Author Topic: What amazing thing have you accomplished that you can't tell anyone? (Read 47314 times)

FIKris · « **on:** March 24, 2015, 09:33:21 PM »

Have you every accomplished something amazing that you can't tell anyone? Like for me: I'm close to achieving FI - planning to retire this summer. It's a huge accomplishment, but for various good reasons, such as those posted considered here http://livingafi.com/2014/04/17/family-and-fi/ by LivingaFI, I can't really tell anyone. Anyone else out there accomplish something awesome - FI or otherwise - that you feel like you can't tell anyone except for anonymously on the forums? Why?

MikeBear · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2015, 10:31:50 PM »

Sorry, I can't tell you... Doing that would invalidate your question.

RyanAtTanagra · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:36:46 AM »

Definitely, not FI but I hit a milestone last week, not really anyone I can tell. I'm not sure how comfortable I am discussing specific numbers online either, so I can't even tell you guys ;-P

Forcus · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2015, 11:08:02 AM »

I don't know if it's amazing, but we have substantial savings and a fairly high net worth respective to people around us. Other than my mom / step-dad, almost everyone else in the immediate family is living paycheck to paycheck so we have to be very careful when talking about money around them.

herbgeek · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2015, 11:14:57 AM »

Paid off my first house in 7 years. Paid off my second house (currently living in) in 5 years. Hit the magic MM in assets a few years ago (this does not include the house as part of the assets). All stuff I really can't bring up with anyone.

BMEPhDinCO · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2015, 11:24:46 AM »

I paid off my student loans while in graduate school... I don't tell anyone though since everyone around me complains about theirs. I also have a huge amount of money (*relative to other grad students) so I'd be safe for awhile if a job didn't pan out, but I don't share that either.

cashstasherat23 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2015, 11:38:21 AM »

Yes! I just paid off the first of 6 student loans, and I am so excited, but feel I can't tell any of my friends because they are all struggling along paying the minimum payments.

I also was talking with a coworker the other day and she was complaining about how she got hit with a $1.5k medical bill and didn't know how she was going to pay it, because she didn't even have that saved up. I did feel amazing that I had several times that stashed away in an E-fund, and knowing that it wouldn't affect me greatly if that did happen, but I did feel bad for her. However when she said, "yeah, I think I may have to consider not taking my vacation to europe this year in order to pay for this bill, but I really don't want to," I didn't feel so bad anymore.

Wupper · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2015, 11:43:50 AM »

I make a very nice side income as an advantage gambler. I travel to Las Vegas about 8 times each year (counting cards, exploiting casino promotions, and other advanced tactics).

Everyone thinks I go to Vegas for recreation. I do it for money. Nobody know the truth (except my wife).

hokiegb · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2015, 12:05:50 PM »

Bought our first rental property in November.

BooksAreNerdy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2015, 12:47:50 PM »

We just sold our hobby farm and got a six figure check. We are cash flowing a reno on a foreclosure and stand to walk away from this house with another sizable check.

Can't exactly chat that info up with the moms at playgroup...

1967mama · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2015, 01:01:29 PM »

Not super amazing to anyone but me, but we bought our first Vanguard fund this year, much to the chagrin of our "financial advisor." In our circles, buying an index fund instead of stocks would make us look like fools, so sharing it here instead:-)
Edit: typo

libertarian4321 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2015, 01:03:29 PM »

I don't think I can tell anyone in real life that we are multimillionaires.

I've told my parents that I'm a basic millionaire, but I think even they'd react strangely if I told them how much I really have.

And I certainly haven't told other friends, relatives, co-workers. I think they know I'm doing well because I did the RE thing, but they have no idea how well. I think if I came out and said "we have more than $X million in investable assets, some of them would freak out. And it could cause problems (you know the drill, people expecting you to pay for things, asking for money, etc).

BlueHouse · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2015, 01:47:23 PM »

I passed the 7-digit liquid figure earlier this year. I'm afraid if I say it out loud it will disappear. Can't tell anyone in RL. I still have massive mortgages, so I'm not home free yet, but having passed this milestone makes me feel a little light-headed. Also scared sh%tless. I want to pull some of it out and pay off a chunk of my mortgage. I might, but I wasn't planning on recasting until 2017. If I can keep accumulating at this rate, then maybe I won't have to recast.

