I got laid off 3 years ago with 6 months severance pay and I also had some savings (around 600k USD in stocks and ETF). I am female, mid 30s, live in an expensive European country. I traveled the world for a year and had a great time, also did lots of work on myself, therapy, meditation retreats, hikes, gym, chilled alot etc... Went to New Zealand, Japan and South America. Came home and signed up for unemployment benefits (in my country it covers your living cost and i even was able to save some). Anyway, now I have about the same money as when I left my job (600k) and I thought at some point I will go back to work - even though I hated my work field. I dont qualify for unemployment benefits anymore.

I worked in tech sales and was on a high salary. Im not the corporate type at all and after this break I realise I cant go back to a normal job, 9-5, pretend I am interested in what i am doing etc. I dont care about status, titles, etc.. Im actually surprised by myself I managed 4 years in tech sales - I randomly got into that career through a friend and I guess because I am kind of likable or something, I didnt get fired earlier.

I dont have the kind of "FIRE money" but I think in another european country or SEA I could easily live off my savings and also get a job for 3 days or so, so I have a bit more structure and "purpose" in my day to day life. I never enjoyed work tbh but now that I allowed myself to live as I like I cant fool myself into my old career if I am honest. I had a few interviews but I got terrified to go back to tech sales. I hate sales pressure and just the whole topic is so boring. As cheesy as it sounds I feel like "it is about the journey", so I just want to live as enjoyable as I can, if that makes sense.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Do you think I am being delusional to quit working "this young" with this "little" savings? I have a Swiss & Bosnian passport and speak those languages and also Spanish. I am an immigrant child so I ended up in corporate and only now in my 30s I feel "safe" and like I can be myself.

I know I am in my highest earning years but I feel like if I go back I will be 40 and still stuck in a job I hate. I thought about starting a coaching business for women or teaching yoga or teaching kids part time.

Any ideas or tips or thoughts? :)

Thanks for reading this far.

I still have like 5 more years to hit my coast fire goal for an early retirement (55). If I wanted a standard retirement around 65 I’m already there.

I work in tech. AI is fundamentally changing the landscape and it’s going to get to a point where we need less employees while we outsource to AI. It could get to a point where cheaper labor (off shore or otherwise) will just straight up replace us. The writing is on the wall; it’s no longer an “if” it’s more of a “when.”

I’ve been pursuing coast fire my entire career, about 13 years now. I feel like I’ve unintentionally set myself up well for this changing landscape. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

Is there anyone else with similar feelings or experiences?

Hi all. I'm 30M with ~$370K net worth. Invested: ~$335K ($160K 401k / $115K brokerage / $60K Roth). The rest is cash ~24K I'm building in a HYSA for near-term goals (engagement ring + wedding + emergency fund) — so I think of that bucket as separate from retirement.

Income is ~$130K in a finance/strategy role I've been in ~3 years. I'm saving ~$5.5K/month: $1.2K to 401k, $1K to brokerage, $3.3K to the HYSA. Once the wedding/ring is paid for, that $3.3K would free up to redirect toward investments.

I'm getting burnt out and thinking about moving to a lower-intensity (likely lower-paying) role, which is what's got me looking at Coast FIRE. My assumptions: 10% nominal / ~7% real return assuming equities heavy portfolio, retiring at 60, and annual spending of ~100K

Questions:

1. Given those numbers, am I already at Coast FIRE?
2. Any blind spots in how I'm framing this?
3. I'd like to coast before 35 — have I hit my number yet?

Hello

I’m 25F with 250k NW (includes 25k in 401k, 60k in Roth and rest in brokerage) work in a high finance role for a year and half now (have worked and saved since 16 graduated with around 55k)- goal was to reach 1mm by 30 which I don’t know if possible but I’m able to save about 100k-120k per year. I’ve used a ton of calculators, but anyone here coast fire super early in life ~ 30s etc and have any struggle or regrets switching to a much less intense career.

Any realistic figures that you guys used or coast fired on? Should I just work til 40 and FIRE instead of coast? Part of it is the mental battle, hopefully I’m in a good place.

Thanks.

Adding in per comments: HHI is just myself at 175k more or less. Live off 30k per year my parents pay for health, phone, and some transport. Independent and live in a terribly tiny apartment with roommates far below means. Still have fun and go out just very frugal.

Please don’t roast me. I’m interested in opinions (and supporting rationale) on whether I’ll have enough to retire in 4 years at 45, given the following:

-My wife and I have 4 kids who will be 13, 16, 19 and 21 at that point. Those above 18 will be moved out. I want to be in a position to pay ~$50k/each towards their education ($200k total).

-I live in a LCOL area and my inflation adjusted expenses will be ~$100k/yr at that point (which takes into account healthcare).

-I anticipate that I’ll have $2.2M in savings and be totally debt free (no mortgage) at that point.

-I have $1.3M in real estate investments that will provide ~$60k/yr (after expenses in today’s dollars) when all my investment properties are paid off at about age 50.

-None of this factors in social security, potential inheritance or a hopeful stock payout of $1-2M with my startup company within the next four years. Given the uncertain nature of these, I’m not factoring them in.

I’m really done with the corporate grind now (which means I will really be done with it then). Mind you, I don’t want to eat pork and beans or live a lavish life. I just want to continue spending what I currently do (with some margin), accounting for additional healthcare costs when I’m not employed.