What do you do?
I’m a full-time software engineer, and work for a university part time.
What’s your age?
30 years young ❤️
Where do you live?
Monterey Peninsula, California
Salary?
$72,000 salary + bonuses and side hustles
When did you learn about FIRE?
(If you don’t know what FIRE is, read more here)
In Q1 of 2020. I thought I was the first person to think of early retirement after I came across a retirement calculator and had the option of plugging in an age that I wanted to retire. At that point, I wanted to increase my investment contributions to retire early and document my journey as “The Retired Millennial.” I wanted to make sure nobody else had the name, so I googled it, and came across an article written about Grant Sabatier that mentioned the FIRE community.
Why do you want to reach financial independence?
I want time freedom and a new challenge! I want to have the safety net of pursing what I love and am best at, and plan a lifestyle around my future family, not some organization or corporation.
How do you currently have your money allocated?
96% stocks (mostly index funds), 3% bonds 1% crypto
Average savings rate?
60-70%
What has been the most difficult part in this journey?
Finding a perfect budgeting system. Investing & savings 60-70% of my income? Simple! Finding the budgeting and tracking method that is seamless and not a nuisance….challenging!
At what age do you expect to hit FI and have the option to retire?
At this rate, 10 years, but my stretch goal is 5 years! 🤞🏼I am currently tracking my journey to 1/2 lean FI, and have reached coast FI ✌🏼😃
If you could offer someone a piece of advice to help them on their path to FI, what it would be?
Don’t sweat the small stuff, instead focus on investing and saving more than you spend. Never let the journey rob you of your peace. The journey is the most important part! ✨
If others want to follow your FIRE journey, where can they find you?
You can visit me on my YouTube channel or on Instagram @the.retired.millenial. I’d love to connect and support your journey 😃
