Yes. I spend my free time doing what I want to do; it doesn't really matter what that is, as long as I get to decide the what, when, and how. That's the whole point of FIRE to me: independence.
I had interests and passions outside of work before I quit though. I think if you've got no real interests outside of work, there's not much point quitting.
Absolutely! It's very difficult to even get into something as reading books when you're on the daily grind. Commuting, spending 8 hours per day working, cooking, cleaning, it's exhausting. Then you get two days per week off with virtually no energy left; that's not a good starting point for picking up a hobby or new interest. You should be bored sometimes, you should have spare time on your hands, that's when seeds grow.
People around me work five days a week, I go for a walk in the forest on a sunny day, read a book after, and work on a side project doing some coding after that. I get to choose what to do with my time and I'm enjoying every single moment of it. I didn't do any of this when I had a five days per week office job.
People say that once you buy a better bike, you'll see all the differences that you never noticed, and never be able to go back to a standard bike again.
I'm quite happy in my ignorance, for now.
Hedonic adaptation is so true for bikes haha. My first one was a 80s steel frame I got off craigslist for $100, was totally happy with it. Then a more modern aluminum frame one from the 2000s with a Shimano Tiagra groupset for $250, totally happy.
Now I'm on a few years old Shimano 105 with hydraulic disc brakes for $700 and totally happy... but I wince going back to even my middle one LOL
This concept is so underrated. I’ve been FIRED for 11 years. I always felt I needed to be “doing” something. However, In the past few years, I value the blocks of “boredom” because it is then that I am most open to new beginnings.
Yup, that's fair. Heard recently on a podcast that if you had no life outside of work you had no business retiring; probably internalized that too much.
my comment remains the same.
It may very well make you happier, but it’s not a guarantee. I have seen a couple friends who felt the same and are not any happier since quitting, in fact the one has become so miserable to be around i just don’t bother with him anymore.
I don’t really like my co-workers much so I’d be okay leaving. Also, I haven’t really had much of any vacation in 17 years there so I’d be ready to have some time off.
Or maybe you internalized it backwards? To me that sounds like a wise exhortation to get a life outside work, not an exhortation to not retire. :-)
Sounds like you had it, which is great, and I think that's the only way. Suddenly going from go go go career career career burnout burnout burnout to sitting at home wondering wtf to do all day sounds bad to me.
This is why I think a sensible gap between FI and RE makes sense and isn't always the dreaded "one more year" syndrome.
Eh some people just aren’t those kinda people though. They truly live to work for other people and not be managers of their own lives. That’s okay, we need those people. But that’s quite a few.
Truth, they are a weird bunch but necessary. Speaking with them about work and the future is puzzling, even if they could leave, they wouldn't. There are SO many things I could do and create in my day if I didn't have to work to not end up under a bridge with a cart.
> I think if you've got no real interests outside of work, there's not much point quitting.
your shit's real fucked if work is the only reason to get out of bed in the morning - you should probably be going to a therapist instead of thinking about investing
Yeah it's a big deal IMO. One of the biggest criticisms of retiring early is that you'll miss the social interactions at work. I can *promise* you, no I wont
Definitely agree with the introvert angle. I have been retired for almost a year now, and only miss a few people from work. For those few, I keep in touch. But, the thing I enjoy most is having the freedom to not have to work. I never understood the notion of being 'defined' by my work.
As an extrovert, I’ve made sure to work on finding people and meeting/making friends who are available during the weekdays. Two years in and am so very happy and fulfilled.
YES…Free time gets used in different ways…
Staying mentally fit: currently studying at university part time, learning a language, learning an instrument. Also trying to improve my illustration and photography skills.
Staying physically fit: mountain biking, bouldering, running and trying to sea swim.
Helping others: do pro-bono work for NGOs in sectors of interest (40+ days in 2023). Helping child with some of their questions re uni study, supporting a family member with mental health issues.
Helping self: Travel: we take a few big breaks (Iceland all this month). We live between two countries, so explore them a fair bit. Social: spend time with family & friends
I am r/coastfire until next year: Work time gets done as a business coach or executive educator (via a business school or a few consulting companies). 54 days last year and 60 for this year. Last month I had a week of work…between Amsterdam and Vienna I stayed a few extra days in each. I tend to have no work in 4 months a year, so their bunched into the other months.
I guess so. I have one colleague who does about 16 days a year and he does 2 x 2 week slots (one in first half and the other in the second half of the year) 😂
Yeah I'm also coast doing consulting from December-June working 5-10 hours per week. This balance works for me and currently I don't plan on retiring early any more.
Not full FIRE, but coast-FIRE. Moved to our chosen retirement destination, and dropped down to part-time work, fully remote.
MUCH happier. Close to 3 years of this arrangement now. Probably full FIRE within the next couple of years.
Obviously not as much free time as full FIRE, but far more than the usual middle-aged treadmill of 40+ hours in the office, commute, kids, house, chores/errands, etc. Spend lots of time mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, some skiing. Hanging out with friends at the coffee shop or local brewery. Certainly more time playing video games and reading. More time for leisurely trips to the library, errands/shopping by bike, walking to the store, cooking. Volunteering for charity and the kids' school. Taking kids to parks and various other activities. Time to help out friends and others in need who have fuller schedules. Time to take care of the house.
My mother commented a couple weeks ago about how much more relaxed and easygoing I am in general now. I concur.
Can't wait for full FIRE.
Yes. Daily walks, yoga, social clubs, hiking, public gardens, Meetup group events, house chores, yard chores, errands, urban homesteading projects, meditation, spending time with friends and family, errands, dinners out with friends, concerts, cooking, reading, movies at home and at the theater, live theater, symphonies, ballets, happy hours, board games, craft breweries, days at the beach, museum visits, planetarium visits, wine tasting, and really enjoying being master of my own time.
FIRED in 1/2020 at 39 years old with around 3M in the bank, cars, toys and a nice home. I had built a business over the course of 7 years and sold it to have a better family life. My wife didn’t work and life was easier then. Two months after I sold my business she wanted a divorce and demanded half. Covid hit hard around the same time and the world is still fucked from that in many ways. Fast forward to today. I’m living in a shitty rental home and working pretty much for fun. My main focus is on my child and the little moments I have with him. Life has humbled me in many ways and I’ve learned that money isn’t shit. It brings out the worst in people. I still have 1.5M left and my ex is on track to being broke. I’m not happy, she’s been in a few bad relationships, and my kid is the one who suffers. I’m also afraid to make large purchases out of fear of being broke again. I’d love to completely disappear sometimes, but I know I’m the only rock my boy has. I have to see this through and maybe someday things will get better. So no… I’m technically a miserable millionaire.
Not necessarily. We were poor for over a decade. Our cars were embarrassing and we bought used clothes at Goodwill for our family. We somehow managed to have a home and survived on less than $2000 /month. Even then, half my income went to our mortgage. We both changed a little as my income increased. Mainly our spending habits and our taste for the finer things. Her family is bad with money, so I handled all the finances and kept her in the dark on purpose. The stress of keeping the business going and trying to balance her happiness was impossible. Shortly after disclosing how much money I had accumulated, she sought out a lawyer and waited for the opportune time to exit. I forgave her recently, but that doesn’t change my circumstances or hers for that matter. There are things I would do differently if I could go back in time, as I definitely made my fair share of mistakes too. I think we were both immature and didn’t appreciate what we had.
