I am writing this as a longtime Cisco employee. I am an individual contributor and have been for almost 20 years. I like Cisco, I like most of my managers and colleagues (not all, of course but that is true anywhere)
Am I worried about getting LR'd? A little but since I put this plan into place several years ago I am not worried about finances. Not one bit.
You can't change the wind but you can change the set of your sails. The most important of which are your financial decisions. Strive for financial independence now. It is not too late. jump to end for TL/DR version:
- shift to maximum frugality.
This is not the "latte factor" where your $4 coffee will change your life but rather an entire philosophical shift. Embrace frugality as a desirable and enjoyable lifestyle (it is). Focus on both the small rocks (the daily expenses like coffee, doordash and money su-kers). not to sound s-xist but money su-kers are typically gender aligned. Women spend a lot on nail care, beauty and the like. Men spend a lot on autos, gadgetry and beer. obviously stereotypical but you get the point.
Eliminate, DIY or change the frequency. Big Rocks.
Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Insurance & Education are typically the most expensive components. Start here. Be relentless. remember that New car smell is the most expensive fragrance in the world and no one really cares about what kind of car you drive anyway (except for you) get a reliable, safe used vehicle. strive to pay cash for a car as it will force you to save & research. Same concept applies with the other big rocks. The amount you spend on where you sleep at night and keep your stuff should be minimal. This is true whether you rent or own, strive to own a decent home in a good neighborhood.Max out your 401K, open a Roth and build a freedom fund.
What to do with all the money you save? Buy a boat? (no!)
First, build a cash cushion of at least 6 months of expenses, the good news is that the more you relentlessly drive down your expenditures, the lower this amount needs to be. Put this in a Money Market (many are yielding 4+ %
Then, Max out your tex deferred retirment account. the target date funds are a great one-fund set it and forget it option. you could balance that with a 100% stock fund (US Equity Index) say 50/50 so you are tilted toward more growth, especially if you are young. There are 1,000 asset allocation strategies you will be bombarded with, this is a good middle of the road, reasonable, strategy. It is way more important to get started and be consistent (autpilot) than to get all the knobs perfectly right. Most people do way more damage that way, especially you smart ones. (Doctors are notoriously bad investors because they think they are smarter than everyone else)
also start a Roth IRA and fund it as well (Roth is post-tax but has significant advantages)The best things in life are free.
National Parks, Conversations with Friends, gardening, reading a used book (the paper kind) long walks with the person you love most. Do the rocking chair test; imagine you are 80, sitting on the porch in your rocking chair and ask yourself what you would have done differently back then. I guarantee the make/model of car will not enter your mind even once.
TL/DR
Reduce expenses relentlessly, start with the big rocks.
embrace a mindset of "frugal is wonderful" because it leads to financial independence.
MAx out retirement funds (401k/IRA/Roth IRA) with a simple set and forget it Asset Allocation
100% Target Date Fund (based on your retirement year) or 50% Target Date Fund + 50% US Equity Index if you are more risk averse.
Build a 6 month war chest full of cash