I'm a red panda · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2015, 01:55:45 PM »

Quote from: MikeBear on March 24, 2015, 10:31:50 PM

Sorry, I can't tell you... Doing that would invalidate your question.

This was my exact thought. "Sorry, can't tell you."

I'm a red panda · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2015, 01:57:47 PM »

Quote from: Wupper on March 25, 2015, 11:43:50 AM

I make a very nice side income as an advantage gambler. I travel to Las Vegas about 8 times each year (counting cards, exploiting casino promotions, and other advanced tactics).

Everyone thinks I go to Vegas for recreation. I do it for money. Nobody know the truth (except my wife).

My husband interviewed a guy who was applying for his PhD program who listed his current occupation as "poker player". He wasn't really a "pro" as in a circuit, but he made his living gambling online. The program lead did not want to let him into the school because he "had a gambling problem". My husband had to point out that if he was earning a full time living doing it, and submitted proof of this as means to fund the program without financial aid, it wasn't a 'problem'.

Travis · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2015, 02:06:59 PM »

I can't really talk about finances with any of my friends and family since I make twice as much as most of them (with a 50% savings rate).

I'm also sitting on news of my next assignment. It's going to be a huge professional opportunity, but I don't want to even mention it here in case it falls through at the last minute. I should have it all in writing by the end of the week.

Bobberth · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2015, 03:21:48 PM »

We added the second comma to our assets last year. It's not our net worth and it's not all liquid as we're using real estate as our primary path to retirement but it's fun to see on a spreadsheet. Can't talk about that when friends are talking about credit card debt or moving Wed night outs to Friday as that is pay day and they are out of money until then (he makes more on his own than both of us combined).

Last week we signed the lease to our most recent rental purchase. That puts us just over $100k in gross rents received per year. We still have debt outstanding on our properties, but with the 50% rule, we are starting to enter the potential FIRE zone.

2Birds1Stone · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2015, 04:42:19 PM »

I switched careers and albeit taking an initial pay hit living off base salary, once I hit my sales quota incentive comp will put me at six figure income. As far as friends and family are concerned my base salary is my income.

iwasjustwondering · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2015, 05:03:49 PM »

I have put $27,000 in my kids' 529 plans so far this year.

Indexer · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM »

If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

DoubleDown · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2015, 05:40:57 PM »

1. Before I ER'ed in 2013 I worked for 18 years in a federal organization where our pretty awesome exploits by design are almost never publicized and even disavowed. They weren't my personal exploits, but still things you might have a hand in and could be proud of, but never divulge. And even when others around you are spouting off all kinds of falsehoods about what they see in the media, you have to keep your mouth shut and not say what you know to be the truth. I've had that happen on this board! It's an interesting culture to work in.

2. Publishing a book soon, not sure if I will use my actual name or a pseudo. If I go with the pseudo there may be a part of my ego that regrets not having people recognize that I wrote it.

3. Thinking about a couple of inventions that I don't talk about for obvious reasons. Of course those aren't actual accomplishments yet!

4. Ditto on the card counting another poster mentioned above. It could be pretty annoying having some loud-mouthed rube trying to tell you you're playing wrong, and they have no clue that you are running circles around them and the casino. But of course, telling them in front of the dealer "You don't know what you're talking about, I'm counting cards" is a bit contrary to the strategy.

bigalsmith101 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2015, 06:12:31 PM »

Quote from: Indexer on March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM

If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

THIS. My parents have been retired for 5 years now. Mom is 55 this year. Dad Just turned 61. They give me a hard time about my early retirement plans, but mostly just poke fun at it. All in good faith. They don't have to worry about me.

My in-laws though. I can't talk about early retirement around them. Mother in law is 52. Father in law is 54. We'll retire in the next 10 years if I have anything to say about it. This will likely be the same time frame when they will be able to retire. When they become eligible for social security. Only IF the father in law ever actually stops working. It makes me sad.

