2024 FIRE Cohort

[Turtle]

Adding myself to the 2024 Cohorts.  Gave notice this morning but agreed to hang on until mid-March to help resolve a backcharge issue with a supplier.  After that it's 2-3 weeks of vanlifing in amazing southern Utah. Woot-woot!

Congratulations!

And Congrats also to the other folks who have put in their notice, and MoneyBadger on the first week of freedom!  Do come back and tell us how it's going.

[ToughMother]

Big congrats to @crabby.van.man, @Money Badger, and @By the River  for their 2024 GIVE NOTICE days or BEING DONE!  WOOT!

[ptobest]

Looks like I have officially joined this cohort. I had planned to turn in my two weeks mid-April. However, I got laid off today, and, given my decent severance package, I see no reason to look for another job with less than 3 months left before I was originally planning to FIRE. Soooo, guess I'm FIRED today. Would have liked to stick around long enough to get my yearly bonus and to see some stock vest, but I also know I'm lucky that I'm getting the severance package I'm getting, and it's at least the value of the combined bonus and stock. But, it still feels like having the rug pulled out from underneath me.

Anyhow, I have zero idea on how to emotionally process this! Maybe I need to take a walk...

[grantmeaname]

Fuck yeah!!! Congrats!

[Turtle]

Looks like I have officially joined this cohort. I had planned to turn in my two weeks mid-April. However, I got laid off today, and, given my decent severance package, I see no reason to look for another job with less than 3 months left before I was originally planning to FIRE. Soooo, guess I'm FIRED today. Would have liked to stick around long enough to get my yearly bonus and to see some stock vest, but I also know I'm lucky that I'm getting the severance package I'm getting, and it's at least the value of the combined bonus and stock. But, it still feels like having the rug pulled out from underneath me.

Anyhow, I have zero idea on how to emotionally process this! Maybe I need to take a walk...

Congratulations!

[deborah]

Looks like I have officially joined this cohort. I had planned to turn in my two weeks mid-April. However, I got laid off today, and, given my decent severance package, I see no reason to look for another job with less than 3 months left before I was originally planning to FIRE. Soooo, guess I'm FIRED today. Would have liked to stick around long enough to get my yearly bonus and to see some stock vest, but I also know I'm lucky that I'm getting the severance package I'm getting, and it's at least the value of the combined bonus and stock. But, it still feels like having the rug pulled out from underneath me.

Anyhow, I have zero idea on how to emotionally process this! Maybe I need to take a walk...

I can understand this - you’re leaving when they dictate, rather than when you’ve decided to. However, you’re better off than you would otherwise be financially, and it’s really hard being one of the ones left behind when others in the team are laid off.

Congratulations on being out, and good luck with your future!

[mspym]

Looks like I have officially joined this cohort. I had planned to turn in my two weeks mid-April. However, I got laid off today, and, given my decent severance package, I see no reason to look for another job with less than 3 months left before I was originally planning to FIRE. Soooo, guess I'm FIRED today. Would have liked to stick around long enough to get my yearly bonus and to see some stock vest, but I also know I'm lucky that I'm getting the severance package I'm getting, and it's at least the value of the combined bonus and stock. But, it still feels like having the rug pulled out from underneath me.

Anyhow, I have zero idea on how to emotionally process this! Maybe I need to take a walk...

Congratulations and well done on FIREing. Enjoy the heck out of your walk and hopefully it all settles down soon.

Fun story: a similar thing happened with my husband where we had been planning for April this year, he got laid off in June last year and we took the money and ran. Surprise: he still got the annual bonus in December! We did *not* see that coming.

[ptobest]

Thank you all for the congratulations, I really appreciate it!

Fun story: a similar thing happened with my husband where we had been planning for April this year, he got laid off in June last year and we took the money and ran. Surprise: he still got the annual bonus in December! We did *not* see that coming.

Wow, that's really great that he got his bonus!

