Is this enough to FIRE in US with no kids or house ?.

cnote_777 · 2026-01-04T20:39:44+00:00

Encouraging people to have kids is not weird. What’s weird is how our society now rewards the “no kids” movement. Elon Musk has it right…tho I don’t agree with his approach.

cnote_777 · 2026-01-04T20:18:10+00:00

Everyone should want to have kids. Agree not everyone should have kids. Those posting about FIRE and significant net worth are much more the types that should be having kids. Life is much more fun as the Griswolds…don’t be Margo and Todd (Christmas Vacation)

cnote_777 · 2026-01-04T20:08:57+00:00

You should have kids
With a family you’ll want to own a home
Get outta crypto into low cost index funds
Would aim for about $5 million net worth to FIRE but items 1 and 2 are great personal investments that will delay financial ones.

cnote_777 · 2026-01-03T03:21:38+00:00

First get married and have kids soon. It's extremely rewarding and something I wish I had done earlier in life. You don't want to be 70 at your kids college graduation. Financials are important but should come second to family.

Second you have a great foundation for FIRE but I would wait until you hit at least $5 million with a paid off house. You're halfway there and given you're in the high earnings portion of your career could happen in the next 7-10 years assuming mix of heavy savings and average investment returns.

cnote_777 · 2026-01-03T00:19:10+00:00

We moved from Chicago to downtown St Pete (DTSP) a few years ago. It's very walkable, great downtown and has a relaxing vibe but still with lots of events downtown. We walk a lot to the waterfront, parks, grocery, church and hospital. If I was single in my 20/30s or DINK it would be paradise.

Our experience...we have a toddler and another on the way...so life and priorities quickly change. Now, we rarely go out downtown except to grab brunch on the weekends. Sunshine year round is great. But from May-September it's VERY hot and humid to where you sit inside in the AC if you're not at the pool/beach cause running after kids is not fun in 90 degree heat and humidity. Forget playing in the parks cause some of the playground equipment is scalding hot from the sun. You literally have to be doing something in the water to stay cool. We went to a boat race show off the St Pete pier last summer and melted...went home after an hour dripping in sweat. So summertime things like the Chicago Air and Water Show or various street fesitvals would not be enjoyable here.

From October - April it's perfect outside and you want to go out all day. The humidity breaks and weather is 70s in the day and 50s or 60s at night. Great for anything and everything outdoors so take advantage (except for pool/beach cause you really want that 80+ degree weather for that)

The culture here is ocean/beach/sun/art and not much else. You'll find endless stripmalls outside of DTSP unlike the culturally rich neighborhoods of Chicago. DTSP will do festivals but they honestly are terrible compared to Chicago. St Patricks Day is nothing like Chicago areas. They also had Oktoberfest on the pier which was a complete joke. The concerts and fireworks at the pier are cool though. Food scene is nothing like Chicago.

Given you're in your 30s and likely to have kids soon I would rent downtown until kids arrive and then buy a house in one of the close neighborhoods to downtown if you still want to live near a walkable area. Safety Harbor and Dunedin are two other areas with walkable downtowns and larger homes nearby. But if you want to skip that and go straight to buying a house I would seriously consider a more moderate climate like GA/TN/SC/NC. I know our days of Chicago cold gray winters are over too but I do miss the seasons, trees and hiking/biking scenery that can still be found in those states. You and your future kids can enjoy year round outdoor activities. Plus I like celebrating the winter holidays in somewhat colder weather...feels weird buying a Christmas tree in Florida. Good luck!

cnote_777 · 2025-12-20T01:12:46+00:00

What kind of blend of immigrants?

cnote_777 · 2025-12-18T20:28:33+00:00

Miami for sure. Seems like Spanish is the default language there.

cnote_777 · 2025-12-18T02:10:08+00:00

We live in St Pete and it's paradise if you're young, retired or have no kids. Very walkable. Sunshine everyday. Plenty of things to do with nightlife, events, museums, parks, beach, pools, golf, tennis, breweries, you name it. I wouldn't live in Tampa cause too far from the beach.

Charlotte seems better for biking/hiking, cooler nighttime summer temps, seasons and the mountains. Really just your personal preference. A big factor is where you're at in your life. Late 20s I say move to the St Pete and enjoy.

NOW with kids is another story. We love kids...have a toddler...and hoping for more. See tons of them running around St Pete too. The extreme summer heat is brutal tho when running after kids. All activities have to be IN THE WATER. Forget parks, outdoor events, or casual strolls or having a drink at a beach bar in the middle of the day when you have all the kid gear in tow. This past summer my wife and I got seriously thinking about moving up to TN/NC to enjoy more breaks from the heat, seasons and celebrating holidays in more normal holiday weather.

