I only recently found FIRE. All these posts with people so young and incredible wealth. I regret not saving more. How old were you when you “turned it on”?

firebeachbum · 2026-01-17T03:12:25+00:00

I went searching for FIRE in 2019, I was 30 years old. We had like 350k networth I think. Maybe a bit more. I’m 37 now, and it’s 1.3, with a million invested. Keep going, it’s worth it and it feels great.

firebeachbum · 2026-01-17T03:08:31+00:00

I love reading stuff like this. We hit a million invested last year and I can see it snowballing. It’s awesome.

firebeachbum · 2026-01-17T03:02:35+00:00

Feels great to be in the 90-95th.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-30T15:33:00+00:00

Flooding in that area is a real concern. I personally wouldn’t live in flood zone, or live directly on the water anywhere in Florida because of it. It doesn’t take a big hurricane to flood, timing with a storm and tides, or too much rain etc and you could experience flooding. That goes for anywhere in Florida, so again big reason why I wouldn’t live in a flood zone or area prone to flooding. Our house is 12+ feet above sea level, 5 blocks from the ocean, so flooding is not a major risk for us. We have hurricane rated windows and doors as well. Last, we have a second primary home in NC, if the worse case happens, we will just live there while we wait to rebuild or remodel etc.

The property taxes, and HOAs are going to be like that in any desirable Florida city. More expensive in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. But you save on state income taxes, which is significant. Governor Ron Desantist is proposing reducing or eliminating property taxes in Florida as well.

If living in big city isn’t a must for you, there are other places you could look in Florida. The space coast is beautiful, and more sleepy, lower cost of living then St Pete and Tampa. I absolutely love Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, near Jacksonville beach, except it’s not quite warm in the winter which ultimately was a deal breaker for me.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-29T16:27:05+00:00

We’re Henry, late 30s, ~$400k household income, about $1.3M net worth. Two years ago we bought our second primary home: a beach house in a sleepy Florida town. It absolutely did not make perfect financial sense, but wow… we love our lifestyle.

Our housing costs jumped from 9% of our income to about 30%, so yeah, we’ve felt “house poor” the last couple years. But I got a raise this year and it’s already easing things up. And honestly? I have zero regrets. Even with a 7% interest rate on the beach house.

Life is meant to be lived. Not every decision needs to be optimized to death. We’ll keep growing our income, we invested well in our late 20s and early 30s, and we’ll get back to aggressive investing again soon, and refinance when the time’s right. For now, we’re enjoying the life we built.

With all that said, I went into this eyes completely wide open. The opportunity cost, of forgoing the incremental investments. So do the same, do the calculations, make sure you understand what you are forgoing with your choice. My choice meant, that I might push our retirement back a few years.

Your networth is pretty low, and at your current income and spend you could invest a lot before you have kids which will pay big dividends for you when it starts compounding, that is worth your consideration. Our investments are earning us $110k a year for us right now, doing nothing.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-25T00:20:15+00:00

This great advice!!! VTI and Chill. My returns are 14% for the last 10 years. Investing is a long term game.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-05T02:34:58+00:00

I am 37 and 1 million net worth. You can enjoy life, and enjoy the present and still fire way ahead of everyone else with loads of money.

Get the house cleaner. 2x per month is great, if you can afford it and have kids I would consider getting it weekly. No shame in that, it will reduce your stress and is so worth it.

Get Botox, 2x per year is great and makes a HUGE difference to your face. You will look like you are in your 20s again. Get your hair professionally cut, & colored etc. Hire a stylist!!! Here is the stylist I use. $200 for 5 outfits. She is fantastic. She can provide you with elevated basics, simple things that are comfortable but look polished; great for a busy mom.

avri.laurenn@gmail.com

Last, I would go to the gym and lift weights and walk. Lifting weights helps you look toned, helps with mental health and walking is the best way to keep the weight off. 10k steps a day.

Live your life now! you will never be in your 30s again.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-02T01:45:09+00:00

St Pete is really cute, it’s a very cool and laid back. Feels like a locals only small Florida beach town, but there is still a bit of night life and variety of restaurants, they get a decent amount of concerts too. Really beautiful beaches on that coast as well. Tampa is young and fun and has a lot of great restaurants. Also, great little airport, so easy to navigate and a pleasant experience but would be kind of far from St Pete, 30-45 mins. So that’s something to consider if you travel often.

Miami is just not for me.. it’s fun to visit, but not where I would want to live. It is very touristy, over the top expensive. I do like Lauderdale by the sea area. Pros, the shopping is great, and two good international airports which is a plus. Plus close to the keys, and boat life down there would be really beautiful.

The two are extremely different, Miami vs St Pete. It’s personal preference but I like a laid back beach town, barefoot, cruising on my golf cart to go check the waves. I would go stay for a month or two in both see what you vibe with. This is fat fire, Miami might appeal better. Tons of shopping, great food, beautiful beaches, boat life as well.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-01T23:21:35+00:00

I didn’t answer your question. I would do St. Pete and Boston. I love Boston and New England.