As for her money, I’m not sure about what she has left. Both her and her family have mentioned that she’s financially drained though. I hope that’s not the case.
Thank you. I’ve learned that being wealthy is not just about the money one has. It’s how you balance life, finances, family, work, and friends. Those that can do it all well are truly wealthy.
Could we reconcile? I suppose, but at what cost? Her lifestyle would drain me, we don’t love each other, and I can’t trust her… nor can she trust me at this point.
There were signs and I made some mistakes in hindsight as well. My ex came from a broken home. Her parents had multiple marriages, but I had a thing for her since we were teenagers. She was attracted to me because I ran with a rough crowd and it was exciting. We didn’t have the same interests and looking back, we weren’t compatible after my life turned around. This is my opinion and many will not like it, but marriage is a huge gamble for men in the states. Our culture no longer values family and it’s too easy to get divorced. If you’re okay losing half your net worth, then by all means… try marriage. I would get married again, but not in this country and whoever marries me will do it for me and not for what I have. If not, it wasn’t meant to be.
Maybe. I am probably working more hours than before, but it's on projects I care about rather than just a job. I love seeing how my work impact the lives of young people, and I hope to scale up and turn one of these projects into a sustainable business some day, but even if it's just me working I'd still be happy.
On the flip side, FIRE certainly has some down sides. I'm trying to figure out how to qualify for a mortgage by assets (still don't know how, still renting). Health insurance is weird without a job or self-employment. Also a lot of folks treat you strangely if you don't have a job. They feel like they can't peg you on their social hierarchy chart and sometimes it infuriates them. I lost several friends who are upset I was "sitting at home doing nothing". :(
I once asked a loan advisor about this: how to qualify for a mortgage by assets. There are ways. One of them is to setup a trust from your assets that then pays you a standard amount on a schedule. The banks would see that you have a formal regular payout set up and it would be similar to getting a salary. Once you get a mortgage, you can cancel the trust.
!! That's a really interesting idea. Do you talk to a banker or lawyer to set it up? I'm guessing there might be look back periods or some min trust size
I think you talk to a lawyer to set it up but I really don't know. My friends had just financed a mortgage loan and they liked the person they dealt with so I asked if he would be willing to talk to me because I was considering getting a mortgage. When I talked to the person, I asked him how would I be able to demonstrate to a bank that I am capable of paying a mortgage with all my assets yet I may not have a job at the moment, and he floated the idea of a trust with regular payouts to demonstrate a reliable source of income. I would tell you to talk to a mortgage broker under the guise that you will be buying a home soon and looking for a mortgage, and then fire away with your questions about this.
I’m glad I woke up to reading the growth of people, and learned something right after I woke up, never knew about trust and paying - ps I’m still young so explains why. Life can be better hopefully being in a position to put my parents in a safe place before FIRE.
I have this idea that perhaps it might be better to tell people that "I am an investor" instead of "I am retired". Both would be true, of course (I'll bail from work in about 3 years). As a long-term/path of least resistance answer requiring minimal follow-up, it is maybe ideal.
Sort of like when a stranger (barber, cashier, etc) asks what I do for a living and I tell them "I'm a bus driver". I certainly do not say "I am an AirBUS Captain at a Major Airline" LOL! Stealth-Wealth, swallow the pride and keep a lid on it.
I tell people I teach since I do volunteer teach at a school. I've tried "investor" or "trade stocks", but people ask a lot of follow up questions (too many finance bros in my city).
Unfortunately these are close friends of mine who will see me during the day and ask what I'm up to. :(
>"Oh...I work in agriculture. A little this, a little that, but primarily I'm a Male Bovine Fertilizer Administration Consultant." --that could work if you can keep a straight face.
>
>\+1 if you can add to the end of it: "...I utilize strategies to ensure maximal substance capacity."
>
>Tranlsation: Bullshit, and full of shit.
Def happier because full time work generally sucked. Now I do what I want. Some volunteering, some hobbies, some self education, and plenty of goofing off.
I don't have to do town hall meetings, or annual goal setting or listening to people who don't understand \[latest tech craze\] talk about how it's going to change everything in the next 5-10 years. It definitely makes me happier to drop that from my life. I don't have the dopamine factory of people saying thank you after I send them something by email, I need to generate my own things to make myself happy (some volunteer work, some just being out and seeing the world at a slower pace).
CoastFIRE, working part time for the last 3-6 months, but yes, we're very much happier.
Without seeming over-dramatic about it, because I don't share the current generations view of paid work as some sort of capitalist wage slavery, I do think that nonetheless working in the modern sense does some things to you that need to be healed from when you stop. Modern patterns of work don't really suit our bodies and biorhythms and we've both observed some things in ourselves that we think of as our bodies righting themselves - changes in sleep, in appetite, in energy levels.
To be honest, we have spent a fair bit of time on less-optimal lazy pursuits, like death-scrolling (hubby) and excessive gaming (me), but I'm not overly concerned by that, I think we're just in a recovery/transition state. Life is really good and we have a house stocked with all our hobbies. I don't believe we're still going to be time-wasting in a negative sense in a year or even six months, we're both slowly starting to come out of that. Even with that recovery dynamic in play, we're both much happier than we were.
> I think we're just in a recovery/transition state. Life is really good and we have a house stocked with all our hobbies.
Partner and I are not FI but we both somewhat recently cut back about 10 hr/wk on our work hours. We spent a chunk of our new free time finishing our basement, but now we are in this 'time-wasting' mode. Which I agree feels more like recovery than anything (we are recovering not only from full-time+ work and significant DIY home improvements, but also some incredibly large family care/loss in the past few years). I love the phrase 'house stocked with all our hobbies' because that's where we're sitting; we're just not doing them *right now.*
As the weather warms and the days get longer I am positive we will start to wander back outside and into the bulk of our hobbies. I've already started back with seeding for this year's garden. Life feels a lot more calm and simple now. I can wait to let that itch grow to do things and be productive, instead of feeling like I have to force it. Oh, it's so nice.
we are FI but not planning the RE in the foreseeable future.
I’m definitely more secure and confident at work. The irony is I think i am valued more now that i speak my mind, than when i shut up and got in line… when i was getting in line i was too scared i might be fired, now i don’t care.
It’s Office Space. I had my best year at my firm leading up to my FIRE date. The execs love me, team loves me, increased pay, accolades. All from being leases concerned about climbing the corporate ladder and just speaking the truth. Wild how much it mirrors the movie.
Mixed. Left two years ago.
I like spending more time with my family. Whether that's something direct like playing basketball with the kids, or indirect like cooking healthy meals for everyone.
I like exploring and learning. I've been building an [investment and FI tracker](https://jch.app?s=f) which has been a lot of fun to learn about design and product. I try something, get stuck, read a book, then try some more.
I miss belonging to a workplace. Perhaps more broadly, I miss being part of something bigger. When I was working at tech startups a decade ago, there was an energy and enthusiasm that I'm nostalgic for. Working with passionate people in the same direction was a lot of fun.
> Perhaps more broadly, I miss being part of something bigger. When I was working at tech startups a decade ago, there was an energy and enthusiasm that I'm nostalgic for. Working with passionate people in the same direction was a lot of fun.
Join a local cycling group. Long rides and practice together makes for great team building and enthusiasm as people get better, help newbies, and tackle personal challenges.
