One Year Anniversary of my Punch in the Face

[jdoolin]

It has been exactly one year to the day (and pretty close to the hour as of this writing) that I read the first MMM post.  Well... the first 20 or so.

I can still remember the feeling of reading those first few.  A little skepticism at first, since it all sounded too good to be true.  Then very quickly, as ideas were backed up by hard numbers and math, things were becoming very clear to me.  I was receiving face punch after face punch, yet with each one my future got brighter and brighter.   A feeling of relief and excitement settled in like I've never felt before.  In one single day I had so many questions answered and problems solved.

So how much have we accomplished in a year?  I'll try to enumerate.

-stopped dining out aside from special occasions ($680+ per month)
-my wife cuts my hair and her own ($9 per month average)
-grocery shopping efficiently ($200 per month)
-moved in with family temporarily ($531 per month... we pay "rent")
-riding a bike, driving less, hypermiling, living closer to work ($200 per month)
-switched to MVNO plans ($60 per month)
-changed car insurance plan ($75 per month)
-paid off all credit card debt in 6 months ($280 per month, not to mention saving on the interest)
-stopped purchasing miscellaneous stuff, various DIY  ($500 per month by extrapolation)
-got library cards

We've also focused on real happiness, stopped blaming the government/the rich/corporations/Wall Street, stopped complaining in general, gotten healthier and simplified our lives for the better.

Our near future plans include buying a modest home close to work (we're currently saving the downpayment), we'll never have cable or a land line phone again, we'll use energy and resources efficiently, air dry clothes, sell a bunch of stuff and other such MMM strategies.  We do have a car that needs paid off, but we have to save for the home first due to circumstances.  But it will only take 6 months or so to pay it off by the time we get to it.  By this time next year I hope to be about 2-3 months away from having it paid off, at which point we can start putting it all in Vanguard.  :D

Early retirement is well within our reach, with an estimate of 10-12 years with our current income.  With additional income it will be sooner.

So it's been an awesome year, thanks to MMM and this great community.  I've learned so much about money, finances, the stock market, retirement, not to mention a lot about myself and the world around me.  Our future is bright and secure.

Looking forward to another awesome year

[reginna]

Congratulations! Your story is an inspiration!

[extole]

Wow! Rock on man. You're doing great it sounds.

Cheers.

[aclarridge]

Congrats! I had very similar feelings when I first started reading, and similar conclusions about where I'm at roughly a year later too!

[pom]

Congratulation! Keep it up ... and accelerate!

[rollie]

Awesome! I had a similar feeling when I started reading just some months ago. Inspiring story!

[renbutler]

We've also focused on real happiness, stopped blaming the government/the rich/corporations/Wall Street, stopped complaining in general, gotten healthier and simplified our lives for the better.

It's great to hear things like this...

[Numbers Man]

Way to kick ass!

[N]

awesomesauce

[oldtoyota]

Woot!

[2527]

Impressive results!  What kind of reactions did you get in the last year from your friends and family?  They must have noticed your changed approach to life.

[jdoolin]

Impressive results!  What kind of reactions did you get in the last year from your friends and family?  They must have noticed your changed approach to life.

Our close family completely supports us and some have even taken a few of the ideas themselves.  One part of our family obviously supports us greatly, by allowing us to share their home for a year and a half.  My brother-in-law's family is now making very similar changes, though it's more the Ramsey approach.  Another friend follows The Simple Dollar.

Reactions from friends has been a mixed bag.  Some think it's awesome, some are skeptical about the whole early retirement and making money in the stock market aspect.  Others have said they could never do what we've done, despite the results.  A few seem reluctant to talk about it or ask anything, and they are usually the ones who spend most of their time complaining about how bad the government and corporations are screwing them over (while their grocery bill alone is over $1000/mo, though I think they have made a few changes since talking to us, so it's less now).

There have been a small number that regularly ask questions about how we save money on certain things and many of them do take the advice.

So overall the reactions have been pretty positive.

Reactions from co-workers (the few that know) have been interesting.  One in particular is a fellow who has been teaching at the college for a very long time.  He's kinda the "old sage" of the campus.  He and I talked about retirement plans and such and it came out that I'm planning to retire in 10 years or so.  He asked about the plan and he said, "Huh... are you an alien?  Because nobody thinks like that any more.  That's a terrific plan."

[MakingSenseofCents]

Wow great job!

[2527]

The Simple Dollar...Ramsey Approach...I never knew these things existed. 

Interesting responses from your friends...maybe you are creating a circle of healthy thinking.

I like your comment about not blaming the Government, etc.  I am really trying to discipline my mind to think about things that are happening now or in the near future that I can control or influence.  When I do so, my life goes much better.  I allow a little daydreaming for the fun of it.

Regarding making money in the stock market, I started investing straight out college, and I'm now 49.  I've made about as much from stocks as I have from working and stocks will certainly make me more in the long run.  That includes Black Friday, the Asia crash, the tech bubble, 2008 and all the other calamities.  No fancy investing, just basic diversified low cost mutual funds, and I try to buy when everybody else is selling. 

Good luck with looking for a house.  You should be able to get a lot of house for your money in Eastern Ohio, and interest rates are literally at (just about) an all-time low.  Let us know how it goes.

[aj_yooper]

Powerful story of frugality, family, and the satisfaction of a simplified life.  Good job!

[Mustache Fatty]

Thanks for that update!  Very inspiring stuff.  I vote we keep a "one year anniversary thread" alive at all times.  I know there is a "Celebrations" thread, but that is often used (rightly so) for small "wins".  I would like for everyone to "step up to the mic" after one year and report their results.  After enough reports, we can start to see patterns in how much % of income was previously wasted (and invested now), behavioral and attitude changes, and the like.  Personally, my wife and I have been at it for around 7 months or so and I plan on making a similar post; hopefully we will look back and see similar results!

Great work!!

[happy]

Great story, well done :)

[jexy103]

Wow- excellent job! I wish I remembered the exact day (and hour!) that I first discovered MMM's blog. We were already on a debt-free journey when I found MMM, so I can't attribute that to him, but I've learned A LOT through him and we are now continually trying to optimize our lives. Congratulations on all your progress! And just think, this was just the first year of enlightenment! ;-)