{"id":19387,"date":"2025-01-09T15:36:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/finance\/reader-case-study-stationed-in-japan-with-the-us-marine-corps-hoping-to-fire\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T15:36:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:36:57","slug":"reader-case-study-stationed-in-japan-with-the-us-marine-corps-hoping-to-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=19387","title":{"rendered":"Reader Case Study: Stationed in Japan with the US Marine Corps, Hoping to FIRE"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"\"\"\"<\/a>Kat and her husband Jay live in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan where Jay is stationed as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. They are childfree by choice and have an adorable dog named Sadie. Although they\u2019re just 29, they\u2019ve been diligently saving, investing and planning for the date when Jay gets out of the military. <\/span><\/p>\n

Their goal is to reach financial independence by that deadline, which is now five to eight years away. Kat would like our help determining if this is a reasonable goal and, if not, advice on what they should do to make it feasible.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s a Reader Case Study?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Case Studies address financial and life dilemmas that readers of Frugalwoods send in requesting advice. Then, we (that\u2019d be me and YOU, dear reader) read through their situation and provide advice, encouragement, insight and feedback in the comments section.<\/span><\/p>\n

For an example, check out\u00a0the last case study<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Case Studies are updated by participants (at the end of the post) several months after the Case is featured. Visit\u00a0<\/span>this page<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>for links to all updated Case Studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I Be A Reader Case Study?<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are four options for folks interested in receiving a holistic Frugalwoods financial consultation:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Apply to be an on-the-blog\u00a0Case Study subject here<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Hire me for a\u00a0private financial consultation here<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Schedule an\u00a0hourlong call with me here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u2192Not sure\u00a0which option<\/a><\/span>\u00a0is right for you? Schedule\u00a0a free 15-minute chat with me\u00a0<\/a><\/span>to learn more. Refer a friend\u00a0to me here<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Please note that space is limited for all of the above and most especially for on-the-blog Case Studies. I do my best to accommodate everyone who applies, but there are a limited number of slots available each month.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Goal Of Reader Case Studies<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"\"\"\"<\/a>Reader Case Studies highlight a diverse range of financial situations, ages, ethnicities, locations, goals, careers, incomes, family compositions and more!<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Case Study series began in 2016 and, to date, there\u2019ve been\u00a0102 Case Studies<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0I\u2019ve featured folks with annual incomes ranging from $17k to $200k+ and net worths ranging from -$300k to $2.9M+.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve featured single, married, partnered, divorced, child-filled and child-free households. I\u2019ve featured gay, straight, queer, bisexual and polyamorous people. I\u2019ve featured women, non-binary folks and men. I\u2019ve featured transgender and cisgender people. I\u2019ve had cat people and dog people. I\u2019ve featured folks from the US, Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and France. I\u2019ve featured people with PhDs and people with high school diplomas. I\u2019ve featured people in their early 20\u2019s and people in their late 60\u2019s. I\u2019ve featured folks who live on farms and folks who live in New York City.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Reader Case Study Guidelines<\/span><\/h3>\n

    I probably don\u2019t need to say the following because you all are the kindest, most polite commenters on the internet, but please note that Frugalwoods is a judgement-free zone where we endeavor to help one another, not condemn.<\/span><\/p>\n

    There\u2019s no room for rudeness here.\u00a0<\/strong>The goal is to create a supportive environment where we all acknowledge we\u2019re human, we\u2019re flawed, but we choose to be here together, workshopping our money and our lives with positive, proactive suggestions and ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And a disclaimer that I am not a trained financial professional and I encourage people not to make serious financial decisions based solely on what one person on the internet advises.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I encourage everyone to do their own research to determine the best course of action for their finances. I am not a financial advisor and I am not your financial advisor.<\/span><\/p>\n

    With that I\u2019ll let Kat, today\u2019s Case Study subject, take it from here!<\/span><\/p>\n

    Kat\u2019s Story<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"\"\"\"<\/a>Hi Frugalwoods! I\u2019m Kat, I\u2019m 29, and my husband Jay is almost 29. We are childfree and have one adopted dog named Sadie. We currently live in Japan where Jay works as a US Marine Corps Captain. We met in 2015 on a study abroad trip, got married in 2017, and have moved nine times since then! We love to travel, hike and camp, snorkel in the ocean, go on long walks with our dog, watch movies, and read.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What feels most pressing right now? What brings you to submit a Case Study?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    When I initially applied for a Reader Case Study, Jay had a one-hour commute to work on top of a long work day. He was waking up at 4am and getting home between 7 and 10 pm. We\u2019ve since moved and he now has a 20 minute commute! So, that\u2019s one major problem solved.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The other main issue is that I would like us to be financially independent by the time Jay gets out of the military in five to eight years. I want us to have options, rather than feeling like we need to jump into new careers the moment he leaves the military. As we near this self-imposed deadline, the goal is feeling more and more daunting.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We want to take advantage of our limited time in Japan \u2013 traveling, having cultural experiences, and spending time in nature. But this conflicts with our larger goal of wanting to be financially independent.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Post-Military Life Plans<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Jay would need to serve for 20 years in order to get a pension. We\u2019re instead hoping to fund our own retirement so he does not need to stay in that long. He loves what he does, but it is draining. After he leaves the military, we will need to purchase our own healthcare. Without a pension or disability discharge, Jay won\u2019t be eligible for VA care. He is open to serving in the reserves, which would continue his healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We are not sure where we want to settle down. Ideally, we will travel full time for a few years after Jay gets out of the military. Some states we are considering for our home base are Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont (or another northeastern state), and Minnesota. We\u2019d like a progressive community near hiking trails with housing that we can afford. We would love suggestions! Our families are pretty scattered now, so we likely won\u2019t live near most of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the best part of your current lifestyle\/routine?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"\"\"\"<\/a>We love where we live. We are very privileged to get to live in a beautiful place and experience a new way of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I am also enjoying my free time. I\u2019ve primarily worked as a writer in the past. I most recently worked as a kitchen assistant at a friend\u2019s restaurant, but resigned due to our recent move. So, I\u2019m currently between jobs, as one might say. I\u2019m using this time to take care of all of the domestic labor and life management tasks, learn the Japanese language, spend time in nature, and read. Now that we have internet at our new house, I will try to pick up some freelance work with a former employer, but I am not yet sure how it will work out with the time zone difference between the US and Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the worst part of your current lifestyle\/routine?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Jay\u2019s difficult job and long work hours. What little time we have together is mostly spent resting and preparing for the next week. We\u2019re on opposite ends of the spectrum right now \u2013 he is overworked and tired, whereas I am in need of social time and a challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Where Kat Wants to be in Ten Years:<\/span><\/h3>\n