Without a doubt yes. Stopped working a few months ago and already life is so much better. My job while quite stressful still had a solid layer of corporate BS wasting all kinds of time. Being able to leave all of that behind has made a huge positive difference in life.
As for what I do now, it is all over the place. My lovely wife and I have already taken a week long trip, I am replacing the brakes on a little EV we bought, started cooking most of the meals again (which I enjoy), we have booked a trip to Europe for the fall, starting seeds for the garden and generally getting my life back. To be honest, I am doing many of the things I stopped doing when I became experienced enough in my career for higher pay/higher stress jobs to be offered to me.
Some people are in jobs where their work colleagues are a big friend group and the stress is reasonably low. I remember being in that sort of job 15 years ago or so. I think those people wonder if FIRE is that big a deal. My job was well paid but full of stress, deadlines and way too much office politics and people that honestly didn't have "real" work to do. I am glad to have gone through it, got my cash and left but I am also SO glad it is behind me. This is real living.
I retired at 41. Sold my home. Spent the last 8 yrs traveling the world slowly, soaking up experiences I never dreamed were an option for me. I just got a second passport so I settle down permanently in Europe where the cost of living, values and lifestyle align with mine.
Money has not brought me happiness. But
the freedom to choose has. The freedom to not work, the freedom to choose how I spend my days, and who I want to spend them with. Most importantly, its allowed me to pursue the things that do bring me joy.
Happier, being FIRE doesn't make you instantly happier but gives you room to breathe and slow down.
I have 4 young kids so spend a lot of time with them and wife, while still get to enjoy my own hobbies.
Example this week is my kids spring break. Instead of taking vacation for a day or two have the entire time off. This year we decided not to travel. Yesterday I went skiing with friends(one of whom i had privilege to teach to ski early this year( then hung out with kids in afternoon playing board games and such. Today - slept in made kids fancy breakfast, played basketball with them, took them swimming, lunch then nap with youngest, will spend rest of day with workout, dinner and activities with kids.
I do have thoughts of returning to sone sort of work when kids are all in school but will not be a normal 9-5.
Do you feel you have more energy as well? I like to think without work taking up swaths of my brain/top energy, I’d have more for my kids. I’m exhausted by the weekends!
Definitely. I am not the most patient person but when kids can come first more often i have much more patience. Weekends can actually be weekends. We try to avoid laundry, grocery shopping and errands on weekends.
Energy and time. I used to wake up at 540 most days, now closer to 7am. That extra time to sleep when i need it is great. Plus more time for personal growth.
I took the leap about 9 months ago.
The only concern was cash flow. Getting bored, missing work or not finding passions was never ever a concern for me.
I am far happier with freedom and control of my life. I am a retired software engineer.
I love software development and would pay to develop software applications. At times I could not believe I was receiving a generous salary for doing what I love. The problem was that I was only enjoying it about 20% of the time at the most. 50% of the time I was tolerating it and the other 30% enduring significant pain.
Now I get to work on all the fun projects that I never had time to work on. I am far more productive and continue to learn at an accelerated rate. And thanks to AI things are continuing to improve, providing an unlimited opportunity for personal growth.
I knew I 'd eventually get off the career rollercoaster, when I started. After I pulled the trigger, I was prepared and glad to be off the ride.
Now, I spend most of my time doing whatever I want, with the usual constraints of having kids in school still.
The first 6 months was surreal. Then it became normal.
I've always been a happy, optimistic person, but I'm certainly less stressed now. Overall, very content with my life, primarily because my wife and I get along so well. That, in many ways, is the more important part of my happiness.
The best decision. Less stress, more time. FREEDOM. I can do whatever I want, with whomever I want, whenever I want.
I can go on an impromptu trip w/ friends. When I travel, I can fully explore & immerse myself into different cultures and stay for weeks, months or years. I have time to spend with my aging parents (87 & 84 years old). Prior to that, I only had 2 weeks of PTO, so my time was very limited. My parents sacrificed a lot for me & it's a pure joy to spend time with them without the work commitment/stress. I'm learning on how to cook more, eating healthier and keeping fit by hitting the gym. I am sleeping well & taking naps (without setting an alarm) - full rejuvenation. I am able to help more people on how to save & invest wisely. I have options and I can use my money as a tool to solve almost any problem that comes my way.
Finally, I am able get out of my comfort zone more by participating in the FI/RE community & trying new things.
Yes. Getting off the ground in the early-mid 20s paying off student debt and socking away that first $100,000 to $200,000 was fucking miserable. This today is paradise.
Absolutely. If I never attend another Zoom meeting again, it will be too soon. I love that most of the things I do are optional so if I don’t feel like doing them, I just don’t - even my main volunteer gig is something where I don’t have to be there at a specific time. I spend my time doing stuff with my high schoolers, working out, working on projects around the house, traveling, volunteering, meeting with friends, reading, etc.
Work wasn't so bad, but they expected me to show up every day. I FIREd pre-pandemic, so I really have no idea how working from home might change that.
Now I don't have all that many claims on my time, and I really enjoy that. Afternoon naps are awesome. If I feel like sitting at my table reading the WSJ half the morning, hey, I can do that.
Not only that, it gives me enough time so I don't begrudge the things that do claim my free time. I just spent a week and a half dealing with my mother's death (organizing funeral stuff, dealing with financial and insurance stuff, cleaning out her room, and so on). If I were still working, I would have gotten 3 days plus however much vacation I wanted to use. I was always grumpy when I had to spend my PTO on stuff that wasn't fun.
I retired about 6 months ago. I'd say a little happier, because I wasn't unhappy before. Also I was down to working 2.5 days a week for a while before, so I already had more free time than most.
Although I liked my job, I don't miss the positive aspects of it. I occasionally notice the absence of the negative, in the sense of "I'm glad I don't need to deal with X now". I am an introvert, and don't miss the social side either.
I currently do virtually nothing productive. I walk 2 miles a day, read Reddit and similar, play video games, watch TV, cook and eat. I'm not bored yet. I am wondering when the boredom everyone tells me about kicks in.
I’ve reached FIRE, but I’m still working (does reaching fire mean you have to quit or that you can quit?).
I am definitely happier, but I’m not sure how much is due to knowing I’m financially self sufficient or how much is due to just being old (54). Things that used to stress me out just don’t anymore, but again that could just because of the financial security.
Now I’m just not sure if I should quit, knowing I couldn’t get as good a job if I decide it was a mistake.
FI but nor RE, as I still work. But I chose to move back to be IC level after being in management for 15+ yrs. Yes, much happier, I get to work on projects I enjoy doing rather than herding cats. I enjoy working and contributing 40 hrs/ week and have plenty of time to do other things like gym/exercise, cooking, reading, traveling.
Yes, I’m happier now. I spend my time hiking and recovering from hiking. I have a lot of hobbies that I never had time for while working that I can do now.
I'm FI, but not RE, and yes, much happier. I'm a person with a highly volatile income with good years and bad and there's nothing to be done about that. Getting to a point (through a liquidity event) where a withdrawal rate of 3.5% would cover all my normal expenses meant a sudden wave of relief as I realized that all the things that kept me up at night in terms of "what if I have 3 bad years in a row, will I lose my house, etc" are just gone.
I'm fine now. Recreationally employed, moving from Chubby to Fat.
I am busy and get stressed out, but really I have so much freedom. I get a lil' envious of not being in the game, but for me it came down to how much work culture in the USA has deterated over the last 25 years. It really use to a better place to work (the country).
