I've been looking into the concept of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) recently. I rarely buy anything outside of food and gas and live at my parents' home, so I save around 85% of my post-tax income every month without really trying. My net worth just broke 6 digits and given my current income, spending habits, and future goals, I hope I can retire comfortably in my mid-late 40s.
I may try finding a partner, but after a couple failed relationships, I don't know anymore. Kids are out of the question, so that'll save a ton. Purchasing and renting out property sounds like a huge hassle and I live in a high cost of living area, so it feels even more unrealistic. I'm on the road to maxing out my 401k every year and plan to continually invest in index funds/ETFs. I want to stay in the rat race and get promoted ASAP to a position where I can get comfortable and coast, but it's all so tiring. I guess I prefer jobs where I can turn my brain off and grind for 40 hours a week instead of needing to think, be stuck in meetings, and be on call for extended periods of time. Who knows, maybe I'll switch and be a janitor or truck driver in the future, but not now.
The more I look into it, the more I would love to go to Portugal, buy a small property with all the basic necessities, and live there for the rest of my life. I grew up poor and learned how to get by with very little, and that hasn't and won't change. The dream is to become a NEET and pursue my own hobbies, which all I need for is a computer, without a care in the world. Portugal itself sounds like paradise: low cost of living, low crime rate, great weather, great food, nice beaches...
Has anyone been there? Would you work, live, or retire there? Assuming you had enough money to live out a modest life anywhere, where would it be?
