In case you missed it, here are the previous parts:
Year 3: The Reality of Opportunity and Doubts
So, there I was in Year 3—feeling like I had made some serious progress, but still far from where I envisioned myself. My journey to FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) was becoming less about lofty dreams and more about wrestling with reality. Sure, I had made strides in my career, but as things began to shift, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was really on the right path.
I had spent the first couple of years building up my skills, my network, and my savings. But something began to nag at me—what was all this work for if I didn’t know exactly where I was headed? The FIRE philosophy, which had once seemed like an exciting possibility, now felt like something I wasn’t quite ready to fully commit to.
I had a steady job with a good salary, but the thought of “retiring early” was still distant. In fact, I didn’t even know if I wanted to retire early. I didn’t want to feel like I had to sacrifice everything I enjoyed in life.
But then came the opportunity that, for better or worse, pushed me further down this path.
The Job Opportunity
A connection from my second job (Company 2) reached out, offering me a position that seemed almost too good to be true. It was a role that came with more responsibility, a promotion, and a salary boost. At first, I was hesitant. In fact, I almost talked myself out of it.
Was I ready? Could I handle the pressure that came with a bigger role? I’d already proven that I could do the job, but the title… it felt like a leap I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready to make.
But after some back-and-forth in my head, I decided to go for it. This job came with a salary increase that pushed me to $65,000 per year—a far cry from my first job when I was barely scraping by. And yet, something still felt off.
I had secured the promotion. I was moving up. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the ultimate solution to my happiness. Was it just another rung on the corporate ladder, or was it something that would finally get me closer to the life I wanted?
Apartment Drama
While my career was seeing these developments, my personal life seemed to reflect the same duality. I had been living in a cramped apartment for a while, constantly dreaming of more space and a better environment. With my partner, we started looking for a new place to live. The problem was, finding a spot in my budget was proving to be a nightmare.
We had a wishlist: walking distance to my new job, no roommates, newer building, and preferably some outdoor space. As we started searching, it became painfully clear that the market was way out of our league. Even though our budget was around $3,000 a month, we were constantly hitting dead ends. The places we looked at were either too small or just didn’t have the vibe we wanted.
But then, out of nowhere, we found something. A gorgeous apartment in the Financial District. It had stunning views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. We were sold, or so we thought. When we arrived to sign the lease, the place had already been taken. Talk about frustration.
But as it often does, the universe had other plans for us. We found another spot, one even better than the first. A stunning studio near the Brooklyn Bridge, with panoramic views that stretched from the Empire State Building to the Freedom Tower. It was a steal at $2,675/month, and we jumped on it without hesitation.
This apartment was everything we wanted and more. It was walking distance to my new job, had breathtaking views, and best of all—no roommates. I was finally getting the life I had imagined, a step closer to stability and peace.
Job Trouble and a New Path
Just as things were looking up, life threw a curveball. After three weeks in my new job, things took a turn. The client I had been hired to manage decided to leave, and with that, I was laid off. The timing couldn’t have been worse, especially after just signing that lease. It was a tough blow, but one I knew I would recover from.
I decided to take some time off from the job search. I had enough saved up to survive a few months, so I spent the summer focusing on other things. But after some soul-searching, I knew it was time to get back in the game.
During my break, I received a surprising offer from a recruiter who had been following up with me for a while. The new opportunity was one I couldn’t pass up. It was for a contract position at a company that had a reputation for treating its employees well. I was reluctant at first, but after some back-and-forth, I negotiated a salary increase and a position that came with more responsibility. I was starting to feel like I was back on track.
The FIRE Resistance
By this point, my partner had introduced me to the concept of FIRE. He had been on board for years, but I still wasn’t convinced. I liked the idea, but the reality of it seemed like a stretch. I was in my late 20s, living in NYC, making good money, but I didn’t want to give up the lifestyle I had worked hard to build.
It was hard to imagine a future where I didn’t work in some capacity. I still believed that the right job would come along and that I’d find my “dream career.” Early retirement didn’t feel like the right choice for me—yet.
And so, I kept pushing forward, focusing on building up my savings, climbing the corporate ladder, and enjoying my new apartment. I was making progress, but the FIRE idea was still something I pushed to the back of my mind. I wasn’t ready to fully embrace it.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks and doubts, Year 3 was a period of growth and learning. I wasn’t where I thought I’d be, but I was much further along than I was when I started. My career was moving in the right direction, my finances were stabilizing, and I was living in a place that felt like home.
As I moved into Year 4, I knew that the road to FIRE would continue to be filled with twists and turns. But I was starting to see that the true value wasn’t in the destination—it was in the journey.
Current Finances (End of Year 3)
- Salary: $65,000
- Spending: $28,365.52
- Net Worth: $53,352
- 401K: [X]