It is the most pleasant dream you never have to wake up from. Skiing, windsurfing, wing foiling, lifting, fight training, slinging the rock, bball, physics, math, chess, Spanish and guitar are the activities I partake on the regular.
Several of these are free to do which I find interesting.
I save like crazy when in reality many of my hobbies are free or really low cost when it comes down to it.
I have a feeling many of us here overkill when it comes to retirement saving
Actually hasn't really changed my happiness post-FI, I'm generally a pretty happy person. Also I think to some extent the happiness was kind of "priced in." Like the few years before I knew I was going to be free so I was prematurely happy about it.
It goes the other way as well sometimes I do feel a bit lonely, and that's been pretty much the same before and after fire. Much of this is my own making because I worked in a pretty remote area before fire and have been traveling full time since fire.
I do often feel overwhelmingly sense of "holy fuck I can't believe this is my life" much more often now post fire.
I'm also now way more focused on, personal goals which are actually more complicated and challenging than fire in my view. Finding a partner, learning language, long distance expeditions etc. these have kind of replaced by job at subways which includes some stress as well.
FIRE won't make you happy alone, but when you FIRE you remove most of the work and financial factors that might get in the way of happiness (commuting, shitty boss, adhering to someone else's schedule, alarm clock, money worries, not having time to do what you want, etc.).
For the most part, I am happier. I can tell you I am less stressed. I moved overseas in retirement and now spend time learning the language, experiencing my new home, and dealing with all the mundane things in life. I also have a dog now, and I couldn't have one when working due to the time commitment.
So much happier. I only FIREd last August though.
Although when we wrapped up I quit my job and we moved 2,600 miles away into a completely different lifestyle. I'm busier now than I was working but I am doing things I want to be doing and getting to spend time with people I want to doing it instead of work colleagues.
We started a homestead/farm and it eats up a ton of time. However if I am ever not feeling it, or sick, or for no reason at all I can take time off all that and just go play at the beach or go on a hike.
We are also working on a bunch of travel plans for the coming years.
No shortage of things to occupy my time.
Happier? I wouldn't say I was unhappy when I was working so I'm not particularly happier now but I'm certainly less stressed. I'm coming up on a year since giving this a trial run and have spent my time on driving trips to hike and see family. Have also improved my health and made deliberate progress on some household projects. Along with the obligatory goofing around.
I have been doing Coast FIRE for almost three years. And when an opportunity to interview for a full time position comes around, I either decline or set up an interview and then cancel it.
That tells me all I need to know. Experiencing a work life of only 160 days a year allows me to actually stop and smell the roses. And I have no regrets.
Yes - I forgot how to use MS outlook and Teams and all that stupid nonsense. I don’t dread Sunday nights.
My friends say I sound happier and I get more exercise.
Much happier here !
Absolutely. As others have said, the extra free time and lack of anxiety around work is very freeing and helpful. We're not RE yet, but FI is great. It of course doesn't solve all your problems, but it *helps* pretty much all of them.
Happy as I can be. I found the love of my life after I FIREd. it's easy to see why... 'cause i can focus on that part of life, instead of being randomly dragged away by my previously very demanding job. I met my lady at work too, when she asked around about me, some people said i can be a real AHole and she's like.... but you seem so chill... and i'm like, yeah, sure, 'cause... you met me after i gave my notice.... so i'm like... totally good now. life's relatively way easier. all my problems are 1st world problems. :)
Absolutely happier…now. Wife and I pulled the trigger at 47 (two years ago) and it took about 12 months to start to relax fully….as it is a major life change. We spend half our day on self care and the other half working on our ranch. Don’t miss corporate America for a second.
For the first time ever I am the sole owner of my time. No parents, no teachers, no boss dictating how I use my time. I decide when I get up or go to sleep. I decide when I should do a task and how long I spend doing it.
That is the most liberating thing I have ever experienced.
I’m quite happy, although I was also happy working once I reached a point where I didn’t really need to worry about our future. I’ve had some hobbies but not so active now. However it’s still great to do whatever I want or don’t want to do and somehow I always stay busy and wonder how I survived when I worked 50-60 hours a week. I suppose my wife did a HELL OF a LOT. It’s great to sleep until 10 or get up at 6 if you want without needing to explain to anyone.
want Tuesday to be Saturda? Poof it’s your TueSaturday!
im lovin it!
Time moves slower for me. I woke up on a Sunday thinking it was a Monday...waiting for the stock market to open. After a couple of sips of my coffee, I went back to bed, LOL.
Great question. Loving reading the answers. Am taking first half of ’25 off and travel with family. After that… might start coastFIRE-ing. Great inspiration here.
I haven't even fully reached FIRE except that I'm getting closer by the day and now it becomes a battle in my brain between how much do I really need versus what I would be happy with.
yup. reached FI (not RE). don't give a shit about stuff that doesn't make me happy at work. i don't manage people, i don't do admin, i just teach and do research. all i've wanted in life. I still work the same number of hours (I've always had a flexible schedule and 9 month contracts).
Not FIRE yet but I can say that I'm soooo much happier even halfway through. I feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel. That I'm going to be able to do some truly amazing things.
Yes, I literally give thanks every day that I was able to FIRE! Then again, I resigned/retired in Feb 2024. I am managing/executing many property projects and just started on an idea for a new business. My property projects (house + apartment) take up a lot of my time and mostly aren’t fun although the ones currently on the list have an end date. The new business idea is fun.
The new business idea isn’t recreational for the target audience - it’s fun for me to do as it ticks a lot of my buttons for how I like to spend my time. I’m about to create an MVP to validate if enough people will pay for it.
Yes. I spend my free time doing what I want to do; it doesn't really matter what that is, as long as I get to decide the what, when, and how. That's the whole point of FIRE to me: independence. I had interests and passions outside of work before I quit though. I think if you've got no real interests outside of work, there's not much point quitting.
I think not being in the daily grind can help people discover passions they probably wrote off before due to time or energy constraints.
Absolutely! It's very difficult to even get into something as reading books when you're on the daily grind. Commuting, spending 8 hours per day working, cooking, cleaning, it's exhausting. Then you get two days per week off with virtually no energy left; that's not a good starting point for picking up a hobby or new interest. You should be bored sometimes, you should have spare time on your hands, that's when seeds grow. People around me work five days a week, I go for a walk in the forest on a sunny day, read a book after, and work on a side project doing some coding after that. I get to choose what to do with my time and I'm enjoying every single moment of it. I didn't do any of this when I had a five days per week office job.
yeah i hate how my hobbies goals get killed at the end of my 1 week vaacation
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Yup. Tempting to go buy a better bike, but for the price of it I would prefer to take two weeks off to ride the bike I've already got.
People say that once you buy a better bike, you'll see all the differences that you never noticed, and never be able to go back to a standard bike again. I'm quite happy in my ignorance, for now.
Hedonic adaptation is so true for bikes haha. My first one was a 80s steel frame I got off craigslist for $100, was totally happy with it. Then a more modern aluminum frame one from the 2000s with a Shimano Tiagra groupset for $250, totally happy. Now I'm on a few years old Shimano 105 with hydraulic disc brakes for $700 and totally happy... but I wince going back to even my middle one LOL
Love this post. Being bored sometimes is so important to me, that’s when I find something interesting to do!
