I just crossed the 1 year mark on May 1st. 1) It went by LIGHTNING FAST 2) You don't know how much stress you were under until you are no longer under it 3) It was far too easy to be talked into going back to work (although part-time) when the money is right. It is also nice to know I don't have to work. Thus, recreational employment. 4) I highly recommend it.
Resentment hit home. The opposite here. I was humbled to have my wife quit her job in 2020 and not look back. Covid and nursing made that an easy choice. Having her done for the last several years has been a Godsend. I never felt resentment, but I was jealous a little. It does make joining her in retirement next spring all the sweeter.
Older mom here. (53 today!) My husband is almost 51 and our kids are 9 and almost 6. I feel like I relate to Erik’s story so much! My husband already semi-retired (he works on our “side hustle” selling on Amazon) and is busier than ever getting the kids to school and all of their activities/appointments. He’s had many days of having to pick up one of the kids at school because the nurse called to say one of them isn’t feeling well. Thankfully he has the time for it and it alleviates so much stress for all of us. I also love that we had our kids later in life and don’t have to worry about finances like we did when we were younger. We also have way less drama than other parents in our kid’s classes because we are 10-20 years older than them. 😆 I hope to join him in “retirement” soon. So much we want to do and see with our kids! Love watching these videos. Thank you!
Appreciate the check in with Erik. Interesting thoughts from him and a lot I can relate to even though I m not retired and waiting till sixty (another 11 years). Realizing senior discounts are in our near future is amazing. Feels like only yesterday I was getting student discounts.... thanks gents
I love that Erik schedules day trips to catch up with friends & socialize. I am 47 and on my Coast FI journey. My version of Coast FI is to keep working but to let off the gas. A year ago I started taking Fridays off of work. On my "no stress" Fridays I schedule time to catch up with family, friends, and colleagues that I have not seen in a while. This helps a lot with balance!
Your children are so lucky 😍 to have parents who are less stressed and have a retired dad. Don't get hung up on the rigid school year, especially while your kids are young. As a 59yo retired dad, I am always a dad to my kids even though the oldest is 23. Forge a great relationship with your kids and encourage them to become independent at their own pace with you always there as their backstop. Teach them to cook, to drive, to maintain physical things like a vege garden and fruit trees. Teach them about money and involve them in your state of the union monthly updates. They will be tech savvy because that's in their DNA. Learn to love yourself and put the time into maintaining your health and fitness with good plant based food and time each week at your gym.. Make you a priority during your 10-3 weekdays. Build your community and continue volunteering. Be there when your kids turn 40! Look forward to the y2 update!
While Erik’s day might sound busy he’s definitely retired. He gets to do what most people (regardless of gender) don’t get to do which is spend a TON of time with his kids and be a very present and involved parent. This is coming from a single mom who works a demanding full time career. I’m jealous lol, wish I was retired to spend more time with my kiddo but unfortunately I have to work to pay the bills.
I love how transparent Eric is and I see a lot of similarities with him and myself. I have also been missing the social aspect of leaving a full time job and looking to invest there and I am still haven't figured out some volunteer options - I seem to stay busy with a lot of errands and calls that can help with the house and cars, etc, but I don't mind doing that. I also have embraced the retirement and get the normal questions since my son is 18, but was 16 when I retired. I thought I would travel a little more than I have, I've had longer trips but not necessarily more trips as I tried to do a lot of 3 day weekends when I was working anyway. Final point I agree the market has been great so I worry about how I will handle the inevitable 20% drop of so, not trying to time the market, but have lightened my exposure a bit, still around 70% in the market.
Eric, interesting comment re you & Laura feeling pressure to have the next 5 years mapped out. I feel the same but the pressure is from myself. I’m slowly realising that there are only so many novel experiences in life. Most people I’ve come across have mainly big travel plans. I’ve already done most of the travelling I want to do which pretty much leaves day to day life. I’m trying to get my head around the fact that an ordinary life, but without work is still a wonderful life when you can retire early
I would classify Erik's wife's journey as "Coast Fire" instead of "Barista Fire". Here is my reasoning. I see Barista Fire as retiring from your regular day job and taking on different work in a less stressful industry/side hustle (or Starbucks for medical benefits). I see Coast Fire as pursing the hard grind in your career -- until you get to a point that you can let off the gas a bit. Perhaps going Part Time or otherwise adopting a Flex Schedule. Erik's wife worked hard to get to the place of being indispensable in her role. She uses this weight to leverage flexibility in her schedule and desirable shifts. Thus, ability to take time off when desired!!! "Voila!" Coasting along until final retirement day!
So much for FIRE. I feel like I’m more FIRE than this guy. And I’m not RE yet. I’ve got a professional job/career, but it sounds like he works way more than I do. I’m exhausted just listening to what his life is like.
Good interview. Great question about are you reallty retired. Are stay at home moms retired? I think this is very genedered, if a guy leaves work and takes care of kids he is retired. If a woman does it, she is a good mom. Not knocking anyone - just an interesting topic.
What are the most valuable lessons you learned in your first year of retirement? Let us know!
I just crossed the 1 year mark on May 1st.
1) It went by LIGHTNING FAST
2) You don't know how much stress you were under until you are no longer under it
3) It was far too easy to be talked into going back to work (although part-time) when the money is right. It is also nice to know I don't have to work. Thus, recreational employment.
4) I highly recommend it.
great lessons, thanks!
Resentment hit home. The opposite here. I was humbled to have my wife quit her job in 2020 and not look back. Covid and nursing made that an easy choice. Having her done for the last several years has been a Godsend. I never felt resentment, but I was jealous a little. It does make joining her in retirement next spring all the sweeter.
