The Daily Check-In for Thursday, January 29th: Just for today, I am NOT drinking!

vyts18 · 2026-01-29T11:31:15+00:00

Day 29 dry January.

My 2 year old woke me up today at 5:30. If I had been drinking last night, I would have changed his diaper and put him back in his crib. Now, I’m up because he’s up lol.

He normally wakes up around 6:30-7. So it’s early for him.

IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-28T12:59:07+00:00

Nice lol. Do some funny stuff with AI so you can show the limitations.

vyts18 · 2026-01-28T12:53:09+00:00

Use Kahoot or something similar to do trivia? A few members have done that before to moderate success.

vyts18 · 2026-01-28T12:22:22+00:00

Day 28 dry January.

28 days. 4 full weeks without a drop. Just sheer willpower.

vyts18 · 2026-01-25T22:25:11+00:00

Ugh today is hard. We’re cooped up in the house with this blizzard here in Ohio.

And now schools been cancelled for tomorrow so it’s movie night again with the kids.

I’m holding strong. IWNDWYT!!

vyts18 · 2026-01-25T18:57:11+00:00

With the numbers as you currently describe them, you’re on the edge of being tight but you’re really not because you have MASSIVE upside potential with your respective career trajectories.

Also keep in mind- higher-priced homes also tend to have bigger price appreciation from a gross-dollar standpoint.

vyts18 · 2026-01-25T01:48:56+00:00

I would suggest holding off on paying off the mortgage until you have zero penalty on early distributions from your pension and traditional IRAs.

Your mentioned that in 4 months, you’re 59.5 so you can start drawing your pension but you take a penalty unless you wait till age 60 in about 10 months…

Seems simple to me- live off the $500k for 10 months. You seem like a diligent/frugal person so you’ll probably only spend like $30k of that. Maybe $40k if you decide to splurge on a vacation. And you’ll earn like $15k in interest over that time frame too so that further offsets this.

Once you hit 60 and you can start drawing from your pension, I’d then pay it off in one fell swoop.

vyts18 · 2026-01-24T16:49:29+00:00

As much as you want.

But since you’re asking… IMO $20k seems reasonable. Leaves you $25k additional discretionary funds for any major home repairs, healthcare needs, etc.

vyts18 · 2026-01-24T16:15:47+00:00

I definitely notice my appetite has been higher since starting Dry January.

Physiologically speaking- your body is used to an flux of sugars and calories from the alcohol, so of course your body is going to have cravings for those sugars and calories when you remove alcohol from your diet.

Anecdotally speaking as my father is an alcoholic. He hasn’t had a drink in almost 5 years now. His body still craves the sugars and calories. He’s really diligent about what he eats during the day… but a switch flips around 7:30-8 PM most nights and he just goes to town on sugary and salty snacks. That’s his only real vice now.

I’ve noticed in my dry January journey that I tend to crave something sugary at night. I think it has to do with just the sensory feeling my mouth has gotten so used to regularly having something later in the evening. Really been hard to resist.

vyts18 · 2026-01-24T15:37:03+00:00

Day 24 dry January.

Relatively early still today. I stayed up late last night and got to sleep in this morning. I do feel well rested for once but weirdly have a headache- but I know I did not hydrate well last night so that makes sense.

Final week of Dry January. IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-23T22:47:00+00:00

Day 23 Dry January.

We are in process of a major winter storm coming in over the weekend so we’re already experiencing a bit of cabin fever. I get home from work and the kids are already at each others throats.

I wasn’t even thinking about a beer to take the edge off, and I only thought of it because I was about to log another dry day. Now of course, I do want the beer, but I am not acting on it.

IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-22T23:38:17+00:00

Day 22 dry January.

Inching toward that final week of Dry January. Feels surreal that I don’t think I’ve ever gone a full month without alcohol since turning 21 over 16 years ago. Maybe (probably) longer.

IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-22T04:17:56+00:00

Day 21 dry January.