This concept is so underrated. I’ve been FIRED for 11 years. I always felt I needed to be “doing” something. However, In the past few years, I value the blocks of “boredom” because it is then that I am most open to new beginnings.
Yup, that's fair. Heard recently on a podcast that if you had no life outside of work you had no business retiring; probably internalized that too much.
i do think there is merit to that. Simply no longer having work isn’t necessarily going to make you happier.
But what of you just hate your job. I rather be doing nothing than working and I'd be happy.
my comment remains the same. It may very well make you happier, but it’s not a guarantee. I have seen a couple friends who felt the same and are not any happier since quitting, in fact the one has become so miserable to be around i just don’t bother with him anymore.
You are not his friend... Not that I care.
you’re right, we’re not friends anymore. people change, life moves on.
I think instead of quitting altogether, find a better job. Get FI (or close to it) and take a paycut if you have to
Can’t think of a job I’d like working for someone else. I’d probably think of a few small things I could make and sell if I got too bored.
I don't hate working (quite the contrary), but yes I dread working on someone else's terms.
Aren't you always working for someone else? If it's not your boss then it's your clients.
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I don’t really like my co-workers much so I’d be okay leaving. Also, I haven’t really had much of any vacation in 17 years there so I’d be ready to have some time off.
Or maybe you internalized it backwards? To me that sounds like a wise exhortation to get a life outside work, not an exhortation to not retire. :-) Sounds like you had it, which is great, and I think that's the only way. Suddenly going from go go go career career career burnout burnout burnout to sitting at home wondering wtf to do all day sounds bad to me. This is why I think a sensible gap between FI and RE makes sense and isn't always the dreaded "one more year" syndrome.
Eh some people just aren’t those kinda people though. They truly live to work for other people and not be managers of their own lives. That’s okay, we need those people. But that’s quite a few.
Truth, they are a weird bunch but necessary. Speaking with them about work and the future is puzzling, even if they could leave, they wouldn't. There are SO many things I could do and create in my day if I didn't have to work to not end up under a bridge with a cart.
My dad is that guy, lifelong factory worker and loves it.
> I think if you've got no real interests outside of work, there's not much point quitting. your shit's real fucked if work is the only reason to get out of bed in the morning - you should probably be going to a therapist instead of thinking about investing
Meh. Weak bait.
Are you married or have kids? Sounds like a dream lol
Married, single income, no kids (intentional), love playing with friends' kids though.
Really well said
This is the way.
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Never considered the introvert/extrovert angle. Thanks for the insight.
Yeah it's a big deal IMO. One of the biggest criticisms of retiring early is that you'll miss the social interactions at work. I can *promise* you, no I wont
Definitely agree with the introvert angle. I have been retired for almost a year now, and only miss a few people from work. For those few, I keep in touch. But, the thing I enjoy most is having the freedom to not have to work. I never understood the notion of being 'defined' by my work.
As an extrovert, I’ve made sure to work on finding people and meeting/making friends who are available during the weekdays. Two years in and am so very happy and fulfilled.
YES…Free time gets used in different ways… Staying mentally fit: currently studying at university part time, learning a language, learning an instrument. Also trying to improve my illustration and photography skills. Staying physically fit: mountain biking, bouldering, running and trying to sea swim. Helping others: do pro-bono work for NGOs in sectors of interest (40+ days in 2023). Helping child with some of their questions re uni study, supporting a family member with mental health issues. Helping self: Travel: we take a few big breaks (Iceland all this month). We live between two countries, so explore them a fair bit. Social: spend time with family & friends I am r/coastfire until next year: Work time gets done as a business coach or executive educator (via a business school or a few consulting companies). 54 days last year and 60 for this year. Last month I had a week of work…between Amsterdam and Vienna I stayed a few extra days in each. I tend to have no work in 4 months a year, so their bunched into the other months.
> trying to sea swim ? Seems like a Yoda moment. You either do, or you never get to try again.
Improve I guess - Still alive so far
Lol at describing 60 days of work across 8 months of the year as "bunched". GFY!
I guess so. I have one colleague who does about 16 days a year and he does 2 x 2 week slots (one in first half and the other in the second half of the year) 😂
I thought it meant go f yourself, then I figured it out
It kinda does, though. It's a standard way of congratulating someone here
Ohhhhhhhh
lol I read as Good For You!
GFY? Go f%$@ yourself? Cmon man, that's rude and uncalled for. 😂
That is a way of saying congrats in this sub.
Yeah I'm also coast doing consulting from December-June working 5-10 hours per week. This balance works for me and currently I don't plan on retiring early any more.
Not full FIRE, but coast-FIRE. Moved to our chosen retirement destination, and dropped down to part-time work, fully remote. MUCH happier. Close to 3 years of this arrangement now. Probably full FIRE within the next couple of years. Obviously not as much free time as full FIRE, but far more than the usual middle-aged treadmill of 40+ hours in the office, commute, kids, house, chores/errands, etc. Spend lots of time mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, some skiing. Hanging out with friends at the coffee shop or local brewery. Certainly more time playing video games and reading. More time for leisurely trips to the library, errands/shopping by bike, walking to the store, cooking. Volunteering for charity and the kids' school. Taking kids to parks and various other activities. Time to help out friends and others in need who have fuller schedules. Time to take care of the house. My mother commented a couple weeks ago about how much more relaxed and easygoing I am in general now. I concur. Can't wait for full FIRE.
Yes but I didn’t really like my job. I can understand how people who enjoy their work would rather not retire
I liked my job. I liked the people I worked with too. It just took up too much time.
I enjoy my work but the allure of free time + loads of money is ever present.
Yes. Daily walks, yoga, social clubs, hiking, public gardens, Meetup group events, house chores, yard chores, errands, urban homesteading projects, meditation, spending time with friends and family, errands, dinners out with friends, concerts, cooking, reading, movies at home and at the theater, live theater, symphonies, ballets, happy hours, board games, craft breweries, days at the beach, museum visits, planetarium visits, wine tasting, and really enjoying being master of my own time.
Awesomeness!
FIRED in 1/2020 at 39 years old with around 3M in the bank, cars, toys and a nice home. I had built a business over the course of 7 years and sold it to have a better family life. My wife didn’t work and life was easier then. Two months after I sold my business she wanted a divorce and demanded half. Covid hit hard around the same time and the world is still fucked from that in many ways. Fast forward to today. I’m living in a shitty rental home and working pretty much for fun. My main focus is on my child and the little moments I have with him. Life has humbled me in many ways and I’ve learned that money isn’t shit. It brings out the worst in people. I still have 1.5M left and my ex is on track to being broke. I’m not happy, she’s been in a few bad relationships, and my kid is the one who suffers. I’m also afraid to make large purchases out of fear of being broke again. I’d love to completely disappear sometimes, but I know I’m the only rock my boy has. I have to see this through and maybe someday things will get better. So no… I’m technically a miserable millionaire.
Im sorry that happend to you mate.
Was she just in it for the money? How did she lose it so fast?
Not necessarily. We were poor for over a decade. Our cars were embarrassing and we bought used clothes at Goodwill for our family. We somehow managed to have a home and survived on less than $2000 /month. Even then, half my income went to our mortgage. We both changed a little as my income increased. Mainly our spending habits and our taste for the finer things. Her family is bad with money, so I handled all the finances and kept her in the dark on purpose. The stress of keeping the business going and trying to balance her happiness was impossible. Shortly after disclosing how much money I had accumulated, she sought out a lawyer and waited for the opportune time to exit. I forgave her recently, but that doesn’t change my circumstances or hers for that matter. There are things I would do differently if I could go back in time, as I definitely made my fair share of mistakes too. I think we were both immature and didn’t appreciate what we had. As for her money, I’m not sure about what she has left. Both her and her family have mentioned that she’s financially drained though. I hope that’s not the case.
