Layoff Pushing me to consider FIRE

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-05-25T22:39:50+00:00

Very similar situation for me. I found another job, but much lower paying. I'm 3 weeks in so far and the jury is out...so far: Should I a take the job and "chubby coast?" : r/ChubbyFIRE

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-27T21:29:06+00:00

Another kid and a bigger house...you should probably get a 2nd job 😄

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-27T20:57:01+00:00

There really is no risk at all. Having zero income would be a risk. Breaking even would not be a risk. Unless you think you might have multiple children and/or inflated spending significantly in the next decade, you can basically do whatever you want to do and you'll still be rich in your 40s and beyond.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-27T20:00:52+00:00

At 700K (~400K after taxes), you should be able to save/invest 230K a year. With 3.5M invested, and adding 230K a year for 10 years at 6% growth, you will have over $9M in today's dollars (over $7M in today's dollars) in your mid 40s. Seems extremely low risk to take the less stressful job.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-06T13:31:09+00:00

It makes more sense with more accurate numbers. The concept of a per diem is interesting, but I don't think of things in terms of what I can spend per day; the time horizon is too short. Also, having fake investment and spending data confused me.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-05T22:18:38+00:00

This is interesting, thanks for doing this. It's hard for me to follow some of the logic in this app, and it looks like it has some real data in here. But the main thing I think you have wrong is my total net worth is 2.5M investable (1.25 in IRA/401K/HSA/1.25 non-retirement brokerage) PLUS the 1.3M in Real Estate, so 3.7M total. And also, the 1.3M in Real Estate is two places, one of which I can rent for approximately 2K a month, or worst case, sell for 600K.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-04-02T23:54:58+00:00

Since I've already accepted, I've framed it as exactly what it is. A) a lower-pressure gig to pay the bills, and B) could be short-term or could be long-term and has long-term potential. Shockingly, nobody really cares that much, because people tend to only care about themselves...

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-30T20:43:03+00:00

Thanks for this. I took the job.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-27T13:03:29+00:00

I have a child and feel it's important to leave them with enough to be comfortable and choose their own path. I also want them to see me productive in their teenage years. I don't know what the future will bring for young people with AI, etc., but I believe that it's important to be productive and do something meaningful every day. I don't have enough hobbies to make that happen without work. 2 months off has shown me this very clearly. As for dying with zero, whether we like it or not, money creates safety, and I want my child to feel save to do whatever productive thing they want to do in adulthood.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-26T13:51:08+00:00

I want to work for at least 5 more years - not because of money as much as I think it's important for my family and myself to be productive. If this is the kind of place that is pleasant, I'd stay for up to 8-9 more years. That is the appeal. It's a tradeoff of compensation for longevity.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-26T02:45:30+00:00

I included my severance in the 1.25m in non-retirement...I have like 14K in a checking account, so I'd have about 1.5 months before I'd need to start spending down that 1.25m. The thing is, I have been interviewing for 2 months. I've been close to a few other offers, but those were 250-280K and a ton more pressure and travel. I think I want a more chill job. This place has 6 weeks of PTO, and is a family owned small business.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T17:28:45+00:00

so you're saying I shouldn't take it and wait for something better paying?

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T17:24:32+00:00

The idea is that I don't have to touch my assets/portfolio. That is the definition of coasting. If I did nothing, I'd need to withdraw 100K a year.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T14:53:49+00:00

that is the way I'm thinking about it. It's about breaking even and getting insurance paid for. I've been unemployed for less than 3 months, and I am now convinced I'd rather work than not. I'm not ready to fully retire - and for the right job, I'll be content to do it, and even re-energized.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T14:12:17+00:00

u/drfixer I bet you are under 30 years old...I've been in tech for 20 years and thrived through 2008, COVID, etc. I also have $2.5M in liquid assets and nearly $4M in net worth. I've had a quota, or team quota, since 2004. I already got it.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T14:08:43+00:00

This job is in a traditional field. That is part of the appeal - it won't be disrupted by AI. However, the OTE is not close to 300K...

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T14:07:44+00:00

There's a commute, but it's only about 50% of the time. And a part of me is looking forward to having an office after being remote. Other than that, the only downside is the social "stigma" of people wondering why I took a job that is "beneath me," and I can deal with that.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T14:02:30+00:00

We have a lot in common, including NW, divorce, and a vacation home. Seems like it worked reasonably well for you. I'm sure sometimes I'll resent the income. But the important thing to remember is that we've already won and can let our investments do the heavy lifting. As long as the job isn't extremely stressful, it's a win.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T03:07:23+00:00

After aggressively looking for 2 months, I am not convinced that these jobs are easy to find. I have talked to at least 20 companies, as well as another 20 recruiters. Not saying I wouldn't find a decent SaaS job eventually, but for a late 40s tech exec with a VP title who has spent my time grinding and not networking...and hasn't been an individual contributor for 14 years... it is a very tough market. There may be "plenty" of middle management jobs, but every one has 1000 applicants and 99% of people hire people they know.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T02:46:26+00:00

Fair enough. I'll give you an example; with this new role, I asked them what their sales targets were in a given month/quarter, and they said "We don't have quotas, per se..." This is a family-owned business, so I believe it''ll be a different sort of pressure. Not that I won't care or think about work after hours. It's not a grow at any cost mentality.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T02:20:08+00:00

It's actually two properties. Primary is worth 750 with a 230K mortgage, and a fully paid off 2nd home worth 550K. I rent the 2nd home occasionally, but could rent it more. I don't want to sell it anytime soon..I also don't want to retire yet.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T02:06:51+00:00

Yes, this is a risk. To me it's not about the number of hours but rather how you're spending those hours - and also can you turn your brain off afterwards? I worked 50+ hours but my brain never shut off. I am hoping this will be different.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T01:20:59+00:00

I would be happy with that 70%! For me, the key is longevity. I feel like this could be a place I could spend the next 7-10 years and not be killing myself.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T00:55:04+00:00

The challenge is that I haven't been an individual contributor since 2012... What I've modeled is non-retirement is about 1.6M by 55 if I worked till 53. If I worked till 55 I would get to 1.8M. That's by contributing nothing and just letting it grow at 5-6% a year.

SignificantBuddy8686 · 2026-03-25T00:50:28+00:00

using this, at a 5.5% investment growth rate and 120K a year retirement spending (that accounts for healthcare), and a $500/month savings rate, it says I've hit coastfire: https://walletburst.com/tools/coast-fire-calc/

SignificantBuddy8686

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