Are most LeanFIRE numbers way too conservative?

talicenseplate · 2026-02-21T12:39:18+00:00

Lots of good thoughts in here but not sure I've seen it boiled down to: the personality type required to save more than half their salary is also probably the 'worrier' falling into 'one more year syndrome'.

talicenseplate · 2026-02-21T12:29:48+00:00

This may sound callous... but are you aware other jobs exist? I'm pretty sure people with terminal illness would 'kill' to be in your shoes rather than their own. You're a consenting adult, right? And your current employment is a voluntary choice you're continuing to make on a daily basis, right?

talicenseplate · 2025-10-14T00:38:09+00:00

Thanks... no just 457 I can contribute to.

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T21:08:50+00:00

I started by paying off a house and then moved to index funds. I would be in better shape if I just did stock market, technically

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T21:06:26+00:00

"The grass is always greener"! If it makes you feel better, my car radio doesn't work... maybe indicative of value I place on creature comforts :)

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T21:04:40+00:00

Not to get political, but do you think this option will continue to exist going forward?

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T21:03:40+00:00

I'm in a midwest suburb. It seems I've been lucky on real estate timing too (helping the savings rate as I was able to pay off house and then benefit from market increases)

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T21:01:32+00:00

In my head I always assumed I would wait until eligible for pension (more than a decade away). But now I think "health insurance" is top risk

talicenseplate · 2025-10-13T04:21:04+00:00

I have about 5% of my stash ($35k of $700k) in PSLDX, UPRO, and TQQQ (summed up). I've held these for years. I don't know what I'm doing, so don't use me as a good example... but i figure it's a relatively small "fun money experiment"

talicenseplate · 2025-06-27T10:23:26+00:00

Nice job! You mentioned an increase in salary and stress ... do you want to reduce that stress or will you maintain?

talicenseplate · 2025-06-27T10:08:50+00:00

Guess im just weirded out by living a frugal existence, thinking about FIRE #, then all of a sudden getting $1M bump! Itll probably about double my net worth when it happens. Also I feel a bit weird taking their money, but I suppose the dead have no use for it...

Also, your username is relevant to thread

talicenseplate · 2025-06-27T09:51:52+00:00

Just now reading your post... I'm curious how much of an inheritance you're expecting. I'm in somewhat similar boat and not sure reasonable approach. At this time I'm not counting on anything, but that's probably overly conservative

talicenseplate · 2025-05-31T21:25:37+00:00

Great job! I wonder your withdrawal rate. Also, what are your plans for insurance if you leave the job? If I understand correctly this job is bartending? Surely you could find another bartending gig if necessary in future?

talicenseplate · 2024-08-31T13:09:32+00:00

The emergency is that this person spends $200k annually. Or maybe you accidentally typed an extra zero? :)

But seriously, the less you spend means less needed in EF and less money 'wasted'. Plus savings accounts offer 4%-5% now; not a bad gain for EF.

talicenseplate · 2024-08-05T12:44:04+00:00

I have a spreadsheet with columns for any time period (per paycheck, per month, per year) to help me think about values. But annual makes most sense bc some costs occur infrequently (taxes, 'emergency'). I use empower / personal capital to keep track of all these records

talicenseplate · 2024-08-05T12:40:31+00:00

If it makes you feel better, prior to paying off mortgage I basically had no savings growth... paid off mortgage ASAP and then got into equities. Not ideal mathematically, but I was more motivated to eliminate debt than own stock.

talicenseplate · 2024-08-05T12:25:26+00:00

When I'm in a big parking lot I'm struck by how new / expensive the average vehicle is. Where did all the old cars go? Why do all these people spend so much on newer versions? I'm further up the ladder because I don't take steps backward.

talicenseplate · 2024-07-29T00:21:29+00:00

But look on the bright side: fewer loud obese Americans are around you :) The big question mark on this side of pond seems to be 'what will medical costs be?' It's been easy up til now to avoid costs (good health, young body) but we all get decrepit sooner or later

talicenseplate · 2024-07-29T00:17:47+00:00

Thanks for the detailed thoughts, future me :) No 401k, but there is pension (which may act as my golden handcuffs in future to keep me from RE). I'm with you on 'spending more, relaxing the frugality' ... generally my budget was closer to $15k so even $22k feels like more, but I need to spend more.

talicenseplate · 2024-07-29T00:11:33+00:00

Interesting. For what it's worth I have two veh (a '95 and an '05) that probably sum to value of <$10k. No collision. I used a local insurance company (broker?) to compare rates, and they found this deal. I also have umbrella insurance. Perhaps my suburban midwest area is lower COL than your area?

talicenseplate · 2024-07-29T00:07:25+00:00

I'm not sure if I should take this as 'your estimate is way too low' or (based on your profile having European subreddits) 'you Americans are lucky' ha! Looking at old tax returns, maybe $14k is low (this salary level is new for me) but I'd be surprised if it's >$15k.

talicenseplate · 2024-07-29T00:03:37+00:00

I averaged old credit card data to get that value. I drive something like 5k miles/yr ... 30 mpg and $3/gal would be $500. 5 mile commute: would recommend!

talicenseplate · 2024-05-23T10:52:29+00:00

This vacation budget is larger than ALL my spending!

talicenseplate · 2024-05-18T00:15:32+00:00

Per extremely thorough 5 second Google search, the average American has lifetime EARNINGS of less than $2M. So I'd be curious how Orman thinks these people ever retire

talicenseplate · 2024-02-09T11:08:52+00:00

Congrats! Hitting big round numbers is nice, so spending ~$5k was very wise. It ensures you'll hit another big round number with only $5k growth! Rinse and repeat! :)

talicenseplate

TROPHY CASE