I am curious how many of you on the FIRE path have reached the retirement stage and how it's working out for you.
How do you spend your time? Is there any friction with your still employed friends and family? Do you miss work?
Thanks :)
Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
1–10 of 23 posts
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#2I'm on the glidepath now and have moved to working only 4 days per week.
My partner is on 5 days a week, so I'm a househusband on my "day off".
The main friction seems to be with me. I always attempt to spend the long weekend doing hobbies and having fun, but more often than not I end up doing a bit of consulting for old and new clients.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#3I'm on the glidepath now and have moved to working only 4 days per week. My partner is on 5 days a week, so I'm a househusband on my "day off". The main friction seems to be with me. I always attempt to spend the long weekend doing hobbies and having fun, but more often than not I end up doing a bit of consulting for old and new clients.
I don't see a huge difference between a hobby and fulfilling and non stressful work that you take up voluntarily.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#4A bit of advice if you are aiming for FIRE: Don't buy Starbucks, buy instant coffee you make yourself, and stop buying stupid avocado on toast at cafes, and a whole laundry list of other luxury items. Basically you should refrain from buying any luxury item unless it's a treat and you set aside time and money for treats, not have treats and luxury purchases all the time. FIRE people need to exercise incredible restraint on their purchases, then that money that was saved can be pooled into your retirement fund. It's hard, I know, but that's life!
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#5A bit of advice if you are aiming for FIRE: Don't buy Starbucks, buy instant coffee you make yourself, and stop buying stupid avocado on toast at cafes, and a whole laundry list of other luxury items. Basically you should refrain from buying any luxury item unless it's a treat and you set aside time and money for treats, not have treats and luxury purchases all the time. FIRE people need to exercise incredible restra…
how do FIRE people avoid eating out if they work at home all day and need to “get out” and “wind down”?
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#6A bit of advice if you are aiming for FIRE: Don't buy Starbucks, buy instant coffee you make yourself, and stop buying stupid avocado on toast at cafes, and a whole laundry list of other luxury items. Basically you should refrain from buying any luxury item unless it's a treat and you set aside time and money for treats, not have treats and luxury purchases all the time. FIRE people need to exercise incredible restra…
Saving on all of that person year is like 2k bucks max. That's a drop in the bucket. Plus then you come off as a weird cheapo, no? All so that you can sit around and do nothing while retired. Which sounds boring and probably bad for your mental health.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#7A bit of advice if you are aiming for FIRE: Don't buy Starbucks, buy instant coffee you make yourself, and stop buying stupid avocado on toast at cafes, and a whole laundry list of other luxury items. Basically you should refrain from buying any luxury item unless it's a treat and you set aside time and money for treats, not have treats and luxury purchases all the time. FIRE people need to exercise incredible restra…
Ramit Sethi, author of the excellent book I Will Teach You To Be Rich (the title is clickbait but the contents are very good), wrote about this exact topic: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/the-big-wins-manifesto...
TLDR, focus on the big stuff (rent, vehicles, wage increases, etc) and don't sweat the small stuff, within reason.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#8A bit of advice if you are aiming for FIRE: Don't buy Starbucks, buy instant coffee you make yourself, and stop buying stupid avocado on toast at cafes, and a whole laundry list of other luxury items. Basically you should refrain from buying any luxury item unless it's a treat and you set aside time and money for treats, not have treats and luxury purchases all the time. FIRE people need to exercise incredible restra…
how do FIRE people avoid eating out if they work at home all day and need to “get out” and “wind down”?
strange this gets downvoted. eating out is a big expense and i just wonder how people manage to limit that. for me it is very difficult.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
how do FIRE people avoid eating out if they work at home all day and need to “get out” and “wind down”?
strange this gets downvoted. eating out is a big expense and i just wonder how people manage to limit that. for me it is very difficult.
I don't agree with the whole skimping-on-small-things thing, but I work at home and don't eat out that much. The "how" seems pretty straightforward: either buy groceries at a grocery store or have them delivered. I have a fresh vegetable box delivered every week. "Getting out" and "winding down" don't require eating out.
Re: Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out?
#10Loving it.
Time: Coding, taking walks, reading, hanging with friends
Friction: Not that I can see. My lifestyle hasn't changed.
Miss work: Nope. I keep in touch with the coworkers I liked to socialize with. I can do the best part of work -- making things -- without the worst part: meetings, perf reviews, political BS, etc.
If you are a creative person, it's the best. Become your own patron.
Note: People who are "doing FIRE right" spend less time online so you won't see their replies. I specifically made an effort to comment on this, if it helps motivate you to pursue it. Best thing I've done for myself.