Starting Over Again and Now Poor Adults

Starting investing in my 30s

Starting Over at 30-Something After Blowing $80K on Options. Here’s My FIRE Plan, What Does Yours Look Like?

Six months ago I had $80K in an options account. Today I have $0. I gambled it chasing 0DTEs and theta plays until there was nothing left.

That chapter is closed. Automating everything next week so discipline doesn’t depend on willpower.

My setup:

• Single, no kids

• Salary: $113.3K

• Self-only HDHP with HSA

• Starting portfolio: $0

• Goal: FIRE (exact number still TBD, probably $1.5M to $2M range)

Monthly automation (starts next week):

• HSA: maxed at $4,400/year ($367/month)

• Roth IRA: maxed at $7,000/year ($583/month)

• 401K: 4% to capture full employer match ($378/month + $378 match)

• Emergency fund: $250/week until $10K (about 9 months to fully fund)

• VOO (taxable): $300/week now, bumping to $550/week once the emergency fund hits $10K

The numbers:

• Out of pocket: \\\~$3,710/month ($44,524/year)

• With employer match: \\\~$49,056/year into wealth-building

• Savings rate: \\\~39% gross, \\\~43% with match

Why only the 401K match and not maxing it:

Early retirement means I need accessible money before 59½. I know about the Roth conversion ladder and Rule 72(t). Roth IRA contributions (not earnings) can also be pulled penalty-free at any time, which gives me another flexibility lever. For now I’d rather overweight Roth IRA + taxable brokerage and keep the 401K at the match. Open to being talked out of this.

What I’d love to hear from you:

1. If you started investing seriously in your 30s, how much were you putting in monthly, and where’s your portfolio today? Real numbers please. The old threads are dated and I want current snapshots.

2. For anyone who recovered from a major blow-up (options, crypto, bad business bet), how long did it take to feel “back”? Mentally and financially.

3. Would you change my allocation? Specifically the 401K match-only call. What did you wish you’d done differently at my stage?

Not looking for “you should have done X years ago.” Looking for what actually worked for people who were once where I am.

This also assumes 0 raises and bonuses

Current NW: $170K all in housing, no student loans, car loans etc. virtually no debt besides mortgage and whatever is on my credit card before I pay it off monthly