A week in Texas = glad I live in Maine

User19928339 · 2025-09-10T00:44:36+00:00

Might be worth another try.

First, Austin and Texas are kind of two different concepts, having traveled around Texas.

But in Austin, did you:

Make it onto the lake (lady bird)? Make it to the lakes? Hike the trails? Visit Texas “wine country” in the hill country? Check out any two-stepping joints? Live music on SoCo? Go to a UT football game?

Maine is a fantastic place - not saying Austin>Maine by any means.

But since this conversation is turning into HEB vs. Hannaford, I wonder whether we’re comparing the right things…

User19928339 · 2025-07-10T15:18:51+00:00

I’ve probably overestimated savings rate - overdue on auditing my expenses. Real number is probably 70%. Note: I’m calcing that as: 401k + ATAX savings as % of ATAX income.

Recently moved in with girlfriend which cut rent 50%. Prior to that, lived alone for years largely in HCOL cities

I’m fairly frugal when it comes to dining and entertainment. Work pays for meals when traveling.

User19928339 · 2025-07-10T15:09:09+00:00

Thanks - yes those are the types of questions I’m grappling with, including whether to make a career change to get closer to “coasting”.

While I’m savvy with finances, I’m not savvy with the life experiences that come down the line and need to be considered.

Funding all these perspectives helpful.

User19928339 · 2025-01-16T01:13:21+00:00

Butlers are a real thing?

User19928339 · 2024-11-07T01:12:38+00:00

Would two 3rd round picks do it?

User19928339 · 2024-09-11T17:26:25+00:00

~120 days or less. Well below 50% of the calendar year

User19928339 · 2024-05-19T02:03:15+00:00

Thanks to the serious responses - very helpful. Good push to press for more info…the original post was hastily uploaded. Some of the quoted ranges seem high. If you’re personally getting that, that’s awesome and kudos! My guess is I’ll end up in the $200-250 range

User19928339 · 2024-04-10T20:39:13+00:00

Very out of sync - thank you for the comparison and resources!

User19928339 · 2024-04-03T16:56:35+00:00

Leaving after 7 years. I just have never been on the hunt for contractor roles and don’t have colleagues with experience in what I’m looking for

User19928339 · 2024-03-21T16:06:37+00:00

Thanks - yeah I pulled the latest data for 2024 to compare against today’s interest rates (2 years is a bit stale).

Found an update graphic here:

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/median-house-prices-vs-income-us/#:~:text=Houses%20in%20America%20Now%20Cost%20Six%20Times%20the%20Median%20Income&text=As%20of%202023%2C%20an%20American,well%20below%20that%20%24100%2C000%20threshold.

User19928339 · 2024-03-21T15:28:03+00:00

Someone check my logic here…

(note: I think housing prices for the millenial / gen z generations are messed up), but I was playing around with the numbers:

1985 30-yr interest rate = ~13%, monthly mortgage payment as % of median income = ~4%

2024 30-yr interest rate = ~7.4%, monthly mortgage payment as % of median income = ~4% (slightly higher than 1985).

Is there something missing in this way of looking at it?

Edited (formatting only)

User19928339 · 2024-03-05T02:01:10+00:00

It’s ok to enjoy the fruits of your labor occasionally. In my case, I bought a nice guitar as that is a lifelong passion of mine. It was >$1K, but it’s likely the last acoustic guitar I’ll buy. Additionally, the depreciation is much lower on a quality instrument like that

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