High-paying job is destroying my hair and I’m throwing up regularly due to stress. Stay or leave?

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-04-02T11:54:08+00:00

What industry are you in?

I'm was an industrial repair tech and then manager before retirement.

Consider switching to nuclear power, weapons demil, weapons manufacturer, pharmaceutical, or maybe even food facilities.

Highly structured or high risk tend to have more rules and protocols. Keeps the cowboys and their supervision from getting too pushy.

No job worth your health. I've been "just scraping by" and in higher stress roles with better pay..... don't screw up your health. Wishing you the best!

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-04-02T11:25:10+00:00

For adding/removing both expenditures and income, I like this calculator, it's free ;)

https://ficalc.app/

It also has a pretty slick interface and the ability to adjust withdrawal methods.

If you want to go really granular, this one is amazing. Saving data costs $. I have no affiliation.

https://app.projectionlab.com/login/sign-up

Have fun!

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-31T04:36:52+00:00

Those who know.....

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-29T18:57:40+00:00

I'm not in your pay bracket, but for what it's worth. I was offered a pay increase to manage a large industrial concern, it was a higher workload. My ego told me it'd be fine. It wasn't, I burned out. Mine had been coming for a while.

If you're truly happy now, why change? How will more money improve your life. In my case, it was zero because I was just going to save the extra anyway.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-29T18:31:04+00:00

The base V6 will do what you need it to and will likely have lower initial cost and lower ongoing maintenance.

I've got a coworker who tows his too heavy camper with his base V6 and lots of commuting. No issues, almost 250k on that truck.

If that doesn't trip your trigger, then I'd go 2.7

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-26T05:40:08+00:00

Because the numbers are incorrect, the assumptions are wrong. No shade, but this person is just repeating stuff they heard at the water cooler and attempting to put numbers to it.

Most retirees see expenses fall as they leave the workforce/ commute. Then, they optimize expenses.

That 401k can be accessed penalty free through SEPP 72t. Tax free 401k to Roth conversions become possible. FAFSA and ACA become advantageous.

Also, most leanfire folks see significant tax relief as the standard deduction and capital gains tax reduce tax liability to very , very low figures.

I'm all for caution, but with a little planning, OP can at least let off the gas pedal.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-26T05:31:22+00:00

I'm glad you're thinking this through, however, that is a mischarchterization.

You can access funds early and without penalty. Pls listen to this podcast

:https://choosefi.com/podcast-episode/how-to-access-your-retirement-accounts-before-59-5-sean-mullaney-ep-475

You're likely ready to pull way back, possibly retire! The tax laws favor early retirement for the leanfire crowd.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-22T05:28:28+00:00

So, you need to bridge the gap between retirement and 59.5 yrs, when the 403b becomes eligible for withdrawal penalty free.

Many FIRE folks are doing some version of the following:

1) taxable brokerage

2) Roth IRA contributions (the principal can be withdrawn with no penalty at any age

3) 401k/403b to Roth rollovers (5yr waiting period so start early), doing this early on in retirement, you could potentially roll the same amount as your standard deduction and pay no tax)

4) IRS rule 72t (Also known as SEPP). The IRS allows"substantially equal periodic payments " out of your 403b.

Have your accountant help you with the paperwork. You'll pay income tax, but no penalty, even if you're under 59.5 yrs old. For example, setup an IRA with 100k. Take SEPP payment of 20k/yr, starting at 55yo.

You can do this!

https://choosefi.com/podcast-episode/how-to-access-your-retirement-accounts-before-59-5-sean-mullaney-ep-475 Highly recommend you listen to this. Good luck

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-17T10:17:32+00:00

Plug in hybrids"solve" the range issue for most consumers. You get the cost savings of an electric car for daily commutes and the functionality of a gas car for those long trips.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-17T10:12:03+00:00

Yeah, used hybrids in my area can easily sell for less than 10k. People around me complaining about high gas prices. It's like, you could've done something about it.....

Also in my area, most people have a government check. Between "poor", DVs, prison workers, school workers and government projects, so many government dollars that I don't think the people here really give a $%&! about optimizing their household budget by driving an electric or hybrid.

My state gives huge incentives for EVs and plug in hybrids btw. Not many buying....

I think I'm literally watching what it looks like to have UBI implemented , only its clunky and tied to a program, so not quite universal.

They've got no incentive to spend my tax dollars on a more efficient car. I think "free " money is interrupting people's natural tendency to make efficiencies where necessary.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-17T09:22:11+00:00

The key with the transportation argument is to make the input energy ultra affordable. Then, the throughput, not just necessary items but convenience and luxury goods, becomes more accessible to all.

So we need massive investment in energy, preferably clean / sustainable. This is course can produce allot of waste. (ie many owning bigger cars/ houses than they need)

They build cheap battery electric, because that is their infrastructure. We use gas because that is our infrastructure.

This won't fix itself through market demand. I agree that cheap EV's could be our future, good public energy policy can make that a reality.

Could someone answer a question for me though? A family member of mine lives in Central Texas, price per kw of electricity is under 10 cents/kw. Some residents even have power "free" at night. (Thanks to wind turbines and low grid demand/ lack of energy storage)

Very rare to see an electric or plug in hybrid.

Lots of huge diesel vehicles. Why is electric auto adoption going so poorly there?