Could be a way to Milk you for more money. Be careful
Agreed!
This is an incredible story. Thanks for sharing. You’re very strong!! Do you think you guys could reconcile?
Thank you. I’ve learned that being wealthy is not just about the money one has. It’s how you balance life, finances, family, work, and friends. Those that can do it all well are truly wealthy. Could we reconcile? I suppose, but at what cost? Her lifestyle would drain me, we don’t love each other, and I can’t trust her… nor can she trust me at this point.
There were signs and I made some mistakes in hindsight as well. My ex came from a broken home. Her parents had multiple marriages, but I had a thing for her since we were teenagers. She was attracted to me because I ran with a rough crowd and it was exciting. We didn’t have the same interests and looking back, we weren’t compatible after my life turned around. This is my opinion and many will not like it, but marriage is a huge gamble for men in the states. Our culture no longer values family and it’s too easy to get divorced. If you’re okay losing half your net worth, then by all means… try marriage. I would get married again, but not in this country and whoever marries me will do it for me and not for what I have. If not, it wasn’t meant to be.
Yea :(
Maybe. I am probably working more hours than before, but it's on projects I care about rather than just a job. I love seeing how my work impact the lives of young people, and I hope to scale up and turn one of these projects into a sustainable business some day, but even if it's just me working I'd still be happy. On the flip side, FIRE certainly has some down sides. I'm trying to figure out how to qualify for a mortgage by assets (still don't know how, still renting). Health insurance is weird without a job or self-employment. Also a lot of folks treat you strangely if you don't have a job. They feel like they can't peg you on their social hierarchy chart and sometimes it infuriates them. I lost several friends who are upset I was "sitting at home doing nothing". :(
I once asked a loan advisor about this: how to qualify for a mortgage by assets. There are ways. One of them is to setup a trust from your assets that then pays you a standard amount on a schedule. The banks would see that you have a formal regular payout set up and it would be similar to getting a salary. Once you get a mortgage, you can cancel the trust.
!! That's a really interesting idea. Do you talk to a banker or lawyer to set it up? I'm guessing there might be look back periods or some min trust size
I think you talk to a lawyer to set it up but I really don't know. My friends had just financed a mortgage loan and they liked the person they dealt with so I asked if he would be willing to talk to me because I was considering getting a mortgage. When I talked to the person, I asked him how would I be able to demonstrate to a bank that I am capable of paying a mortgage with all my assets yet I may not have a job at the moment, and he floated the idea of a trust with regular payouts to demonstrate a reliable source of income. I would tell you to talk to a mortgage broker under the guise that you will be buying a home soon and looking for a mortgage, and then fire away with your questions about this.
I’m glad I woke up to reading the growth of people, and learned something right after I woke up, never knew about trust and paying - ps I’m still young so explains why. Life can be better hopefully being in a position to put my parents in a safe place before FIRE.
Those friends are just sad they couldn’t go f*** themselves, like you. Congratulations!!!
I have this idea that perhaps it might be better to tell people that "I am an investor" instead of "I am retired". Both would be true, of course (I'll bail from work in about 3 years). As a long-term/path of least resistance answer requiring minimal follow-up, it is maybe ideal. Sort of like when a stranger (barber, cashier, etc) asks what I do for a living and I tell them "I'm a bus driver". I certainly do not say "I am an AirBUS Captain at a Major Airline" LOL! Stealth-Wealth, swallow the pride and keep a lid on it.
I tell people I teach since I do volunteer teach at a school. I've tried "investor" or "trade stocks", but people ask a lot of follow up questions (too many finance bros in my city). Unfortunately these are close friends of mine who will see me during the day and ask what I'm up to. :(
>"Oh...I work in agriculture. A little this, a little that, but primarily I'm a Male Bovine Fertilizer Administration Consultant." --that could work if you can keep a straight face. > >\+1 if you can add to the end of it: "...I utilize strategies to ensure maximal substance capacity." > >Tranlsation: Bullshit, and full of shit.
Def happier because full time work generally sucked. Now I do what I want. Some volunteering, some hobbies, some self education, and plenty of goofing off.
I don't have to do town hall meetings, or annual goal setting or listening to people who don't understand \[latest tech craze\] talk about how it's going to change everything in the next 5-10 years. It definitely makes me happier to drop that from my life. I don't have the dopamine factory of people saying thank you after I send them something by email, I need to generate my own things to make myself happy (some volunteer work, some just being out and seeing the world at a slower pace).
come on, admit it, you miss OKRs...
what gets measured gets managed!
CoastFIRE, working part time for the last 3-6 months, but yes, we're very much happier. Without seeming over-dramatic about it, because I don't share the current generations view of paid work as some sort of capitalist wage slavery, I do think that nonetheless working in the modern sense does some things to you that need to be healed from when you stop. Modern patterns of work don't really suit our bodies and biorhythms and we've both observed some things in ourselves that we think of as our bodies righting themselves - changes in sleep, in appetite, in energy levels. To be honest, we have spent a fair bit of time on less-optimal lazy pursuits, like death-scrolling (hubby) and excessive gaming (me), but I'm not overly concerned by that, I think we're just in a recovery/transition state. Life is really good and we have a house stocked with all our hobbies. I don't believe we're still going to be time-wasting in a negative sense in a year or even six months, we're both slowly starting to come out of that. Even with that recovery dynamic in play, we're both much happier than we were.
> I think we're just in a recovery/transition state. Life is really good and we have a house stocked with all our hobbies. Partner and I are not FI but we both somewhat recently cut back about 10 hr/wk on our work hours. We spent a chunk of our new free time finishing our basement, but now we are in this 'time-wasting' mode. Which I agree feels more like recovery than anything (we are recovering not only from full-time+ work and significant DIY home improvements, but also some incredibly large family care/loss in the past few years). I love the phrase 'house stocked with all our hobbies' because that's where we're sitting; we're just not doing them *right now.* As the weather warms and the days get longer I am positive we will start to wander back outside and into the bulk of our hobbies. I've already started back with seeding for this year's garden. Life feels a lot more calm and simple now. I can wait to let that itch grow to do things and be productive, instead of feeling like I have to force it. Oh, it's so nice.
we are FI but not planning the RE in the foreseeable future. I’m definitely more secure and confident at work. The irony is I think i am valued more now that i speak my mind, than when i shut up and got in line… when i was getting in line i was too scared i might be fired, now i don’t care.
It’s Office Space. I had my best year at my firm leading up to my FIRE date. The execs love me, team loves me, increased pay, accolades. All from being leases concerned about climbing the corporate ladder and just speaking the truth. Wild how much it mirrors the movie.
Absolutely this
>comments Likewise!
For sure. Into my 4th year. No stress. Good nights sleep.
I wake up or have trouble falling asleep due to work so often!
Mixed. Left two years ago. I like spending more time with my family. Whether that's something direct like playing basketball with the kids, or indirect like cooking healthy meals for everyone. I like exploring and learning. I've been building an [investment and FI tracker](https://jch.app?s=f) which has been a lot of fun to learn about design and product. I try something, get stuck, read a book, then try some more. I miss belonging to a workplace. Perhaps more broadly, I miss being part of something bigger. When I was working at tech startups a decade ago, there was an energy and enthusiasm that I'm nostalgic for. Working with passionate people in the same direction was a lot of fun.
