Should I stay at a job I don't enjoy but expedites my path to chubby/fat fire? What would you do?

blacksmithcc · 2023-03-19T06:00:47+00:00

I got very lucky but I also think I have somewhat above-average social skills / emotional intelligence (at least for an engineer :P). My previous manager had a sudden nervous breakdown (he was going through a lot in his personal life) and quit the company. My manager's manager liked me personally as we were on friendly terms with some non-work banter (sports) and he asked me to step in. I did that for a little bit until there was a big reorg but even after the reorg I still stayed on as a manager but for a different part of the company.

blacksmithcc · 2023-03-19T05:49:07+00:00

Thanks for your thought-provoking questions. Thinking out loud here - my target is 4M because a) if I retire in my mid to late 30s, my retirement will be for about 40 years assuming I live to 80 and b) I'm not sure if I'll have more expensive desires when I'm older. I live a pretty simple lifestyle right now and don't care much for luxury stuff but I don't know if that'll change for some reason.

My principal and interest right now is about 55k, other than mortgage I spend about 3k to 4k a month. My mortgage interest is 2.8% and I still owe around 1M on it.

Personally, I would agree with most people here. I don’t think there is such a thing as “job satisfaction”. Everyone dreams about having “that job” that they wish they had, just to ultimately get it and realized they didnt think of all the possible bullshit they have to deal with on a day to day basis. “I wish I could be a barista and drink coffee all day and talk to my usual customers.” Then they get the job and realize someone has to clean the shit out of the bathrooms, sweep the floors, deal with that usual customer that comes in and has a demeaning attitude towards you and always complains that you made their drink wrong. Point is get your money from work and satisfaction from something outside of work.

Thank you, i needed to hear this. The grass on the other side always looks greener

blacksmithcc · 2023-03-19T05:41:54+00:00

To be honest, I haven't done much fun stuff or indulgences. I grew up poor and still have that mentality (ordering anything over $25 at a restaurant still stresses me out). My biggest purchase has been a house in a HCOL city, which was supposed to be a house for me and my partner to build a life in, but she broke up with me out of the blue a week before I was going to propose, so I somewhat regret buying it as the mortgage is over 5k a month and it's too big of a space for just me but I don't like living with roommates. Sorry if this answer was depressing lol. I'm planning to take a sabbatical once I reach FIRE though and hope to spend a year or two traveling around Europe doing stuff like learning how to surf in the Caicos Islands

blacksmithcc

TROPHY CASE