tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post127807675270968171..comments2023-05-18T10:37:34.608+01:00Comments on <a href="http://www.retirementinvestingtoday.com">Retirement Investing Today</a>: It’s starting to get Interesting (Part 2)RetirementInvestingTodayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088383743670046657noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-86138270977619882042018-04-29T10:30:25.595+01:002018-04-29T10:30:25.595+01:00Great debate. I gave up work last month after ach...Great debate. I gave up work last month after achieving FI. Spent 30 years as an expat (Africa 18 years, ME 12 years) and now in Southern Spain in a lovely penthouse overlooking the sea. Its a big step and only for the brave. At 55 health and time for my family were my drivers. I saved hard, lived well below my means and invested heavily in Investment Trusts while learning the investment gameThe Expatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-69565915194643458482018-04-28T08:01:53.728+01:002018-04-28T08:01:53.728+01:00Wow. You could have exchanged the odd detail but t...Wow. You could have exchanged the odd detail but this is exactly me. <br />I am FI but still waiting to hand my notice in because I am not uncomfortable enough at work to give up the £8k a month it gives me.(salary and benefits). Plus 75% going into pension so little tax. <br /><br />I am in this FI position through fear rather than greed and took me 15 years. <br /><br />50 next month and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-20659537125685349662018-04-24T08:44:38.465+01:002018-04-24T08:44:38.465+01:00Congrats on the journey thus far RIT
Some employe...Congrats on the journey thus far RIT<br /><br />Some employers let you 'buy' an extra few weeks leave per year. Others have work from home options, I' be looking to add some lifestyle benefits into the mix if you do stay on, afterall its no longer about the money.<br /><br />Also rather than blowing the bonus on a depreciating sports car, you might choose a more charming/exotic home? Sugarlipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17698285543163316517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-30089936435137496992018-04-18T13:53:02.155+01:002018-04-18T13:53:02.155+01:00Thank you for posting such an honest and heartfelt...Thank you for posting such an honest and heartfelt post. I think its hard for those of us who came from poverish beginnings. No matter how much wealth we accumulate, the fear of going back there is still at the forefront of our minds.<br /><br />Little Miss FireLittle Miss Firehttps://littlemissfireblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-19248792988171659572018-04-16T20:21:25.667+01:002018-04-16T20:21:25.667+01:00Stock market investments never drop by 75% do they...Stock market investments never drop by 75% do they? Interesting article and a bit scary. Losing your nest egg is apparently hazardous to your health — very hazardous. <br /><br />An analysis involving more than 8,000 Americans found that those who suffered a "negative wealth shock" — defined as losing at least 75 percent of their wealth in two years — faced a 50 percent increased Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800206204739403867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-51624256885160171402018-04-15T20:24:03.016+01:002018-04-15T20:24:03.016+01:00I’ve got a couple of perspectives on this (from so...I’ve got a couple of perspectives on this (from someone who FIRE’d and then decided to carry on working).<br />Firstly, I think there is a liberation element to being FI that may cast off some of the concerns. However, there must have been a reason why you started the journey and unless you make a fundamental change won’t those underlying concerns still be there? For me, a lot of this was aboutEarlyRetireFreehttp://earlyretirefree.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-50160982436998125392018-04-14T13:25:29.197+01:002018-04-14T13:25:29.197+01:00I'm another of the crew who could retire, fina...I'm another of the crew who could retire, financially, but chooses to continue working. I had a year out where I thought I wouldn't go back to work, ever, only to find that RE just wasn't the nirvana I thought it would be. I kept asking myself in that year what I was missing, why I wasn't content, and the answer was found in paid employment. But then, I always enjoyed what I did Jim McGhttp://www.sexhealthmoneydeath.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-44318773741309744992018-04-14T13:13:22.916+01:002018-04-14T13:13:22.916+01:00Thanks for sharing this with us. Your feelings rea...Thanks for sharing this with us. Your feelings really struck a chord for me. Reaching FI was all about safety for me too. Once I got there it became clear that having enough money not to have to worry any more was the goal, not necessarily the retirement. Good luck on your journey.Mrs Smelling Freedomhttp://www.smellingfreedom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-10247131725287764052018-04-13T09:52:14.812+01:002018-04-13T09:52:14.812+01:00"A man is born to labour as a bird to fly&quo..."A man is born to labour as a bird to fly". I have a psychological need to work. It keeps me 'together', mentally 'toned up'. So, although I am financially independent, I don't welcome the prospect of not being occupied. I know, I know, I could occupy myself in a worthwhile way....but I'm not convinced I would be able to maintain the discipline/sense of purpose RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871618901190898384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-89062403437632072192018-04-11T11:09:34.962+01:002018-04-11T11:09:34.962+01:00@ mwpt and @ The Rhino - I realise sometimes I am ...@ mwpt and @ The Rhino - I realise sometimes I am rather blunt with RIT. I think that is partly due to the frustrations that RIT engenders in me. We are obviously very different people with differing attitudes to life , family , security and investing ( espec active vs passive ) . It is probably also something to do with the rather sycofantic flavour of a number of responders posts. I also thinkstringvestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-33217621262897016982018-04-11T10:37:44.331+01:002018-04-11T10:37:44.331+01:00Might I suggest borrowing one of Ernie Zelinski...Might I suggest borrowing one of Ernie Zelinski's books from your local library (e.g. How to retire happy wild and free)? You might not find any answers, but it may help to crystalize the questions forming in your head. And congratulations - FI is all about options; having earned it, enjoy it, regardless of your choice. Felice Pazzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08702981006236017227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-48106309127101137012018-04-10T15:08:16.814+01:002018-04-10T15:08:16.814+01:00@mwpt - SV has a love/hate relationship with RIT, ...@mwpt - SV has a love/hate relationship with RIT, he is in turn critical and then supportive, lather, rinse, repeat. I wouldn't worry too much about it..The Rhinohttp://www.thenewrhino.