FIRE friends & family

fred246

The £10k holiday was a skiing holiday. We thought it was a bit strange because their car is very old and falling apart and they can't trust it. It was after a cancer scare though so I think they were prioritizing experiences over possessions. They do keep talking about early retirement but it hasn't happened yet.

Triumph13

Scene: The kitchen of a middle class, suburban house in the morning gloom. The debris from the previous night is clearly visible including a LOT of empty bottles. A man shuffles in and winces when he turns the light on. He shuffles over to put the kettle on. After a few seconds a woman joins him, also clearly the worse for wear. Between them they manage to make two mugs of coffee and slump with them at the table. After sipping his coffee the man is clearly struck by a dreadful recollection.

M: Oh F@@@.
W: Wha?
M: Please tell me we didn't really say Fred could come skiing with us last night.
W: F@@@
M: What are we gonna do?
W: Can we just tell him it costs some stupid amount like five grand to put him off?
M: Better make it ten to be safe.

cfw1994

fred246 wrote: »

The £10k holiday was a skiing holiday. We thought it was a bit strange because their car is very old and falling apart and they can't trust it. It was after a cancer scare though so I think they were prioritizing experiences over possessions. They do keep talking about early retirement but it hasn't happened yet.

Jeez, we’ve been skiing every year with the 4 of us for the past decade or more. Never over £4K all in. Usually closer to 3!

Must have included a lot of off piste guiding or heliskiing :rotfl:

Or.....maybe @Triumph13 has a point :T

fred246

It was somewhere with very good scenery. Impressive mountains.

LHW99

Impressive mountains.

Useful for skiing

harlequinnyc

I'm thinking that I probably *could* be part of the FIRE movement but I'm a little scared to take the plunge and give up work, even though I'd love to! I'm 49.

I've saved 25% of my income for years, have a good final salary pension waiting which I could draw at 55, I am mortgage free, have no kids, shop at Aldi/Lidl and a new but small, economical car. My OH works and has no plans to retire so my question is: SHOULD I DO IT??

(I know, I know, it's nobody's decision but mine but I always value others' opinions.... but not to the extent of the OP.. I couldn't care less what my colleagues/potential ex-colleagues think of my lifestyle.

Sea_Shell

harlequinnyc wrote: »

I'm thinking that I probably *could* be part of the FIRE movement but I'm a little scared to take the plunge and give up work, even though I'd love to! I'm 49.

I've saved 25% of my income for years, have a good final salary pension waiting which I could draw at 55, I am mortgage free, have no kids, shop at Aldi/Lidl and a new but small, economical car. My OH works and has no plans to retire so my question is: SHOULD I DO IT??

(I know, I know, it's nobody's decision but mine but I always value others' opinions.... but not to the extent of the OP.. I couldn't care less what my colleagues/potential ex-colleagues think of my lifestyle.

Go for it!!

However, I'd look at it this way, as both me and DH had periods of us both not working while the other did.

To me it's all about having the time, flexibility and money to do want you want to do TOGETHER.

You can't get the most out of it if one is still working, IMO.

But if your OH is happy to carry on while you live a life of leisure, then do it.

Do you have significant savings, over and above pensions?

harlequinnyc

I appreciate your reply and encouragement. My OH is more than happy for me to do this. He enjoys his job and we would spend plenty of time together during his time off; a lot of my time whilst he is at work would probably be spent with my elderly Mum, which I consider time well spent, while she is still around.

We both just have the obvious apprehension that any major change in lifestyle brings and of course, it's nice to have extra spare cash. I do only work part time now . We do have substantial savings and no debt; it's just a big step to actually write that letter of resignation consider myself "retired". :j

barnstar2077

harlequinnyc wrote: »

I appreciate your reply and encouragement. My OH is more than happy for me to do this. He enjoys his job and we would spend plenty of time together during his time off; a lot of my time whilst he is at work would probably be spent with my elderly Mum, which I consider time well spent, while she is still around.

We both just have the obvious apprehension that any major change in lifestyle brings and of course, it's nice to have extra spare cash. I do only work part time now . We do have substantial savings and no debt; it's just a big step to actually write that letter of resignation consider myself "retired". :j

Any chance of dropping down to a couple of days a week for an adjustment period?

Sea_Shell

No one "gives" us time....you have to "take" it!!

Would your workplace consider allowing you to take an unpaid sabbatical?

I've been finished 3 months....and I haven't missed work (or even the wages) at all yet!!