u/Individual_Section_6

So 300k in QQQ or 100k in TQQQ

I'm on a cafeteria/kitchen school project where we just failed a city inspection that we needed for them to open the cafeteria next week, and it looks like we won't meet that date now. I feel like total shit and so much pressure. It's the worse feeling ever to have the owner and upper management breathing down your back and letting everyone down. We had people testing the kitchen hoods the day before and they passed, but then the cooking appliances the day of wouldn't turn on because the gas lines weren't connected and wouldn't ignite even after we connected them. They were supposed to all be tested by the installer and we thought they were. We had an entire team of subcontractors here the day before to make sure everything was ready for inspection, and no one thought to see if the stove tops were turning on. The appliances are connected to the hoods and supposed to shut down in the event of a fire, so it's a life safety issue.

44 single childless man here who is close to FIRE, but now I'm having second thoughts. Since I don't have a wife and kids, I don't have a lot to do with my free time. I also realize I don't dislike going to work and having a job. Although I'm not crazy about my industry and all the pressure and stress that comes with a job. With all that being said, it's hard to pull the trigger and actually retire early. I'm at the point where I just feel less pressure to work hard and get promoted at work, which makes it a lot better.

Paying a financial advisor to "manage" you money is a way to prey on the financially ignorant and lazy. They are essentially just sales guys who charge high fees and do not beat the market. How it should really work is they should educate people on how to open an etrade account and buy and hold in a low fee index fund. The index funds are essentially the same as a mutual fund or what the advisor would put you in, but even online brokerages offer mutual funds. As long as you don't try to trade the market, you will come out with more money that thru a financial advisor.

Weird question, but I have a theory that we should be less likely to suffer from addiction. I think this because those in love feelings are just a rush of feel good chemicals in the brain that we seem to lack. And I just never get those feelings, and I also never had addictions to substances. My dad is like me where he could smoke or drink coffee for years and quit cold turkey with no struggle. I never get obsessed with anything including people.

I'm not high earner. I'd say more like a little above average, but I'm really frugal and love investing. Now mostly due to the stock market, I have enough to quit working. I think if I told people I have 1 million plus to live off of investments, they would be surprised. Although everyone that knows me knows I've never had money problems, and that I don't spend a lot.

Update: so I’m shocked how many people on here hide their early retirement. I was under the impression that most would celebrate and brag about it. Just like with a traditional retirement except this one should be even more special.

I know they pick couples with the most potential for drama, but it would be hell for me to be in relationships like these. And it’s scary how they make such a turn from things being great in the beginning to seeing the men turn into shells of their former selves and just the fighting and unhappiness in general. And the people’s inability to make changes and understand what their partners really need and are asking for. And why is it Russ can’t get a job? I think that’s literally the biggest thing he needs to do. And how does his wife make a living “professional wrestling”? Unless she’s on AEW or WWE you can’t make a living wrestling. These people need to find real jobs and not try to make a living off the show or D list fame.

I’ve discovered a great money saving tip. Every Saturday morning I get groceries around 8:00am. And every Saturday morning I find these great markdowns in the deli area probably due to close to expired food. I’m there so early others don’t have a chance to get to it. Things like $2 rotisserie chickens, $2.50 mini meatloaf and deli sandwiches and box of chicken tenders. It saves me so much and a lot I use as lunch for the week!

44M here who suddenly realized I can FIRE due to a lifetime of being frugal and having everything in the stock market. I've never even done the math or considered retiring early until recently. I saved and invested just because that's what I enjoy doing! Of course if the markets crash and don't recover for a long time, that would change things, but I don't see that happening. A few other reasons I can FIRE is that I'm single with no kids and no debt except for a $1,400 a month mortgage payment. Now I think my plan is to keep working until I get promoted in my current line of work. That way if I ever do get married or have kids I can go back to my higher paying position. I also might just move to another country like Thailand where things are a lot cheaper, but I already live in a MCOL city.

I'm traveling to Thailand Solo for a few weeks and really want someone local to explore with. I feel like with dating apps it will be hard since I'm only in different parts of the country for a limited time. Would it be better to use the dating apps or pay for a bar girl for part of the time?

I grew up in a blue collar area and really didn't interact with white collar professionals until after college. Because of this, I really didn't have any idea about the career opportunity differences between white collar professions and blue collar. I had no idea that blue collar jobs are looked down on by many professionals. I had no idea what people meant by the importance of good communication skills and what that even was (something I struggled with). I didn't understand how much politics, butt kissing, and visibility meant for promotions (Something that hurt me). They actually discouraged me from attending a good college vs a local lesser college. My question is does having white collar parents really help you and give you a good head start because they can basically groom and mentor you from birth?

3 years ago I made a post saying AI would lead us into the future with a massive bull run, and only the most negative comments got upvoted. It was like 9 negative responses to 1 positive. Here we are 3 years later with the exact same sentiment. Except this time we're much much higher. My question to the bears is what if another 3 years from now the NASDAQ is 90% higher, AI has gotten a lot better, AI companies are now seeing profits and companies are incorporating AI into workflows, etc. Will you then admit you were wrong about AI or continue to say we are in a massive .com bubble?

Do you count assets, house equity, 401k, or personal savings/investments? I personally have just been looking at my personal stock investments. But if I include my 401k I'm close to 900k! Add on house equity then I'm at 1M!

Former electrician here who is now a PE for a GC hoping to become a PM soon. I left the field for many reasons, and I do not miss it. But where I live in central Indiana work is booming and there is a massive shortage of electricians. There are data center projects paying $50/hr (scale is $44) with lots of OT and some paying $200 a day per diem.. I could be grossing 154k - 175k a year on these projects or maybe more. The issue is that I am happier doing what I am doing now sitting at a desk most of the day. Working in the field on OT projects just kills my body. I hated coming home exhausted everyday and only having one day off. Then you have to work out in the heat and cold all day. IF it weren't for the OT I would definitely prefer what I am doing now, and would go back after a while.

However, I am only making around $94k a year now, and then if I do make it to PM how much of a pay bump am I really going to get? Definitely not what I could make as an electrician. In the office you work all this non compensated OT and even some Saturday's. Per hour I'm making a lot less what I would as an electrician working OT, which I never even thought would be possible before I got into the management side. You get a degree and dress a little nicer and all this BS for little to no extra pay.

After taxes etc I'm looking at a potential 50k extra money a year take home as an electrician. However, I don't need the money.

I'm a 40 year old tall fairly attractive white male from the US thinking of taking a solo trip to Thailand. Should women even factor into my equation? I keep hearing about how easy it is for western men, but then I don't think it's worth the hassle. When I watch videos of the red light areas it's all old unattractive white men. I'm still getting 8's back home, although it seems like a lot of work sometimes. I like the idea of dating a bunch of thai women and getting all the attention, but I'll only be there for a few weeks, so what's the point if I find multiple girls I like but won't see them again? Sex with prostitutes isn't nearly as pleasurable for me either, but I would still probably pay for a few. I also just like curvy women, and most thai women have no curves. I would also be going solo, and I don't care that much for traveling alone.