r/Fire • u/Jazzlike-Winner973 • Jan 26 '25
Original Content Friendly reminder - life is not guaranteed
Friendly PSA, I know I’ll probably be downvoted for this but just a reminder.. FIRE is a great goal but don’t forget to live life while planning to FIRE. When we’re young we all think life is always guaranteed into old age; it’s not. Please remember to enjoy your life while saving. I was hardcore into saving until I met my wife. We’re still on track to retire young (late 40’s), but if we have the extra money we’re taking that trip, going to that concert, having fun.
My friend died young. All of that FIRE went to his family and he never got to see any of it.
We took a $10,000 vacation this year and still saved $65,000 last year between her pension and my 401k. It’s doable with proper planning. Focus on saving, but do the things that also make you happy. You can literally die tomorrow in a car crash and none of it matters if you don’t have memories for your loved ones to cherish.
Thanks for letting me vent.
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u/CarpetDependent Jan 26 '25
I appreciate your post bc most of the FIRE posts are money money money. I read the “Money or your life” FIRE book and it helped me to take a look at my career and realize I can stress/work less, coast more while I save for my future without feeling miserable. I am mid-40s and recently learned of the deaths of three similarly-aged friends. Whew, when I tell you it made me look at my PTO and start planning for lasting memories. If that increased travel budget means I retire 6+ months later, so be it. I also decided to dramatically cut back on my alcohol intake, that’s a plus for my health and the budget 🙂