I will not be getting mine, for sure. I had timed my plan for FIREing to be right after I got my yearly bonus, and also soon after I got some stocks vesting. I am officially "let go" in a month, on March 7th (though I'm no longer working as of now, they just keep laid off employees on for an extra month for wrapping things up, and other reasons I don't fully understand), and I would have had some stocks vest on March 10th, so I'm a bit grumbly that they couldn't have waited 3 days. I also had a 6 week paid sabbatical I was scheduled to take (with the plan to quit after I came back). I calculated it out, and the amount of $$ from the 6 paid weeks of sabbatical + bonus + stocks, and my severance package, is basically the same amount. And I am working hard to view this as "hooray I get the same amount of $ I would have gotten anyways" and not "man if only they'd waited". But, the big layoffs at my company often happen this time of year, probably to avoid having to pay those bonuses.

In other news, my last week of work overlaps with when I was going to start my sabbatical, so on my official last day, I will be somewhere in the Caribbean on a cruise, so I am looking forward to that!

[mtnrider]

Looks like I have officially joined this cohort. I had planned to turn in my two weeks mid-April. However, I got laid off today, and, given my decent severance package, I see no reason to look for another job with less than 3 months left before I was originally planning to FIRE. Soooo, guess I'm FIRED today. Would have liked to stick around long enough to get my yearly bonus and to see some stock vest, but I also know I'm lucky that I'm getting the severance package I'm getting, and it's at least the value of the combined bonus and stock. But, it still feels like having the rug pulled out from underneath me.

Anyhow, I have zero idea on how to emotionally process this! Maybe I need to take a walk...

Surprise!  And congratulations! 

And at least you're able to take time to process that shock.

[MinouMinou]

@ptobest , Congratulations!!!!

I can completely understand the surprise and ambivalence. You had been preparing and planning for outcome A, and then unexpectedly were delivered, not by choice, outcome B.

Yet…you are FIREd! Hurray! I hope you can process in whatever way you need to, and acknowledge your own success.

I was just imagining how someone who was not basically ready to FIRE might be feeling right now. Possibly panicking. While you can ease into your retirement…a little earlier than planned.

[ptobest]

Yeah, I feel in a much better place than some of my colleagues who were laid off. I also redid my math, and found a miscalculation, and apparently I am getting 10k more than I would have if I had waited until April to quit. Feeling better already!

And, turns out my processing involves food. I baked a gingerbread cake yesterday, and today I walked to the library and back and got a book on baking bread. Nothing like a few carbs to help my FIRE freedom really sink in.

[mspym]

Yeah, I feel in a much better place than some of my colleagues who were laid off. I also redid my math, and found a miscalculation, and apparently I am getting 10k more than I would have if I had waited until April to quit. Feeling better already!

And, turns out my processing involves food. I baked a gingerbread cake yesterday, and today I walked to the library and back and got a book on baking bread. Nothing like a few carbs to help my FIRE freedom really sink in.

Yeah, we worked out that Ofpym would have been in the same financial situation if we FIREd on the original timeline but this way he got another 9 months of his life back and we didn't have to pay Sydney rents.

Love the baking decompression. We did that and random long walks with the dog in the middle of the day while running out the clock.

[ToughMother]

With some folks who have FIREd as part of the 2024 cohort, seems like a good time for an updated list.
Feel free to message me with any corrections or updates

FIRED!!!
1/2/2024 @Bluenose1966
1/13/2024 @phildonnia's DW
1/31/2024 @Money Badger
1/2024 @Irateplatypus & partner in Feb
2/6/2024 @ptobest
2/20/24 @mtnrider
2/24/24 @doneby35

