🏗️ Make Your Own Machine Part 12: You Hit 200 Shares — Now What?
(Scaling the FIRE Engine Like a Pro)
You did it. You stacked your way to 200 shares.
Maybe you bought them with your own money.
Maybe you reinvested premium until you hit that second block of 100.
Maybe you sold a few puts, got assigned, and built your position that way.
Doesn’t matter. The result is the same:
You now own 200 shares of a stock like RUM…
Which means you can now sell 2 covered calls.
This is where things start to snowball.
🚗 The FIRE Engine Just Got a Second Gear
Let’s say:
- You sell 1 call per week and earn $15 = $60/month
- Now with 2 contracts? You’re earning $30/week = $120/month
That’s $1,440/year — just from premiums.
You haven’t even touched capital gains or dividend income.
And guess what? That extra premium?
It helps you buy your third set of 100 shares even faster.
📈 Why This Stage Matters
At 200 shares, you’re doing more than “trying out” the strategy —
You’re running an income machine.
Now your FIRE Engine becomes:
- More flexible
- More forgiving
- More fun
🔄 You can roll one contract and leave the other untouched
💰 You can go safer with one, and riskier with the other
📊 You can test strike prices, expirations, or even other stocks
You’ve got options. Literally.
🪜 The Stacking Effect
Let’s say RUM is $7.50/share.
| Share Count | Calls You Can Sell | Weekly Premium | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1 | $15 | $60 |
| 200 | 2 | $30 | $120 |
| 300 | 3 | $45 | $180 |
| 400 | 4 | $60 | $240 |
You don’t need new capital — you just keep reinvesting and repeating.
It’s slow. It’s boring. It’s powerful.
🧠 But Don’t Get Cocky
At this stage, it’s tempting to:
- Chase riskier stocks
- Reach for juicier premiums
- Overcomplicate your strategy
Don’t.
Stick with what works:
- Own good companies
- Sell reasonable strikes
- Reinvest premium
- Sleep well at night
Let the engine do its job.
🧠 Bottom Line
Hitting 200 shares isn’t the finish line — it’s the launchpad.
From here on, you’re stacking income faster, rolling smarter, and leveling up your financial momentum.
This is where the FIRE Engine shifts from “interesting” to life-changing — if you stay consistent.
👉 Up Next: [Post 13: How to Deal With Doubters (And Why Most People Stay Broke)]
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