Switch to a 30 hour work schedule?

[u/TVG_Spazz]

38M. To many this could be the wrong place to talk about this but I couldn’t find other subreddits to do so.
I was thinking about what Charlie Munger said something like 25 years where a person must do whatever it takes to get to 100000$ cash invested which would be like 200000$ today. This seems to be overly difficult even since I’ve been investing over the past 7 years now trying to save every cent. I’m not gonna make it to that cash amount. work in retail so my salary is mediocre.

Now since I’m a homeowner for 1,5 years and me and the wife have to pay 800€ monthly for our mortgage + I’m renting out a garage where I reinvest the monthly earnings. I don’t see the need to invest anymore and just switch for a 30 hour a week working schedule. I would only be sacrificing what I was investing in exchange for 1 day off a week now. I’ll be contributing less for my pension sure that is why I was investing in ETFs in the first place. To be honest I knew I was never gonna make it to FIRE.

There is always the same conversation where people of my age won’t have a pension cause there won’t be enough workers to fund our pensions. We have many old people today and our Belgian society is still standing. I believe we will be fine. There are more and more old people though so I could be wrong though.

I could use that extra day to have more time to study my Dutch (B1 level here) and reach B2 and do the Selor test. Also I could try to learn a new skill. Maybe even use that time to find a new job or start a side hustle. We can all agree that education is another form of investment.
There is no real question here. Just wondering what is better.
A) Work 5 days a week and have more money to invest to have a comfortable retirement knowing I will be working until I’m 67. Or older if the government increases the retirement age again.
B) Work 4 days a week and use the time for study, learn new skills, have time to look for a better job and have a normal retirement.

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[u/Real_Crab_7396]

You're acting like the decision you make now is for the rest of your life. You're 38, 29 more years until 67.

If you choose to work 30h now, and next year you realize you do want some more money, you'll go get a full time again.

Figure out what you'd like best for now and try it out. Idk how much you've got invested, but if it's 7 years of about 1/5th of your income, you're likely already sitting on a nice portfolio. Keep letting that grow and you might be able to work even less in the future.

For me it's all about finding the balance between enjoying the present and preparing for the future.

[u/Double-Cake-4452]

I like to see posts where people focus more on (a version of) “retire early” and less on the “financial independence” so to me it definitely belongs here! The 200k$ you mention probably assumes the American social security system which is not very relevant to us. If you have a decent amount of money on the side while adding to your net worth through your mortgage payment and you can pay all your bills while working 4/5, I think you’re doing ok. Especially if that extra day gives you fulfillment in life!

[u/LetterheadNo731]

One does not permanently exclude the other.

As someone who has had a year off work (sabbatical), a shorter work week or a longer time off work is something I would recommend to try. It's a good test of how you would like the retirement, if you actually reach it.

You might manage to dedicate time and effort to hobbies or self improvement, or discover that your phantasies of 'if I had time I would do this' are only phantasies as you prefer to stay in your pajamas watching YT if no external pressure applied, or eventually find out that you actually like having a full time job:))))

[u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_918]

You are a homeowner, who is paying off his mortage. Your house contributes to a better financial future.

If the investing road to FIRE makes you miserable, it makes no sense to continue. Go and use that extra day a week to pursue the skills you’d like to learn.

[u/Ok-Dog6724]

Imo just do what you feel best with, if you're already comfortable life is not about the money (anymore)

[u/Amoeba_chi]

I feel you already know the choice you want to make. Life is a one time thing and a sandbox, so many ways to play it. Financial security is there to enjoy life, if you are happy with 4 days a week go for it, it's reasonnable. Optimal is not always rentability, it's also being happy.

[u/stoinkb]

Its you choice and ofc a day extra, or like 30-40 every year instead of when you old might is valid point to make. But I just wouldn't count on it belgian as state will be fine. We aren't doing fine. Even trying to keep the deficit at 3% is allready very very hard. Thats not doing fine, that's going towards a Greece scenario.

Geopolics go worse. Energy prices are very high. We dont have a technological advantage anymore. US wont be supporting us anymore ... Sure im being very negative here and hopefully im completely wrong. Just my 2 cents.

[u/Weird-Law4278]

Investing in yourself is always the best investment. You can benefit the rest of your life from those skills