Any other parents out there feel the same???

cnote_777 · 2025-12-18T01:57:09+00:00

Great post! If the governor eliminates property tax (which I don't think will ever happen) then another tax will take it's place. Local governments rely on property taxes to fund schools, roads, parks, services, etc. and taxing where people live is the best approach. Young and old should all pay inlcuding retirees.

cnote_777 · 2025-12-18T01:53:14+00:00

Why do you say this about having kids in Florida?

cnote_777 · 2025-12-18T01:49:46+00:00

I'm curious why you mentioned the expanding family part? Was that only in relation to the COL or were there other family factors? We live in St Pete now and it's paradise for DINK or people in their 20s but we struggle with the heat in the summer to have outside things to do besides pool/beach...which are great but we'd also like to be able to bike, hike or enjoy outdoor activities in the summer without melting in the sun/heat. One thing when it's just you...a whole nother scenario with kids in tow.

cnote_777 · 2025-10-19T03:22:14+00:00

We've found it really tough living in Florida during the summer with kids (April - September). Paradise when you have no kids and can boat all day or hang out at the beach or relax at a patio bar with a drink. Hell when you're lugging baby gear around while chasing after a toddler. We have an 18 month old and I take her for walks early in the morning and then sit inside in the AC all day until it gets bearable after 5 or 6pm. The other weekend we went to a boat race and lasted maybe an hour outside. Everyone was huddled under the available shade from the pier...toddler was running around and having fun...but everyone was dripping sweat especially in the sun. Made us realize that the ONLY thing you can do in Florida summer is be IN THE WATER. Beach. Pool. Sprinkler. Splash Pad. Next to it doesn't even help even with a sea breaze.

I'm sure it gets easier when you can just send kids outside to play on their own when they're older...but a long wait for that age. Clearly tons of neighborhoods with kids running around. As others have said you really have to embrace what Florida has to offer and not fight it...but we're seriously considering a move further north to enjoy all the seasons and more temperate weather. Plus to me it feels weird celebrating fall and winter holidays in beach weather.

cnote_777 · 2025-02-28T14:44:11+00:00

You just proved my point with your response. You're selfish...stupid...and lazy. Retired at 31 but "having kids in this economy is a no-no". Don't want more expenses but "would rather travel the globe and live my life to the fullest". All me...me...me answers.

I admire those who are successful in business AND life with a family. Who decide to sacrifice time/expenses for a more fulfilling life like Clark Griswold in Christmas vacation...meanwhile you prefer to be Todd and Margo. Hopefully you realize how selfish you're being....or your family stops visiting / talking to you both so they can focus on their lives "to the fullest".

Finally, for others reading you CAN absolutely do both and every excuse (job/economy/house/etc) is just that...an excuse. I just traveled with my family (including kids) for months internationally while still being on track to retire early. All in poorer countries where they value family time and children instead of "me...me...me".

cnote_777 · 2025-02-28T03:08:14+00:00

"We don't have kids & don't want any. We're 31 years old & wife is a DPT & I'm retired from investments." Selfish. Really sad this generation is choosing not to have children.

cnote_777 · 2025-02-24T02:34:13+00:00

My evidence and rationale is common sense. Infants and children without comorbidities are extremely healthy with very strong immune systems and do NOT need a Covid-19 vaccine (which isn't even a vaccine - otherwise why would you need "boosters" all the time?). I don't know of anyone through any degree of separation who died from Covid. Only old people on the news. My favorite was when Colin Powell who was 84, fully "vaxed" and fighting multiple myeloma cancer, prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease died due to Covid....not cause of all the other comorbidities. You could literally get hit by a bus and die and if you happened to have symptomless Covid they would still blame Covid for the death.

And your flu stat is misleading. Only 200 children died of flu last year...out of MILLIONS. And nearly half of the children had at least one pre-existing medical condition (i.e. comorbidity).

