Lately, my YouTube feed has been full of new car reviews. How did this happen? I must have Googled a new car or watched a car video. Ah… I think I got it. Last month, I complained that a new car cost too much, and a reader commented that a new Chevy Trax is selling for around $25,000. I looked it up and the AI overlords concluded that I must be lusting for a new car. This is somewhat accurate. Our car is getting pretty old, but it is still going strong. However, a newer car would be nice. The entertainment system and safety technology have improved tremendously over the last 14 years. Also, w ..read more

Hey Everyone! Today, I want to update you on the state of blogging at Retire by 40. First of all, thank you for visiting this blog! I appreciate your support over the years. This blog wouldn’t be here without you. Second, I’m moving our email subscription service to Follow.it. If you’d like to get new posts via email, you can sign up with the form below. Get new posts by email: If you don’t see the form, then follow this link to my sign-up page. Email Subscription change For many years, I used Aweber to send new posts via email. It works pretty well, but it’s one of my biggest business expens ..read more

Hey everyone! Wow, it’s May. The months are flying by so quickly. That’s what happens when life is good. April was a busy month for me. I went to the gym, delivered some lunches, worked on the blog, took RB40Jr to all his activities, and enjoyed learning how to make ceramics. Whew! That’s the key to a fulfilling retirement. You have to be a little busy. Well, I had plenty of time to relax too. I read several books, watched a bunch of movies, and went out with Mrs. RB40. It was a good balance. On the personal finance side, we had a good month. Our net worth decreased a bit due to the stock mar ..read more

Fitness is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. We need to exercise to stay healthy. However, life often gets in the way. Most of us are busy with work, kids, chores, social gatherings, side hustles, and other activities. With bills to pay, who has time to exercise? That’s the great thing about retirement. You have way more time when you don’t have to work. That’s fortunate because fitness is more important than ever as we grow older. Muscle mass, bone density, and metabolism can rapidly decline after 50, especially for women.    However, it isn’t easy to start exercising after ..read more

Did you know about 50% of Americans have a side hustle? That’s a staggering statistic, but not entirely surprising given the high cost of living. Many families are having a hard time paying the bills with their primary income alone. Working on a side hustle is one way to bridge the gap. In addition, it’s easier than ever to start working a side hustle. There are all kinds of app-based side gigs now. Anyone can start working a side hustle whenever they want. But is it worth it? My side hustles Allow me to share my experience with side hustles. After graduating from college in 1996, I got a ful ..read more

FIRE can be daunting when you’re starting out. When you’re young, you want to enjoy life and have fun. Saving for retirement is important, but it looks like a distant future when you’re in your 20s. Surviving on your own is already difficult for Generation Z. Achieving financial independence seems out of reach. Unfortunately, the cost of living is higher than ever due to inflation over the last few years. Housing, transportation, food, and entertainment are all very expensive now. It’s harder to save when you don’t make a lot of money. Zoomers think the older generations had it easier and the ..read more

Hey, everyone. It’s April and spring is here. What’s that bright ball in the sky?! Oh, it’s the sun. That’s what Portlanders say after a long gloomy winter. Finally, we have a beautiful spring weekend. People are out and about in shorts and t-shirts. Ahhh… It’s nice because we just got back from spending spring break in Southern California. The weather was perfect there. We visited Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica, Venice, and Palm Springs. We had a great time as tourists. Mrs. RB40 and I grew up in Southern California, but we didn’t appreciate all the things it had to offer. It was also ni ..read more

The easiest way to become a millionaire is to max out your 401k contributions every year. It’s a lot of money to put away but trust me. Your 401k will grow and become the foundation of your portfolio. Just start with 10% of your salary and increase it every year. In a few years, you’ll be able to max it out. The 401k retirement account has so many advantages. The contribution is tax deferred. You won’t have to pay tax on it until you withdraw later. The contribution is automatically deducted from your paycheck. You won’t miss the money because you won’t see it in your checking account. Many ..read more

Are you setting a good example for your kid? Shouldn’t you work full-time at the office to support your family? What are you teaching your son by retiring early? These are valid questions. I left my engineering career to become a SAHD/blogger after my son was born. We spent a ton of time together when he was young and we enjoyed it tremendously. However, he’s a teenager now and he is busy with school and various activities. Is it time to go back to work to show him the value of hard work? Personal finance is just that – personal. What works for me might not work for you. I can provide some gu ..read more

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since I left my engineering career! Time flies when you don’t have a boss. I’m happy to report I’m still going strong, and life is better than ever. No doubt, retiring early was the right decision for me. However, my early retirement didn’t quite unfold exactly as I pictured. For many people, retirement is an abrupt transition. One day you’re at your desk in the office, the next you’re chilling at home. It’s a big adjustment, and it’s no surprise many struggle to adapt. After all, work is a huge part of our adult lives, shaping our identity and sense of ..read more