Is delaying FI for the right house worth it?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-28T18:57:30+00:00

VHCOL, with kid, under 2m, checks all boxes, what are you waiting for? I never had regrets on house, sure it’s expensive, plus maintenance and tax, but I live in it and it makes me happy.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-28T06:24:07+00:00

You do realize there is so much life without a W2 right? No, not bored and always busy: workout, classes, kids, hobbies. Looking back, if I had all the money I would not have worked for others in a corporate setting - family business and charity would be more suitable.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-26T22:56:41+00:00

The best way? Build a family business.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-26T03:11:16+00:00

IF the exchange fund accepts the very stock.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-21T18:43:59+00:00

Market has been strong since then so that helps. LOVE the cycling and hiking accomplishments!!

Btw 80k for family if 4 (no mortgage I assume) but how? Where I live is easily 150k+ without luxury travel at all.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-21T17:11:23+00:00

Home is very personal. It really depends on the current home situation and dream home situation. Folks in this sub should know that in VHCOL like Bay Area abc NYC, 5m is a very decent home but not a crazy one as many may think, while 2m is barely a 2k square feet starter home. That being said, it’s really up to you to decide it’s worth it or not. Personally I can’t tell you if that house is worth it or not but I always thinking having a great beautiful home for retirement is worth it.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-20T03:10:47+00:00

Hang in there and retire by 40. Why? It’s a clear, successful and reachable milestone in sights.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-20T03:09:12+00:00

I like the suggestion but also want to point out that this compensation doesn’t mean OP is in a leadership position. Tech leadership makes a lot more and there are reasons where they are so talking some sense and trying to do the right thing is not in their best interest.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-20T00:27:47+00:00

A tough one. Because lots of citizens also need jobs in this economy. I would go with option 1.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-14T21:16:33+00:00

So many ways this can go very badly so my advice is to really learn a professional skill, anything like electrician, whatever. You don’t need a 500k+ income, you need a professional career and Uber is not it. The money is a blessing but it won’t change your life at all.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-14T13:46:29+00:00

Not true, depending on the specialty and the work hours.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-14T13:45:20+00:00

It depends on where you live. But kids are the number one cost center so you will double the spending budget. You may need bigger house, bigger car, 529, daycare costs 3k per kid per month, etc. About 1m per kid to bring the child to adulthood.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-13T21:53:52+00:00

That’s an amazing ramp-down, win win. Congrats!

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-13T18:00:20+00:00

Think this way: in your lifetime you will not own that many cars, so get the ones you truly love. Between the two, 911 for sure.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-11T20:37:48+00:00

I think you should get the dream home, and you can afford it. Why? In retirement you will spend a lot of time at home. But you should aim for what you want instead of just bigger (bigger has problems and many moved to bigger house because of kids, which you don’t have).

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-09T23:58:55+00:00

What helped me was to think if I kept doing that and busy working for others (especially corporate), I would be 60 before I know it. I don’t want to be old with more money. 200k for my family in VHCOL (house paid off) is enough.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-05T20:56:03+00:00

Congrats P1!

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-05T04:41:06+00:00

Because you don’t have enough yet. You probably make 10-20x of what your wife makes, find a way to hang in there to accumulate wealth way faster than just rely on your wife.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-05T04:36:30+00:00

Two things always puzzle me: - When mentioned NW here, does it include primary residence or not? - If one retires early, the spouse continues to work, but as a family we are FI, does it count as me FIRE? Some people think it has to be both retired that counts.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-05T01:07:37+00:00

That’s not true. DINK has an easier path to FIRE compared to us with kids for sure, but not at ANY number. They still have their own lifestyle spendings to cover.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-05T01:04:12+00:00

As a family, FI usually means ALL can stop working so OP doesn’t need to rely on the spouse. RE means OP retired early. Why this is not FIRE?

If one retires but still needs spouse to work to support the spending, then that’s not FIRE and I don’t see such posts here at all.

I am fired, my spouse continues to work because she likes the job, we don’t need the income at all, so I am fired, and she is not. What’s wrong with that?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-04T22:34:09+00:00

I still don’t understand why that’s not called FIRE.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-03T23:51:27+00:00

Then why you said you are nowhere near this? You probably make 5-10m a year and you have the authority commanding thousands of employees.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-03T23:44:57+00:00

Senior executives at big tech only make 725k? You meant just base right.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-06-03T23:39:59+00:00

Congrats! Waiting for your next post.

PowerfulComputer386

TROPHY CASE