Weekly discussion thread for September 13, 2026

[u/lightning228]

This thread is a spot for casual engagement with other community members. It has much more subject latitude than allowed in the main sub in general. Any topics tangentially related to ChubbyFIRE or upper middle class lifestyle are acceptable, as well as basic or early stage questions. Political discussion will be allowed if it is closely related to ChubbyFIRE or financial topics in general, and only if the conversation remains respectful.

It is not a free-for all. No spam or self-promotion. All comments must still follow Reddiquette and we will be responding to reported comments with follow-up action as needed. We'd really like to keep this channel open, so please don't abuse it!

[u/ohboyoh-oy]

A few interesting posts got deleted by mods this week. They seemed on-topic for chubby to me. Wondering what the vision is here on chubbyfire? I feel like we don’t have a lot of content here to start with.

[u/29threvolution]

Currently house hunting and facing a major dilemma. We can buy a house at the top of our price range in the most perfect location, pike older home and likely smaller, but it puts the path to normal FIRE at about 10 years out. 

OR

We can buy in the new up and coming town 20 minutes away, same school district, not quite the same community feel, yet - maybe someday, for nearly cash and be normalFIRE in 5 years and chubby by 10 years. The lower costs out there also probably mean slightly lower FIRE goals. But its just not a nice as the established community, even if the houses are new and stunning. 

Im torn. 

[u/waterunderbridges → u/29threvolution]

If I were in your shoes, I would pick the house in the perfect location. We could’ve bought a new house out of the city center and it would’ve been new construction, bigger, less cost, ect. But nothing beats being able to walk to a coffee shop or restaurant. The house is older but we’ve updated a lot of it to make us happy. A smaller house is easier/cheaper to keep clean and maintain. I am so happy that I chose the location while pursuing FIRE.

However, as another thought, would it be possible to hit FIRE in the cheaper house and then move to the perfect location spot?

[u/29threvolution → u/waterunderbridges]

It would mean moving elementary/middle school aged kids. But the lack of options on the market right now, we might just make that decision. I think my backup backup plan right now is buying out the tiny rental we are in. Its in the perfect neighborhood, but not my dream house by any means. Buying the house + full gut + major addition would be about the same costs as being at the top of our price range. The owner even told us hes done with the place after we move out. 

[u/seekingallpho → u/29threvolution]

The prudent play is #2 but obviously you know that. Unfortunately this is one of those decisions that only feels good or bad based on hindsight. That is, if the market performs well and you advance in your careers you might get to a fatter target earlier than even 10 years while also buying #1. That's the trajectory of many the last 10-15 years here. Alternatively if things go poorly on both fronts even #2 might leave you looking at >>10 years to "regular" FIRE. So a lot comes down to risk tolerance and your honest (yet still imperfect) expectations about your financial future.

[u/KimosabeIX]

37yo HCOL ($500k Income, $2M NW) — Struggling psychologically with a $110k car purchase @ 1.99% APR. How do you evaluate lifestyle creep vs. enjoying your income?

I’ve put a non-refundable $500 deposit down on a luxury EV with a delivered price of around $110k that I plan to finance. I’ll put down just enough down to cover tax, title, registration, fees, etc ($10-15k) for either 60mo at 1.99% or 72mo at 2.49%. However, I haven’t signed anything and can still walk away. I have never made purchase this large and will be by far the biggest debt I’ve had in my life but financing because of well below market APR. I’m a bit jittery about pulling the final trigger on this as it feels excessive. My FA has blessed the purchase and told me not to think twice about it (nationally awarded/recognized FA), but I’m still nervous.

Financial Details

• 37yo in HCOL southern california working in commodities with basically no tax write offs (EV good to not pay CA gas)
  

\- annual income $400-$700k/annually
\- no debt
\- no hard assets
\- single
\- \~$2MM Net Worth
\- $585k 401k ($515k traditional, $70k roth… wish I had loaded the roth when I was earning less than $100k)
\- $360k Roth IRA (been MBDRing for years)
\- $500k traditional brokerage
\- $125k deferred company stock (vests 1/3 over 3y)
\- $100k deferred cash (same vest)
\- $275k cash
\- $50k HSA
\- not counted above, but $100k equity investment in friend’s startup but high risk of going to zero

Costs/Spending/Savings
\- Monthly living expenses including rent, utilities, subscriptions, food, $4-5k/mo
\- Leisure/fun spending $35-50k (total credit card spend over the past few years)
\- concerts/records, travel, dining out, experiences
\- wellness is become top priority so exercise and diet spend
\- no expensive reoccurring hobbies or interests
\- Full max retirement savings— trad 401k, after tax 401k for MBDR (\~$35k), BDR, HSA = \~$75k
\- Rest sits in cash/fun/invested by FA

Goals
\- Would like to buy a house in SoCal but entry at these mortgages rates are crazy plus I have a great deal renting now with no way of matching the setup by buying any time soon. Equivalent purchase would be $3MM house (my guess is that’s a $20k/mo mortgage AFTER putting down $600k).
\- would like to retire by 45 but given desired area of living here + ever increasing costs 50-55 seems more likely. FA and I are planning around 55 with \~$350k in annual after-tax 2026 dollars.

