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Old 09-08-2014, 11:44 AM   #721
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Looks like I am hedging a bit too heavily against the dollar and the recent strength in the USD is slowing down my progress. But I still managed to reach a new high in both dollars and euros this month (I track my NW in both currencies since I am a EU citizen residing in the US) and my ER portfolio passed a nice round milestone in euros.
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Old 09-08-2014, 02:18 PM   #722
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Met what I judged to be the minimum to retire early. But won't retire for another 5 years (well voluntarily anyway). So everything else that is saved into the retirement accounts is gravy.
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Old 09-09-2014, 04:20 PM   #723
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Looks like I am hedging a bit too heavily against the dollar and the recent strength in the USD is slowing down my progress. But I still managed to reach a new high in both dollars and euros this month (I track my NW in both currencies since I am a EU citizen residing in the US) and my ER portfolio passed a nice round milestone in euros.
CongratEUlations!
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Old 09-09-2014, 05:21 PM   #724
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Looks like I am hedging a bit too heavily against the dollar and the recent strength in the USD is slowing down my progress. But I still managed to reach a new high in both dollars and euros this month (I track my NW in both currencies since I am a EU citizen residing in the US) and my ER portfolio passed a nice round milestone in euros.

Does that mean the price of French cheese and Italian wine will be coming down?
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Old 09-09-2014, 05:33 PM   #725
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Does that mean the price of French cheese and Italian wine will be coming down?
If the drop in the Euro is sustained, it should. Wouldn't that be nice...
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Old 09-11-2014, 04:43 AM   #726
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My net worth hit a nice big, round number last Saturday. Only one more milestone to hit before I retire - my investable assets should hit the same big, round number. Assuming the stock market doesn't crash in the next two years, this should be achievable.
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Old 09-12-2014, 07:36 AM   #727
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Another milestone. I targeted an actual FIRE date of 2031 @ age 50. DH says fat chance and I plan on spending the next 17-18 years proving her wrong.
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Old 09-17-2014, 08:45 AM   #728
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Met what I judged to be the minimum to retire early. But won't retire for another 5 years (well voluntarily anyway). So everything else that is saved into the retirement accounts is gravy.
+1
This is exactly where we are finding ourself.
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Old 09-17-2014, 06:31 PM   #729
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Today I am one month from ER. I only have 14 days at work. DH has a few less! Happy dance.
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Old 09-17-2014, 07:41 PM   #730
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Snowcat, I'm 5 days in... it's bloody great.
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Old 09-18-2014, 08:53 PM   #731
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Snowcat, I'm 5 days in... it's bloody great.
Looking forward it more everyday. Enjoy!
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Old 09-19-2014, 09:05 PM   #732
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Three and a half months in here... and I agree, it is great! We are heading out for our retirement cruise vacation to the UK, then upon return we will be finalizing 401k rollover and asset allocation with Vanguard and then it will all be "real".


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Old 09-20-2014, 10:35 AM   #733
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We are still working on cutting recurring expenses. This past energy bill (gas + electric) was the first time our usage was below the usage for energy efficient homes in our area. We have a good sized house with high kwh rates in our local area and our bill was below $70 this month. Some months we used to spend up to $500 on energy so we have come a long way.
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Old 09-24-2014, 06:50 PM   #734
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just calculated that our net worth is up 1.8m in the last 2 years.
that makes me smile!
hope to FIRE in another year & a half.
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Old 09-24-2014, 07:23 PM   #735
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Knucklehead - that's an impressive figure.
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Old 09-24-2014, 07:53 PM   #736
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Need help writing a resignation letter? I only charge pocket change, like $400k or so Seriously though, congrats! what was the main contributing factor to your impressive net worth?[/QUOTE]

The main contributing factor to hit the 5 million dollar net worth was three decades of saving at least 20 percent of my take home pay. When my wife and I married she did the same and we never spent it. I blame my father on my savings habits. Most of our money in muni bonds or CD'S . Our return is about 3.2 percent. Not great and some may say we are foolish to be so conservative.
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Old 10-14-2014, 11:59 AM   #737
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Milestones

I'm new to the site, and relatively new to the FIRE community. I'm on my way there, but still about 10 years out. My wife and I have passed some meaningful milestones. Early on, I tried to think of milestones other than net worth, because net worth is subject to the whims of the market. Here are some non-net worth milestones I have thought of:

- Amount of income generated by assets (or this amount as a percentage of your spending). (Last year, we generated income to cover 7% of our annual spending and 12% of what I think we will spend in a post-FIRED life)
- Having an emergency fund that would cover a full year of expenses (check)
- Years of college you have saved in CASH for your kids (I have 2 kids in high school/middle school, and enough cash right now to cover 6 years of college at good schools)
- Have enough insurance that if me or wife gets hit by a bus, the kids are covered (check)
- Have an estate plan (check)
- Increasing savings to 50% of take home pay (check)

So, I'm not FIRED, but I sleep a WHOLE LOT better at night compared to a few years ago.
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Old 10-14-2014, 12:52 PM   #738
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Hi Phil,

Welcome! Looks like a great trajectory you are on.

Sitting at the beginning of the exponential curve feels nice doesn't it, you start feeling the uplifting emotional effects of your reserves

Poetics aside, with a hefty 50% savings rate you seem to be doing great financially.
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Old 10-14-2014, 01:01 PM   #739
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Pletal - Your story reminds me of my grandmother who built a substantial nest egg on CDs. She grew up in the depression and never trusted the stock market. My grandfather got social security and small ($5k- no COLA) pension after he retired at the age of 60. They lived off that income and even managed to save. They never once complained about being poor. If you're cheap, you don't feel poor! I use her as an inspiration and a warning - save for the future, but make sure I get a chance to enjoy it too!
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Old 10-14-2014, 01:03 PM   #740
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Totoro - Thanks. My income is volatile (my wife's is more stable). 50% savings rate this year could be a lot less next year. Further motivation to not lock in an expensive lifestyle - but makes the "uplifting emotional effects" somewhat fleeting!
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