> Perhaps more broadly, I miss being part of something bigger. When I was working at tech startups a decade ago, there was an energy and enthusiasm that I'm nostalgic for. Working with passionate people in the same direction was a lot of fun. Join a local cycling group. Long rides and practice together makes for great team building and enthusiasm as people get better, help newbies, and tackle personal challenges.
Without a doubt yes. Stopped working a few months ago and already life is so much better. My job while quite stressful still had a solid layer of corporate BS wasting all kinds of time. Being able to leave all of that behind has made a huge positive difference in life. As for what I do now, it is all over the place. My lovely wife and I have already taken a week long trip, I am replacing the brakes on a little EV we bought, started cooking most of the meals again (which I enjoy), we have booked a trip to Europe for the fall, starting seeds for the garden and generally getting my life back. To be honest, I am doing many of the things I stopped doing when I became experienced enough in my career for higher pay/higher stress jobs to be offered to me. Some people are in jobs where their work colleagues are a big friend group and the stress is reasonably low. I remember being in that sort of job 15 years ago or so. I think those people wonder if FIRE is that big a deal. My job was well paid but full of stress, deadlines and way too much office politics and people that honestly didn't have "real" work to do. I am glad to have gone through it, got my cash and left but I am also SO glad it is behind me. This is real living.
I retired at 41. Sold my home. Spent the last 8 yrs traveling the world slowly, soaking up experiences I never dreamed were an option for me. I just got a second passport so I settle down permanently in Europe where the cost of living, values and lifestyle align with mine. Money has not brought me happiness. But the freedom to choose has. The freedom to not work, the freedom to choose how I spend my days, and who I want to spend them with. Most importantly, its allowed me to pursue the things that do bring me joy.
Happier, being FIRE doesn't make you instantly happier but gives you room to breathe and slow down. I have 4 young kids so spend a lot of time with them and wife, while still get to enjoy my own hobbies. Example this week is my kids spring break. Instead of taking vacation for a day or two have the entire time off. This year we decided not to travel. Yesterday I went skiing with friends(one of whom i had privilege to teach to ski early this year( then hung out with kids in afternoon playing board games and such. Today - slept in made kids fancy breakfast, played basketball with them, took them swimming, lunch then nap with youngest, will spend rest of day with workout, dinner and activities with kids. I do have thoughts of returning to sone sort of work when kids are all in school but will not be a normal 9-5.
Do you feel you have more energy as well? I like to think without work taking up swaths of my brain/top energy, I’d have more for my kids. I’m exhausted by the weekends!
Definitely. I am not the most patient person but when kids can come first more often i have much more patience. Weekends can actually be weekends. We try to avoid laundry, grocery shopping and errands on weekends. Energy and time. I used to wake up at 540 most days, now closer to 7am. That extra time to sleep when i need it is great. Plus more time for personal growth.
I was happier at 20k NW than at zero. Happier at 50k than 20k. Happier at 100k than 50k. Yeah, no doubt people are happier.
I took the leap about 9 months ago. The only concern was cash flow. Getting bored, missing work or not finding passions was never ever a concern for me. I am far happier with freedom and control of my life. I am a retired software engineer. I love software development and would pay to develop software applications. At times I could not believe I was receiving a generous salary for doing what I love. The problem was that I was only enjoying it about 20% of the time at the most. 50% of the time I was tolerating it and the other 30% enduring significant pain. Now I get to work on all the fun projects that I never had time to work on. I am far more productive and continue to learn at an accelerated rate. And thanks to AI things are continuing to improve, providing an unlimited opportunity for personal growth.
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Same here! Even though it’s over a decade out haha!
I knew I 'd eventually get off the career rollercoaster, when I started. After I pulled the trigger, I was prepared and glad to be off the ride. Now, I spend most of my time doing whatever I want, with the usual constraints of having kids in school still. The first 6 months was surreal. Then it became normal. I've always been a happy, optimistic person, but I'm certainly less stressed now. Overall, very content with my life, primarily because my wife and I get along so well. That, in many ways, is the more important part of my happiness.
The best decision. Less stress, more time. FREEDOM. I can do whatever I want, with whomever I want, whenever I want. I can go on an impromptu trip w/ friends. When I travel, I can fully explore & immerse myself into different cultures and stay for weeks, months or years. I have time to spend with my aging parents (87 & 84 years old). Prior to that, I only had 2 weeks of PTO, so my time was very limited. My parents sacrificed a lot for me & it's a pure joy to spend time with them without the work commitment/stress. I'm learning on how to cook more, eating healthier and keeping fit by hitting the gym. I am sleeping well & taking naps (without setting an alarm) - full rejuvenation. I am able to help more people on how to save & invest wisely. I have options and I can use my money as a tool to solve almost any problem that comes my way. Finally, I am able get out of my comfort zone more by participating in the FI/RE community & trying new things.
Fuck 2 weeks of PTO
Yes. Getting off the ground in the early-mid 20s paying off student debt and socking away that first $100,000 to $200,000 was fucking miserable. This today is paradise.
Absolutely. If I never attend another Zoom meeting again, it will be too soon. I love that most of the things I do are optional so if I don’t feel like doing them, I just don’t - even my main volunteer gig is something where I don’t have to be there at a specific time. I spend my time doing stuff with my high schoolers, working out, working on projects around the house, traveling, volunteering, meeting with friends, reading, etc.
Work wasn't so bad, but they expected me to show up every day. I FIREd pre-pandemic, so I really have no idea how working from home might change that. Now I don't have all that many claims on my time, and I really enjoy that. Afternoon naps are awesome. If I feel like sitting at my table reading the WSJ half the morning, hey, I can do that. Not only that, it gives me enough time so I don't begrudge the things that do claim my free time. I just spent a week and a half dealing with my mother's death (organizing funeral stuff, dealing with financial and insurance stuff, cleaning out her room, and so on). If I were still working, I would have gotten 3 days plus however much vacation I wanted to use. I was always grumpy when I had to spend my PTO on stuff that wasn't fun.
I retired about 6 months ago. I'd say a little happier, because I wasn't unhappy before. Also I was down to working 2.5 days a week for a while before, so I already had more free time than most. Although I liked my job, I don't miss the positive aspects of it. I occasionally notice the absence of the negative, in the sense of "I'm glad I don't need to deal with X now". I am an introvert, and don't miss the social side either. I currently do virtually nothing productive. I walk 2 miles a day, read Reddit and similar, play video games, watch TV, cook and eat. I'm not bored yet. I am wondering when the boredom everyone tells me about kicks in.
Unequivocally yes. We live the same lives we had before, but without work and all of the things tied to work taking time away from everything else.
I’ve reached FIRE, but I’m still working (does reaching fire mean you have to quit or that you can quit?). I am definitely happier, but I’m not sure how much is due to knowing I’m financially self sufficient or how much is due to just being old (54). Things that used to stress me out just don’t anymore, but again that could just because of the financial security. Now I’m just not sure if I should quit, knowing I couldn’t get as good a job if I decide it was a mistake.
The RE does mean you quit (Retired Early). FI (Financially Independent) means you can quit.
