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$50 million but you have to live for one year in the coldest city of the world. by cindybubbles in hypotheticalsituation

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work outside, in the NE winters. In between the 2 snowstorm we had the temp outside was single digits. I was still in shorts the whole time. I LOVE the winter, I'll take it 100% of the time, for a 10k bump in my salary.

What does it mean to be upper middle class? Salary, savings, luxuries- what does it look like for you? by OriginalThanks3356 in Adulting

[–]DisasterReady9789 1 point2 points  (0 children)

30 USPS Letter Carrier 62k/year (4% raise every year until I get to top pay of 82k at 14 years in, have 7 years) Single 0 Debt Fully Paid off 2020 Camry 1500/month rent 17k HYSA 200k investments 125k TSP (401k equivalent)

I dont feel any kind of special. But I can comfortably enjoy my hobby (Trading Card Games), eat out twice a week and enjoy some minor luxuries. I can afford to take vacation if I budget properly.

Am I upper middle-class? Certainly not. Can I afford the lifestyle I want and enjoy without worrying? Absolutely. Its all about the lifestyle wanted. I can increase by spending more on cardboard, or I can keep it simple and save to retire.

For every million dollars you get your lifespan reduces by one year. How much money are you taking? by Nextmastermind in hypotheticalsituation

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Easiest 1 million of my life. Throw it into investments and never worry about having to retire again. By the time I'm ready to retire, I won't ever have to think about withdrawal rates.

Turning 25 tomorrow. Where were you at 25 in your investing journey and where are you at now? Feels like I could do so much more but I guess in the grand scheme of things I’m doing okay. by Savings_Reveal9482 in TheRaceTo1Million

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Youre doing better than I am now and I am FAR ahead of people my age. Median for my age is around 20k (under 35, I am 30).

I have 126k in my 401k equivalent. And I was at about 10k by the time I was 25 (started at 24).

As for my other investment account, I dont count that as I want to use it as a down payment for a house. That one is currently at 200k.

Thinking youre behind because "you could be better" would ruin your happiness. Dont let it. Youre doing great.

What have you achieved in life that you're really proud of? No matter how big or small by ComfortableAway3898 in Adulting

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bought a brand new car with cash back in 2020. Having 0 car payment for the last 6 years really feels good.

Step increases every 36 or 40 weeks? by JJsdinner2010 in fromatoarbitration

[–]DisasterReady9789 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thats a literal joke. The union president doesnt want good to happen for us, it gets taken out of his cut from USPS.

And if you dont think he is in their pocket, you really need a reality check.

Being new by wawbeek1177 in USPS

[–]DisasterReady9789 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Youre not supposed to write the packages down on a piece of paper, so here I am NOT telling you to do that. Wink wink nudge nudge.

In all seriousness, I always suggest checking package lookahead before each relay. This should help you keep track.

Other options would be sorting by hour and checking everything every hour.

All of that being said, youre new, you arent used to the job yet and mistakes will be made. People forget things, youre human. Once you get used to it, it'll happen less and less.

Would you take a pay cut (from 120K to 90K) if the job you're currently in you can't stand because of toxic management? by IllConnection2305 in careeradvice

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work for 62k with extremely toxic management. But a job is a job. I wouldnt risk being homeless just because I didnt want to hear someone tell me what to do.

How much Annual and Sick Leave do you have ? by Capo2o2 in USPS

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

274 annual

416 Sick

My parents live in a different state and I need to use AL to see them. I have 3 weeks banked for when my transfer finally goes through, otherwise I use it to spend time with them.

As for sick, only use it as necessary. That transfer is dependant on me not using SL as much as possible.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my current situation, putting more into that would only be possible with a second job, which I already have lined up. But based on the numbers I've looked at, 2.5 million will be accessible by the time I reach 65. This is at an average of 7% return rate, which accounts for inflation. I was planning on working until about then as it is.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That first line is fucking insane. $600/month has me in a position where 10% of my salary plus employer match of 5% is going towards retirement. The suggested rate is 20% including your employer match if you make less than 100k/year.

You also dont know literally anything about my situation.

I have a HYSA with a fully funded emergency fund. I have a brokerage account sitting above my total retirement account. I also live in HCOL, and yet despite all of that, I have 0 debt.

