[USER]

Hubs and I (both 38) had goal of slowing down to funemployment or seasonal workcamping when we hit 1.5 mil in investments. We’re thrilled to be at 1.1 mil but I’m totally burned out.

I don’t have the energy to job hunt or enjoy life with the demands of my current role.

It feels irresponsible to take a break knowing I won’t walk back into the job market making what I do now, but I can barely think straight most days.

He thinks it’s totally fine if we trim living expenses and I take a one-year career break. I would LOVE to, but I’m concerned about 1) throwing us off course after we worked so hard for so long and 2) health care

Financial picture:
-My W2 pays 95K; perks: health benefits & 403b match
-He’s self-employed; makes 40-45K (3-day week so he can
work on properties); perks: we live where biz is so it covers mortgage as well as his vehicle, cell phone, & internet

-We make 600ish/mo on a rental property

-Will clear about 200K next month from sale of inherited home that we renovated – some will be invested and some used for improvements on our own property

Investments:
-40K in cash
-107K in ROTH
-106K in IRA
-144K in 403b
-386K in brokerage

-363K in inherited IRA; have 6 more years to transfer funds

Other assets we could sell to support career break and/or FI:
-Few acres – maybe 30K
-Harley – maybe 13K
-Excess business equipment – maybe 10K

Expenses:
-Owe 76K on rental property
-Owe 64K on business/home property
-Owe 26K on my car

-Overall current monthly expenses are about 6K (I can reign in expensive conveniences if my schedule slows down)

-Current monthly income is 11,700K which would drop to approx 3600-4000k if we live on what hubs and rental prop bring in w/o touching brokerage.

We would likely qualify for health care subsidies through our state’s marketplace but coverage for 2 would still be $400-800/mo depending on income/plan.

Is it crazy to quit my W2 and take a year off to take care of myself, volunteer, maybe try PT funemployment? It would be ideal to pull from the inherited IRA while my income is low or none.

I have MAJOR stress about touching our brokerage funds and I think we would probably need to do so minimally or sell one of the listed assets to get by for a year even if we trim expenses.

Thanks for any thoughts you have!-

[Aurobindo]

One year won’t materially affect your journey. Sure, it’s an inconvenience, but far better to have to catch up in your early 40s than be miserable in your late 30s.

Cut your expenses mercilessly; eliminate what you don’t need; purchase catastrophic scenario medical insurance from an exchange; see if you can take a sabbatical from your job so you have one guaranteed to come back to; LEAVE and go do your thing.

Life is too short to worry about a single year of self-care.

[Peter]

If you were currently crushing it, I’d say “take some time off”. But it seems not quite the case.

Most of your big gains appear to be inheritances (house and IRA) not from the W-2 job, husband’s self employment or rental.

I think I’d look for another job that pays well and maybe provides less stress. Or is there something that can be done in your current role to make it less stressful?

i.e. take a month sabbatical to get refreshed and build your personal resiliency.

-side note…is your husband working 2 days a week to create $600/month income?

seems like this is not the most profitable venture.

[John]

Is there a possibility that you can stay with your current employer and scale WAY back on your responsibilities and/or hours, and tell them it’s either that or you will outright quit?

I realize that once the cat’s out of the bag, you have to follow through on the quit if they don’t want the scaled back you.

But sounds like you’re heading that way anyway.

[Joe]

I would try to stick to a budget and live on 3600-4000/month before you quit. You both are young and I don’t think 1.1M is enough for you to retire on.

[Mj]

Take three month use fmla. Regroup and if still burnt out take more time.

[Niloufer]

Take a short break, 4-6 weeks of FMLA(?) to release the stress. Quitting, given the details you provided, may derail your planned journey.

Having said that your well-being is most important and if you must quit, then plan for an alternative path before quitting.

And factor in taxes or penalties while selling assets.

My best to you in whatever you decide.

[Jason]

What would your cash flow look like if you paid off all the debts? Would the increase in net rental/business income from month to month make the choice easier?

Everyone says not to pay off low interest debt, but that only works over the long run.

In the shorter term there’s no telling if that money is better off in the market or by reducing your month-to month expenses.

You have more than enough to buy some peace of mind if you want to take time off… Or you could stop investing temporarily, focus entirely on paying off the debt so you don’t have to dip into the brokerage account then take some much deserved time off when you’re done.

Also, if you’ve got 1.1mil that gives you over $3500/mo + $600/mo rental income. Let’s say you can live off of $5k per month (assuming 1.5 was your FI number *4%/12).

Sounds to me like you could easily find something to do that’s lower stress and earn $1000/mo to make up the difference.

Remember theres no rule that says you have to go from grinding to reach FI to sitting on the beach all at once.

Seems like you’re pretty well positioned to find a better work-life balance… At least for a while, possibly forever.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

[Alberto]

You have to decide if your priority is money or your mental health. If you ask it on a group about finances they will tell you one thing, if you ask it on a group about philosophy they will tell you another. There is no right or wrong, only priorities.

If I were you, I would change my career to one that I like, you have to enjoy the journey

[Scott]

First the bad news. You’ve got a few more years before you’re financially independent. Maybe 10. Now the good news.

If you leave on good terms, taking one year off to recharge won’t be a big deal financially.

(you’ve worked hard to establish a decent cushion.

It also won’t hurt your resume. You can just say you spent a year off to support your family.

So go ahead and take the year if you need to.

It will be a good investment.

[Dede]

I would suggest taking some time off. Life is short. A colleague of mine pushed through until full retirement and then died suddenly three months after.

Some time off should not impact too much for the long term and you will be taking care of yourself so you can enjoy your retirement when you are finally there.

[Michael]

If you are burnt out.
Quit on good terms. Find a part time job with no stress. Relax. Access life’s priorities and expenses.

Be good to the people around you. Be kind and give back to the community.

Maybe a door will open that brings happenings.

1.1 million isn’t enough to retire for two people but it’s enough to not be miserable.

[Av]

Having survived nonprofit burnout, it can be life threatening in numerous ways.

Sounds like you have ENOUGH (just from the inheritance or if you pitch in at the hubby’s real estate or other biz, let alone your retirement buckets) to take a sabbatical.

It’s important to be flexible in terms of being able to draw, say $10K early, for a life restoring sabbatical.

It’s like taking the comp time you feel too guilty to take due to the non profit dysfunction.

The alternative is worsening burnout from which the coming back is hard.

Money does not revive the soul with the burned out clutch, steering, brakes, and transmission.

I’d also consider making the ask for the time off and holding your boundaries during.

I am currently off and my work phone is ringing, but I am not giving in to the workaholic dysfunctional me I used to be.

[Author]

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