Haha, it's my statement and I get to say it is not at all meaningless. It's amazing that after all those years of scrimping, saving and being super duper careful with money that I can now function pretty much on autopilot, AND buy virtually anything I want. I have more money that I ever dreamed possible because this shit really, really works. The cost/analysis benefit does change when you hit your number and then the economy does so well for so long that it just keeps on growing. I hope it happens for every single person who strives for FIRE
Bananas are healthy because they're yellow. It's my statement and I get to say it is not at all meaningless. Am I doing this right? Dunno, because I hate bananas ;-). I'm not saying your statement is meaningless, but you decreed that mine was, hence my response.
You said that someone who is fired can spend money on whatever they want. So the math just doesn't matter anymore? In your situation you have more than enough to be FIRE'd and the cost of your desires have not exceeded your stash. That's great, but it doesn't mean FIRE=money is infinite now, especially not for those who FIRE with less fat available. Obviously you already know that, so I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.
Yeah, I can see that it might seem confusing. I'll try to explain better. Typically, by the time one hits FIRE, the frugality muscles are strong and mighty. So strong and mighty that one hardly feels them working and is rarely tempted by anything material any more. So if you're strongly drawn to something, it
is within reach. For example, our daughter lives in Aspen. We could buy a place there. Do we want it? Fuck no! But we could. That's just insane to my little lizard brain.
Concurrently, the markets have had an amazing run and the stash has burgeoned beyond personal belief. Our insane amount of fat came after FIRE, not before, primarily due to favorable market conditions.
We're so past our number it's astonishing, unbelievable, really. I didn't quite mean it in the way you phrased it, but yes, the math has taken on a life of its own. I'm gobsmacked every time I look at our account balances. It's still kind of hard to believe it's real.
I remain active on this forum because I want others to know that their goals can be reached (and perhaps wildly exceeded) even if they're getting a late start, have debt, live in a high COLA, don't make a huge salary, don't know jack about investing, etc. I'm especially drawn to encouraging single women who are not high wage earners, because that's what I was. Life being weird and all, I had hit my number and was just trying to figure out the last piece of the puzzle, which was pre-ACA healthcare with pre-existing conditions, when I connected with the guy who eventually (and finally, at 54!) became my dear husband.
But that's a story for another thread. Can we get back to counting toilets now?