[USER]

I’m a federal employee and going through major job stress. Worrying about layoffs every day. This comforted me today… I’m 37, spouse is 43.

We live upper-middle-class lifestyles- nice house but not extravagant, drive old cars, kids in public school, but we do like to travel.

All of our investments are Roth. Even if we get laid off tomorrow, things will be OK. Right?

(Literally, the job stress is killing me. I’ve been in the hospital a lot lately and have gotten some scary diagnoses.)

We don’t make exorbitant salaries nor have an exorbitant lifestyle. Spouse and I are both GS-14s (you can Google that salary range).

Net worth came from many years of saving and investing. After retirement contributions and paying bills, we have close to zero left over each paycheck.

[Mandy]

Honestly there isn’t enough information. What are your monthly expenses. How much is disposal income?

What does it mean things will be ok to you in your perspective?

What is your target goal for retirement and how much are you currently investing?

How much is your mortgage and monthly bills.
If you have a net worth of 3.4 K and that is all invested, then you should be 100 % fine because you can have money move, sell if needed, etc

You have options of investment. Is this tied up into your house? Or other properties etc

[Daniel]

I feel your pain, you are in a great spot. I was also a federal employee and lost my job 4 weeks ago due to layoffs… it’s very stressful, but live goes on.

You are very very close to financial independence… you are ahead of a lot of us…

I barely have 700k

[Pierre]

More impressive than I’ve ever seen at that age on government salary.

Hard to believe, but hey, anything’s possible I guess.

[James]

If you can’t figure out how to live off 3 million in investments.. I question your intelligence

[Bond]

I’m not going to say forget the money completely… but if you don’t have your health, you could have a billion and it wouldn’t mean anything to you (maybe to your kids).

So, figure out what’s going on with your health (mental/ stress/ diet/ exercise/spiritual/etc.) and make sure to get that in order.

health, wealth, and freedom all go hand in hand, focusing on any of those 2 and ignoring any 1 will ruin your life eventually.

[Lori]

What is the point of the cushion if you can’t take some solace in your pre planning? Don’t stress.

You are in a better position than most and should a layoff happen, your family will not be homeless.

Go over some just-in-case scenarios for preparedness and peace of mind.

This can help ease your anxiety when you are aware of what could possibly be coming down the pike.

[Boop]

I would recommend you let off the gas pedal and coast for a bit at your job.

Maybe search in your free time for something you could do for fun since you guys are already multi-millionaires.

[Stuff]

You need to separate your house equity and investments. You’ll be fine since you already know how to keep a minimalist lifestyle.

I have a similar situation. Upper middle class small house, old reliable cars, public school kids, like traveling.

I stopped working 12 years ago at 2M NW. I tried to not spend like a millionaire and now I’m at 6.5M.

We still live a nice lifestyle, but not like a ferrari/beverly hills/private jet lifestyle.

Just a simple suburban life, go to costco, take kids to activities, travel multiple times a year in coach lifestyle.

[Drew]

If my job security was stressing me out that much, I’d get out ahead of it and look for a new job. It’s not worth the stress to me at all.

If you tend to be an anxious person in general (as I am) I would consider starting to fund a regular taxable brokerage that you can draw from at any time so as to not touch retirement funds.

[Alex]

This is called lifestyle creep I feel like
Where ur so stressed but wanna keep up with the high life bills so u suffer ur health is the worst

[Debbi]

You have saved well and choose to live below your means. You will be ok. 4% interest from your balance $139,000 per year annual before taxes.

You are young and will have a great cushion while looking for your next position, were a change to occur.

You have a cushion that should hold you until you find a position fitting your talents with less stress.

Take care of yourself for your family.

[Elizabeth]

Let’s say you get “laid off” from your federal position tomorrow…. unless you are a probationary employee getting terminated, you will be RIFed, not laid off.

Being RIFed will give you severance, in most cases.

If you are in a position where you will not get a severance, you will get unemployment.

[Iris]

Not sure why people in this thread are doubting this amount in a Roth, this is very possible to achieve, especially if you’ve been able to max out your TSP since you’ve started with the Feds & you’re 37.

For all we know, you could’ve started working & contributing at an early age.

Kudos to you!

[Erin]

Just breathe. Even if you took 3 months off to regroup, travel, let all that stress go and start again, you will be fine.

As long as you have savings in liquid cash for 3-6 months of living, you will be golden.

[Rao]

In the same deadly stress scenario. Got DOGEd in February and reinstated but the issue is being litigated.

I have $32,000 in IRA’s plus my home and will get a small pension in about 10 years.

[Eddie]

I can see where your stress is coming from layoff fears and what is left of paycheck after bills. It seems you have some properties, do they generate income?

Also do you have 6-month worth of expenses saved up for emergency use?

I might prioritize covering the basics to feel better.

Our net worth (at 43) is a few multiples of that and we still feel anxious at times about whether we can survive if forced into retirement today.

[Author]

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