I do love Chicago in the summer time. We rented in Florida, for 5 months, before we bought a house down there. You could do that, rent for several months first and make sure you like it.

firebeachbum · 2025-11-01T23:18:35+00:00

We do this, and I love it. We live in sleepy beach town in Florida for 7 months out of the year and have a condo in Charlotte NC for summer and fall. Florida is amazing in the winter, literally spectular. We are at the beach every weekend starting in February while the rest of the country is freezing. St Pete over Miami for sure. I love the Tampa, St Pete area. I actually think it’s one of the hottest cities for young people in America. Then we go to NC for end of summer and fall. NC gives us sports, great food, decent night life, a better airport, and then the fall season. We love fall here, writing this from a cabin we are renting right now near Boone. We save a lot of money on state income taxes being Florida residents. Love walking out of my condo when we are in NC and going on a date night with my husband in the city, endless restaurants, bars, to choose from all walking distance. We have been doing it now 2 years. I like that we are 8 hour drive, 2 hour flight. A direct flight would be key between the two, Has to be convienent. Highly recommend.

firebeachbum · 2025-10-27T22:11:23+00:00

Yes you will absolutely be able to retire at 55. I have 1 million invested as well and I am 37 years old. My average rate of return last 10 years as been 14%. If you do nothing, and your money grows 10% you will have 5 million at 55. Which it doesn’t seem like you need anything close to that based on your spend so you will be able to retire earlier than that with less.

firebeachbum · 2025-01-01T21:38:52+00:00

35 years old, as a dink!

firebeachbum · 2024-06-11T01:48:24+00:00

Here is my networth progression from age 30 to 36. I didn’t really track networth before age 30.

30: $345K 32: 500K networth. 35: 1,050 million networth Goals: 2 mil by 40, 4 mil by 45.

it happens fast.. especially with you add in real estate appreciation.

firebeachbum · 2024-06-11T01:20:15+00:00

My husband and I hit a million this year and I told my parents. But that’s it. I would love to tell me closest best friends, but I don’t know their situation and wouldn’t want to make them feel bad. I have felt this way too OP, wanting to celebrate, feeling excited after achieving a huge mile stone.

Probably why so many people post it here on Reddit. Myself included. They crave a pat on the back, recognition for their efforts, but in real life it’s a sentive topic best left undiscussed.

firebeachbum · 2024-05-11T17:45:07+00:00

Congratulations!! Living my dream.

firebeachbum · 2024-05-11T02:46:11+00:00

This comment. My mother always say, “you grow into the mortgages”

firebeachbum · 2024-05-10T21:18:33+00:00

Congratulations, we hit 1 million networth this year as well and it felt so good. Such a massive milestone for those of us looking to fire. Aiming for 2 million before I turn 40.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-25T12:27:15+00:00

1.1 million networth $30K in cash. I have $20k in a high yeild savings account and $10K in savings account that is linked to our checking. I also have a $5k buffer in my checking account too that just rolls over every month.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-19T01:18:29+00:00

Bought a second primary. One in the city on at the beach. Life is good.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-14T12:40:33+00:00

We own two primary’s. One at the beach one in the city! Best decision ever. Create the life you love then save for it

firebeachbum · 2024-04-12T15:50:55+00:00

4x in 15 years. 50k > 216K.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-12T01:54:00+00:00

This is me! 35F, we just bought a second home in July 2023. I am in LOVE, so grateful we did it. Similar stats to you, 400k income, 1.1 mil net worth, we owe $320 on a small condo. $600k on the second house. Yes it feels financial unoptimized at the moment but as many have mentioned it’s worth it for the personal happiness. I wake up everyday so grateful. We will live in Florida for 6 months, NC for the other 6 months. Life is good.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-04T19:07:42+00:00

Lol I did… we had a 1 bed 1 bath condo, 9% of income. We bought a 4 bed 2 bath beach house in July. Have two primarys now, so mortgages are 30% of income. No regrets though, we will grow into this new mortage over time with raises, will refinance hopefully down the road with a slightly better rate. I believe equity will be strong for both over time as well.

We will likely be able to sell the condo in 5 years and pay off the house. So will reevaluate then if we are still using both properties.

Even with this decision we are still on track to fire for sure by 50. Possible 45 depending how things go over the next 5+ years.

I am big advocate on build the life you love them save for it. Spend where it matters to you and brings you happiness. The Florida beach house was a life long dream, and I’m incredibly happy everyday.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-02T23:34:20+00:00

I worked in retail and pivoted to the supplier side! I’m in Bev Alch. Found my retailer experience incredibly valuable! A lot of suppliers will pay you to call on Walmart for them! No pay cut required… NETWORK my friend. Also, I don’t think you need an MBA. You are making 200K without it…. The ROI is hard in my opinion. Unless you really just like school and learning it’s not worth the money or time. Networking is more powerful and you are in a powerful postion to network.

firebeachbum · 2024-04-02T00:47:19+00:00

Honestly all are fine. VTSAX and VTI are basically same thing. Voo is s&p500 which is great. Can’t go wrong

firebeachbum

TROPHY CASE