A few months ago, I approached my boss and asked for a promotion. I gave good reasons. He got back to me a week later and said he and his boss have approved it but changing my job description and moving some of my duties would take some time so I wouldn't get the promotion until Q4 of this year. I brought it up once more since then just to see where things were and was told It was moving along nicely.
However yesterday my boss was acting really jumpy about retrieving something from the printer. It got me curious so I pulled up the final budget presentation that we have been working on for the past three months and looked at the organizational chart again. I didn't see a change. But when I glanced at the comments, it said that my promotion would not take effect until Q3 next year. That is a whole year away. I actually feel heartbroken.
THtey didn't discuss it with me and they never even hinted. I feel like such a dummy that I've been working so hard and doing extra. Essentially picking up the slack from weaker people senior to me.
I have to calm down this weekend and decide what to do.
I wish I was closer to retirement.

I think I'm finally getting closer to having a thrifty mindset. For so long I have felt I could buy what I wanted just because I could afford it at that moment.
I wasn't giving much thought to the fact that this was taking away from my future freedom. Now I'm starting to think things like: I already own something similar; I don't need to go out to eat and pay a tip; just because I have a coupon doesn't mean I should buy it now when I won't need it for a year.
I had some debt that was mentally weighing me down and I have finally got it down to the point where it will be paid off in 9 months, in October. I'm doing so, quicker than I expected, by "treating it like an emergency" as advised by the early retirement blogger, Mr Money Mustache.
Once the debt is gone, the challenge will be in continuing to do without the debt payment amount by putting it into early retirement.
In effect, treating retirement saving like an emergency. Should be fun.

Did anyone else watch The Suzie Ormon show last night. One of the people she gave advice to was a 50 year old single woman whose current financial status she graded an F. The woman's plan was to retire at 66. Suzie told her she had to wait until she was 70 so she could have an income of 50k/yr. Who would really need an income of 50k at age 70. She's not going to be doing a lot of travelling after age 70. I'm disappointed in Suzie's advice. I'm 50 and I'm not going to wait until I'm elderly before I retire, and I'm not going to be spending 50k less taxes at any point after retiring. God willing.

I've just turned 46. It doesn't seem real yet. Time really flies, kids.
On the job front, some people are being let go. What else is new. Two sales offices are being closed. Major changes are happening this year in a major department.
Hopefully I'm ok for at least a couple more years.
I wish you all a safe, happy holiday season and much prosperity in the new year.

Is it possible to live on $25k pre-tax/year when retired?

We would be 100% debt free by then. Our debt is a line of credit that we are whittling down. DD's education fund will be about $40k by the time I retire. My plan is to retire in 10 years at age 55.
I've recently started putting aside 50% of my aftertax income. I'm risk averse so the majority of it is in money market rather than mutual funds.
I don't have to worry too much about health care since I'm in Canada.

I hope I'm not being unrealistic.

I have started this blog to help me bring my lifestyle closer to where I want it to be: to eat healthier, spend less $$'s, reduce clutter and material things, and be more active.
My real desire is to live a long and healthy life.