afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2019—2021

A market shock tested confidence; beach life made the trade worthwhile

After leaving a high-paying career, Stop Ironing Shirts encountered an early market slump and the unfamiliar task of withdrawing savings. Over time, beach days, longer trips and chosen consulting made the new life rewarding, though occasional career envy still surfaced.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2019-04 · Household
$1,850,000

Author’s rounded midpoint of $1.8m–$1.9m while home sale was underway.

Source
Reported net worth2021-08 · Household
$2,500,000

Current household net worth, separate from starting balance.

Source
Reported spending2021-08 · Household
$5,500 / month

Low end of self-reported $5,500–$6,500 monthly range.

Source
Posts2
2020
Post 01Recalled in 2021

An early financial shock

“It was a bit frustrating watching investors in these tech companies gloat about outsized gains.”

Stop Ironing ShirtsRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He used cash and bonds to buy falling stocks.
  • His value-heavy holdings recovered more slowly than technology stocks.

How it felt

  • The market decline briefly shook his confidence. “briefly unnerving”
  • Watching other investors’ gains was frustrating. “a bit frustrating”
MoneyFreedomIdentity
Stop Ironing Shirts (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Explicit retrospective account in this interview.

Invest and miscellaneous; explicit March 2020

Editorial summaries with short, attributed quotations. The original contains the full story.

2021
Post 02Recalled in 2021

Freedom feels ordinary

“the freedom and control I have over my time is unbelievable.”

Stop Ironing ShirtsRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Life near the beach included longer winter Hawaii trips.
  • Optional consulting supplied intellectual stimulation.

How it felt

  • Monthly withdrawals had finally begun to feel comfortable. “Life is amazing”
  • He valued freedom while sometimes envying former peers’ promotions. “moments of FOMO”
MoneyFreedomIdentity
Stop Ironing Shirts (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Explicit retrospective account in this interview.

Miscellaneous; interview submitted August 2021

Editorial summaries with short, attributed quotations. The original contains the full story.

See how these posts compare with other people’s experiences.

Research

Last checked Sep 2026. The accounts are self-reported. This timeline follows selected accounts, including recollections where labeled; it is not a complete archive.

  • No later life developments established beyond the reviewed interview.
  • Selected public self-reports, not a complete archive or independent verification of finances.

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