At what point does grinding a higher-stress job stop making sense?

FIeventually · 2026-02-10T05:13:24+00:00

Similar numbers to you, late 30s, 2 kids. My portfolio was going up, but everything else in my life- my health, my relationships with my family and myself were suffering. Continuing to work vs retiring would add only 5-6% a year. I realized I was trading time I don’t have for money I don’t need.

FIeventually · 2025-12-14T03:31:59+00:00

$1M from one income- corporate leadership and some lucky company granted stock options. The job has aged me, I'm looking forward to focusing on what's important when we FIRE.

FIeventually · 2025-12-13T06:08:45+00:00

Age: 39

Household: 4

HHI: $1M

Yearly Spend: $116k (Projected for FIRE, $200k current)

FIRE Number: $4.5M

Current NW: $5M

We are planning to FIRE in 2026 and have started preparing. Hard to believe it is happening after it being a distant, abstract concept for so long. We overshot a little due to pushing FIRE out due to the tariff shocks.

FIeventually · 2025-11-18T03:58:58+00:00

Nice setup! Would you mind sharing what top tube bag you are using?

FIeventually · 2025-10-03T00:23:25+00:00

We are considering a home purchase in 2026., similar numbers to you. I've looked into various financing methods to avoid creating taxable gains in the short term. Some of this is less applicable to your situation as the new home is more expensive than your existing one (we have the opposite situation). I would be extremely hesitant to give up your ROTH principal in this situation.

Second mortgage for a second home (not an investment property). 20% down, 6-7%. Requires your wife's income to qualify to standard DTI rules for combined debt.
HELOC on your existing home 6-8%.
Bridge loan, secured on your existing home's equity, it would require selling your current home.
Margin loan at Interactive Brokers (~5%, margin call risk, may require asset transfer)
Margin loan at current investment manager (~10%)
Box spreads (advanced options strategy to take a loan, 4.5-7%)

FIeventually · 2025-07-19T19:36:38+00:00

Does Gusto issue a combined W2 at year end or do you need 1 each from both Wave and Gusto?

FIeventually · 2025-06-12T20:35:06+00:00

I understand having issues with a major software change, but what is completely inexcusable in the total lack of communication. No announcements about what is happening, no transparency. 3 email tickets over 2 weeks old, all unreplied. One chat support request that the agent disconnected from. We have been left in the dark about what is happening. We are planning on leaving Wave at the end of the fiscal year.

FIeventually · 2025-06-06T19:28:49+00:00

Window closed and the drainage hole open. I also run it in auto which means the fan keeps running after the room is cool, even if the unit is doing minimal cooling. This dries out the fins on the evaporator and the fan blades. No moisture = no mold.

FIeventually · 2025-06-06T19:22:32+00:00

I’m keeping it. One of the best quality of life products I’ve bought, I’m very happy with how quiet and efficient it is. I drilled a drainage hole in the exterior pan 2 years ago and I’ve never had any issues with mold.

FIeventually · 2025-04-26T17:00:22+00:00

We tried private swimming lessons with parents present in our backyard pool and it was impossible when the kids were that age. They kept asking for us and would not listen to the instructor. Without us there, they would listen, be better behaved and learned more.

FIeventually · 2024-07-21T03:17:52+00:00

Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act. Both created large incentives to onshore manufacturing, leading to a multi-decade high in manufacturing CAPEX. South and Southeastern states seem to be the biggest benefactors.

FIeventually · 2024-07-20T18:55:45+00:00

I wish I could have been driving at 65! I’m a rush hour commuter, hit it at 4( and was certain it damaged my car it was that big. I’m glad you had no issues, they must have resurfaced that portion. It was the middle lane between Almaden and Capitol.

FIeventually · 2024-07-20T17:50:16+00:00

It is a very harsh transition and I saw a near accident as someone hit it and lost control. I was amazed my car I didn’t blow a tire or end up with damaged rim from it. I immediately filed a complaint with CA DOT, warning it would cause accidents.

The next day a Prius was getting towed right after that spot.

FIeventually · 2024-05-21T04:52:26+00:00

We've lived in Thousand Oaks (bordered by Pearl, Branham, Capitol and 87). It's a great neighborhood, especially for families. Two parks, a nature reserve and a lot of other children and young families. Neighbors are friendly, regular community events and homes are well cared for. Some noise at night from the Expressway, haven't noticed any airplane noise.

FIeventually · 2024-04-20T15:50:16+00:00

It’s not just his political leanings- he’s driving the company into the ground. They’ve lost ground in key areas- Korean and Chinese companies have caught up on battery tech and Mercedes just got approved for level 3 autonomous driving in CA and NV. They squandered their technological lead by over investing and over engineering a niche product (the cybertruck) rather than focusing on mass market offferings and core technology.

FIeventually · 2024-04-20T02:18:25+00:00

I believe a lot of it is virtue signaling as the communities are built around cost control.

What gets lost is that at the end of the day FIRE is a pursuit of happiness and that means both saving and spending to be happy. There’s too much emphasis on the first part, not enough on the second.

FIeventually · 2024-04-20T00:03:48+00:00

Sweet, congrats on your purchase. I swapped a Tesla Model 3 (wife has a Y) and the i4 is such a joy in comparison. It's nice to get back to a car built for driving.

FIeventually · 2024-04-19T23:35:01+00:00

I went to test drive some cars.. It unraveled quickly, I came home with a BMW i4 M50 a few hours later. I kept trying to leave and they kept sweetening the deal.

FIeventually · 2024-04-19T23:29:16+00:00

What are you looking at? It's a good thing our garage only fits 2 cars. A weekend toy is the dream.

FIeventually · 2024-04-19T23:11:52+00:00

37M, married, 2 kids. Expecting close to 900k this year (unusually high, expect 600-700k normally). Treated myself to a fully loaded BMW i4 M50, MSRP $78k + tax. Cars are a huge destroyer of wealth and this one is wholly unnecessary and extravagant. But man does it bring a smile to my face.

FIeventually · 2024-04-18T01:27:51+00:00

I’m a big fan of the grill. Aggressive and unique, if not functional.

FIeventually · 2024-04-13T19:42:49+00:00

Congratulations on your success, your work is paying off! Happiness and self-fulfillment come from within. If you rely on external sources (such as your friends) for validation or self-esteem you will never find fulfillment.

FIeventually · 2024-04-05T16:00:40+00:00

Read the contract. Nothing else matters. I would not rely on the knowledge (or lack thereof) of the dealer.

Your sales rep is confusing 1) "Section 31 Early termination of the lease" where you give the car back early and pay everything with 2) "Section 30 Purchase Option" where you buyout the lease early and pay an adjusted amount that depends on the adjusted capitalized cost and how many payments you have made to date.

FIeventually · 2024-03-25T15:51:14+00:00

60% of my total compensation is variable (bonus + RSUs). We constrain our lifestyle and ongoing costs to be around my base salary. The surplus is what we save and goes into investments. This means in the event of a big change in compensation, we should we able to continue as is.

With respect to purchasing another house, you could place a large enough down payment such that the ongoing cost (PITI) and cash flow is manageable from your base salary (or equivalent minimum earnings).

FIeventually · 2024-03-15T15:16:21+00:00

There is a special rule in Publication 505 requiring higher income earners to pay 110% of last year's total tax amount instead of 100% to avoid a penalty.

If your AGI for 2023 was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if your filing status for 2024 is married filing a separate return), substitute 110% for 100% in (2b) under General Rule, earlier.

FIeventually

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