u/Silent-Carob6882

I just did my calculation and turns out I am very far away from Coast FIRE, age 62. I currently have $400k at age 44 and honestly thought I was doing well until I tried to calculate my coast.

Background: I started my 401k at 23 but due to my ignorance I didn’t invest wisely until my mid-30’s. I have been scrambling the past several years to catch up and finally feel a little better about retirement.

I live very frugally now in order to do that catch-up but if I continue to live this lifestyle I will still only reach coast FIRE at 62.

Am I a lost cause or can I fix this?

PS: I’m already as high in my career as I can get. I struggle with more advanced work than I’m doing now. So I don’t imagine I’ll make a whole lot more money.

Edit: Current expenses are $40k but that’s very frugal. I make $90k/year and contribute 18% to retirement. I live in a VHCOL in New England.

Due to family history I am assuming higher end medical costs and also need to include rent for a 55+ community when I get there. I am single with no kids.

Starting 10-ish years ago, I started having cavities once every couple of visits. my previous dentists always asked me if I had any issues, and always told me unprompted if they saw something wrong (like they’re watching a small cavity, but won’t act on it yet).

I started seeing my current dentist 3 years ago. he never asks if I have any pain or anything. he jumps right into my mouth and is practically out the door as soon as he’s done.

He has never told me I had a cavity, and didn’t tell me I had a crack in a tooth until I brought up pain I had been having. I brought it up after the exam was done because he just jumps in so fast I don’t have a chance to beforehand.

I haven’t gone an entire year without having cavities in the past 10-ish years. but suddenly I start seeing this guy and magically have had zero cavities in the last 3?

I am wondering if this is shady because is he waiting for my teeth to get really bad so it'll be more expensive to fix? why else would he not tell me about a crack in my tooth, or about cavities, unless prompted?