Spotlight on: Retire By 40

Remember the 'old days' when online chat was still a thing and people would list and ask for stats upon entering a chatroom. I thought that might be a quaint idea to utilize as I browsed and shared other FIRE blogs of interest. As this blog grows, there might be other blogs that might apply to your situation or season or just might be more interesting. I like sharing knowledge; it's kind of what the Internet's all about. Some of the details are things bloggers have strong opinions on and use it to differentiate their experience. Others are things that are fun or basic to know about other bloggers.

Today's Blog Spotlight features Retire By 40. There's something irreverent about this blogger. I picture a calm middle aged man making notes on the world with nothing entirely new to say but enjoying being part of the conversation. I can relate to the heart he puts in his posts as he endeavors to remind readers it's not that much greener on his side of the grass (eventhough we suspect it likely is).

Blog name: Retire by 40
Author: Joe Udo
Blog start date: 2010
Location: California
Current Age: 44
Age of FI/RE: 38
Net worth: $2,312,988 (as of Feb 2018)
Debt: not found
Income/ Income streams: investment income, wife's salary, blog income, renal properties, Real Estate Crowdfunding, P2P Lending
Savings: $2,312,988 + $50,000/yr from wife's income
Filing status: Married

Rent/own: own
Kids: 1
Pets: no
Car: yes
Cell phone: yes
Cable: yes
Credit cards: yes, for travel hacking

Motivation: Per RB40, I had been a computer engineer at Intel since 1996, but the job wasn’t the right fit for me anymore. They needed senior engineers who can lead people and projects. That wasn’t me and the job became more and more stressful. My physical and mental health deteriorated and I knew I had to get out.
Their Journey so far: FIRE'd July 2012
 Blog Notables: His wife is still working. He is a stay at home dad and blogs on the side. Has multiple online business ventures and stays cautiously optimistic.

My takeaway: I enjoy the seemingly uncomplicated life he has carved out with simple objectives each day. I can appreciate those who lean into a life more ordinary.
How I relate to their journey: While my job still suits me for the time being, there are daily regular stressors of a work-life that chip away at my mental health. This also has fueled My Early Retirement Journey. His was the third How-To-Start-A-Blog post I read before I did my first trial with Bluehost.

Related Content:

• Spotlight on: My Early Retirement Journey


• Spotlight on: Root of Good

What blogbytes would you like to know about your favorite FIRE blogger?