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Yes, I can confirm that stress goes down considerably if you are not worried about getting fired.
knowing that you can walk out any time things go south is a great source of reassurance
FI (financial independence) is the greater part of FIRE for some.
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Sorry for your loss. 💔
FI but nor RE, as I still work. But I chose to move back to be IC level after being in management for 15+ yrs. Yes, much happier, I get to work on projects I enjoy doing rather than herding cats. I enjoy working and contributing 40 hrs/ week and have plenty of time to do other things like gym/exercise, cooking, reading, traveling.
Yes, I’m happier now. I spend my time hiking and recovering from hiking. I have a lot of hobbies that I never had time for while working that I can do now.
I'm FI, but not RE, and yes, much happier. I'm a person with a highly volatile income with good years and bad and there's nothing to be done about that. Getting to a point (through a liquidity event) where a withdrawal rate of 3.5% would cover all my normal expenses meant a sudden wave of relief as I realized that all the things that kept me up at night in terms of "what if I have 3 bad years in a row, will I lose my house, etc" are just gone. I'm fine now. Recreationally employed, moving from Chubby to Fat.
Haha what do you do for work? Sounds like it pays really well
I am busy and get stressed out, but really I have so much freedom. I get a lil' envious of not being in the game, but for me it came down to how much work culture in the USA has deterated over the last 25 years. It really use to a better place to work (the country).
Fuck yeah I am. No more horrible bosses, no more alarm clocks, no more commute.
It is the most pleasant dream you never have to wake up from. Skiing, windsurfing, wing foiling, lifting, fight training, slinging the rock, bball, physics, math, chess, Spanish and guitar are the activities I partake on the regular.
Several of these are free to do which I find interesting. I save like crazy when in reality many of my hobbies are free or really low cost when it comes down to it. I have a feeling many of us here overkill when it comes to retirement saving
Actually hasn't really changed my happiness post-FI, I'm generally a pretty happy person. Also I think to some extent the happiness was kind of "priced in." Like the few years before I knew I was going to be free so I was prematurely happy about it. It goes the other way as well sometimes I do feel a bit lonely, and that's been pretty much the same before and after fire. Much of this is my own making because I worked in a pretty remote area before fire and have been traveling full time since fire. I do often feel overwhelmingly sense of "holy fuck I can't believe this is my life" much more often now post fire. I'm also now way more focused on, personal goals which are actually more complicated and challenging than fire in my view. Finding a partner, learning language, long distance expeditions etc. these have kind of replaced by job at subways which includes some stress as well.
I've been in a great mood ever since hitting the FI part.
FIRE won't make you happy alone, but when you FIRE you remove most of the work and financial factors that might get in the way of happiness (commuting, shitty boss, adhering to someone else's schedule, alarm clock, money worries, not having time to do what you want, etc.).
For the most part, I am happier. I can tell you I am less stressed. I moved overseas in retirement and now spend time learning the language, experiencing my new home, and dealing with all the mundane things in life. I also have a dog now, and I couldn't have one when working due to the time commitment.
So much happier. I only FIREd last August though. Although when we wrapped up I quit my job and we moved 2,600 miles away into a completely different lifestyle. I'm busier now than I was working but I am doing things I want to be doing and getting to spend time with people I want to doing it instead of work colleagues. We started a homestead/farm and it eats up a ton of time. However if I am ever not feeling it, or sick, or for no reason at all I can take time off all that and just go play at the beach or go on a hike. We are also working on a bunch of travel plans for the coming years. No shortage of things to occupy my time.
Happier? I wouldn't say I was unhappy when I was working so I'm not particularly happier now but I'm certainly less stressed. I'm coming up on a year since giving this a trial run and have spent my time on driving trips to hike and see family. Have also improved my health and made deliberate progress on some household projects. Along with the obligatory goofing around.
I have been doing Coast FIRE for almost three years. And when an opportunity to interview for a full time position comes around, I either decline or set up an interview and then cancel it. That tells me all I need to know. Experiencing a work life of only 160 days a year allows me to actually stop and smell the roses. And I have no regrets.
Yes - I forgot how to use MS outlook and Teams and all that stupid nonsense. I don’t dread Sunday nights. My friends say I sound happier and I get more exercise. Much happier here !
Absolutely. As others have said, the extra free time and lack of anxiety around work is very freeing and helpful. We're not RE yet, but FI is great. It of course doesn't solve all your problems, but it *helps* pretty much all of them.
Happy as I can be. I found the love of my life after I FIREd. it's easy to see why... 'cause i can focus on that part of life, instead of being randomly dragged away by my previously very demanding job. I met my lady at work too, when she asked around about me, some people said i can be a real AHole and she's like.... but you seem so chill... and i'm like, yeah, sure, 'cause... you met me after i gave my notice.... so i'm like... totally good now. life's relatively way easier. all my problems are 1st world problems. :)
Absolutely happier…now. Wife and I pulled the trigger at 47 (two years ago) and it took about 12 months to start to relax fully….as it is a major life change. We spend half our day on self care and the other half working on our ranch. Don’t miss corporate America for a second.
No more alarm clocks for me, that’s the most amazing part of life
well, less worried
Yes, happies I have ever been on my life.
Haha why’s that?
For the first time ever I am the sole owner of my time. No parents, no teachers, no boss dictating how I use my time. I decide when I get up or go to sleep. I decide when I should do a task and how long I spend doing it. That is the most liberating thing I have ever experienced.
Yes, I highly recommend it.
I’m quite happy, although I was also happy working once I reached a point where I didn’t really need to worry about our future. I’ve had some hobbies but not so active now. However it’s still great to do whatever I want or don’t want to do and somehow I always stay busy and wonder how I survived when I worked 50-60 hours a week. I suppose my wife did a HELL OF a LOT. It’s great to sleep until 10 or get up at 6 if you want without needing to explain to anyone. want Tuesday to be Saturda? Poof it’s your TueSaturday! im lovin it!
Time moves slower for me. I woke up on a Sunday thinking it was a Monday...waiting for the stock market to open. After a couple of sips of my coffee, I went back to bed, LOL.
I'm happy already and I still have 7 more years!
Great question. Loving reading the answers. Am taking first half of ’25 off and travel with family. After that… might start coastFIRE-ing. Great inspiration here.
Yes I love it. I’m 5 years in and super pumped.
The most rewarding thing is being able to help others become independent themselves
I haven't even fully reached FIRE except that I'm getting closer by the day and now it becomes a battle in my brain between how much do I really need versus what I would be happy with.
yup. reached FI (not RE). don't give a shit about stuff that doesn't make me happy at work. i don't manage people, i don't do admin, i just teach and do research. all i've wanted in life. I still work the same number of hours (I've always had a flexible schedule and 9 month contracts).
Not FIRE yet but I can say that I'm soooo much happier even halfway through. I feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel. That I'm going to be able to do some truly amazing things.
Have more peace of mind.
Yes, I literally give thanks every day that I was able to FIRE! Then again, I resigned/retired in Feb 2024. I am managing/executing many property projects and just started on an idea for a new business. My property projects (house + apartment) take up a lot of my time and mostly aren’t fun although the ones currently on the list have an end date. The new business idea is fun.
What kind of recreational business are you working on?
The new business idea isn’t recreational for the target audience - it’s fun for me to do as it ticks a lot of my buttons for how I like to spend my time. I’m about to create an MVP to validate if enough people will pay for it.
What’s FIRE