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-61253116075674502602018-04-10T13:04:47.768+01:002018-04-10T13:04:47.768+01:00Are you allowed to say how the kid/wife side of th...Are you allowed to say how the kid/wife side of things plays into the decisions to be made?<br /><br />School situation must weigh pretty heavy? I know I'd be loathed to pull my kids out of school if they were having a good time there..<br /><br />maybe the craic could be go part-time until kids hit 18 and beggar off to uni/jobs.<br /><br />I think you need to experience what it means to The Rhinohttp://www.thenewrhino.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-65313035934519982292018-04-09T22:38:40.178+01:002018-04-09T22:38:40.178+01:00No, no, no! You are defining a retirement stash; F...No, no, no! You are defining a retirement stash; FU money can be far less than this, and certainly (and importantly) may not be sufficient for long term independence from work. It _is_ however enough that the DEA of suddenly losing employment holds no particular terror, even though an income may be needed in a few years (insert relevant period of time here) time.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13455951314275191076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-26405971922439297032018-04-09T20:56:24.414+01:002018-04-09T20:56:24.414+01:00Thanks for sharing another interesting post. Good ...Thanks for sharing another interesting post. Good to hear you are happier and feeling freer in your work and life. This is what my own journey is all about. I actually quite like what I do at times and enjoy the challenge of achievement that work brings. I just don't want to be forced to do it, so I'm longing and looking towards the day that I have my FI money.mwpthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00130860121960338694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-66694580948177681802018-04-09T20:47:18.838+01:002018-04-09T20:47:18.838+01:00Not the impression I have ever got from RITs posts...Not the impression I have ever got from RITs posts. You're being a bit nasty.mwpthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00130860121960338694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-12808674450803693812018-04-08T22:08:32.281+01:002018-04-08T22:08:32.281+01:00Thanks RIT for being honest enough to admit uncert...Thanks RIT for being honest enough to admit uncertainties and brave enough to write about them in public. <br /><br />I wish you luck with your new working arrangement. I was surprised to read whittled down responsibilities still meant working about average hours, but I get the sense your work defines a large part of your identity. <br /><br />You have comfortably met the FI definition you have Slow Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00740050684344962720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-43484068652646872162018-04-08T19:22:45.927+01:002018-04-08T19:22:45.927+01:00* Applause. * I don't know if you found that a...* Applause. * I don't know if you found that a hard post to write, but I would have found it excoriating. SurreyBoy is right, the journey to FI is over, it's just that it hasn't yet led to the place we all expected. How many continue to work once they don't need to? Many, many people including some of the most successful in society. Perhaps you have found your freedom now - I for The Accumulatorhttp://www.monevator.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-12749360486078729072018-04-08T15:48:48.571+01:002018-04-08T15:48:48.571+01:00As RL Stevenson said "to travel hopefully is ...As RL Stevenson said "to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour" <br /><br />Looks to me that the epic journey to FI has been completed - and a huge well done for that. Funnily enough it may be what comes after is the harder challenge. Work out what nourishes your soul, and then go and spend time doing it. Personally it would not be workSurreyBoynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-3832420014682807412018-04-08T15:05:03.098+01:002018-04-08T15:05:03.098+01:00Good luck with whatever you decide. You're in ...Good luck with whatever you decide. You're in a a good position, and I'm fairly confident that whichever road you take will be the right one.Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-35675515698798919102018-04-08T13:53:14.422+01:002018-04-08T13:53:14.422+01:00FU money is defined as: any amount of money allowi...FU money is defined as: any amount of money allowing infinite perpetuation of wealth necessary to maintain a desired lifestyle without needing employment or assistance from anyone. <br /><br />Regarding a possible solution for the the house issue. RIT could buy that retirement house in his choice location with views over the ocean and providing its in an area that brings in tourists in the Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800206204739403867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-18201926593908661432018-04-08T13:08:48.732+01:002018-04-08T13:08:48.732+01:00F*** you fund - enough money to cover your living ...F*** you fund - enough money to cover your living costs for a period of time so you can "sack" your employer if work proves to be too annoying etc. IMO it's a stepping stone towards FI and provides a strong sense of liberation in itself. <br /><br />I will mollify my comments a little to say thank you to RIT for sharing his dilemma. I've certainly been there myself as I too Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-61056725355994430602018-04-08T12:27:35.735+01:002018-04-08T12:27:35.735+01:00Dear RIT, may I join with all these others in than...Dear RIT, may I join with all these others in thanking you for your sharing, which must have helped all of us over the years; if not, why would we keep on following your every post? My psychological makeup is very similar to yours, unexpectedly but happily I'm now retired; anything could indeed happen, yes you will change, so will your family members, but you're clearly perfectly capable Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-76658618245244044962018-04-08T11:51:35.204+01:002018-04-08T11:51:35.204+01:00What is a FU fund ? And NB - £1m + fund excludes ...What is a FU fund ? And NB - £1m + fund excludes owning a house ( an inescapable error in RIT's financial planning )<br />stringvestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875915890415125655.post-74668146170904830072018-04-08T09:10:32.234+01:002018-04-08T09:10:32.234+01:00RIT, I was struck your remarks that you'd stil...RIT, I was struck your remarks that you'd still working above average working hours on the proposed new arrangement. I was shocked actually. <br /><br />For me, in your situation it is a simple equation of do you enjoy work enough to continue to spend most of your quality life time away from your family and friends?<br /><br />If you enjoy work enough to continue to prioritise it over time Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com