Tag: countdown

FIRE Countdown

Early Retirement FIRE Escape – 7 Month Countdown

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August was the month where I would say that “this sh*t is getting real”.  With just 7 months left before my FIRE Escape date to early retirement on April Fool’s Day 2016, planning & preparation are definitely moving into full swing. 

August has been a quite eventful month for a few reasons and there has been a lot of volatility in the stock markets to add to the excitement:  Here’s my checklist of things I got done this month:

  • Read Ernie Zelinski’s book “The Joy of Not Working”.  Good inspiration.
  • Had my last annual physical at the MegaCorp medical center.  Good health.
  • Had my second-to-last Dentist visit.  Good teeth.
  • Started my new “side job” – a corporate board role.  Good meetings.
  • Met with our tax advisor.  Good numbers.
  • Continued to update my countdown flags.  Good fun.
  • Watched the stock market rock & roll.  Good luck!

While the stock market fell -4.3% in August, our nest egg has remained pretty resilient at +1.9%.  The difference maker for us has been a sizable holding in my former MegaCorp employer’s stock, which has stayed strong through the Wall Street panic, remaining +4.4% for the year.  Since these shares are in stock options, they have positive leverage and a better than average impact on our total portfolio. Continue reading “Early Retirement FIRE Escape – 7 Month Countdown”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation8 Comments
FIRE Countdown

Countdown To Retirement – Progress Update

It seems like just yesterday that I posted a blog listing “7 Ways To Countdown To Early Retirement“, but it actually has been a full 22 weeks since I got counting with the secret Post-it Note flags I put inside my credenza door at work. I just wanted to post my progress since I have now removed the entire top row from the countdown and … Continue reading Countdown To Retirement – Progress Update

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation6 Comments
FIRE Countdown

Falling Toward Early Retirement

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While no leaves are changing color yet, yesterday was the start of the school year for our son, who is now a senior in high school. Just as I count the last year of working before early retirement, he is slowly counting down the days and weeks until he graduates and leaves home for college next fall.

I’ve been watching my calendar since April 1st of this year. Each day marks “the last” day, week, month, or annual activity that I plan on spending in the workforce. I’m currently sitting at 31 weeks remaining as my plans still focus on April 1, 2016. (The stock market plunge of -1100 points in the last 2 days hasn’t scared me off too much … yet) Continue reading “Falling Toward Early Retirement”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation2 Comments
FIRE Countdown, Have A Plan, Have A Purpose

Early Retirement FIRE Escape – 8 Month Countdown

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Mr. FireStation had a productive month at the office in July, but is now just 8 months from his planned early retirement on April 1, 2016.  While June was largely consumed by a preparing for and enjoying a two week family vacation, July was all about work and making some post-work plans.

Our nest egg was quite secure through July with year-to-date results continuing to grow.  The three numbers I follow are: 1) the SP500, which is up +2%; 2) the International EFEA Index, which is up +6%; and 3) my former MegaCorp stock, which is up +9%.  With all three numbers up (and stock option leverage on MegaCorp), I am quite satisfied with how 2015 is shaping up and no big concerns have emerged.  At the same time, we protected about 25% of our nest egg in cash & bonds (our bond fund is -1% for the year).  All together, I think our portfolio is up +7% for the year.  That’s about +2 pts better than the end of June. Continue reading “Early Retirement FIRE Escape – 8 Month Countdown”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation4 Comments
FIRE Countdown

FIRE Countdown Obsession – As Presented

I’ve written about my “count down obsession” before – thinking about good ways to count down my final year at MegaCorp.  I’ve also showed you pictures of my hidden countdown Post-it Flag system that is in the credenza above my desk at work.  Like a kid counting down the days to next Christmas, I find my mind wandering several times a day to “how many … Continue reading FIRE Countdown Obsession – As Presented

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation3 Comments
FIRE Countdown

Countdown to Early Retirement – Post-it Flags

I recently wrote about possible ways to countdown my last year to early retirement.  I had gotten a lot of great ideas online and shared them in this post.  Since it’s a couple of weeks later, I thought I would share a couple of the approaches I adopted. First, I made 52 tags out of Post-it Flags and hung them up in a colorful way … Continue reading Countdown to Early Retirement – Post-it Flags

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation15 Comments
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FIRE Countdown – Last Birthday in the Office

Today is my 49th birthday.  That might seem like a big number or a small number, depending on your perspective.  Right now it means I’m slightly on the younger side of the 20 people in the strategic planning meeting that I am sitting in at MegaCorp. Today’s a Tuesday.  Tuesday is a terrible day for a birthday, because if there are important meetings scheduled, you’re … Continue reading FIRE Countdown – Last Birthday in the Office

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation6 Comments
FIRE Countdown

7 Ways to Countdown to Early Retirement

I posted on a couple of early retirement sites last week to see what advice folks might have for me in my final year of work before leaving work for good.  I didn’t get a lot of responses, but the advice was motivating since it came from folks that have already reached FIRE (financial independence & retired early).  My DW and I have gotten to … Continue reading 7 Ways to Countdown to Early Retirement

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation4 Comments