Early Retirement Extreme Forums

April 2024 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $8,807 HSA: $27,122 IRA: $142,035 Roth IRA: $223,442 401k $12,926 Brokerage: $270,932 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$7,794 Prior Months Net Worth $751,452 Current Net Worth $759,470 Net Worth Increase of $8,018 Prior Months SWR 2.395% C...

Hello, I have a job offer with higher pay over what I earn now waiting for me and all I need to do is get the Security+ certification. I have several questions here for anyone who is in the this field. First was the Security+ Cert difficult to pass? How long did you study before taking the exam and ...

Q1 2024:

January + $6,680
February: + $8,841
March + $5,314

Total Q1 Progress $20,853


Current Net Worth $751,452

Current Safe Withdrawal Rate 2.395%

Overtime has gone down significantly which is a positive for me. It gives me more time to go to the gym and meal prep.

March 2024 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $24,991 HSA: $26,666 IRA: $139,963 Roth IRA: $222,471 401k $10,956 Brokerage: $253,561 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$9,156 Prior Months Net Worth $746,138 Current Net Worth $751,452 Net Worth Increase of $5,314 Prior Months SWR 2.413% ...

February 2024 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $22,957 HSA: $26,207 IRA: $138,887 Roth IRA: $221,510 401k $10,286 Brokerage: $249,855 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$5,564 Prior Months Net Worth $737,297 Current Net Worth $746,138 Net Worth Increase of $8,841 Prior Months SWR 2.44...

January 2024 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $25,158 HSA: $25,758 IRA: $138,347 Roth IRA: $220,601 401k $9,597 Brokerage: $241,586 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$5,750 Prior Months Net Worth $730,617 Current Net Worth $737,297 Net Worth Increase of $6,680 Prior Months SWR 2.464%...

Q4 2023 & Year End Review: Q4 Progress October + $8,225 November + $11,995 December + $3,133 Total Q4 Progress $23,353 Q1 Progress $52,507 Q2 Progress $16,202 Q3 Progress $26,103 Q4 Progress $23,353 Current Net Worth $730,617 Current SWR 2.464% Historical Annual Progress 2014’s Net Worth Increas...

December 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $24,559 HSA: $25,303 IRA: $137,370 Roth IRA: $220,181 401k $9,188 Brokerage: $236,940 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$4,924 Prior Months Net Worth $727,484 Current Net Worth $730,617 Net Worth Increase of $3,133 Prior Months SWR 2.475...

November 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $28,434 HSA: $25,192 IRA: $136,874 Roth IRA: $219,475 401k $8,189 Brokerage: $228,938 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$1,618 Prior Months Net Worth $715,489 Current Net Worth $727,484 Net Worth Increase of $11,995 Prior Months SWR 2.51...

I went with my old gf when she got new glasses in Vietnam. I forget the price but it was pretty low. One thing that stood out is that it seemed the quality of glass used was low - they scratched easily. Those travel video people often go on and on about the price but don't ever point out when the q...

October 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $25,953 HSA: $25,080 IRA: $136,353 Roth IRA: $218,630 401k $6,944 Brokerage: $222,044 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$1,515 Prior Months Net Worth $707,264 Current Net Worth $715,489 Net Worth Increase of $8,225 Prior Months SWR 2.545%...

I'd recommend Leiden, Gouda and/or Haarlem for some nice picturesque views of canals (Leiden also has nice tour boats, I don't know about Haarlem or Gouda for that). Amsterdam is very crowded with tourists, especially in the nice months of the year. But of course, things like the Rijksmuseum and th...

Thanks for clearing that up! I used to know several countries where life was really cheap, like Romania in the EU, but when I last visited prices seemed to be converging with The Netherlands where I live. Hopefully there are still inexpensive countries in South-East Asia. If you don't invest in sto...

Thanks for clearing that up! I used to know several countries where life was really cheap, like Romania in the EU, but when I last visited prices seemed to be converging with The Netherlands where I live. Hopefully there are still inexpensive countries in South-East Asia. If you don't invest in sto...

Congratulations on your progress! So with $707,264 net worth and Safe Withdrawal Rate 2.545%, you live on $18,000 a year, or $1,500 a month. That's 40 years of expenses in the bank. You could say you are already Financially Independent! When you say "Year to Date Progress", do you include...

Q3 2023: July + $7,416 August: + $11,027 September + $7,660 Total Q3 Progress $26,103 Year to Date Progress $94,812 Current Net Worth $707,264 Current Safe Withdrawal Rate 2.545% 2021 was my best year with a $77,022 net worth increase and I have already beat that with the final quarter still left to...

September 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $25,956 HSA: $24,969 IRA: $135,827 Roth IRA: $217,805 401k $6,250 Brokerage: $215,961 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$1,504 Prior Months Net Worth $699,604 Current Net Worth $707,264 Net Worth Increase of $7,660 Prior Months SWR 2.57...

I just binge read your journal and it’s remarkable! From my observation, you have relied little on stock market gains. Your contributions have done some major heavy lifting of your NW. Do you still plan to DCA into the market or have you grown to desire a more conservative approach with T-Bills and...

August 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $27,132 HSA: $24,852 IRA: $135,284 Roth IRA: $217,027 401k $5,352 Brokerage: $209,324 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$1,367 Prior Months Net Worth $688,577 Current Net Worth $699,604 Net Worth Increase of $11,027 Prior Months SWR 2.62% ...

July 2023 Update: Current Assets: Cash: $26,283 HSA: $24,219 IRA: $134,768 Roth IRA: $216,172 401k $4,531 Brokerage: $202,719 Home $70,000 Car $12,000 Current Debts: Credit Card -$2,115 Prior Months Net Worth $681,161 Current Net Worth $688,577 Net Worth Increase of $7,416 Prior Months SWR 2.65% Cur...