Savings milestone today.

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by flipstress

I am tired of looking at my accounts. I can't get to my milestone--almost there but not quite.

I got to my milestone but almost immediately started looking towards the next milestone. There is always another milestone ahead. You'll get there.

[statsman]

Originally Posted by flipstress

I am tired of looking at my accounts. I can't get to my milestone--almost there but not quite.

I am encountering that problem as of late, ever since I first considered an early retirement last month. Now, it's like waiting for water to boil.

I think it is far better to not to look at it (unless you want to make adjustments). Because of housing costs in our area (Cupertino, CA), my wife and I got a very late start on our 401K contributions. One month ago, I was surprised to find we had accumulated $550K, which isn't too bad considering I'm 49. Now it seems like it can't grow fast enough ... :sigh:

[Marquette]

Well, between the 1.5% gift from my employer and payday today, I'm just over $80k in my 401(k). While it's not the bulk of our savings, I'm still excited because I've never had that much in my 401(k) before (last employer didn't match nearly as much and didn't have a safe harbor plan)

To celebrate I went pretty wild! I upped my after-tax 401(k) contrib a percent, dropped my pre-tax a percent, and upped my Roth 401(k) contrib a percent. Oh, and then I initiated a rollover from my solo 401(k) at Invesco AIM to my SEP at Vanguard. I am wild!

[Bimmerbill]

I've been flirting with $200K for months now. All the while sticking in 18% of my salary. dang market...

[Meadbh]

Originally Posted by Marquette

To celebrate I went pretty wild! I upped my after-tax 401(k) contrib a percent, dropped my pre-tax a percent, and upped my Roth 401(k) contrib a percent. Oh, and then I initiated a rollover from my solo 401(k) at Invesco AIM to my SEP at Vanguard. I am wild!

You risk taker, you!

[flipstress]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

I got to my milestone but almost immediately started looking towards the next milestone. There is always another milestone ahead. You'll get there.

Thank you for the encouragement! The day after you said that, I looked at my accounts and I had surpassed my milestone by about $1K.

I was afraid that buying the sushi for lunch that day and sending off money to my mom and my brother would make for a milestone shortfall.

But today, I am over my milestone by $3K.

I hear you, too, about milestones beyond milestones.

(There's a book title in there somewhere. How about "Milestones 'Til the Tombstone"? A better book might be a self-help one--"Get the Milestone Millstone Off Your Neck: Breaking the Portfolio-Checking Addiction".)

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by flipstress

Thank you for the encouragement! The day after you said that, I looked at my accounts and I had surpassed my milestone by about $1K.

That is TERRIFIC!! Congratulations on passing that milestone.

Originally Posted by flipstress

I was afraid that buying the sushi for lunch that day and sending off money to my mom and my brother would make for a milestone shortfall.

But today, I am over my milestone by $3K.

Now that is even BETTER! <~~ (one for each $1K)

Originally Posted by flipstress

I hear you, too, about milestones beyond milestones.

(There's a book title in there somewhere. How about "Milestones 'Til the Tombstone"? A better book might be a self-help one--"Get the Milestone Millstone Off Your Neck: Breaking the Portfolio-Checking Addiction".)

There's a really memorable Emerson quotation about such things. Memorable, but I forgot it. If I remember it I'll post it later on.

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

There's a really memorable Emerson quotation about such things. Memorable, but I forgot it. If I remember it I'll post it later on.

"Every end is prospective of some other end, which is also temporary; a round and final success nowhere." - - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Meadbh]

At the end of each fiacal year I calculate NW. This year, it increased by <4% despite the fact that I work in a high paying job. It did break through the $2.5m mark, which I suppose is a milestone, but below my projection of $2.6m. However, since March 31 NW has increased by well over $100K and one particular portfolio has topped the $1m mark (another milestone). I use a spreadsheet to project NW over time and it's interesting to see the impact of FY2007-08's poor performance on projected long term growth. Had I RE'd in 2007, NW would have decreased significantly in Year 1, which would be quite disconcerting!

Let's hope volatility works both ways over time..........

[rs0460a]

If you have more than you need to live the life you wish, does it really matter what "the number" is

I understand for those that have not reached "their goal", but sometimes the goal has been surpassed without understanding that you can enjoy your "effort".

Life is short. Enjoy it while you can..... (yes, I am )...

- Ron