FI!! (no RE yet, thanks)
Wageslave23
techwiz
Eco_eco

Plans to FIRE (with date)
1/16/2024  bluecollarlawyer  @bluecollarlawyer ?
2/2/2024 Lienlord did you pull the trigger @Lienlord ?
3/8/2024  ToughMother last working day 2/29
3/15/2024 crabby.van.man GAVE NOTICE!
3/22/2024 Bateaux
3/29/2024 JungYo
Early 2024  Simpli-FI
4/2024  FireDAD
4/2024  PacificaFog  (51) 
5/1/2024  By the River  (60) GAVE NOTICE!
5/3/2024 PA_mtn_biker
6/28/2024  Anon-E-Mouze  (60)
6/2024  Cool Hwhip  (57)
6/2024  rmorris  (50)
7/1/2024  Ambergris 
7/9/2024  1SLOLS1  (40)
8/2/2024  Nobodyinparticular
Fall 2024  zhelud 
12/1/2024 AO1FireTo
12/2024 MinouMinou (53)
Late 2024  Kissthesky  (34)

Plans to FIRE (no date given)
Abe  (40)  FI, but not RE
Andrewenz
Asauer
BeardedLady  (38)
begood  (60)
BiggerFishToFI  (37)
Boganvillia
Brooklynmoney  (50)
connor
Dcarrol
Dreams_and_discoveries  (44)
DutchGirl (45)
Eco-eco  (48)
farmecologist (maybe or 2025)
Fattest_foot
Freezerburn (46)
FrugalShrew
Froggie  (40)
FrogStash  (46)
garyjames8
Goanywhere (40)
Greensheep  (45)
Lamplighter  (36)
Highbeam  (46)
Hucktard  (44)
Hula Hoop  (52)
Ifelfreudndin
Iknowiyam
Jade
Jupiter  (30)
Kakashi
Kaposzta  (40)
LadyStash
LmoArk  (45)
Marblejane
Marty998
Miss Piggy  (55)
ModernIncantations
Mohawbrah
Mozar  (41)
MrThatsDifferent
MVal
Nangirl 17  (45)  (may do OMY)
Pdxbator  (50)
PharmaStache  (40)
Plainjane
PMJL34
Rubybeth  (43)
scantee (may do O/+MY)
ScottdaleSaver  (44)
SimpleDreamer - DH  (50)
Sisto  (52)
Snowball  (43)
Spruce  (37)
StacheInAFlash
StarBright
themagicman
Travis  (43)
WSUCoug1994
Zaga

OLY
2019  Blahhh456 (38) - mini RE
2022  ItsALongStory
2022  mspym
2022  Need2Save  (51)
2022  Roboturner
2022  TomTX
2023  Blissful Biker  (52)
2023  navyswim01 
2023  Phryne

O/+MY
2025  jlcnuke
2025  OurTown
2025  Pdxvandal
2025? snuka
2025? ardrum
2026  lilkidjesus
2026? Edwards
2026? Neo von retorch
2026? Turtle
2026? grantmeaname
2027  RWD
2029  dogboyslim

[mtnrider]

Plans to FIRE (with date)[/b]
01/2024 mtnrider @mtnrider ?

A few more weeks for me.  Helping with transition.  Should be before 1-March.

[ToughMother]

Thanks for the update @mtnrider -- hope the last few weeks go smoothly!

@ptobest -- while the outcome sounds in line with your intention to FIRE and perhaps you got a few more $$ out of it, it sounds like the abruptness of the process was jarring! no wonder it will take some time to settle into what is typically a meaningful and sometimes tricky transition. hope you are able to settle into all of it eventually.

[ptobest]

Yeah, I feel in a much better place than some of my colleagues who were laid off. I also redid my math, and found a miscalculation, and apparently I am getting 10k more than I would have if I had waited until April to quit. Feeling better already!

And, turns out my processing involves food. I baked a gingerbread cake yesterday, and today I walked to the library and back and got a book on baking bread. Nothing like a few carbs to help my FIRE freedom really sink in.

Yeah, we worked out that Ofpym would have been in the same financial situation if we FIREd on the original timeline but this way he got another 9 months of his life back and we didn't have to pay Sydney rents.

Love the baking decompression. We did that and random long walks with the dog in the middle of the day while running out the clock.