AverageMarriedDad · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2015, 06:19:44 PM »

DoubleDown: I self-pubbed a book last year with a pen name, and run a halfway decently read married guy blog (over half a million page views a few months ago when I last checked stats). No one in real life except an old college roommate in the publishing industry who did some editing/proofing knows except my wife. I get into personal stuff like finances and even some love life stuff that is pertinant to the topics I discuss, but am not comfortable with friends or others in real life knowing. So while it would be cool to shout it to the world, it's also kind of neat to have a secret between you and one or two other "real" people.

sol · « **Reply #23 on:** March 25, 2015, 06:45:20 PM »

I try not to brag. I don't always succeed, but today I'm holding strong.

2527 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:06:48 PM »

I once laid off 148 unionized employees who were the primary wage earners for their families with no violence, vandalism, lawsuits, or retaliation against me.

If two means multi, I am a multi-millionaire.

After 18 years of alcoholism, I quit drinking and haven't had a drink in almost 4 years.

firewalker · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:58:36 PM »

@2527 "... haven't had a drink in almost 4 years." That is awesome and is deserving of a mob-sized end zone dance!

FIKris · « **Reply #26 on:** March 25, 2015, 08:18:51 PM »

Quote from: cashstasherat23 on March 25, 2015, 11:38:21 AM

Yes! I just paid off the first of 6 student loans, and I am so excited,

Good job!

FIKris · « **Reply #27 on:** March 25, 2015, 08:24:40 PM »

Quote from: Indexer on March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM

If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

NICE! Me too...but can't even imagine what that conversation would be like

Eric · « **Reply #28 on:** March 25, 2015, 08:41:19 PM »

Quote from: FIKristen on March 25, 2015, 08:24:40 PM

Quote from: Indexer on March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM
If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

NICE! Me too...but can't even imagine what that conversation would be like

That is crazy to me. Nice work both of you. Is it because you're on track to retire extremely early? Or are your parents retiring very late? Or probably a combo, huh?

arebelspy · « **Reply #29 on:** March 26, 2015, 08:04:38 AM »

Quote from: Eric on March 25, 2015, 08:41:19 PM

Quote from: FIKristen on March 25, 2015, 08:24:40 PM
Quote from: Indexer on March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM
If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

NICE! Me too...but can't even imagine what that conversation would be like

That is crazy to me. Nice work both of you. Is it because you're on track to retire extremely early? Or are your parents retiring very late? Or probably a combo, huh?

I'm doing the same thing (in fact, I'll probably retire at least a decade before my parents, maybe even closer to two).

They're extremely happy and proud of me, and we've had many conversations about our plans.

db_cooper · « **Reply #30 on:** March 26, 2015, 04:29:24 PM »

I have a friend who's climbed the 7 summits but you'd never know to look at, or talk to her. But we brag for her quite a bit. :)

asauer · « **Reply #31 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:48:12 AM »

We're on track to retire in 7 years at age 43. Can't share that with friends or family unfortunately.

newton86 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 27, 2015, 09:19:10 AM »

I just received a job with a new company. More time off, better benefits, and my first time in 6 figures. All in, it is a 40% increase in total pay. I can't really tell anyone without sounding arrogant.

BBub · « **Reply #33 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:12:14 AM »

Probably our income. I wouldn't want my real life ppl to know... Most close friends are bringing home dual incomes under $100k and barely managing due to typical antimustachian bullshit. DW & I recently started pulling down about a quarter mil/yr in our twenties. I don't think anyone has a clue we make that kind of money.

BHTBacon · « **Reply #34 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:21:23 AM »

Two things, I think.

The size of our liquid net worth (closing in on $1M!) and my current consulting hourly rate.

I made the mistake of mentioning our emergency cash (enough to cover the mortgage and health insurance for a year) to some folks at my former place of employment, and it definitely seemed shocking to them.

Candace · « **Reply #35 on:** March 27, 2015, 11:41:34 AM »

Quote from: newton86 on March 27, 2015, 09:19:10 AM

I just received a job with a new company. More time off, better benefits, and my first time in 6 figures. All in, it is a 40% increase in total pay. I can't really tell anyone without sounding arrogant.

