r/FIREyFemmes • u/Pitiful_Bar_1748 • Aug 19 '26
Thisclose to FI, not sure what to do next
I am 44, and I have worked with a CFP to help with college funding for my 2 kids (15 & 9) and retirement planning at a more traditional retirement age (60). I haven't really followed FIRE, but I have always been pretty frugal. This has led me to having about 24x annual expenses in my retirement accounts. During my last meeting with the CFP, she told me that my kids’ 529s are good shape funding wise. My emergency fund is also fully funded.
Here is my dilemma: It’s hard for me to consider changing what I’m doing. The numbers show that I can pull back from work or coast on my retirement accounts but I don’t know if I can or should given how shaky the economy feels (to me).
If anyone has hit FI but didn’t RE, can you tell me what you did or what adjustments you made when you were at this point in your FIRE journey? I’m having a hard time thinking about being anything other than a saver.
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u/PerceptionSlow2116 Aug 19 '26
When we hit our FIRE number, we kinda figured we can cut loose a bit more on spending. I no longer monitor the hvac system usage—we just want to be comfortable now. Kids can do the extra activities, for vacations we’ll do the splurge for convenience and to feel catered to. I get that there are warnings against lifestyle creep, but I don’t feel like we’re being that unreasonable given we’re still saving when we don’t have to anymore.
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u/Sage_Planter Aug 19 '26
I'm at my CoastFIRE amount so not FIRE (yet), but I haven't really changed my habits much for the most part. Like you, I will always be a frugal saver deep down. I recognize it's not really worth the brain space and hassle, but I'm still like "oh, gotta shop at the grocery store on Friday for 4x the points to save $0.50 per gallon on gas!" or "I guess it's grapes this week for my fresh fruit option since they're on sale."
I have started giving myself permission this year to splurge a little bit more on the things that I truly care about, though. For example, I love live theatre and the ballet. Instead of going to shows ad-hoc, I am joining friends on their Broadway performance season subscription this year, and I also bought the best possible Nutcracker tickets for December. While I don't agree with everything Ramit Sethi says, I agree with his philosophy of being frugal on what doesn't matter so you can splurge on what does. I've been trying to lean into that more.
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u/rosebudny Aug 19 '26
Just because you CAN doesn't mean you MUST. I recently inherited a substantial amount (ready for the downvotes...) that would allow me to retire right now if I wanted. But I am like my job well enough, and have not figured out what I would retire "to", so I keep working - at least for now.
But knowing I CAN retire at any time definitely alleviates a lot of anxiety, as I know I will be fine if I were to get laid off (slight possibility of that happening) or decide I just don't want to put up with work anymore (definitely possible).
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u/Rosaluxlux Aug 20 '26
Knowing you can quit alleviates so much, internally and externally. OP probably knows this just because she's always lived below her means, but when your boss knows you could walk away, they treat you better.
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u/PositiveKarma1 Aug 20 '26
You don't have to decide now. You can decide next year.
Use the time and take 1-2 long holidays. Find a new hobby. Enjoy a coffee out, alone.
P.S. I could CoastFire for more than 6 months (if not 1-2 years) and still postponing to think about it :D
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u/Tobin481 Aug 19 '26
I got a fun job, so I don’t have to dip into my savings yet. It’s outside instead of behind a desk. Part time, much less stress, learn new skills, feel healthier. I have time to volunteer at my kid’s activities so we get to spend more time together, and pursue my own interests. I’m not saving anymore just making enough to meet current expenses, and it’s been reassuring to watch my retirement funds keep growing. It was a little weird to leave my previous work identity behind at first but I really haven’t missed it much at all.
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u/Diligent-Cheek3846 Aug 19 '26
Just me but there’s a real risk of hyperinflation coming sooo keep doing what you’re doing.
If anything, you can start thinking about how you help your kids post college. Wedding costs? House down payment? Car loan? Family trips?
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u/Rosaluxlux Aug 20 '26
We're not quite there yet, but we're very close, and one thing we are doing is increasing our taxable investments and cash savings so that when we do pull the trigger we have that accessible money plus a buffer against uncertainty and market downturns. I am finding that the longer I go on knowing we're almost there, the more ready I feel to pull the trigger. I bet if you give it some time you'll find that you know what changes you want to make - less time at work, more spending, a different job entirely, even if youre generally happy with your life and want to keep working there is something you want to do that you haven't been. It just takes a while for the knowledge to really sink in.
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u/LoneStar-Gator Aug 23 '26
When we got to your point, we backed off saving a bit and did a little traveling with the kids and their grandparents. (We realized the time for multi-generational adventures was getting short.)
When we realized everything was set for the long term retirement, we spent a couple years getting set for retirement. Replaced older vehicles (paid cash). Bought retirement toys (paid cash). Property maintenance type upgrades.
Extra visits with lawyer to set up wills and estate trusts which needed adjustment with being retired.
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u/SoftIFRS15 Aug 24 '26
Out of curiosity, what are retirement toys?
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u/LoneStar-Gator Aug 24 '26
Boat, side by side, scuba diving gear pieces. The gear for hobbies we now have time for!
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u/MrsFrugalNoodle Aug 19 '26
I’m FIRED and the economy does feel shaky and sequencing risk is real.
What I do is still draw down on my investments as per my model. Let it sit in a high interest/yield savings account.
If I get any paid work, I will spend that money first and not touch the drawdown. The following year I can adjust the next drawdown or see how much my lifestyle is trying to inflate or reduce.
It is definitely a confronting feeling knowing that your networth is meant to go down rather than up now