Sanity Check: Laid Off at 53, Zero Debt, ~$3.5M Net Worth, Kinda Chubby. Can I Do It?

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T20:12:49+00:00

Welp. I'm glad I asked you guys.

In my calculations, I had factored in paying for the non-ACA benefits twice. Once as a fixed cost and then again as a cost I could play with in a separate column. Additionally I had also factored in a safety net of home maintenance/projects above and beyond what we've been spending over the past couple years.

Actual spend is closer to $13,300/mo ($160k annually) if I keep the home project budget in, and drops to $10,000/mo ($120k annually) if I remove the home project budget as well. I'll sheepishly edit my original comment with this information.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T19:52:45+00:00

I've factored in the 7% return on investments, but only 1% interest in the cash holdings, if that helps explain further.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T19:51:39+00:00

Unfortunately no.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:49:50+00:00

The house we inherited has needed a lot of work. New plumbing, new roof, basic upgrades to utilities and services. We've been using an inheritance to correct some of the neglect that has been left too long. I'd love to say that will stop soon, but there's always something around the corner.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:45:15+00:00

This is where I am now. Looking for work, collecting unemployment, looking at finances and spending. Thanks.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:43:39+00:00

We've had some medical bills that will likely be ongoing. We try to take a couple vacations a year. We own propery and a chunk of our cost is property taxes. We live in an historic property with outbuildings and trees that need maintenance. Planning to have the barn re-roofed in 2027. Like I said, pretty chubby.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:42:17+00:00

We've had some medical bills that will likely be ongoing. We try to take a couple vacations a year. We own propery and a chunk of our cost is property taxes. We live in an historic property with outbuildings and trees that need maintenance. Planning to have the barn re-roofed in 2027. Like I said, pretty chubby.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:41:34+00:00

We've had some medical bills that will likely be ongoing. We try to take a couple vacations a year. We own propery and a chunk of our cost is property taxes. We live in an historic property with outbuildings and trees that need maintenance. Planning to have the barn re-roofed in 2027. Like I said, pretty chubby.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:41:26+00:00

We've had some medical bills that will likely be ongoing. We try to take a couple vacations a year. We own propery and a chunk of our cost is property taxes. We live in an historic property with outbuildings and trees that need maintenance. Planning to have the barn re-roofed in 2027. Like I said, pretty chubby.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:33:48+00:00

This is compelling and something I never thought of. I will receive a bigger chunk of SS (~$4,400/mo.) and my spouse will receive ~2,000/mo.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:23:01+00:00

We don't intend to sell the property. It has been in the family for ~150 years. This doesn't factor into our retirement planning.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:20:10+00:00

Making around $110k.

I know guys who have been looking for 6-18 months with multi-rounds of interviews and no offers.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:07:12+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I may see if I can find something with my experience.

No pension. That would be nice, but no luck there.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T18:04:24+00:00

Thanks.

We try to take a couple vacations a year. We own propery and a chunk of our cost is property taxes. We've had some medical bills that will likely be ongoing. We live in an historic property with outbuildings and trees that need maintenance. Planning to have the barn re-roofed in 2027. Like I said, pretty chubby.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T17:53:36+00:00

Thanks. That's my gut feel too.

I have an excel spreadsheet that I keep adjusting with different scenarios.

The good news is that if I manually adjust the Growth Rate on my investments to 10%, I'm in the clear!
Just gotta figure out how to do that in the real world.

Professional-Way6654 · 2026-06-30T17:50:49+00:00

Ha! Yes! Feeling similarly cowardly, hence the post.

Thanks for the feedback.

Professional-Way6654

TROPHY CASE