9 months, nice! I like that perspective and need to remind myself I'm getting 3 extra months of my life back this way versus my original plan. And I am definitely also starting to do the "long walk" decompression method. I have a generally hard time in the Winter, so being able to go outside mid-day for a long period of time when the sun is high and the cold is manageable is super helpful mental health-wise.

[ptobest]

@ptobest -- while the outcome sounds in line with your intention to FIRE and perhaps you got a few more $$ out of it, it sounds like the abruptness of the process was jarring! no wonder it will take some time to settle into what is typically a meaningful and sometimes tricky transition. hope you are able to settle into all of it eventually.

Yeah, I've been thinking on it, and it's a few things - like abruptness, along with the loss of control over when I get to leave. I suppose there's a loss of value/appreciation as well - even though I was part of a cohort of people let go, mostly from the same department, and was assured it was no reflection of my skill or ability, there's still the underlying thought of "I wasn't needed anywhere else", especially when handoff of my work was "give my manager a few wiki links on work I've been doing" and that was it. I also accept that my own mental fallacy played into it - while I might be valued by individual coworkers, it's a big public company and cares not for me.

I think once I work through residual grief related to the layoff (as well as letting go the the "job = identity" mindset I'd be dealing with regardless of how I left the job) that I'll finally be able to settle into my new freedom and the giant list of hobbies and new ventures I have in wait.

[Cool Hwhip]

Everything is coming together for our retirement in June. My DW has processed paperwork to leave her teaching position. I have not yet given notice or shared my early retirement plans with anyone at work. We will be traveling full time in a camper van starting in June. Sold our house a year and a half ago and have been renting since then. Our new adventure begins in four months. This would never of been possible without the knowledge gained from this community. A big thank you!!

[frugalecon]

I have been giving some serious thought to dropping out of the 2025 cohort and switching to this one. The rationale for staying in 2025 is that there is a fairly significant benefit to making it to a particular time-in-service milestone. I could achieve that milestone by working until the end of January and then running out my annual leave. Alternatively, I could just put in motion the plan to leave this spring. The NPV of going the extra time is on the order of $300k. I know what the responsible thing is to do…but at the same time an extra year is really feeling like a mental grind, and I have little doubt that the numbers work fine either way.

I guess I could just say I will take it a day/week/month at a time, but it is hard for me not to be a clock watcher.

[RWD]

With some folks who have FIREd as part of the 2024 cohort, seems like a good time for an updated list.
Feel free to message me with any corrections or updates
[...]
Plans to FIRE (no date given)
RWD
[...]

Unfortunately our expenses have more than doubled. I'm kicking the can down the road another 3MY...

[MinouMinou]

Hi @ToughMother , thank you for compiling this list! I think I have pushed my date back to December 2024 rather than June, barring unforeseen circumstances. That will allow for new car purchase first (we are a one-car family with a limping-along 20 yr old Honda Civic) and some extra cash padding for SORR. Now that I have a solid plan, I'm going to focus on doing more of the things I want to do more of post-FIRE. (and try learn to gently redirect my thoughts from the impatient plan/worry/plan/worry cycle)

[wageslave23]

You can take me off the list. We've reached our goal, but work is going good so I'll probably keep working a couple more years. Or until I get pissed off and quit ;)

[techwiz]

I still haven't given notice, not sure if I will end up riding out my vacation leave and end up dragging my retirement date longer or not.   I think safely say I am "FI" now as my stache number is the highest it's ever been with this latest market rally.  The early retirement "RE" part of FIRE might be pushed down the road.

[ToughMother]

Thanks to all for the updates -- I've modified the post to reflect what you've shared.

Congrats to @techwiz and @wageslave23 for hitting their numbers!

@MinouMinou - sounds like you're in the same boat I was! I added a few months to save a bit more cash for a few items we want to get before I hit the FIRE button. Good luck on the car savings! We're putting money in that bucket too.

@RWD - keep up the good work and good luck with your new cohort.

