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getting on the same page

August 1st, 2014 at 03:35 am

I don't know if my DH are on the same page for "early" retirement. We certainly are more in line with spending, budgets, lifestyle. Although we aren't 100% in lock step but what couple is? I'd say he's naturally very frugal (bordering on cheap) but I'm not a naturally spend person period.

Example I got my Dyson he still thinks it's nuts to buy a vacuum cleaner for $300 versus he thought my budget would be $150. Now does the vacuum make my life easier? yes! My house does feel cleaner. So I say it's worth it.

Anyway my DH recently had me borrow book on tape "four hour work week." I was surprised. When I've brought up living frugally, moving somewhere cheaper, buying a house cash he's freaked out. The idea of retiring with sooner because we live simpler I think he's coming around. My DH was mustachian before it became a "word".

But reading Mr Money Mustache retired with $800k in 2006 with one kid, meant the reality set in. I think he's thinking about it, wondering if we could do it. Expenses without our mortgage is very much "mustachian". So where do we need to be in five years? What if we could move buy a home cash with our equity and then live on what we've saved? We'd right now be close to Mr MM. But a few extra years with our extra kid or two?

I hope this is a turning point where my DH starts to believe we can do this. That don't need to work forever. It also helps I recently made a friend whose a single mother, who retired from private equity and supports herself royally. And she herself has said by living "simply" ie $100k/year she can still manage by watching her spending. She eats out, pays for preschool, etc. Life is about choices.

4 Responses to “getting on the same page”

  1. ND CHIC Says:
    1406902729

    Good for you for getting on the same page.

    Did I read that right? Your friend lives simply on 100k? What?

  2. snafu Says:
    1406903400

    Really glad you sprung for a Dyson. The true benefit is 5 years in the future when the machine continues to do an excellent job as you've come to expect. If you want your home to feel even cleaner, I suggest you add a steamer; hand held is an ok starting place.

    Yet another issue to be addressed is the self esteem derived by position and level of earned income. Talk to anyone downsized in the last crash about their emotional state in spite of a payout that took care of the financial side. I wasn't able to return to career after 5 bouts of cancer. When I was approached to do contract work, it felt like someone handed me back my life. DH would like me to retire so I have reduced the number of contracts I take but I need to be thought of as a valuable asset by people willing to pay money for my knowledge and experience.

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    1406905261

    My husband's concern would be what he would do to fill his time without being bored. He already says this, as he expects to retire at age 54. All he can come up with is working out longer at the gym! Smile

  4. LivingAlmostLarge Says:
    1407067838

    ND Chic, yes on $100k. It's something to explain later. But she's a retired single mom who adopted and left working at 45. She's truly amazing.

    Snafu hit it. My DH has asked what will he do if he does leave working? Especially since he does tie a lot to his self esteem. So even if we had enough I don't know for sure he would but at least he realizes we could.

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