to use any leave until June so maybe I will have 84(!) days to use in the last seven months of the year.  And I should have my 457 plan completely contributed to by end of July, so after that my take home will triple in size and my savings will start to refill then.  And I have a cross country trip planned for June. 

Investments are down a few % from end of last year, but nothing major.

So I guess I am in great shape, but it just doesn't feel like it quite yet.

mistymoney

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #640 on: April 16, 2022, 01:48:26 PM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

Does this mean that you are wondering if your FI projections will pan out because you were planning to turn in your resignation when you hit a certain number?

Or are you starting to question the whole plan in the face of inflation and uncertainty?

Personally, I don't make detailed models. I have a general structure and stay aware of the shifting factors that affect it.


both?

When selecting the 2023 date I was anticipating continued growth of about 10% which is certainly not panning out.

At the same time, my thought on a yearly spend that was reasonable and doable seemed solid and informed. I have no idea how expenses may change with the current inflationary pressures. But it's certainly going to be more than I thought on a stache that is less.

On the other hand - emotionally - I just don't think i can sign on for a OMY!

So leaves me feeling somewhat unsettled.

TomTX

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #641 on: April 16, 2022, 01:54:25 PM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

It's making me less likely to "jump ship" for 2022 ;)

As I've mentioned previously:
Next month we'll see how serious my grandboss is about return to the office. I've been 100% WFH for well over 2 years and had my best reviews ever. I'm not going back to the office.

mistymoney

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #642 on: April 16, 2022, 01:54:30 PM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?
Right now its a tale of conflicting issues.

On the bad side I'm digging into my money a year ahead of time (ugh).  I have a Tesla ($$$) on order and currently supposed to be delivered within the next month.  Other bills have come up in the past few months and this is the part of the year I contribute extremely high amounts to my retirement account (457).  So I am not to the point my savings can't handle the expenses, but I do get concerned.

On the good side I am getting a Tesla (yay), and my pension is going to come online with no haircut by Christmas of this year (retire any time after that and I am guaranteed $5k/mo.).  I have 74 annual leave days I can take between now and year end.  And the employer is talking about giving everyone an extra two weeks of annual leave due to all the extra work in the past two years.  And I have no plans to use any leave until June so maybe I will have 84(!) days to use in the last seven months of the year.  And I should have my 457 plan completely contributed to by end of July, so after that my take home will triple in size and my savings will start to refill then.  And I have a cross country trip planned for June. 

Investments are down a few % from end of last year, but nothing major.

So I guess I am in great shape, but it just doesn't feel like it quite yet.

you are in great shape! 5k a month guaranteed? that is very secure.

I also plan to buy a tesla before i retire :) they are pricey.

i bought 100 tesla shares last year in my roth, currently up only 30k, am hoping that when I order my roth gain will be equal or more than the car price and I will consider it a free car.

How did you decide what model to get? i am looking at 3 and y and unsure. would consider the truck but the wait seems so long....

did you do a test drive? if so, how did you arrange that?

PhrugalPhan

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #643 on: April 16, 2022, 06:05:05 PM »
you are in great shape! 5k a month guaranteed? that is very secure.

I also plan to buy a tesla before i retire :) they are pricey.

i bought 100 tesla shares last year in my roth, currently up only 30k, am hoping that when I order my roth gain will be equal or more than the car price and I will consider it a free car.

How did you decide what model to get? i am looking at 3 and y and unsure. would consider the truck but the wait seems so long....

did you do a test drive? if so, how did you arrange that?
I did a test drive in February but it was a bit of a dud.  I was able to set this up for about a week after I put in the request.  I got the car for a 30 minute drive.  About 2 miles from the service center I got stuck in a bad traffic jam and once finally out of it there was only a few minutes left so I went another mile and then turned back. (Wonderful No. VA traffic - grrrrrr).  It was enough to let me know there was nothing terrible about the car (and I loved the single pedal driving), so I put in an order March 1st.  A week later they had those overdue price hikes so it would have cost $4k more if I ordered two weeks later.

Its a Model Y long range.  Mostly standard options other than blue paint and FSD (I look at that as an investment).  I had put two reservations in for Cybertruck back spring '21 thinking it would be in production already.  Now looking at order queue for the truck I am thinking I may get them in 2026 if I'm lucky so I may as well get the model Y now.

Like you I bought TSLA last year - about 450 shares in my various accounts from March to August.  Its a big reason why my investment growth was so crazy at the end of last year.  Since then I have tried to add at dips (though my timing hasn't always been the best), so overall I have 670 shares (about 380 are Roth and 85 are in my taxable account) and I would guess I am up $150k on those shares combined.  Thankfully only 10 shares have a cost basis of over $1k/share.  My last purchase was 26 shares in my 457 account on 3/14 at $765/share (Yes, I was lucky there - I was going to buy a few days earlier but my intra-account transfer got held up and was only available beginning that day - so I hit a near minimum due to a slow account transfer - better to be lucky than good).  If we have a major drop in the coming months I may buy more, but I suspect I have as many shares as I will have for some time at this point (ignoring a coming stock split).

