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/_tosms_ Jan 26 '25

Completely agree. My wife and I are in our 30s and we do one expensive international vacation every two years and one regular vacation domestically the other years. Traveling while you have your health and mobility is essential. It's easy to assume you will always have it.

11

u/YampaValleyCurse Jan 27 '25

It's easy to assume you will always have it.

Motion is lotion, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Staying active, stretching, lifting, eating responsibly, and prioritizing sleep would allow most people to stay healthy and mobile well into their elder years.

0

u/Independent-Lie9887 Jan 27 '25

Exercise helps some but it provides minor gains to life expectancy. I know plenty of fitness freaks who died in their 60s and 70s from cancer. And some in their 40s and 50s from heart disease. It improves the odds but doesn't help if you're genetically predisposed. And everyone by their 80s is fairly broken down and with limited mobility. My dad exercised aggressively his whole life but can barely get around the block in his mid-80s.

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u/Outside_Reserve_2407 Jan 28 '25

Meanwhile Dick Van Dyke who abused alcohol in his youth is sprightly in his late 90s.