@Cool Hwhip - those sound like some awesome plans for you and the DW!

[mtnrider]

I am at liberty.

[Turtle]

I am at liberty.

Woo hoo!  ::: Snoopy Dance :::

[Turtle]

@ToughMother  Unless layoffs hit my department, I'll most likely be Class of (early) 2026 so I really don't need to be on the official list.

I'll keep hanging out here, though, to cheer everyone on. 

[MinouMinou]

Congrats @mtnrider !!

Health insurance is my big sticking point right now.

 Due to a large planned expense, we’re going to max out the family deductible on my HSA work plan in this first quarter of 2024. If I left my job mid year, we would qualify for ACA plans with a nice subsidy for monthly premiums, but a new 7k per person deductible. That is a gamble I’m not very comfortable with. There is COBRA, but rates are about 1.5k/month, a lot for leanFIRE.

Alas, I think it makes sense to stay until December 1st and apply for the ACA Marketplace for next year, when we will hopefully qualify for more subsidies without my income (or at least will not have already paid 7k deductible). :(

Unless any of you brilliant Mustachians have other ideas?

I have gone around and around this.

[Turtle]

Congrats @mtnrider !!

Health insurance is my big sticking point right now.

 Due to a large planned expense, we’re going to max out the family deductible on my HSA work plan in this first quarter of 2024. If I left my job mid year, we would qualify for ACA plans with a nice subsidy for monthly premiums, but a new 7k per person deductible. That is a gamble I’m not very comfortable with. There is COBRA, but rates are about 1.5k/month, a lot for leanFIRE.

Alas, I think it makes sense to stay until December 1st and apply for the ACA Marketplace for next year, when we will hopefully qualify for more subsidies without my income (or at least will not have already paid 7k deductible). :(

Unless any of you brilliant Mustachians have other ideas?

I have gone around and around this.

Sounds like you have already thought it out and come to the most logical conclusion.  At least you'll have a good holiday season present to yourself and much to celebrate at New Year's!

[grantmeaname]

If your worst case scenario is a $7k loss, I would argue you shouldn't postpone your retirement by six months for that. What is that, a month or two of your savings lost? Not at all worth missing your first summer and fall of retirement.

[mtnrider]

I am at liberty.

Woo hoo!  ::: Snoopy Dance :::

Saying goodbye, I felt a bit like the 10th Doctor here.  "I don't want to go"
https://youtu.be/RB3z8Ehk6TI?feature=shared&t=83

Gonna cool the engines for a while then plan the next adventure.

[mtnrider]

Congrats @mtnrider !!

Health insurance is my big sticking point right now.

 Due to a large planned expense, we’re going to max out the family deductible on my HSA work plan in this first quarter of 2024. If I left my job mid year, we would qualify for ACA plans with a nice subsidy for monthly premiums, but a new 7k per person deductible. That is a gamble I’m not very comfortable with. There is COBRA, but rates are about 1.5k/month, a lot for leanFIRE.

Alas, I think it makes sense to stay until December 1st and apply for the ACA Marketplace for next year, when we will hopefully qualify for more subsidies without my income (or at least will not have already paid 7k deductible). :(

Unless any of you brilliant Mustachians have other ideas?

I have gone around and around this.

Sounds like you have already thought it out and come to the most logical conclusion.  At least you'll have a good holiday season present to yourself and much to celebrate at New Year's!

@MinouMinou

I would, and have, made a similar decision.  Healthcare is an awkward system in the US.

You may know this but I think you'll have to pay the full rate next year, but you'll get the subsidy amount back when you file your taxes.  You might want to investigate it just in case.

Something else to think about - if you're staying until December and the company resets insurance in January, you might consider staying until January 5th (or whatever) and maxing out the FSA.  Cover all the medical stuff you can right at the beginning - new glasses, dental work, resupply meds.  Consider it a gift from the CEO.

[MinouMinou]

Thank you for replies @mtnrider , @Turtle , & @grantmeaname .

