Midsize Lebowski would love it if you'd come and give him notes on Semi-ERE
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:41 pm
Hello all, thank you for taking the time to read. Hoping this title is the appropriate call for fellow Follower's of The Church of Dude...
A little about the current state of my unholy union:
Live with V (significant other of 5 years) and our 2 dogs despite my constant railing against the values of pet ownership. Mine was an accident (inherited a puppy from an irresponsible friend @ age 22 - think I have 3-8 more years on the contract, dog currently 7. In reality I love the little varmint and will miss him dearly even while recognizing how much unnecessary spending and planning around the dog I'll save when he's gone) She seems to have a soft spot for fur and willfully adopted hers a few years before we moved in together and formed "The Pack".
We rent a 1bedroom apt in a sleepy bedroom community 7 miles from the coast in southern ca. I can bike to work (5 miles round trip). She commutes an outrageous 80 miles roundtrip 5 days a week but doesn't fully hate it due to beautiful coastal drive coupled with audiobooks.
Currently work full time as an overqualified personal trainer. Originally intended to get phd in Physical therapy but saw the pricetag and the work environment while in undergrad and decided would hack it as a working stiff prior to financing my way through further advanced degrees- end of that story is began making starting salary of said PT with far more flexibility and income mobility. Should I like bachelor's in Kinesiology opens up a few alternate career paths - cardiac rehab, physical therapy aide(5-10k in further schooling) strength and conditioning coach, corporate wellness, instagram celebrity "I use these shakes to keep those cheeks this supple and toned, link in bio".
She has a degree in music but has been slingin' product (that's what they call it in retail I've come to find out) as a manager in several retail venues over the past 5 years. Makes roughly 55k after salary, bonuses, employer contributions, etc. Her plan is to stay in this field until loans paid off in 2 years predicted time (projected from current rate of paydown- admittedly lower than peak). Also operates a small craft business that brings in ~300-400/month when actively pursued (attending markets, etc.)
In short term I'll stick with the full time training deal as it has a limitless ceiling, flexible hours, great pay relative to hours (currently about 80-100/hr in southern California) and it's genuinely rewarding to take sedentary office workers and arthritic oldies and get them out having fun with their kids/grandkids, picking up healthy habits like hiking, biking, etc. It's a line of work I enjoy and will probably continue in limited capacity during semi-ere. I've also started a small side hustle of growing microgreens and vending them to a small customer base/several restaurants. Income is at 200/month currently with about 5hrs monthly work- they grow themselves it would appear
.
Discovered ERE about 6 months ago, have since payed off 6k in debt (4k taxes & 2k consumer debt) and saved for literally the first time in my life at age 27 (all numbers seen below). Prior to that I had kept a buffer of 1 months living expenses/credit availability and somehow felt things were coasting along nicely - it was an odd time in hindsight
V and I keep all expenses seperate (she has 40k student loans, 10k invested in 401ks, etc. due to employer matches) spends roughly $1600/month in a very similar breakdown to my own. This will probably stay the same as we have a general philosophy that the only thing keeping us together should be a mutual appreciation for the relationship rather than kids, finances, divorce proceedings, etc.
Current debt- 0 (worked during school to meet living expenses, scholarships/15k inherited from very generous grandfather covered the BS tuition)
Current Assets:
SEP IRA: 9500
Brokerage: 1000
Cash: 850
Auto: 7000 (book value)
Net worth: 11,350 ('cause who counts a car?)
Monthly Cash Flow:
Net Income (avg): $4079 (based on real data - varies between 3800 and 4800) - personal training + 200/month microgreens
Expenses: $1540
Annual totals:
Income: 48950
Expenses: $18,480 (9,900 rent)
Monthly Expenses Break down as so:
Rent: 825
Utilities (water/trash, electric): $50 per person (these are divided by the apartment complex so little control here unfortunately)
Internet: 85/2: $43
Auto Ins: $38
Gas: $40
Cell: $34
Groceries:$200
Dog Food/ yearly vet bill averaged out: $60
Household supplies/coin laundry: $20
Clothes:$20 (athletic shoes for work decline quickly)
Entertainment(occasional concert, meal out, alcohol):$50
Health I: $160
Current lease is through May (6 months away), at this time we are looking into RV living, further apt downsizing (I think we can find a place for 1400 or so). We will either move to biking distance to her work (ritzy resort town that would be beautiful to live in and has abundant outdoor activities- beach, mountains, etc.) or stay within biking distance to mine should that look to make the most sense. I would commute 2 x week at roughly 30-35k annual income and look to build new client book in new location, expand microgreens business, begin gig-type roll as landscaper (used to have a lawn service business from age 15-22), work part time at nursery/landscaping company, whatever supplements the 2 days personal training(barista, bartender,massage therapist, etc.)
