I posted here an about being laid off last year, and immediately joining a fintech late stage startup that I hated from day one, so I quit without anything lined up. Today, my accounts (retirement and non-retirement) hit my true FIRE number at $3M. and I wanted to share here since I can’t tell anyone IRL.
Long story short, I moved to the US for grad school with $6k in my pocket and a full ride scholarship 15 years ago, planning to finish my degree and go back home. But through incredible luck, now I find myself in this wild position. I’m 40, SINK (but with a dog that eats my money for lunch). Until I was 30, I didnt even know retirement was a thing as my family and family members always lived paycheck to paycheck and you work until you couldn’t work no more. I recognize I’m privileged and got lucky in many ways to reach this milestone. I know the US has so many flaws but I couldnt be more thankful to this country for the friends and opportunities it’s given me.
On Monday, I’m going back to work as I have accepted a contract gig at a place I worked and loved before to hopefully pad my accounts with the goal of buying a home in my home country. I’m so thankful of the peace of mind this gives me and the flexibility it has afforded me (like being able to quit a job I hated without anything lined up!).