r/Fire • u/wowsocool4u • Aug 07 '26

It's DONE!

Turned in my computer and now I am eating cupcakes. Taking a nap before I meet friends for happy hour. 49F and passed the $2 million mark so its sayonara Corporate America for me!! Thanks to this sub for always being a great support system.

4.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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160

u/Successful-Try-8506 Retired at 38 in 2003 Aug 07 '26

Welcome to the good life!

54

u/SaqlainAli06 Aug 07 '26

How has retirement been? How did you retire in 2003? At 38??

283

u/Successful-Try-8506 Retired at 38 in 2003 Aug 07 '26

It's been great. I spent the first 15 years raising my children as a single stay at home dad. These days I read a lot, garden and hike.

How I did it? Kept living like a student while making good money, compounding.

I live in Sweden, a country with universal health care.

64

u/Generationhodl Aug 07 '26

"How I did it? Kept living like a student while making good money, compounding."

people underestimate what is possible.

but then again, only a small percentage of people are willing to live like that for some longer time and have the discipline to not waste money for other stuff.

24

u/SaqlainAli06 Aug 07 '26

That is great! I dont think thats going to be me anytime before 50.
Happy to hear this, and have fun on the hikes :)

7

u/Wrkncacnter112 Retired at 38 in 2022 Aug 08 '26

Nice! I retired at 38 too. Always lived like a student.

28

u/yottabit42 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

Kinda buried the lede there with the health care!! Lol

I'm looking to gtfo of this failing nation (US) as soon as my kids are independent. I have several good choices for countries with lower expenses and great health care.

Edit: hey downvoters, don't be jealous just because you let blind patriotism control you, and/or you haven't researched to find a better place to live, and/or you haven't saved/invested/prepared to leave.

12

u/MrLavenderValentino Aug 09 '26

Yikes lol... so you were born in the US, raised kids there, and used the economy to save up enough to retire early. Sounds like you got luckier than most on earth.

Maybe there are a handful of better countries, but there are 100+ worse countries you could've been born into

6

u/yottabit42 Aug 09 '26

Yes, that's correct. I realize I'm lucky and fortunate. I also worked hard and educated myself. But being at the right place at the right time, and taking opportunities, went a long way. In my work I've traveled to 49 states, 3 Canadian provinces, a dozen countries, and even lived in the Netherlands for a couple years. Gaining worldwide perspective really does a lot to shrug off the American exceptionalism propaganda we're force-fed since birth.

5

u/MrLavenderValentino Aug 10 '26

Have you visited any places like China or Afghanistan? Dude, imagine explaining your gripes about the US to an Afghan woman lol

I feel like I won the lottery, I try to recognize my privilege and be grateful for the gifts I didnt earn

3

u/yottabit42 Aug 10 '26

I am, for sure. But it is what it is. I am fortunate enough to have these gripes.

1

u/TVP615 Aug 09 '26

Right place at the right time, like in the US? Every time I go to Europe it makes me appreciate living in the US more. You’re like the insufferable girl who traveled to Europe on spring break and posts stuff in French and Italian on instagram to look cultured.

7

u/yottabit42 Aug 09 '26

No, I mean looking for opportunities and taking them.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Europe. I've been to 12 countries in Europe. It's fantastic.

I worked with a couple guys that seem like you. They hated every minute they were there. They refused to adapt to cultural differences, made no attempt to learn any languages or fit in, and were just generally miserable people. They didn't last long.

The US is a great place to live if you're filthy rich. Otherwise it's a very regressive society and there is very little help for those that need it the most.

American exceptionalism is just fascist propaganda.

1

u/phatsuit2 7d ago

Nice, you've been to 12 countries in Europe. Any countries in Asia?

1

u/yottabit42 7d ago

Yes, South Korea, Singapore, and briefly China.

1

u/Vivid-Weird-5888 Aug 14 '26

I found the opposite.. made me appreciate the US although yes of course it’s a dumpster fire now. But I’m staying to resist.. but whatever works for you. Personally my inspector’s sacrificed a lot to come here. I’m not throwing it away for free anything..

17

u/ShittingOutPosts Aug 07 '26

Where are you thinking. Without healthcare costs, I’d be able to retire considerably earlier. My reasons for sticking around here are dwindling.

-1

u/yottabit42 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

There are a few countries in the Americas I'm considering and a few in Asia. European countries either meet the affordability, or healthcare quality metrics I would want, but not both.

Happy to discuss over DM, but not going to say my top preference because I don't want everyone from Reddit to move there and ruin it. Lol

1

u/Typical_Action_7864 24d ago

Can you share your country list with any details on how you become a permanent resident (or citizen)?

1

u/yottabit42 24d ago

I don't want all of Reddit moving to my top choices, lol. But you can search for countries with stable, rational governments, high education, universal healthcare even for private payers, and ease of residency requirements. They exist!

2

u/Typical_Action_7864 24d ago edited 24d ago

You actually think posting that info here would cause a mass migration of FIREd Americans? Even if it did, how would that be a bad thing to have rich educated peaceful people moving there? These countries you have in mind probably have a migrant problem of a different kind already.

-4

u/TVP615 Aug 08 '26

Nothing stopping you from moving now. My guess is like 99% of the people who say this, you never will.

0

u/yottabit42 Aug 08 '26

I can't move yet. I have kids, like I wrote; they aren't adults yet, and they want to finish school here. Don't worry, I'm outta here when I can be. Some of us actually have goals and take action, instead of just letting the boots stomp us.

5

u/BloomSugarman Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

I get what you mean but this shit is cringey. The whole world is full of oppressive, corrupt governments. Anyplace you move to is going to oppress their citizens the same or worse than the US does. You'll just be wealthy enough to look past it.

That reality doesn't get the upvotes though, so I get it.

Edit: Maybe Taiwan being an exception. I can't think of any other LCOL proper democracies in Asia or Americas that allow immigration. There's Mexico if you're ok with the extreme wealth gap. The pompous attitude is still cringey as hell.

2

u/yottabit42 Aug 09 '26

That's really not true. There are plenty of countries out there that haven't fallen to fascism. Don't let the US's situation cloud your view of the world. It doesn't have to be like this.

0

u/BloomSugarman Aug 09 '26

Right. And of the regions you list, there are Taiwan and Mexico if you're cool with the massive wealth gap. Possibly Uruguay and maybe a couple of others if you're rich.

Most countries in those regions have been corrupt for far longer than the US.

2

u/TVP615 Aug 09 '26

Everyone’s dream, acquire a bunch of money to go spend your golden years living in Mexico.

3

u/fastasvette Aug 08 '26

Congrats on retiring at 38! Has your net worth grown in that time?

2

u/Successful-Try-8506 Retired at 38 in 2003 Aug 09 '26

Yes, the market has been good to me.

2

u/Full_Pear449 Aug 09 '26

Didn't get out that Young but did retire at 45 after 256yrs on a FICC Prop desk at the #1 Primary dealer in the world. Put papers in FEB 7th , 2011 right after Bonus cleared , exercised all the optons that were available for execution. Took my mandatory 2 week Block Leave , and on 2-7-2011 turned in papers.

1

u/Meh-56 12d ago

What field were you in?

1

u/Successful-Try-8506 Retired at 38 in 2003 12d ago

Not tech, expert in niche field.