The common thread is that just because you can buy something, or can qualify for a particular …

> To many people have a very very complex relationship with money. Too many use it as a "score" to reinforce their own self image. This quote from the show Ozark really resonated with me: "Money is not peace of mind. Money's not happiness. Money is, at its essence, the measure of a man's choices."

My stepdad saved, as much as he could, so he and my mom could enjoy at the level or slightly less, retired 18 months ago and was proud. Retired at 71. Died this January past. Got less than 2 years. Thanks Capitalism!

> The common thread is that just because you can buy something, or can qualify for a particular mortgage, doesn't mean you should if you're goal is to "retire" early. One of the engineers I worked at Sun with told me that once he had enough value in Sun stock he just decided it was enough. He never moved out of his "starter" house (small 3 bedroom) and always drove his budget/no-options economy car at least 100,000 miles. And his idea of a "great vacation" was camping in the Sierras. So it didn't take much for him to get there and in the middle of the dot com "boom" he sold all his stock, paid his taxes, paid off his house, and retired. My problem with the FIRE and /r/of communities is that their loudest proponents shun anyone who _doesn't_ want to live like this. Anyone who wants new cars, nice vacations (don't you dare mention flying business class!), and nice houses are anathema to th…

If we’re talking FIRE instead of FatFIRE, I think if you go the Mr Money Moustache or Millionaire Next Door route it’s much less about luck and more about financial discipline which as you’ve implied is very difficult. Many of its successful disciples only make 5 figures. They’re just retiring in their 40s and 50s and not in their 20s.