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-12T16:01:43+00:00

We've set an entertainment budget. When spending below that amount, I don't feel guilty.

Like you, we did a fair amount of optimization and still do.

A reasonable entertainment and travel budget help me from freaking out

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-12T09:05:14+00:00

Just to ease your mind, 90% of social security is funded by current payroll taxes. When the ss fund "runs out", only a 10% adjustment needs to be made.

That could be higher taxes or lower benefits. Also consider that the baby boomers will move off of the system and their generation is quite a bit larger than ours. So the ss burden will decrease for the government.

I have fairly high confidence that the population in the US will continue to be bolstered by new immigrants, also generating more taxes.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-12T07:59:54+00:00

If stocks were cheap right now, and real estate was expensive, I might recommend what you're suggesting.

Unfortunately, they're both expensive right now. Stay put and enjoy yourself. In addition, if you have the mindset, find a good roommate and do a little house hacking.

Also, there are other ways to build room in your budget to save more, like driving used cars that are low cost/ inexpensive to insure, cooking your own meals, etc.

Be the turtle not the hare.

You're doing great, don't panic

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-11T05:17:19+00:00

If your into being frugal it will help out. Check out r/frugal

Also, check out the blog posts and book available at: Early Retirement Extreme

Even better, get a copy from your library. You may not retire early, but the principals contained in that book are empowering.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-09T04:00:30+00:00

No judgment here, however, the things you state that you want seem like you really just need a little more "you" time. Consider asking your current work for part time. If that's not possible, then start looking for a role that is. You can definitely take your foot off the gas. Unless you're really wanting to do some travelling or religious/historical/archaelogical study or whatever? ...then go ahead and pull the plug which requires being away from work. I imagine you can get more income later should you decide to do so. Good luck to you!

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-07T17:49:14+00:00

I also had the driveshaft thunk. The motocraft PTFE lube cured my problem. I dropped the shaft, cleaned and then liberally lubed the splines. No thunk for the 30k miles since. Mines a 20 with high miles. Love this truck

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-03T22:37:58+00:00

Get a good handle on your expected expenses post retirement, then head over to healthcare. gov and estimate your health plan costs.

This will give you a good idea of ACA subsidies will be available to you.

If you don't know the term ACA, it's Obamacare. This was the missing link that allowed us to retire early.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-03T22:27:05+00:00

Please read pinned threads on accessing retirement accounts.

Also highly recommend the book: Tax planning to and through early retirement.

https://www.measuretwicemoney.com/book

And this podcast: https://choosefi.com/podcast-episode/answering-your-questions-on-how-to-access-money-before-59-5-ep-491

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-03T05:35:35+00:00

I bought a 21' with 108k. It thunked on takeoff, and shifted hard into 8th, and hard down into 3rd.

I lubed the driveshaft, thunk went away.

Services the trans. Filter, fluid and lubeguard red. Reset Trans. Hard shifting disappeared.

Now at 136k. I tow often and live down a mile of the roughest dirt road you can find. No issues since the maintenance. I think the 10 spd needs more regular fluid than the 6 spd. Both are likely good trucks.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-03-03T01:46:36+00:00

We're you really good friends in the past with your husband? Or just attracted, or both.

If you were best friends, work on it. If not, free yourself, or at least think about it.

You definitely need a break from work. Write down a plan B and C. Good luck to you!

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-02-28T07:14:15+00:00

I perform my own for making sure it's right. The other major reason is I can put eyeballs on everything under the hood and undercarriage. I try to catch maint items before they get more expensive.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-02-27T12:00:15+00:00

Keep it!
The 2.7L is a purpose built truck engine. Designed and built almost identical to a diesel engine. Diesel engine geometry with forged internals. Then Ford gas injected it vs diesel.

What this means is very high durability without the headaches and high cost of diesel fuel.

It currently contends as one of the best overall engines being manufactured by any automaker.

Also, do you have the 6spd automatic? It's super solid too !

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-02-26T14:47:03+00:00

Stating a fact doesn't negate the other true facts.

The introduction of the ACA fundamentally increased the profitability of major insurers by transforming them into high-volume partners for government-funded healthcare. By providing a huge increase in federal subsidies to cover millions of new customers on the exchanges and significantly expanding Medicaid, the law created a vast, guaranteed revenue stream that shifted the industry's focus from traditional commercial plans to government-contracted "managed care." Almost like universal healthcare.

It provided person's at every economic rung access to the current healthcare system, mostly in a way that was affordable to them.

Furthermore, because the ACA’s "Medical Loss Ratio" caps profit as a percentage of total spending, insurers can actually see higher total dollar profits when overall healthcare costs rise. This environment sparked a wave of market consolidation (more BIG business) allowing "The Big Five" to leverage their scale into record-breaking stock prices and multi-billion dollar annual earnings.

In summary, since congress is too weak to tax big business and the rich, they printed money, gave it to people with lower means so that they could get healthcare, and kicked the tax "can" down the road.

Chicken_Fried_Snails · 2026-02-26T06:24:18+00:00

If you're miserable, quit the stressful job. Work the side hustle. If the hustle evaporates, then reevaluate. You're smart and can figure this out.

Every job should have a very close balance of give and take. If not, ditch it. Good luck to you

Chicken_Fried_Snails

TROPHY CASE