RWTL

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #644 on: April 17, 2022, 08:31:21 AM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

Still a bit up in the air for me.  My youngest child is struggling a bit in college and may not graduate on my timeline - which is OK.  Inflation and returns may play a role too.  It would be great if we could have a correction, get inflation under control, and snap back to current valuations all within 12 months. 

I'm still keeping my date as Jan 2023, but it could shift anywhere in 2023 at this point.

fuzzy math

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #645 on: April 17, 2022, 02:13:21 PM »
My trajectory towards the $1MM mark is more uncertain now. Seeing $40k swings over the period of a few days. Its hard to imagine what the next 18 months or so will look like but I think I'll still feel secure enough to jump ship next year assuming the markets aren't *way* down at that point. Although we're down now from such ridiculous highs that I can't evaluate whats truly down any more.


marblejane

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #646 on: April 27, 2022, 08:26:21 PM »
How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

I got multiple raises over the past nine months at work as a retention effort, and am now making more money than I'd ever imagined. I think the higher income must be offsetting the poor market performance, as my spreadsheet models indicate that I am still on track to hit my number by next June. We also just had an offer accepted on a house, and are closing next month, so that will check a big pre-FIRE box off the list. I will get a much better sense of my housing cost / maintenance budget once we are moved in & settled a bit. The way that I feel is that there isn't a lot to do besides continue to execute on the plan - I can always keep working if next year rolls around and the balance feels too light.

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #647 on: April 28, 2022, 06:30:27 AM »
My trajectory towards the $1MM mark is more uncertain now. Seeing $40k swings over the period of a few days. Its hard to imagine what the next 18 months or so will look like but I think I'll still feel secure enough to jump ship next year assuming the markets aren't *way* down at that point. Although we're down now from such ridiculous highs that I can't evaluate whats truly down any more.

Are you planning on retiring with $1M?  If so, I'd love to hear the details.  Seriously, because I think my wife has made me soft.

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #648 on: April 28, 2022, 08:19:51 AM »

My goal for 2021 was to take all of my PTO and that failed miserably, partially because of my own sense of responsibility. So I'm working towards just taking more PTO again so that I feel comfortable cutting the cord in two years.

I feel you.  I wanted to as well.  And failed.  It's complicated though.  I was reasoning though why I didn't take the PTO:
  • I feel pride in the work and want to be there to guide it.
  • The artificial business deadlines would still be there and I'd either have to work 25 to 50% longer for the weeks following a vacation, or have a draining conversation with management.  As in many megacorps, they reward visible heroics instead of sustainability, and I played into that.
  • But it's also my responsibility to live sustainably.  Both for myself and as an example to colleagues.

With this in mind, I'm making it an explicit goal this year.  Even if balls get dropped.

The bolded is a huge reason I never mess with taking all of my PTO. I'm often pulling late nights/all nighters in the days leading up to PTO and after just to catch up. I am essentially a one person department in many ways. And with two young kids, my PTO often isn't that relaxing anyways. So I end up more drained from taking PTO than just working. But I also feel like I need save PTO for days when the kids are off throughout the year, especially in the last two years.


How is the 2023 cohort doing in these uncertain times?

I am shoring up some more "safe" money, but feeling confused on how to plan for/project into 2023 to know if I am really going to be ready.

How are you all looking at this? modeling etc. through the next 5-10 years?

I am still looking at 2023 - but I am Coast FIREing, and my husband currently has no interest in retiring until traditional retirement age, so I have more wiggle room than most.

We are waiting on his salary to catch up to mine a bit so that our family has more options in my "retirement". Husband would prefer us not touch our stache at all, so I'm working until he makes more. (And yes I still consider myself coast FIRE because I will have enough in my personal accounts that I could RE if I wanted). We've had some stuff come up for oldest child that will likely require therapies and supports that aren't covered by insurance so we'll see how that shakes out as well.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2022, 08:26:26 AM by StarBright »

PhrugalPhan

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Re: 2023 FIRE cohort
« Reply #649 on: April 28, 2022, 10:41:10 AM »
I did a little math exercise today.  If I wanted to use up every leave I could (annual, comp, sick, volunteer) how far short would it get to my "I can retire with no leave included date" (that date is when I can get my full pension with no haircut no matter what).  Turns out I wouldn't be short at all (I would have maybe one day left over).  I guess I just crossed a new milestone, so to speak.  Of course getting approval to use 145 days of sick leave would be a problem short of having a major, major, major health issue.  So I will continue to work for now, but I am probably going to be taking about 10 days off every month starting June.  They best start getting that backup selected if they want this work to continue because when I am gone I ain't coming back.