Congratulations!

Axecleaver · « **Reply #36 on:** March 27, 2015, 12:18:39 PM »

I love this thread. So many things for people to be proud of.

My wife and I both came from very poor childhoods, we lived below the poverty line until age 23 when I got my first professional post-college job. Our families know we "do well" but they honestly have no idea, because we live on less than half our income and save the rest. A year ago I had a big business win and our income increased by 50%. I told no one.

Our daughter starts college this fall. We have a plan to pay for our daughter's education without taking out any loans, through a combination of her winning scholarships, making frugal choices on the school (public university) and us paying out-of-pocket from our recent business success.

anon-e-mouse · « **Reply #37 on:** March 27, 2015, 01:25:06 PM »

Just today my wife was asking one of her lifelong friends why she had THREE jobs.
(dual income family, 2 young kids, well above average income, he's fairly frugal, she's not)

Her response...."I have to pay off my credit card bills and at this rate, it'll take me over a year".
My wife paid the same amount of our debt off - by herself - with only side work - in 5 weeks....

When I hear about this, it saddens me.
She's a great mom, but can't focus on her kids because of her admitted bad credit card habits.
We already tried talking to her about living within your means, saving more, spending less, blah blah.

Bonus: The husband can pay off her credit card debt at any time but chose not to so that she'll learn to control herself.

zinethstache · « **Reply #38 on:** March 27, 2015, 01:56:25 PM »

I have a couple of hush hush amazing accomplishments. We hit the 1M mark late last year and now are solidly in it. I did tell DHs dad, he worries about us and the fact that his son retired at 43(4 years ago now). My mom knows. but what only my mom and DH know is how much I make... for my career and my title... I get paid alot. It probably isn't alot for many folks who are high spenders but considering what we need to live on it's really pretty cool. We just keep socking it away for future property investing. I do plan to FIRE by the time I hit 50. Not sure I can make it that long, nor do I need to, it has always been my goal, so perhaps just for giggles I will stop working at 49. When I get frustrated at work I just remind myself how much they pay me to handle the frustration and frankly its not all that bad of stress compared to the personal stuff I've been through.

BTW - I LOVE MMM and the fact that I can vent, and brag and whine on this forum and everyone takes it in stride!

Cwadda · « **Reply #39 on:** March 27, 2015, 02:04:02 PM »

I have $25k saved with $18k of that in assets.

Congratulations to everyone on FIRE status, new promotions, high income, and anything else who otherwise wouldn't be able to get any recognition for it!

Travis · « **Reply #40 on:** March 27, 2015, 03:02:54 PM »

Quote

I'm also sitting on news of my next assignment. It's going to be a huge professional opportunity, but I don't want to even mention it here in case it falls through at the last minute. I should have it all in writing by the end of the week.

And...my orders are in! I'm going back to Fort Carson, CO this summer. I was stationed there four years ago before being sent to WA. DW has family in Colorado Springs so my son will become inseparable from his cousin again. The job requires me to attend some prerequisite training before I show up so I'll be going back and forth to a few locations before settling at Carson. I'm now looking at places to live, schools, and the like.

Cookie78 · « **Reply #41 on:** March 27, 2015, 03:06:52 PM »

Quote from: Travis on March 27, 2015, 03:02:54 PM

Quote
I'm also sitting on news of my next assignment. It's going to be a huge professional opportunity, but I don't want to even mention it here in case it falls through at the last minute. I should have it all in writing by the end of the week.

And...my orders are in! I'm going back to Fort Carson, CO this summer. I was stationed there four years ago before being sent to WA. DW has family in Colorado Springs so my son will become inseparable from his cousin again. The job requires me to attend some prerequisite training before I show up so I'll be going back and forth to a few locations before settling at Carson. I'm now looking at places to live, schools, and the like.

Congrats!

Mrs. Frugalwoods · « **Reply #42 on:** March 27, 2015, 03:09:45 PM »

Saved 71% (not counting maxing out both of our 401Ks) in 2014. Definitely not something we can walk around bragging about, lest people be onto our mad frugal ways.