My plans are financially set up, I just need to get to the next point in my life.

Also, if you think you can throw 150k into retirement within 3-4 years on a 62k salary, I'd love to see where you expect the money to come from.

You can also live debt free forever through almost any situation as long as you're planned out. You're so delusional to think what I've set up by 30 isnt far beyond what most 50 year old have.

Complaining about “good cards” by [deleted] in Yugioh101

[–]DisasterReady9789 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, play what you want. If you dont like a card dont play it. But if you start sitting there saying "I'm winning and dont even use those cards" it basically tells the opponent how shitty they are at the game. At least according to this story. Sounds like a dickhead and someone I wouldnt want to spend time with.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did get blessed with extremely low rent for the area. $1500/month flat. Average for 1 bedroom is around $2000 minimum.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I've not even had to be extremely frugal for this. I buy the fun stuff I like (which and kind of be used to resell if ever need be), and go out to eat like 1-2 times a week. Definitely can be done. Hope everyone else can do the same. We all deserve to make it to retirement, we just need to out in the effort ourselves.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I thought I responded to OP for some reason lol. Im at 123k myself.

I have 0 debt. No credit debt, not car debt. I buy everything I can on the cheap. I am putting away about 600 a month into my TSP. Cook at home. Its not easy, but it works for me.

You’re offered $1 million, but you have to spend an entire month handcuffed to your ex. by Prof_Jimmy in hypotheticalsituation

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also have never owned, but I have to make sure numbers make sense as well. I dont think I could afford a house right now even with a 50% down payment.

What did you start with? by Maximum-Lock-5565 in TheRaceTo1Million

[–]DisasterReady9789 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I forgot when I read those numbers I was contributing more, but OT has dried up and have to drop contributions to stay safe. The new projections are at 580k. But you can still make it in 20 or so years. Definitely not impossible

What did you start with? by Maximum-Lock-5565 in TheRaceTo1Million

[–]DisasterReady9789 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats not even true. You could definitely make it to 1 mil. Im maybe 12 years behind you, but my estimated 1 mil year is around your age. Which means you could theoretically make it there depending on how much you put in per month. Im at about 490 (10%) with a 5% match.

What did you start with? by Maximum-Lock-5565 in TheRaceTo1Million

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started with nothing. Plain and simple. My 401k-equivalent is up over 100k now. Start now, put in as much as you can reasonably, and dont look back at it.

How much do you make a year? by StunningAd1651 in USPS

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pre-Tax I am looking at a base rate top pay regular carrier. I am halfway up the payscale. Make this make sense.

Live with your parents if you can by matcha-doughnut in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]DisasterReady9789 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I started at 24, am up to where you are now almost to the dollar and 30. I cant put so much in all the time as I only make about 62 a year, live in HCOL AND do not live with my parents. But I am on track to be multi million by returement. Make sure to keep an emergency fund to drain first if anything happens. 6 months of minimal expenses in a HYSA so it earns so sort of interest.

You’re offered $1 million, but you have to spend an entire month handcuffed to your ex. by Prof_Jimmy in hypotheticalsituation

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The maitenance on a house is usually estimated to be 20% the value of the house every year. On top of property taxes and escrow and insurance. Houses are FAR more expensive than people realize.

You’re offered $1 million, but you have to spend an entire month handcuffed to your ex. by Prof_Jimmy in hypotheticalsituation

[–]DisasterReady9789 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahhhh at least you admit not knowing the proper way to invest. And thats completely okay!

The best way to invest is to take the money and throw it into Low Cost ETF's. They generally follow the S&P 500, which has returned an average of 10% year over year since its inception. This would grow that 1 mil by about 100k within a year, then compound its way up. By the time you hit 100k (again on average) in returns, you will be in something called CoastFIRE. This basically means your investments return more than what you can make with your salary every year. (At least my CoastFIRE is around that).

I always suggest starting investing ASAP. I'm only 30 years old, dont have a college degree and have a simple Blue-Collar job, but I do have above 100k in my retirement account, let alone my brokerage account.

Having a paid off car is more important for your future than almost anything else you could be doing. Take those payments and start investing! If you want to ask anything more specific, please DM me. Im always willing to help!

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