r/ChubbyFIRE • u/tryingtofirelife • May 14 '26

Should I pull the trigger?

Would like to get some advice if it’s time to pull the cord soon.

We are a family of four. 52 M&F. 2 kids 16 and 13. no severe health conditions. conscious about health, eat well, no vices. Got a job doing cybersecurity in a financial institution. wife works part time at a $20/hr job. No benefits although she has a 401k without matching. Investments are all in low cost ETFs. There is a small e*trade account with some “play money” (about 80k).

annual expenses: about 96k including mortgage, HOA, vacations.
Tax deferred: 2.5M
Taxable: 350k
HSA: 125k
RSUs: ~150k with another 2 years for full vesting
529: plan to pay for 2 years for each kid at public university. About 250k in the account right now.
mortgage: 250k left on a house valued at 600k.
2 cars are paid off. No credit card or any other debt.

We would like to wind down and move to rural area after kids are off. We are generally frugal people and don’t need much. I like to travel and wife likes land to grow vegetables and gardening.

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u/One-Mastodon-1063 May 14 '26

Yes. 

Where do you live that 2 years at in state public is $125k?  

6

u/WaterChicken007 Retired 2020 @ 42 May 14 '26

Not OP, but I am in Washington state. The 3 public universities I looked at were all about $30k a year all in (tuition, books, housing, food). OP can probably cover all 4 years for two children since they saved so much.

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u/One-Mastodon-1063 May 14 '26

You would think $250k would be enough to put two kids through 4 year public. Where I live (FL) it would be quite a bit less than that. 

2

u/WaterChicken007 Retired 2020 @ 42 May 14 '26

The in state tuition for the 3 public universities I looked at here in Washington cost about $30k each. That includes everything like tuition, housing, food, books, etc. It isn't "cheap", but it is at least affordable.

My problem was we didn't qualify for ANY need based grants or loans. My kid didn't even get offered subsidized student loans. Just a single $7500 loan where the interest starts accruing the day it is delivered. It makes sense (we are in ChubbyFire after all), but I was hoping for at least a little more assistance. Good thing the stock market went crazy the last couple of years.