If I could turn back time, here are a few things I’d do differently: 1. Invest More in Stocks, Less in Handbags and Watches when you are young Financial freedom first, luxury later. If I didn't buy that many handbags or bracelets, I think I would have hit Lean FIRE at 30 years old instead of 32 years old. The moment you’re financially secure, those luxury items will be even more enjoyable without the guilt. 2. Allocate More to US Stocks Like SPY from the Start Since graduatin

The other night at dinner, I told my dad that I’m about to hit Lean FIRE soon. Without missing a beat, he said, “It’s time for you to set bigger financial goals! Maybe rent a bigger place!” I almost choked on my food. I looked at him and asked, “But why do we need so much?” He smiled and said “So you have the choice to live somewhere bigger and fancier.” Later, I shared this with a close girlfriend. She gave me similar advice: “Keep making more, then use the extra money to bu

Thanks to the gains I made from US stocks, I now have more capital to invest in dividend stocks. If I keep saving aggressively and investing consistently through dollar-cost averaging, I expect to reach Lean FIRE early next year. For those unfamiliar, Lean FIRE means my dividend income can cover my basic living expenses including rent, food, gym membership, even my beloved coffee ☕. Over the past two years, I’ve saved almost 70% of my paycheck every month. This wasn’t driven