dinks in northern VA

[robbridg]

Hi, I found this site googling on early retirement because I'm SO BORED with my job and unsatisfied with my career. I've been lurking here for a bit and I've already learned a ton. There is a GREAT wealth of information to be had here. And we greatly appreciate this resource!

The DW and I are soon to be 39 and 44 years old this year. We don't have any children. Neither one of us loves our jobs but we make pretty good money and save over $50K/year. We are very good savers but we still like to enjoy life as well. We are originally from Michigan but we moved to the NOVA area for my work in 07'. We'd like to semi-retire early by 17'(I'll be 50 ), probably move back to MI, travel more, and work part time or full time depending on the opportunity. We've only been married for a year and a half (my second, her first) but we're both on the same page as far as saving and retirement goes. We use a very well respected Financial Advisor, who we trust, and have a well diversified portfolio.

We're not looking for any specific advice at this time. We'd just like to be a small part of this great forum, learn a lot, and maybe be able to contribute constructively once in a while.

[Walt34]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find it interesting, educational, and occasionally funny.

You have my sympathies living in Ashburn, VA and dealing with the traffic. I'm familiar with the area as my sister used to live there.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 Welcome to the forum! You'll find it interesting, educational, and occasionally funny. You have my sympathies living in Ashburn, VA and dealing with the traffic. I'm familiar with the area as my sister used to live there.

Thank you. Fortunately for me I only have a 15 minute commute to Dulles. My wife, on the other hand, has a 45 minute commute to Fairfax. We try to avoid the beltway area as much as possible!

I usually don't mind the high volume of traffic as that is just a product of a good local economy. I can't say the same of the Metro Detroit area from which we came.

[walkinwood]

Welcome to the board. I look forward to your participation.

You didn't ask for advice, but here goes. Track your expenses. See the how much did you spend in 2010 for ideas on categorizing expenses. Having 7+ years of expense history will give you more confidence that you'll be able to live the life you want on your ER withdrawals.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinwood Welcome to the board. I look forward to your participation. You didn't ask for advice, but here goes. Track your expenses. See the how much did you spend in 2010 for ideas on categorizing expenses. Having 7+ years of expense history will give you more confidence that you'll be able to live the life you want on your ER withdrawals.

It's funny you say that. In the last year we've really started to organize what $ comes in and what $ goes out. But this year I've expanded our spreadsheet to track most all of our expenses. So, we'll see how it goes. Now that we know we have to input what we spend for a dinner out or purchasing a new sweater or whatever you really stop and think whether or not you should be spending the $.

[LOL!]

2017 is a long time away. I'd look for job that I liked and change jobs.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! 2017 is a long time away. I'd look for job that I liked and change jobs.

I hear ya! My eyes are always open to new opportunities. But the company I work for has a lot of great things going for it. I just don't have a lot of patience. I'm always trying to create work and/or position myself a little better in the company. But it seems once you're set up in one area it's hard to move to another.

[travelover]

Welcome. Michiganian that never left, here. By 2017 you should have some good equity in your current house - that should cover a whole new house here, and then some.

[Sarah in SC]

Hiyas Rob! Y'all are similar to us in age, progress to FIRE, and lifestyle. Congrats on the plan!

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Welcome. Michiganian that never left, here. By 2017 you should have some good equity in your current house - that should cover a whole new house here, and then some.

Sad but true. When we sold our homes in the very beginning of 08' I only lost $5K on my house in Commerce Twp. But my now wife lost about $50K on her house in Allen Park. And it seems like housing in MI is still going down.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Hiyas Rob! Y'all are similar to us in age, progress to FIRE, and lifestyle. Congrats on the plan!

Thanks! We're glad to be here and on track so far.

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbridg Sad but true. When we sold our homes in the very beginning of 08' I only lost $5K on my house in Commerce Twp. But my now wife lost about $50K on her house in Allen Park. And it seems like housing in MI is still going down.

Ouch.

I don't entirely trust Zillow, but they estimate that my house is currently worth $40,000 less than when I bought it in 1989.

[Purron]

Welcome! Hubby and I are also NOVA dinks, but are over a decade older than you two. We began to think seriously about retirement when we were about your age. I retired 3 years ago and hubby's last official day is March 1, 2011.

I look forward to hearing more from you. BTW, Ashburn is a nice community. Doesn't hurt you have a great Wegman's store close by! I love that place. We're closer the Fairfax one but I've been to the one near Ashburn when I'm in that neck of the woods.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Ouch. I don't entirely trust Zillow, but they estimate that my house is currently worth $40,000 less than when I bought it in 1989.

She bought at the high point, around 2004/5. But we had to cut our losses and move on. It's worth much less today.

[robbridg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purron Welcome! Hubby and I are also NOVA dinks, but are over a decade older than you two. We began to think seriously about retirement when we were about your age. I retired 3 years ago and hubby's last official day is March 1, 2011. I look forward to hearing more from you. BTW, Ashburn is a nice community. Doesn't hurt you have a great Wegman's store close by! I love that place. We're closer the Fairfax one but I've been to the one near Ashburn when I'm in that neck of the woods.

We enjoy living in Ashburn. We also love the Wegman's. And congrats on your retirement and your husband's very close retirement. What a great feeling that must be!