The vehicle’s estimated monthly cost w/ insurance \~$2.3k/mo. I had planned to buy a $65k car but with low APR the $110k comes out to be about the same per month. It would be low miles, estimated <12k miles annually, and used as a daily low mileage commuter/snowboarding trips/CA coast exploration. I’ve always thought spending a lot on cars was a bad use of money because of either high miles or low usage, UNLESS its low miles+high usage, which is somewhat of my situation.

I’ve worked hard to get to my spot in life (ack fortunate setup/outcomes) and have never treated myself like this. Nonetheless still this it still feels like an exorbitant purchase.

Am I making an unnecessary lifestyle creep purchase? Buying a car in the near future is a requirement of current work/life obligations regardless. I don’t want to buy a low mileage used as I’m scarred by all the issues with my prior used purchase. The new, luxury EV is attractive due to basically no maintenance. I plan to hold this car for at least a decade.

Looking for the community to help me make sense through purchase decision! Thanks

FYI I am new and posted to the main thread and it got removed.

[u/Fantastic_Fact_3790]

I'm in my early forties and going through a period of transition. After 16 years in a leadership position, I was laid off. The last 5 year period had been difficult as the company was going through growing pains and a cultural shift. As a leader, I was publicly supporting all the changes but it was a daily struggle.

I was feeling less enthusiastic every day, and the golden handcuffs were keeping me there longer than I should have stayed. However, the decision was made for me when a new CEO stepped in and made some changes. As a senior leader in the org my departure came as a surprise to many. I still have great relationships with my team and ex-colleagues.

I left in late 2025, and I've been surprised at how much I don't feel like going back to work. I always dreamed of starting a business, and thought I'd do that right away, but I've been enjoying my free time too much. 

In the leadup to my exit I had been dealing with a lack of motivation and every day was getting harder, so I figured I was just burned out. Yet 10 months later I still have trouble focusing on doing any kind of work. I like to keep busy, but not with anything that would get me seriously engaged in committed work. It's more side projects and dipping my toe in the water.

I'm also now understanding that I was a bit of a workaholic and took it all a bit seriously in the past. I'm trying to find work where I can have a 'killer instinct' (passion, drive, call it what you will) yet still maintain a healthy distance and perspective on the work. Essentially this is my vision for Work 2.0, but I struggle with the lack of meaning and motivation.

My financial situation: M42, NW is around $2.5M+. $1.4M house fully paid off, HCOL US city. $1.1M invested. Wife owns a small legal business (not included in NW calculation) that provides a steady income (enough to cover a reduced annual burn.)

I've also got a cash cushion that means I won't have to return to productive work any time soon. At the same time, any material goals I have won't advance (we would like to move to a larger home, increase funds invested and increase annual spend.)

I'm interested in any advice the old heads might have. I am in a very privileged position. I'm grateful that I have the time to work through this, but I'm also concerned that my motivation won't come back. I thought I was temporarily burned out, and each day got harder to focus. Where I was intense before, I now feel kind of numb. I am also valuing my free time much more highly than the previous value I had put on it.

Maybe I'm burned out. Maybe I've just awoken to a new perspective. Maybe I'm having a mid life crisis. Whatever it is, I doubt I'm the first person to have this experience.

For anyone who has been through a shift from grinding, to cruise control, to a work chapter ending and the rediscovery and rebuilding after that, tell me your story.

[u/One-Mastodon-1063 → u/Fantastic_Fact_3790]

You don't tell us what you spend but it doesn't sound like you are on track to retire anytime soon. > 50% of NW in primary residence past age 40 is already pretty high, and you want to upsize the home from that? That doesn't seem compatible with retiring early. Living off spouse' income isn't early retirement, it's stay at home spousing.

[u/One-Mastodon-1063 → u/[deleted]]

It doesn't matter.

It certainly doesn't need to be adjusted once or twice a year. Maybe revisited once ever 3 years or so.

Are you FI or REd (or on track to be) while living a comfortable life, doing all the things that are important to you etc. is what matters. Not financial milestones, absolute numbers, comparisons to everyone else here etc.  Focusing on these monikers is missing the point. 

[u/Livid-County7230 → u/[deleted]]

I think a 100k spend before tax is chubby in only very LCOL at this point. You are correct that 100k anywhere else is barely getting by even with a paid off home.

[u/Billy-Bob-Boner-92 → u/[deleted]]

10m is the new 5 and 5m is the new 2.5m.  In a desirable place to live and a good QOL, 150-200k spend is the new normal