In case you missed it, here are the previous parts:
- Year 1: From $0 to Financial Awareness
- Year 2: Navigating Setbacks and Growing Savings
- Year 3: Realizing the Power of Small Wins
Year 4: The Turning Point
Well, Year 4 was when things started getting really real. For a while, I had been comfortable in my rhythm—working, making steady money, living in a place I loved, and slowly inching toward my financial goals. But despite feeling relatively settled, something started to gnaw at me.
I had spent the last three years focusing on climbing the corporate ladder, building my savings, and trying to find a balance between work and life. But now, I was starting to ask myself some hard questions: Is this it? Is this the life I truly want?
The idea of FIRE still lingered in the background, but my relationship with it was changing. Up until now, I had been resistant to the idea of quitting work early. But now I was starting to see the benefits more clearly. Early retirement wasn’t just about stepping away from a job—it was about gaining control of my time, my choices, and ultimately, my happiness.
The Job That Changed Everything
By the time Year 4 rolled around, I had settled into my contract position at Company 4. The job was great in many ways—I liked the work, the people were friendly, and I had a solid salary. But something started to feel off. I was being paid well, yes, but I still wasn’t fulfilled. I’d learned the hard way that no job would ever make me truly happy if I didn’t have a deeper sense of purpose.
One afternoon, as I sat in a meeting, I realized I was just going through the motions. I was getting paid, sure, but my passion for the work was fading. The realization was a bit of a gut punch, to be honest. I thought this job would be the answer to my career woes, but it was just another job, just another paycheck. This wasn’t the dream job I had been waiting for.
I had thought that climbing the corporate ladder would give me a sense of accomplishment. But now, all I felt was empty. And that’s when I knew it was time for a change.
Enter FIRE: Time for Real Talk
This was the year I finally got serious about FIRE. My partner, who had been trying to get me on board for years, had been patiently waiting for me to come around. I started listening more, really diving into the math behind FIRE, and for the first time, I could see it wasn’t about giving up my lifestyle—it was about gaining freedom.
The more I thought about it, the more appealing it became. But there was still the fear of leaving behind the “safety” of my steady paycheck. Could I really do this? Could I walk away from the corporate world while still building wealth?
But when I looked at my savings, my investments, and my overall financial health, the numbers started to add up. I had managed to save more than I realized, and my financial picture was slowly starting to align with what I needed to achieve early retirement. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that FIRE didn’t mean giving up everything—it meant having the freedom to choose how I spent my time.
I started thinking about how I wanted to live my life—not how I thought I should be living it. The daily grind, the endless work emails, the constant stress… it just wasn’t worth it anymore.
Major Milestone: Reaching $100K in Net Worth
One of the biggest milestones this year was hitting a $100,000 net worth. It wasn’t an overnight thing, but all the sacrifices, careful budgeting, and years of saving were starting to pay off. Hitting that six-figure milestone was both thrilling and humbling. I realized just how far I had come from the person who didn’t even know where to start when it came to saving money.
That $100K was a reminder of how important consistency and discipline had been over the past few years. It wasn’t just about the big paychecks; it was about taking small, consistent actions day after day. It was the result of every time I chose to save instead of spend, invest instead of gamble. That number felt like proof that I was doing something right.
I also realized that hitting that milestone was a testament to my ability to follow through. This wasn’t luck—it was hard work and dedication, and I felt a huge sense of pride in that.
Taking Control: Making Moves
With my net worth growing and my financial situation stabilizing, I started making more strategic moves. I began increasing my investments, contributing more to my 401K, and putting money into low-cost index funds. I was starting to realize that my financial security was within my control—and it felt empowering.
But the real game-changer came when I started tracking my spending more closely. For years, I had kept a general sense of my expenses, but now I took a more granular approach. I set a goal to keep my annual spending under $30,000, which meant living frugally while still maintaining a decent quality of life. I cut out unnecessary expenses, like dining out less often and being more mindful of impulse purchases. Every dollar saved and invested felt like one step closer to freedom.
A Bit of a Wake-Up Call
This year wasn’t without its challenges. There were moments when I felt like giving up—moments of doubt when I wasn’t sure if I could really stick with this FIRE thing. After all, it’s hard to stay motivated when the road to early retirement can feel so long and uncertain.
But during those moments of uncertainty, I reminded myself of the reasons I started this journey. I didn’t want to be tied to a job forever. I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and regret not taking control of my future. FIRE wasn’t just about retiring early—it was about gaining the freedom to live life on my terms.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter
By the end of Year 4, I felt like I was on the cusp of something big. I wasn’t sure exactly what that looked like, but I knew it involved more freedom, more time to do what I wanted, and a life where I could truly enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Year 5 was right around the corner, and I could feel the momentum building. I was finally starting to embrace the idea that I didn’t need to stay in a job I wasn’t passionate about for the rest of my life. I could take control of my time and my future—and I was ready to make that leap.
Current Finances (End of Year 4)
- Salary: $70,000
- Spending: $29,810
- Net Worth: $100,000
- 401K: [X]
Stay tuned for Year 5: The Year I Fully Commit to FIRE.