Indexer · « **Reply #43 on:** March 27, 2015, 05:12:58 PM »

Quote from: Eric on March 25, 2015, 08:41:19 PM

Quote from: FIKristen on March 25, 2015, 08:24:40 PM
Quote from: Indexer on March 25, 2015, 05:34:51 PM
If I retire when I plan to.... I will likely retire before my parents.

NICE! Me too...but can't even imagine what that conversation would be like

That is crazy to me. Nice work both of you. Is it because you're on track to retire extremely early? Or are your parents retiring very late? Or probably a combo, huh?

My mom was 20 when she had me. I intend to be able* to retire around 40. My mother is not on track to retire at 60... or even 65. She will probably retire closer to 70. We are polar opposites in terms of saving money, always have been. I was raised very anti-mustachian, but I'm good at math and I intuitively figured out what compound interest was the very first time I saw the interest on a savings account. The idea my money could make me more money so I didn't have to stuck at a young age. Studied finance in college, and my dream job ever since has been to manage my own investment account and live off the gains. I never called it FIRE, but that is basically what it is... especially since I now use index funds so managing that account isn't really a job anymore.

*Whether I keep working at that point will depend on how much I enjoy my job and if I still want to keep doing it. I enjoy it enough now I would honestly keep doing it even if I had enough to RE today.

Apples · « **Reply #44 on:** March 27, 2015, 06:04:11 PM »

We're paying off student loans aggressively for non-MMM ppl, though not that aggressively in this community. We can tell very few people about our progress or hard numbers. The people I most want to tell are my in-laws b/c they're my husband's loans and this is a huge turnaround for him. But that would lead to awkward guilt trips asking us to pay for things.

We openly say we're planning to buy a farm from my grandparents once we save up a downpayment. I say it's like we're buying a big house or something, to give a rough idea of what it will cost. My cousin said "you guys have to save 20% of 150k? That's a lot of saving!". Hah. Try 20% of multiples of that. But we can't say that part out loud. So I think most of my friend circle and in-laws think we're going to take 6-7 years to save 30K, when really it's much larger than that. We'll just let that perception ride...

Chrissy · « **Reply #45 on:** March 27, 2015, 06:17:52 PM »

We spent $265 on my engagement ring. Of course, I can't tell anyone that; some women are very competitive about this whole ring business. Posted about it here:

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/hacked-my-engagement-ring/

Other amazing things I can't tell people... I'm writing a textbook on my niche field with a colleague in lieu of getting an MFA (costing me $0 instead of tens of thousands), my fiance's new job came with a $125k salary, we have a >$550,000 NW, and I'm already semi-retired, taking 5 months off every year.

HOORAY!

Turnbull · « **Reply #46 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:15:24 PM »

I used to do some valet parking as a side gig for extra cash. My wife and I have some rental properties and will buy and flip a house if we find an appropriate opportunity. A few years ago we sold a flip and I had to go directly from the closing to a party I was parking. It was just me and one other guy working that night. In my 17 yr old $3000 vehicle I had a check for $109k. Needless to say that didn't come up in small talk with my valet colleague. Something tells me I wouldn't have gotten an equal share of our tips.

surfhb · « **Reply #47 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:15:41 PM »

I still don't understand why people dont want to tell their friends and family you're FIRE.....You should be proud.

Nudelkopf · « **Reply #48 on:** March 27, 2015, 08:25:40 PM »

After graduating uni & working for less than 18 months, I've got a networth of $43k :D (I'm 23 years old.) Well, I did tell my Mum this, actually.

RyanAtTanagra · « **Reply #49 on:** March 27, 2015, 08:35:43 PM »

Quote from: surfhb on March 27, 2015, 07:15:41 PM

I still don't understand why people dont want to tell their friends and family you're FIRE.....You should be proud.

When you get there, let us know how it goes ;-) There are enough stories around of how others take it, it's not hard to understand why someone would be hesitant.

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Author Topic: What amazing thing have you accomplished that you can't tell anyone? (Read 47314 times)

surfhb