Our long term plans are to Semi-ERE within 5 years by age 33 for me, 32 for her with roughly 10 x annual expenses.
Goals for Semi-ERE:
-Spend ~3 months per year abroad (low cost slow travel approach) for the first several years of Semi-ERE as neither of us have spent more than 2 weeks outside the country and have agreed this is of significant importance to us (this will also stop early on or become full time living abroad just due to price of travel/effect on the planet being considered a major cost)
-Continue to grow and start small businesses (I'm from Baltimore, MD and would like to contribute to the community at large there via small business, volunteering., as it has a long history of demonstrating most things wrong with society and seems like a good "demonstration garden". I like the idea of trying for an absurd utopian world of permaculture, socially conscious populace, etc. but of course remain well grounded in reality (whatever that's percieved to be )
-Work in the sweet spot of 20-25 hrs per week to continue funding FI while having the flexibility to travel yearly and spend significant time with both our families (hers CA based mine MD based), feel like we're living a stimulating life rather than groundhog day
-Diversify income streams to reduce fragility
Keys to these plans will be reducing housing expenses to <200/month via multi-unit home purchase/geographic arbitrage/cash purchase/tiny house/rv living, etc. and setting up a "home base" within bike/public transportation of either of our families (<50-75 miles).
Things we have going for us- health, relatively early starting age, acknowledgement that we both enjoy contributing to society in likely income earning endeavors, dashing good looks (her not me), appreciation for free leisure activities (hiking, biking, yoga, weight lifting, cooking, learning, reading, gardening) and an infinite source of inspiration due to communities like this.
Things we have against us- the dark lord Sauron, naturally.
Thank you all for reading, it'd be great to hear any of your thoughts and I'll look to update this typically monthly or bimonthly, may His Dudeliness Abide in all of your lives.
A little about the current state of my unholy union:
Live with V (significant other of 5 years) and our 2 dogs despite my constant railing against the values of pet ownership. Mine was an accident (inherited a puppy from an irresponsible friend @ age 22 - think I have 3-8 more years on the contract, dog currently 7. In reality I love the little varmint and will miss him dearly even while recognizing how much unnecessary spending and planning around the dog I'll save when he's gone) She seems to have a soft spot for fur and willfully adopted hers a few years before we moved in together and formed "The Pack".
We rent a 1bedroom apt in a sleepy bedroom community 7 miles from the coast in southern ca. I can bike to work (5 miles round trip). She commutes an outrageous 80 miles roundtrip 5 days a week but doesn't fully hate it due to beautiful coastal drive coupled with audiobooks.
Currently work full time as an overqualified personal trainer. Originally intended to get phd in Physical therapy but saw the pricetag and the work environment while in undergrad and decided would hack it as a working stiff prior to financing my way through further advanced degrees- end of that story is began making starting salary of said PT with far more flexibility and income mobility. Should I like bachelor's in Kinesiology opens up a few alternate career paths - cardiac rehab, physical therapy aide(5-10k in further schooling) strength and conditioning coach, corporate wellness, instagram celebrity "I use these shakes to keep those cheeks this supple and toned, link in bio".
She has a degree in music but has been slingin' product (that's what they call it in retail I've come to find out) as a manager in several retail venues over the past 5 years. Makes roughly 55k after salary, bonuses, employer contributions, etc. Her plan is to stay in this field until loans paid off in 2 years predicted time (projected from current rate of paydown- admittedly lower than peak). Also operates a small craft business that brings in ~300-400/month when actively pursued (attending markets, etc.)
