Shared my timeline with a couple friends this weekend...

[Gone Fishing]

Took a few cold ones to limber up, but I figured I would have to start telling some of my closer friends so they don't think I am a bum that won't work when I quit my job with no replacement, suffered a mental break, or pity us.  It was interesting to see their responses.  Both are hard working people, one makes much less than I do, one much more.  Both were pretty surprised. The one that makes less got hung up on the definition of retirement (nursing home in his mind), so we spent some time talking about what I planned to do with my time, he concluded that I won't really be retired, but that is okay.  The one that makes more dug into the math and started asking questions, quickly backing into the fact that it would take a BIG pile of loot.  Then he asked what I saved and I dropped the 60% bomb.  That pretty much ended the conversation.  They didn't know what else to say.  Their wives are friends with my wife, hope there is no jealousy driven fallout.  We'll just see how it goes.  There was a point where I was thinking about a FIRE party, but I think the wife and I should just go on a FIREmoon, don't want to rub it in too much.       

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Nice! Glad you were able to share your plans. We've been baulking at telling friends (other than super close folks). We've told our families, but just aren't sure how peers will take the news.
P.S. I really like the idea of a FIREmoon. I might have to suggest one to my husband!

[Eric]

Good work.  You gotta float that balloon out there at some point.  Sounds like it went fairly well for an introduction of the idea.

Then he asked what I saved and I dropped the 60% bomb.  That pretty much ended the conversation.     

Ha!

(love your proposed FIRE date BTW)

[lauren_knows]

I'm not sure I've ever told friends our savings percentage (which is a not-so-impressive 40%), but I have mentioned that I want to "retire" around age 40.  I most often get a response like "Yeah... ooook, Bo. Good luck with that."     And, that's fine.  We're still a bit away, and markets could certainly effect our FIRE date still.   It is certainly interesting to hear people's reactions.   I have a friend that works at Vanguard, and I've never mentioned my plans to him.  I bet he'd be more amenable to FIRE :)

[theonethatgotaway]

Lifestyle will change, but hopefully your friendships wont! If anything you've become a real world example of what they could do too.

How did they not pick up in your habits sooner than 'the talk' ?

[Mrs. PoP]

I've shared ours in the context that we want to take a long sabbatical in 5 or so years and have a few adventures.  Just didn't say how long or what we planned on doing (or not doing) when we got back.  =)  It was well received.

[Gone Fishing]

Lifestyle will change, but hopefully your friendships wont! If anything you've become a real world example of what they could do too.

How did they not pick up in your habits sooner than 'the talk' ?

They know I don't like to spend a lot of money, but I rarely get accused of being frugal. Folks never really seem to add up what 37mpg in a used car, few restaurant meals, and inexpensive entertainment equals over the long run.  It helps we live in an area and have friends that do not create a lot of pressure to consume.  It's been my experience that many of our friends FEEL frugal because they do many things in common with our spending habits, but then they let all the savings go on some other purchase rather than squirreling it away like I do. One friend just bought a Lexus and the other spent $25 on grocery store beer,chips, and salsa for guy's night and didn't think twice about it, whereas it would have killed me paying that when I know I probably could have spent $15 on equally palatable beer/chips/salsa.  (Note that guy's night was at the house over a homecooked meal at my house rather than dinner and drinks at the bar.) FIRE is certainly not for everyone, I make a consious effort not to talk about it all the time, which is hard as it is approaching quickly, but do plan on being fairly open (but no totals) in discussing how we got there with friends and family IF they ask.

[okashira]

Cool story, thanks for sharing.

[Gecko235]

I talk about this all the time when I start talking about finances.

They first were like "yeah right, dream on" or something along the lines of that. My friends saidthe same when I decided to buy my 2nd house and I've got that now.

My friends and family are starting to believe me now once I start showing them my returns on investments.

My girlfriends family had a party and everybody laughed about it because they thought I was crazy because I was talking about retirement and I'm only 26 and was the youngest one there.

Everybody will think you're crazy until you actually do it.

[pipercat]

The thing is, even if your friends think the idea is crazy, you've likely planted a seed.  They will watch you a little more closely, and they will see that your spending habits really do indicate a potentially high savings rate.  They will discuss it with their own partners, and they may even decide that they may be able to do the same thing.

To inspire others to see FI as possible for them, that would be really cool!

[Middlesbrough]

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my plans. I didn't necessarily say I wanted to retire, but that I wanted to be free to do what I wanted. If and when I have kids, I could stay home or become the sole provider if necessary. I talked about biking to work and minimizing large expenditures. They questioned the possibility and finally my motivation to do so. I think it was defense against a new idea and their habits versus being opposed. I hung out with a couple of them this weekend and nobody wanted to drive anywhere. Maybe they have thought through my ideas.

[EarlyRetirementGuy]

Everybody will think you're crazy until you actually do it.

Pretty much this. The best way we can convince others to consider early retirement is by doing it ourselves and demonstrating the possibility!

[Nords]

Good work.  You gotta float that balloon out there at some point.  Sounds like it went fairly well for an introduction of the idea.

Then he asked what I saved and I dropped the 60% bomb.  That pretty much ended the conversation.     

Ha!

(love your proposed FIRE date BTW)

"Findependence Day".

[marty998]

Good work.  You gotta float that balloon out there at some point.  Sounds like it went fairly well for an introduction of the idea.

Then he asked what I saved and I dropped the 60% bomb.  That pretty much ended the conversation.     

Ha!

(love your proposed FIRE date BTW)

"Findependence Day".

Not if the aliens put a stop to it and crash wall st. Isn't the Independence Day sequel coming out on that day? I hear the aliens are coming back for round 2 and they're seriously pissed!

[matchewed]

I've shared my goals with my friends. I generally get a very neutral response. Some people are curious and ask for more information. Generally as friends have started to realize that their retirement is in their control they've come to me with financial questions, so I guess they respect the idea that I may know a little bit about this stuff even if they may not buy into the FIRE goal. Interestingly enough it is friends who are self employed who've come to me first. Friends who have 401k's through employers and are socking away that 5%-10% are the ones thinking they're all set and don't need any help or advice (not that I offer, just find out that they think this way because of general conversation) because "hey look at all that money I'm saving!"... I'll bring up the shockingly simple math concept and demonstrate how long they have to save but I think that my one little voice compared to the booming chorus of "save 10% and you'll be fine" is a hard fight sometimes and I believe in people realizing and changing rather than just trying to shout louder. It's weird to see that and remember that they will just follow that pattern that their parents have followed and probably realize >50 years of age that they're not all set and need to pinch to even cross the finish line on time.

[arebelspy]

Will be interested to hear if anything changes in those relationships.

I think the wife and I should just go on a FIREmoon

Hah, awesome.

[Calvawt]

I have friends that have large debt due to being dentists and doctors.  They seem to be interested, but the debt load they have form student loans make them think it is impossible.  I doubt they currently push as much to the loans as they could because of that and end up not saving anything either.

[TomTX]

I have friends that have large debt due to being dentists and doctors.  They seem to be interested, but the debt load they have form student loans make them think it is impossible.  I doubt they currently push as much to the loans as they could because of that and end up not saving anything either.

Sure, docs can pile up big student loans - but they have big salaries once they get out, and should be able to pay off the loans in 5-7 years. Less in a high-paying specialty.

[Cheddar Stacker]

I have friends that have large debt due to being dentists and doctors.  They seem to be interested, but the debt load they have form student loans make them think it is impossible.  I doubt they currently push as much to the loans as they could because of that and end up not saving anything either.

Send them a link to whitecoativestor.com

Its written by a doctor for doctors. A lot of good advice.