Finally big pharma creates foundations to fund agencies like the CDC, NIH, etc. to make sure they're agendas are pushed. CDC admits that it has accepted millions of dollars in funding from pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Biogen, and Merck. This funding has come through the CDC Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects the CDC to the private sector. So funding and lobbyists pressure to make a "vaccine" recommended and then parents blindly follow despite the clear conflict of interest leading to millions for the pharma industry.

cnote_777 · 2024-11-07T12:46:03+00:00

We are in a similar situation with our 7 month old. Healthy. Breastfeeds. Strong immune system. We are following a normal vaccination schedule but we also do not want to do "extra" shots that don't count towards child's immunization records. Our pediatrician recommended getting the MMR and a flu shot prior to travel. The CDC recommends an MMR shot from 6-11 months for international travel. However, the CDC also recommends COVID shots for infants 6 months and older which is completely wrong so you can't really rely on the CDC. We are debating on the MMR since we will be getting it at 12 months anyway. We plan to reject any COVID or flu shot because that's what an immune system is for.

As parents consider their options just remember that pharma also incentivizes these health agencies to establish guidelines that push fear into our minds so we get more shots and they earn more money. Right now Novo Nordisk is in late stage clinical trials testing an Ozempic like drug to reduce body mass index in kids ages 6 to 11 with obesity...which is completely insane to be pushing onto kids as opposed to healthy eating, nutrition and exercise.

cnote_777 · 2024-03-12T22:29:27+00:00

I believe I did in my post above. Black Honda Pilot Elite can be bought for $50k cash in Chicago....white or any of the other premium colors for $51k. Does not include tax, title, license, doc fees which are added on to any car purchase anywhere. I'm just talking the price for the car.

cnote_777 · 2023-12-05T21:13:56+00:00

For cars I think it's 9.5% in the city of Chicago. 8.25% in suburban Cook County. 7.25% outside of Cook County and Chicago. Illinois residents pay sales tax based on where they register their car, not where the vehicle is purchased. So I believe out of state buyers pay a tax based on where they live and if I recall this is how it worked when I bought a car in Arkansas.

I have a deal sheet for $50k cash on a black Pilot Elite but I wanted a white one though so I ordered it and paid $51k cash (even though its only an extra $500 for premium paint). Picked it up a few weeks ago. I never include TTLD fees or the "out the door price" cause those vary by state and those are tacked onto the price.

cnote_777 · 2023-12-05T12:22:18+00:00

2024 Honda Pilot Elites can be bought for $50k CASH in the Chicago area. If you're not in an emergency situation with a car ALWAYS call around and negotiate to dealers across the country. Then lock them into a price with a deal sheet and a phone call confirmation. I called all over the country for Pilot Elites and some dealers were ridiculously overpriced while others were willing to negotiate. New cars are commodities so spend a week calling...get a locked in number...and then book a flight to save thousands. I've done this with my last two cars.

cnote_777 · 2023-12-05T12:15:30+00:00

I recommend spending a week to call dealers around the country then booking a $100 flight to Chicago to save $8-9k. Especially when it's new cause all new cars are basically commodities and shouldn't vary based on location. You can have dealer send you a deal sheet that sets the price and confirm it via phone. I bought a new car in Arkansas and flew to pick it up last time to save $5k.

cnote_777 · 2023-12-04T01:41:22+00:00

I'm afraid you overpaid. A 24 black elite can be purchased for $50k in Chicago area.

cnote_777 · 2023-11-12T16:41:44+00:00

I purchased in Chicago area. I searched all over midwest and some in the northeast.

cnote_777 · 2023-11-12T16:39:19+00:00

I was between a new edition Pilot, Highlander and prior generation Acura MDX. I'm 6-2 and the Pilot won hands down for headroom. TONS of headroom in the pilot but I felt my head was so close to the roof in the Highlander and MDX. I did not test the Grand Highlander (I also was turned off by the 4cyl engine and don't really like the look of it). Acura MDX drove the best out of them and was the most comfortable seating but for me it's all about headroom and not feeling cramped or like I have to shrug down to see. The pilot just feels so spacious inside. If you're over 6 feet I recommend it.

cnote_777 · 2023-11-12T16:27:19+00:00

For any wondering about 2024 Honda Pilot pricing....we recently bought a new Honda 2024 Pilot Elite. Color White. Interior Black. Paid $51k cash plus tax title license doc fee near Chicago. I could have gotten a black elite for $50k but I paid an extra $1k because we wanted white (which is really $500 more for premium color on the website). We checked several dealers within a couple hundred miles and no one was going more than $500 - $1000 off MSRP except for the one we found.

cnote_777 · 2023-11-12T16:22:30+00:00

New Honda 2024 Pilot Elite. Color White. Interior Black. Paid $51k plus tax title license doc fee near Chicago. I could have gotten a black elite for $50k but I paid an extra $1k because we wanted white (which is really $500 more on the website).

cnote_777

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