In short term I'll stick with the full time training deal as it has a limitless ceiling, flexible hours, great pay relative to hours (currently about 80-100/hr in southern California) and it's genuinely rewarding to take sedentary office workers and arthritic oldies and get them out having fun with their kids/grandkids, picking up healthy habits like hiking, biking, etc. It's a line of work I enjoy and will probably continue in limited capacity during semi-ere. I've also started a small side hustle of growing microgreens and vending them to a small customer base/several restaurants. Income is at 200/month currently with about 5hrs monthly work- they grow themselves it would appear
.Discovered ERE about 6 months ago, have since payed off 6k in debt (4k taxes & 2k consumer debt) and saved for literally the first time in my life at age 27 (all numbers seen below). Prior to that I had kept a buffer of 1 months living expenses/credit availability and somehow felt things were coasting along nicely - it was an odd time in hindsight
V and I keep all expenses seperate (she has 40k student loans, 10k invested in 401ks, etc. due to employer matches) spends roughly $1600/month in a very similar breakdown to my own. This will probably stay the same as we have a general philosophy that the only thing keeping us together should be a mutual appreciation for the relationship rather than kids, finances, divorce proceedings, etc.
Current debt- 0 (worked during school to meet living expenses, scholarships/15k inherited from very generous grandfather covered the BS tuition)
Current Assets:
SEP IRA: 9500
Brokerage: 1000
Cash: 850
Auto: 7000 (book value)
Net worth: 11,350 ('cause who counts a car?)
Monthly Cash Flow:
Net Income (avg): $4079 (based on real data - varies between 3800 and 4800) - personal training + 200/month microgreens
Expenses: $1540
Annual totals:
Income: 48950
Expenses: $18,480 (9,900 rent)
Monthly Expenses Break down as so:
Rent: 825
Utilities (water/trash, electric): $50 per person (these are divided by the apartment complex so little control here unfortunately)
Internet: 85/2: $43
Auto Ins: $38
Gas: $40
Cell: $34
Groceries:$200
Dog Food/ yearly vet bill averaged out: $60
Household supplies/coin laundry: $20
Clothes:$20 (athletic shoes for work decline quickly)
Entertainment(occasional concert, meal out, alcohol):$50
Health I: $160
Current lease is through May (6 months away), at this time we are looking into RV living, further apt downsizing (I think we can find a place for 1400 or so). We will either move to biking distance to her work (ritzy resort town that would be beautiful to live in and has abundant outdoor activities- beach, mountains, etc.) or stay within biking distance to mine should that look to make the most sense. I would commute 2 x week at roughly 30-35k annual income and look to build new client book in new location, expand microgreens business, begin gig-type roll as landscaper (used to have a lawn service business from age 15-22), work part time at nursery/landscaping company, whatever supplements the 2 days personal training(barista, bartender,massage therapist, etc.)
Our long term plans are to Semi-ERE within 5 years by age 33 for me, 32 for her with roughly 10 x annual expenses.
Goals for Semi-ERE:
-Spend ~3 months per year abroad (low cost slow travel approach) for the first several years of Semi-ERE as neither of us have spent more than 2 weeks outside the country and have agreed this is of significant importance to us (this will also stop early on or become full time living abroad just due to price of travel/effect on the planet being considered a major cost)
-Continue to grow and start small businesses (I'm from Baltimore, MD and would like to contribute to the community at large there via small business, volunteering., as it has a long history of demonstrating most things wrong with society and seems like a good "demonstration garden". I like the idea of trying for an absurd utopian world of permaculture, socially conscious populace, etc. but of course remain well grounded in reality (whatever that's percieved to be
)-Work in the sweet spot of 20-25 hrs per week to continue funding FI while having the flexibility to travel yearly and spend significant time with both our families (hers CA based mine MD based), feel like we're living a stimulating life rather than groundhog day
-Diversify income streams to reduce fragility
Keys to these plans will be reducing housing expenses to <200/month via multi-unit home purchase/geographic arbitrage/cash purchase/tiny house/rv living, etc. and setting up a "home base" within bike/public transportation of either of our families (<50-75 miles).
Things we have going for us- health, relatively early starting age, acknowledgement that we both enjoy contributing to society in likely income earning endeavors, dashing good looks (her not me), appreciation for free leisure activities (hiking, biking, yoga, weight lifting, cooking, learning, reading, gardening) and an infinite source of inspiration due to communities like this.
Things we have against us- the dark lord Sauron, naturally.
Thank you all for reading, it'd be great to hear any of your thoughts and I'll look to update this typically monthly or bimonthly, may His Dudeliness Abide in all of your lives.
) found on craigslist that should last a lifetime and eliminate the $10/week I was spending on gas commuting to work, auto depreciation/wear and tear, etc. I had my bike stolen just before the new year and was using a mix of bus, walking, and driving depending on time of day to commute the past month as I waited to find a good deal on a bike.