I agree with your outlook on the cut spending theory......
1. If everytime the market dips, you're going to slash the budget, you're probably going to be in for an expensive divorce.
I don't think so...a number of our expenses are fairly costly "long-cycle" items such as Hawaiian vacations, home remodeling/repairs, car replacements, etc. Simply deferring those types of expenses (whenever practical) until a 'good' year ought to cover a bear-market reduction in the WR, without sacrificing regular entertainment, meals out, parties, etc.
2. I also note that FireCalc doesn't respond significantly to short lived spending reductions.
I disagree...have a look at SG's variable withdrawal study using FIREcalc V2 (my calculator gives very similar results)
Retire Early Home Page Discussion Board :: View topic - SWR for basic vs. discretionary spending
3. At 60 yo, frankly there isn't much in our budget that woudn't be painful to cut. Even so-called "discretionary" items. I can just hear myself telling DW....... "hey Honey, since the market has dipped since last November, we're cutting out two vacations during the balance of the year and may cut further if things don't correct soon!"
I disliked working enough that that would be a easy trade-off. I'm also easily amused, am a member of 2 bands, and have a number of other relatively inexpensive hobbies I can do right here in town.
I remember "back in the days" when I was working......... I used to think that just getting out of there would compensate me for a furgal retirement lifestyle where dining out, travel, and entertainment were rare. Now that I've been out of the harness for two years, somehow the tickets we have for entertainment both this Friday and Saturday nights, the vacation we taking in a few weeks and all that sort of "discretionary" stuff has become much, much more important to me!
The thrill of not working has lessened...... Not that I have any intention of ever working again mind you..... But the giggly, exciting, I'm so happy I could just sh*t thrill of staying home kind of fades and you want to be doing things.... and some of those things cost money.....
Cb - I agree with you on diversifying. Not so sure I agree with you on variable withdrawal unless you retire much earlier than I did.
Well, I quit at age 46 two years ago, but Momma is still working. She likes her job well enough and thinks she's got a pretty good shot at a "70 Rule" ER package that would include health coverage in the next year or so.