Tag: retirement

Have A Plan, Invest Effectively

Retire Before Children Head Off To College?

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Well, it looks like “the Boy” – our seventeen year-old son is set for where he wants to go to college. I’ve written before on the cost of college, but wanted to share a little bit about how we have saved & planned for his matriculation into post-secondary education. Many people can’t conceive of retiring before your kids are done with college, but I feel confident that we are well set in that department.  How did we do it? Continue reading “Retire Before Children Head Off To College?”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation18 Comments
Celebrate Success

Liebster Award Part II – Great New Blogs

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This is the second part of a two-part post related to the Liebster Award, a pass-a-long recognition of seemingly unknown origin, is used by small bloggers pay to pay forward a little visibility to other small bloggers (less than 200 followers).  Captain Sparky here at MrFireStation.com has been active for only about 8 months, so I was excited to get the nod from NorthernExpenditure.com and feel honored to pass it along. Continue reading “Liebster Award Part II – Great New Blogs”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation10 Comments
FIRE Countdown, Have A Purpose

Our 10 Plans To “Retire, Wild, Happy & Free” – Check-In

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About 18 months ago, I started reading a book called How To Retire Happy, Wild & Free by Ernie Zelinski. I downloaded it on my Apple iPad and brought it with me on a weeklong cruise to Mexico. At that point, we were more than a couple years away from early retirement, and had just achieved financial independence. Reading it was maybe my first step toward creating a formal plan to early retirement. Continue reading “Our 10 Plans To “Retire, Wild, Happy & Free” – Check-In”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation6 Comments
Have A Plan, Have A Purpose

Six Ways To Prepare For Our Early Retirement Lifestyle

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DW and I are now just 7 months from early retirement. I recently posed a question to a group of early retirees about the adjustment that takes place between the full-time working world and a life of early retirement.  During my many cups of coffee with friends over the last year, I regularly heard about a need to take the first full year of early retirement to adjust to the new lifestyle.  I have even heard it described as like the adjustment that comes from “leaving a bad relationship” or divorcing one’s longtime spouse.

I asked specifically about how long it took to adjust to not working? Continue reading “Six Ways To Prepare For Our Early Retirement Lifestyle”

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation10 Comments
Have A Plan, Have A Purpose

Pre-FIRE Escape – “Not Bored” List

“You’ll be bored.” More than anything, that’s the response I expect from friends & family that when I retire early next year.  The plan is that it will be just a few weeks short of my fiftieth birthday (‘FIRE by 50’).  It’s a worry that increasingly dominates my thoughts.  Will I think myself a clever genius for making an early exit from the workforce, or … Continue reading Pre-FIRE Escape – “Not Bored” List

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation14 Comments
Have A Purpose, Overall Philosophy

How Much Is Enough? – Jimmy John’s

I enjoy “living the good life” parables like this that help put put the concept of “Life > Money” in perspective … it’s featured in most Jimmy John’s sandwich shops … HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? “The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large … Continue reading How Much Is Enough? – Jimmy John’s

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation5 Comments
Have A Purpose

9 Reasons It’s Difficult To Retire Early

I had a great day at work this past Friday.  There wasn’t anything especially amazing about it, but it was a truly enjoyable day.  Good conversation, meaty strategic work, and a fair amount of horsing around.  It was the kind of day that makes me say ‘this is fun – why do I really want to retire early from all of this?’  What am I … Continue reading 9 Reasons It’s Difficult To Retire Early

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation3 Comments
Know Your Number

Happily Ever After @ $75K Lifestyle

A big part of reaching FIRE is having a plan for the lifestyle that you want after retirement.  Many people work “one more year” because they fear quitting the workforce and finding out that they don’t have enough financial resources to live happily ever after.  Fortunately, the level at which money drives happiness is (relatively) low at about $75,000. The Huffington Post published this graphic … Continue reading Happily Ever After @ $75K Lifestyle

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation1 Comment
FIRE Countdown, Have A Plan

FIRE Escape – Early Retirement 14 Months Countdown

Tomorrow is February 1st, which is fourteen months from the day that I expect to leave my job financially independent & retired early (FIRE by Fifty).  I thought I would close out each month between now and then with an update on my plans and the key activities I am focused on in my preparation. First, I will note that the stock market has been … Continue reading FIRE Escape – Early Retirement 14 Months Countdown

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation6 Comments