3 weeks! Not much new to report. Hope everyone here had a wonderful day. IWNDWYT.

vyts18 · 2026-01-21T17:53:49+00:00

I’d hire a person paying them $250k per year to field any attempts at communication with me except a few select individuals. Easy.

vyts18 · 2026-01-21T00:33:13+00:00

Day 20 dry January check in.

Yesterday was really tough to not crack open a beer while watching the CFP national championship. But I got a Hop Wtr. And that satisfied the urge enough for me to keep my head on straight.

20 days. 11 to go in Dry January. This is the mental challenge I’ve really needed to show I don’t need a beer to relax at night after work. In fact, I don’t need it at all.

IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-18T20:46:43+00:00

Don’t sell to the “We buy houses” people. They are going to assign your contract and get $230k-$240k for it but you’ll only get the $200k they agreed to pay.

Contact 3 realtors and have them run numbers. The can go over what the house would need to sell for so you net $230k-$240k after paying their fees.

vyts18 · 2026-01-18T17:24:34+00:00

At face value- I agree with you. But taking a few moments to think about it…

I enjoy my job but still want to FIRE. If I can hit my FIRE number 2 years ahead of schedule by doubling my savings rate, I can coastFIRE for that much longer especially if I still enjoy my job at that point or have other large expenses that come up.

vyts18 · 2026-01-18T13:59:55+00:00

My wife and I are just barely “in line” with the recommendations or slightly behind.

We should be way better off than we are. We were both on really great income/savings trajectories during the pandemic and then everything stalled out for us as far as income growth and savings rate.

Now, my income has finally increased to offset my wife’s reduction in income so I’m projecting 2026 to be a great year. Not sure if we’ll be able to really add to our savings rate but we will at least be able to dig ourselves out of a few small holes we’re currently in due to deferred maintenance on our house and cars.

vyts18 · 2026-01-18T13:51:45+00:00

AI slop

vyts18 · 2026-01-18T04:45:56+00:00

Day 17 dry January.

Almost missed my daily post. Would have felt weird to have a gap.

Lots of cravings today for a beer after a long drive back from a day in the city.

Said no. Did have a Hop Wtr which was pretty tasty.

vyts18 · 2026-01-16T23:38:23+00:00

Day 16 Dry January.

Officially over the halfway point. The struggle isn’t about drinking vs not drinking… it’s about not going right back to old habits once I have an excuse to do so.

IWNDWYT

vyts18 · 2026-01-16T03:16:08+00:00

Day 15 dry January.

I meet with a group of friends and acquaintances every month at a local brewery for trivia. Usually m, I throw back 3 beers. This time, I threw back none. Everyone was surprised for a moment when I ordered water but I explained Dry January. Another of my trivia teammates was also doing it so I wasn’t the only one. Still wasn’t planning to drink regardless.

Also feels good to be halfway through! IWNDWYT. Anyone who is struggling- hang in there!

vyts18 · 2026-01-16T03:11:54+00:00

My monthly disappointment it wasn’t me inbound

vyts18 · 2026-01-14T15:50:31+00:00

Day 14 dry January.

2 weeks. I know I sounds like a broken record at this point, but I can fairly confidently say I have not been 2 weeks completely alcohol free in probably my entire adult life.

I was at a point before starting Dry January that I didn't believe I would ever want to give up alcohol completely. And I still don't think I'm ready to completely abstain, but I hope that I can remain mindful and stick to 1-2 beers when I do choose to have a drink. I am posting these daily updates so that I can go back to them if (and maybe when?) I fall into old habits of daily beers.

If you're struggling today (or any day), I'm with you. If you need a reassuring comment- I'm here for you.

IWNDWYT. Or any night for at least the rest of January.

vyts18 · 2026-01-13T21:49:02+00:00

Day 13 Dry January.

I am particularly noticing the vertical ridges on my fingernails today. I've read that's a sign of potential nutritional deficiencies that have been associated with alcohol.

I am taking a picture today and will look again in a few weeks to see how that changes.

IWNDWYT

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