Older mom here. (53 today!) My husband is almost 51 and our kids are 9 and almost 6. I feel like I relate to Erik’s story so much! My husband already semi-retired (he works on our “side hustle” selling on Amazon) and is busier than ever getting the kids to school and all of their activities/appointments. He’s had many days of having to pick up one of the kids at school because the nurse called to say one of them isn’t feeling well. Thankfully he has the time for it and it alleviates so much stress for all of us. I also love that we had our kids later in life and don’t have to worry about finances like we did when we were younger. We also have way less drama than other parents in our kid’s classes because we are 10-20 years older than them. 😆 I hope to join him in “retirement” soon. So much we want to do and see with our kids! Love watching these videos. Thank you!
Love hearing the update! Thank you! ❤❤❤
Appreciate the check in with Erik. Interesting thoughts from him and a lot I can relate to even though I m not retired and waiting till sixty (another 11 years). Realizing senior discounts are in our near future is amazing. Feels like only yesterday I was getting student discounts.... thanks gents
I love that Erik schedules day trips to catch up with friends & socialize. I am 47 and on my Coast FI journey. My version of Coast FI is to keep working but to let off the gas. A year ago I started taking Fridays off of work. On my "no stress" Fridays I schedule time to catch up with family, friends, and colleagues that I have not seen in a while. This helps a lot with balance!
Great idea, thanks! I've heard this described as "slow-go". Basically still working, but much less intensity.
I am in almost an identical position as Erik so it's really refreshing to hear these stories from another's perspective. Really great conversation.
Excellent FIRE video, thanks guys
🙏
Thanks for providing this additional perspective. I just announced myself and I am still trying to get a handle on what it’s going to be like.
Your children are so lucky 😍 to have parents who are less stressed and have a retired dad. Don't get hung up on the rigid school year, especially while your kids are young.
As a 59yo retired dad, I am always a dad to my kids even though the oldest is 23. Forge a great relationship with your kids and encourage them to become independent at their own pace with you always there as their backstop. Teach them to cook, to drive, to maintain physical things like a vege garden and fruit trees. Teach them about money and involve them in your state of the union monthly updates. They will be tech savvy because that's in their DNA. Learn to love yourself and put the time into maintaining your health and fitness with good plant based food and time each week at your gym.. Make you a priority during your 10-3 weekdays. Build your community and continue volunteering. Be there when your kids turn 40!
Look forward to the y2 update!
Excellent as always. Thank you
While Erik’s day might sound busy he’s definitely retired. He gets to do what most people (regardless of gender) don’t get to do which is spend a TON of time with his kids and be a very present and involved parent. This is coming from a single mom who works a demanding full time career. I’m jealous lol, wish I was retired to spend more time with my kiddo but unfortunately I have to work to pay the bills.
I love how transparent Eric is and I see a lot of similarities with him and myself. I have also been missing the social aspect of leaving a full time job and looking to invest there and I am still haven't figured out some volunteer options - I seem to stay busy with a lot of errands and calls that can help with the house and cars, etc, but I don't mind doing that. I also have embraced the retirement and get the normal questions since my son is 18, but was 16 when I retired. I thought I would travel a little more than I have, I've had longer trips but not necessarily more trips as I tried to do a lot of 3 day weekends when I was working anyway. Final point I agree the market has been great so I worry about how I will handle the inevitable 20% drop of so, not trying to time the market, but have lightened my exposure a bit, still around 70% in the market.
Eric, interesting comment re you & Laura feeling pressure to have the next 5 years mapped out. I feel the same but the pressure is from myself.
I’m slowly realising that there are only so many novel experiences in life.
Most people I’ve come across have mainly big travel plans. I’ve already done most of the travelling I want to do which pretty much leaves day to day life.
I’m trying to get my head around the fact that an ordinary life, but without work is still a wonderful life when you can retire early
I would classify Erik's wife's journey as "Coast Fire" instead of "Barista Fire". Here is my reasoning. I see Barista Fire as retiring from your regular day job and taking on different work in a less stressful industry/side hustle (or Starbucks for medical benefits). I see Coast Fire as pursing the hard grind in your career -- until you get to a point that you can let off the gas a bit. Perhaps going Part Time or otherwise adopting a Flex Schedule. Erik's wife worked hard to get to the place of being indispensable in her role. She uses this weight to leverage flexibility in her schedule and desirable shifts. Thus, ability to take time off when desired!!! "Voila!" Coasting along until final retirement day!
We agree! See his earlier episode title :)
He Retired Early, She Didn’t: A Coast FI Case Study
th-cam.com/video/ciXJ9X1-hNg/w-d-xo.html
Erik, we call it "House Husband" in the FIRE community. ;)
So much for FIRE. I feel like I’m more FIRE than this guy. And I’m not RE yet. I’ve got a professional job/career, but it sounds like he works way more than I do.
I’m exhausted just listening to what his life is like.
31:53
You called it Eric!
Good interview. Great question about are you reallty retired. Are stay at home moms retired? I think this is very genedered, if a guy leaves work and takes care of kids he is retired. If a woman does it, she is a good mom. Not knocking anyone - just an interesting topic.
Thank you so much for this video
“Retired.” So he’s a stay at home dad with a working wife. No shame in that, but you don’t need to dress it up as “retirement”
Ha, the “retirement police” are here...
th-cam.com/video/8xUigPG3HTo/w-d-xo.html
His kids are in school/child care. I would not call that a "stay at home dad".
@@jennyagnew4504 Does a stay-at-home mom stop deserving that title once her kids are no longer in the home 24x7? That's a pretty low bar.
yep, full time job, IMHO, but lucky to have the option to really know his kids
Guy sounds super stressed and wired
Nah he’s just an excitable guy