[Turtle]

@MinouMinou - if you use COBRA to finish out the year's insurance, it should still count as the same insurance/deductible/etc.  Leaving a job/paying for COBRA is the only time it's legal for HSA money to go for the insurance costs.

That would give you the option to leave in early November or early October, stay on the same insurance, and only have 1 or 2 month's of COBRA level insurance costs incurred.

[Sandi_k]

@MinouMinou - if you use COBRA to finish out the year's insurance, it should still count as the same insurance/deductible/etc.  Leaving a job/paying for COBRA is the only time it's legal for HSA money to go for the insurance costs.

That would give you the option to leave in early November or early October, stay on the same insurance, and only have 1 or 2 month's of COBRA level insurance costs incurred.

AND Cobra election can be done retroactively, up to 60 days. So if she leaves November 2, she doesn't have to pay for Cobra for Nov/December - UNLESS she has an emergency that requires retro election.

[Turtle]

@MinouMinou - if you use COBRA to finish out the year's insurance, it should still count as the same insurance/deductible/etc.  Leaving a job/paying for COBRA is the only time it's legal for HSA money to go for the insurance costs.

That would give you the option to leave in early November or early October, stay on the same insurance, and only have 1 or 2 month's of COBRA level insurance costs incurred.

AND Cobra election can be done retroactively, up to 60 days. So if she leaves November 2, she doesn't have to pay for Cobra for Nov/December - UNLESS she has an emergency that requires retro election.

Excellent point!

[MinouMinou]

Ooooh!!!! @Turtle and @Sandi_k , thank you for this bit of brilliance! So we can all get our regular prescriptions filled and adult kid #2 can transition to his workplace plan (very affordable). We will be covered through the month of October or November when I leave early in month. Then only apply for retroactive COBRA if needed…I would not have thought of that, not knowing about retroactive COBRA. COBRA is 2k/month for 3 people, 1.65/month for two.

[MinouMinou]

Which is a lot….but no new deductible!

[Sandi_k]

Ooooh!!!! @Turtle and @Sandi_k , thank you for this bit of brilliance! So we can all get our regular prescriptions filled and adult kid #2 can transition to his workplace plan (very affordable). We will be covered through the month of October or November when I leave early in month. Then only apply for retroactive COBRA if needed…I would not have thought of that, not knowing about retroactive COBRA. COBRA is 2k/month for 3 people, 1.65/month for two.

You are welcome! :D

[JungYo]

Joining this cohort, last day is March 29 - being laid off. Pitiful severance, but we've saved for this and have almost everything in order. I cannot wait!!!

[Turtle]

Ooooh!!!! @Turtle and @Sandi_k , thank you for this bit of brilliance! So we can all get our regular prescriptions filled and adult kid #2 can transition to his workplace plan (very affordable). We will be covered through the month of October or November when I leave early in month. Then only apply for retroactive COBRA if needed…I would not have thought of that, not knowing about retroactive COBRA. COBRA is 2k/month for 3 people, 1.65/month for two.

Hurrah for an extra month or two of freedom!

Also, a parent losing their health insurance should count as a "qualifying event" for your kiddo to make changes on insurance in the middle of a plan year.

[Eco_eco]

Kia ora koutou (hello everyone from New Zealand)

I thought an update is in order. Next week we will have FIREd, based on our own definition. Since my wife and I really quite enjoy our jobs we aren't planning to finish working this year, but we will have transitioned to living only on investments, with our earned income simply topping things up, or being used for whatever purpose we think is a good idea.

For the last 18 months we have been moving to fill all the buckets and next week will move to be living completely off investment income. This has involved quite a few changes to tidy up and transition from an aggressive growth strategy to a more defensive approach that has us holding several years worth of cash or near equivalents.

I've actually found this change surprisingly hard as it has involved adjusting our asset mix and selling properties which it turned out I was more 'invested' in than I realised :). However, investment property and a fixed income does not go well as the cash flow is very lumpy, and since we used property as a savings vehicle we were set up to put in 50% to 75% of our income into them each year to bring down loans, etc. Previously we have been 90% property, our asset mix is now much more diversified.

