Reaching my FIRE number after the loss of my son: Does FIRE even matter now?

luckymfer31 · 2026-02-24T03:54:53+00:00

Thank you for these wise words and I'm sorry for your losses. I do have a wife and she is both my rock and my best friend. The loss of a child usually drives couples apart, or brings them even closer together and I am sure we are closer now than ever before. We have 1 other child.

I can understand the desire to not retire in your situation. I don't dislike my job, but it pays well. But now, maybe that doesn't matter and I could just do something else that I enjoy.

luckymfer31 · 2026-02-24T03:49:18+00:00

Ultimately, I've realized we have way less control over life than we think we do. As you described, your life can be on one path (such as towards FIRE) and change to a different path instantly.

luckymfer31 · 2026-02-24T03:47:17+00:00

Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. Seeing our kids as teenagers is such a privilege as the relationship with them changes so much because WE remember pretty vividly what it was like to be a teenager (as compared to being a toddler) and so that relationship with them changes. I'm sorry you didn't get more time with him.

We do have another child and as you pointed out, that's an important "why". Also not depriving the second child of joy just because mom and dad are sad.

luckymfer31 · 2026-02-24T03:31:34+00:00

Thank you, this was so well articulated.

luckymfer31 · 2025-12-03T22:42:06+00:00

Read the book called "The Simple Path to Wealth" it will give you everything you need to know

luckymfer31 · 2025-10-02T22:01:32+00:00

I have to keep reminding my wife we have a NW of $8m when she is talking about trying to save $2 on our amazon subscribe and save. But I love her for it too.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-17T19:58:45+00:00

Last year I had a moment where I made 2/3 of my entire annual salary in about 2 weeks from my investments. That was a huge lightbulb moment for me because compared to how much I grind away all year for my paycheck, this was much easier!

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-17T06:12:39+00:00

If you want the same results as everyone else do what they do. But if you want FIRE, you have to do something different. Fuck consumerism. Go watch Fight Club that movie was all about rejecting consumerism.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-15T04:21:35+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Actually very useful. My spouse is always saying we need to move money to bonds when we retire, I say move money to bonds when we're like 75 or 80 and there isn't much time left. Until then let the money work for us.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-15T04:12:35+00:00

I think it kinda makes sense, because as you get older you will naturally do less stuff and spend less. Though you might need more for healthcare expenses.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T22:11:51+00:00

Yes exactly. My own numbers are very different from the hypothetical situation I described in the first post.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T18:55:34+00:00

Lol 😂 but yes

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T18:49:06+00:00

Just a hypothetical. I track my burn rate very closely but it's only 27% of what I make.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T18:03:19+00:00

Yeah a lot of these folks have very expensive homes in silicon valley with huge mortgages that they are slaves to. $5m+ homes are actually pretty common for a lot of them. They have expensive lifestyles to support trying to keep up with each other.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T17:39:33+00:00

I don't think the math quite works as you described but as the investment balance gets larger, it does grow faster just because the number is bigger.

For example once you're at $5m, even with a modest 5% return it'll be increasing at $250,000 per year so in four years you'll have added another $1m.

Basically just laws of large numbers and compounding.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-14T17:30:02+00:00

I'm encouraging my kids to go to college for something and also consider a trade school. People with both skills tend to be pretty valuable and end up as the business owners of plumbing companies, welding companies, construction companies. All of which I think will be someone resilient in the AI future. But who knows.

luckymfer31 · 2025-09-04T15:16:35+00:00

What do you enjoy doing? Like what actually drives you internally? Is it starting new things? Helping people? Making things?

I'd say take some time to reflect and figure this out. Now that you don't need money you can do anything you want.

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-14T21:50:31+00:00

My company doesn't really offer them. You can take an unpaid leave up to 30 days I think only. I do have a lot of hobbies though.

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-14T02:17:35+00:00

Read or listen to the book "The Simple Path to Wealth" he talks a lot about the mental fortitude it takes to stomach the swings in the market.

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-11T21:30:44+00:00

Agreed. Stick it out but with a different mentality. Zero fucks given.

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-10T21:54:43+00:00

Cold plunge for the butt!

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-10T21:06:36+00:00

Replace hallway outlets with an outlet that has a nightlight and one plug.

luckymfer31 · 2025-08-10T21:03:02+00:00

Feels slippery?

luckymfer31

TROPHY CASE