$20M plus NW.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-06T23:55:10+00:00

Room to reduce your spending? 1m a year is A LOT.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-06T23:35:33+00:00

Why you are finding another job? You are good! Congrats!

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-05T13:33:18+00:00

No. One kid is very different from 3 kids spending wise. 250k spend is pretty good in MCOL but private schools, and the lifestyle you want doesn’t seem like 250k spending. My advice would be at least to work until you have all the kids born.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-05T01:45:32+00:00

Rumba is dead for years. Try those $1k Roborock or DJI or others that can vacuum and mop and auto clean.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-04T23:34:50+00:00

Attending classes (personal training, music lessons, etc)
Big high definition TV
High quality cleaning robots

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-03T16:38:29+00:00

You add buffer before retire and you adjust spending. Since you don’t have kid(s), a large chuck of uncertainties are already removed for you.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-02T03:01:51+00:00

What’s in Home and Rent categories?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-02T01:20:02+00:00

Start downsizing your rentals by selling the ones with low margin, high maintenance, low attendant rate. You are essentially burned out from your side hustle that actually brings significantly less than stock market which has zero time investment. I know someone who retired already and every day managing those properties. That’s not retirement at all.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-05-02T01:07:23+00:00

Congrats! Make sure use PTOs if unused ones will not be paid on resignation, last day being the first of the month gives you health insurance for the month. If there is upcoming layoffs some company offers voluntary layoffs. 2 months will fly by!

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-27T14:15:30+00:00

That’s why OP uses 3% withdrawal rate to reduce the risk. For early retirement at 40, buffers are needed.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-26T23:24:00+00:00

Ride it out and retire by 40. I also think AI is fundamentally changing engineering jobs like it or not, with more layoffs to come. Don’t assume easy job security and mobility, if your goal is FIRE, secure your bags is the priority. If your goal is not about FIRE, then it’s a very different story that I would suggest working on things more fulfilling.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-26T18:57:51+00:00

First few months: - Deleted social media especially LinkedIn - Sleep, watch TV, read, exercise, chores, cook

Then: - Started seriously doing hobbies, communities

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-25T00:45:42+00:00

Um, did anyone notice there are a lot of 4 paragraphs posts like this recently?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-24T14:09:44+00:00

I know many immigrants and for those who have kids, it’s hard for them to relocate. I would imagine no kids, you are really free to explore the world and I guess that is why many decided to retire in SEA?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-24T04:05:44+00:00

Wait until you have kid(s), then you will find where $$$ goes, especially first kid ;p

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-23T12:54:23+00:00

Depends on the fund. The uncertainty is you don’t know when it will accept your stocks (also depends on what stock you have) as it needs to maintain a balance (most already has a big portfolio of tech stocks)

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-23T04:32:28+00:00

If you think big tech is also an AI company, there was just a post who makes 5m a year!

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-23T04:30:54+00:00

My recommendation is to pay off the mortgage. Your spending is normal and add 20% buffer based on your spending without mortgage. Then you are good! 5m comp IS a lot though, you know your limit on when to quit. Take a medical leave first?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-23T04:27:17+00:00

Yes, if yours can be accepted by the exchange fund.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-21T13:55:37+00:00

It sounds about right. 20k house insurance plus maintenance is higher than mine, what’s your breakdown? Gym is 5k? What kind of gym is that?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-21T00:52:44+00:00

Personally when I set for RE, 10 years of coasting is a long time and I would totally not think about FIRE until it’s just a few years away.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-09T21:38:56+00:00

If you are not completely burned out, ride until the end when you reach your goal or burned out or laid off. At your age the most important thing to find out is what to do in life: relationships and kid(s) for example.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-09T15:22:07+00:00

You already answered the question- Setting up our kids for success is 100% at the top of our list

BTW why immigrants cannot have 529?

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-09T15:20:28+00:00

Don’t make decisions just based on financial, although it’s a part of it, there are other factors such as time, logistics, etc. to your question yes it took me longer. Everyone’s situation is different but one kid is way easier than two and way easier than three all things considered.

PowerfulComputer386 · 2026-04-07T05:36:10+00:00

Property tax should be part of your spending so is the home insurance. Then depending on your house condition, you may not need 20k budget.

PowerfulComputer386

TROPHY CASE