If anyone is interested - we are firing in our late '40s with a NW in the $2.5 to $5m range (ex PPOR and net of debt) and forecast annual expenses of around $60k for the next five years. Yes we have worked a few years more than we needed to, but our social service based jobs are rewarding so no regrets for that. We have also decided to continue to hold a manageable c.20% debt load as inflation will eat this away and the payments are very manageable (and have I mentioned I find it hard to liquidate assets).

A few years back I mentioned on this forum that when I was in my early '20s I made a 30 year financial plan with the goal of not having to work by age 50. With apologies for a very self satisfied post, I am very pleased that this worked out and am patting myself on the back for having done that. I really recommend it to anyone starting out.

[Bluenose1966]

I fired 7 weeks ago at age 57 and just dropping by to say how much I am loving it.
The best benefit has been the work related stress has gone and  I feel so much more relaxed.
Early days I know but after years of dithering have not regretted my decision once, despite finding out the roof required replacing on week one of retirement!!!

I love the freedom of being in charge of my own time and not answerable to anyone.
I think to myself several times a day how fortunate I am.

Only complaint is I cannot believe how quick days are going, by the time I have walked dog, been gym, tidied around and prepared meals the day is almost gone….

If you can afford it 100% recommend it, my dithering days are done.😂

[ToughMother]

Thanks for more updates! I've modified the above post to reflect them.

@mtnrider  - congrats on your liberty!! Enjoy!

@Turtle -- glad you're continuing to hang out with this crew. It's more fun with more cheering!

@MinouMinou - sounds like you got some great advice here -- hope everything works out for a 2024 checkout.

@JungYo - I added you to the cohort list. Sorry about the lousy severance but sounds like you're ready to rock this!

@Eco_eco Congrats on hitting FI. That sounds amazing. This is a place to share achievements and we're all cheering!!

@Bluenose1966 THAT SOUNDS AMAZING. I have one week to go after what feels like the longest couple of months ever, and your message makes the last day even more appealing (ok, minus the whole roof thing!).

[Irateplatypus]

Surprisingly both my partner and I have joined the 2024 cohort. I was laid off in January and my partner just gave notice yesterday (unexpectedly) at his job. After much spreadsheeting, I can't believe the numbers work. But, I keep telling myself not to bring feelings to a math fight.

I'm feeling incredibly grateful today for:
1. Us stepping away for our jobs at the same time
2. Having FU money to do what's best for our families and for ourselves!
3. Spending the summer with our son who will only be 6 once and is already so big <3

We are caught off guard so we still need to figure out:
1. Drawdown strategies (yearly or monthly/stocks vs bonds first)
2. Should we try and aim for a glide path of some kind
3. How do you calculate how much capital gains you expect to withdraw each year
4. What ACA plan should we sign up for
5. Should we get married

[Bateaux]

Less than a month to go. March 22 is the official day. I haven't worked a bunch since May of 2023. Work is so much easier to plan for than being off. A big hiking trip is definitely coming.

[doneby35]

Laid off and forced into FIRE as of 02/24 (original FIRE date was 12/24). FIRE number reached and currently at 110%. Feels as good as I imagined it would. Good luck folks!

[achvfi]

Laid off and forced into FIRE as of 02/24 (original FIRE date was 12/24). FIRE number reached and currently at 110%. Feels as good as I imagined it would. Good luck folks!

Congrats on being ready and great timing!! Hope you got sent off with a good package.

[mtnrider]

Laid off and forced into FIRE as of 02/24 (original FIRE date was 12/24). FIRE number reached and currently at 110%. Feels as good as I imagined it would. Good luck folks!

Congratulations!

[crabby.van.man]

Heading out the door for the last time in a couple hours.  Time to start hanging out in the Post-FIRE forums :-)