I've been lurking here … I decided to finally sign up because I had some thoughts on moving to a new home, but I'll get into that in a different thread. …
I'm 27 and the wife is 28. We have no kids and are not planning on any. … We both work full time at the same job with good benefits. We've been saving aggressively for about 5 years, and hope to semi-retire at age 37, and 38. …
And a final note. Working stinks. If work was only 2 or 3 days a week, for 5 or 6 hours I would not mind it at all. 40 hours is way too much time.…
Feel free to ask questions! I'll post my other thread about moving shortly.
I skipped over three or so pages' worth of other people's comments. (I really wanted to get to writign and posting my response.) I happened to come across this thread minutes ago. It's very interesting.
One thing I'd like to know is how much money you and your wife make; how much for your home; and how much for your monthly expenses (food, shelter, clothes)? Basics, like a car, and entertainment? (I'm not seriously asking for you to answer. Just saying, if we were talking one on one, and I could be direct, this is some of what I'd ask you.)
I'm really getting to this: Being realistic is important. You may be generating well with income. (And that you have good benefits.) Are you handling that income well? Smartly? The investigating is absolutely smart. Having something in the bank (liquid) is too. It's like, one has their two arms and is not able to eight arms' worth of work. Are you and your wife really handling yourselves well that you wouldn't panic if something happened to either of you (which would otherwise cause other people to think their personal world may be coming to an end).
I am in my early-40s. I am in a situation for which I won't go too much into the details (because this thread is yours). I contributed substantially to non-liquid assets for a good ten years (though not as fully as I now wish that I had). But I had a situation pretty unique to others my age. I, too, do not have children. I didn't feel desire to have any. (Nothing against kids.) And everyone's situation (economic reality) is one that cannot be easily assumed as
workable for other people and how they would live their lives. No one is doing your living for you. Likewise true that no one is doing my living for me.
Advice I would give is this: You and your wife should make yourselves realistic with how much you need to be living. Like as if one of you was retired right now. Does either of you have a job that would come with a pension? You should be aware of how much will be required of you to be living. (Pension or no pension being part of it. And you're both too young for normal Social Security retirment income.) And you should be willing to really lower your expectations, again concerning retirement, as to what you can actively do (since no longer actively working) in your spendings. A scaled back reality. But, while you're in your 20s (your wife as well) and saving aggressively, I would recommend (if it's doable) getting at least two types of insurances: one for life (and make it well into the hundreds-thousands) and one for longterm disability (in case). How much you two can afford to do these contributions … I don't know.
I also have this say (and it is advice): Keep going! Keep contibuting (both you and your wife) to investing in yourselves and your nest egg. I do know that when one is in his 20s, who is not loving the reality of working to make a living, the thoughts about getting out on early retirment are entertained. One can really think about the topic with much imagination. I can say to you to enjoy what you do aside from the work. That work is there for income and benefits which keep you and your wife in economic shape that is well enough to the point you can invest aggressively and think about these things … for down the road. Value good health both enjoyed by your wife and yourself. Have a good attitude, as much as can be mustered, and look
forward on your journey to achieving personally (which also means economically), and then you'll find how much you (and your wife)
evolve. Evolve in your thoughts and attitudes about your shared
life. Life, after all, has the effect on human beings.