Why do you want to retire early?

[KTP]

Yep. Lots of Dems here.

Best to avoid the political comments. They really serve no purpose and don't add anything useful to the conversation.

This is actually a good point. Political decisions do not really affect our finances to any significant degree.

[feh]

Yep. Lots of Dems here.

Best to avoid the political comments. They really serve no purpose and don't add anything useful to the conversation.

+1, from a saver and Democrat.

[HistoryChick]

Best to avoid the political comments. They really serve no purpose and don't add anything useful to the conversation.

Quoted for truth.

[Caoineag]

This is actually a good point. Political decisions do not really affect our finances to any significant degree.

Agreed. We have the full spectrum on this forum. The only thing for sure that we all have in common is a desire to get our own personal finances in order. And even that means different things to different people.

[cschin4]

Political decisions do not really affect our finances to any significant degree.

Political decisions affect EVERY aspect of our lives and every aspect of our finances. But, as this is not a "political" board I know we don't want to get into an "us vs them" type thing.

[KTP]

Agreed. We have the full spectrum on this forum. The only thing for sure that we all have in common is a desire to get our own personal finances in order. And even that means different things to different people.

Political decisions affect EVERY aspect of our lives and every aspect of our finances. But, as this is not a "political" board I know we don't want to get into an "us vs them" type thing.

Sarcasm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


sigh...

[AuthorErica]

HMMM it could be too late to totally retire early as I'm going to be 50 at some point in the near future. I guess I am wanting to retire as soon as it makes sense. I write so I'm seeing my books taking off, except I've only written one so far!

Here is what will do when I am retired:
-buy land and enjoy horses on my own land
-keep up with my three kids and nurture them into their 20s and beyond
-go places with my husband or with groups of friends, lots of places all around the world
-Write and write and write and write without worrying about the money

[jefffou]

My idea of retirement....at least at this point....is to give away some of the lessons I've learned and wisdom acquired....not that I've acquired any yet.

Mentor younger men in the area of finance, or medicine, or law, or business ownership.

Whatever it is that you've learned need not be wasted on yourself!!

Just a thought.

Jeff

[EEinNJ]

I recently read a book by a NY Times author, Fred Brock, titled Retire On Less Than You Think. I could relate to his examples as he had escaped from an expensive area in NJ where I grew up, to Kansas.

However, he, like many authors on the topic, talk about "redefining retirement". In this vision, you still work! Only, you get paid less (but theoretically enjoy it more) . Oh, and because you're younger, you still need employer provided benefits. The additional way to afford this kind of retirement is to sell your large, expensive home in an expensive state, then relocate to a smaller home in a cheaper state, pocketing the difference for living expenses.

Though I would recommend the book, I think this strategy will only work for some people.

[TBH]

Here is what will do when I am retired:
-Write and write and write and write without worrying about the money

This is it exactly!

To me, retirement doesn't mean "the point after which I will not work" or even "the point after which I will not get paid for my work." Instead, it means "the point after which I will do the work I want to do regardless of how much it pays or whether it pays at all."

My spouse and I are both writers, and we both like to write things that have very little chance of making money. I expect we'll both still work in retirement, and we may work a lot, but we won't have to be motivated by the paycheck any more.

[disneysteve]

To me, retirement doesn't mean "the point after which I will not work" or even "the point after which I will not get paid for my work." Instead, it means "the point after which I will do the work I want to do regardless of how much it pays or whether it pays at all."

I love this definition. It definitely fits my concept of retirement.

Here's an example. I've been selling collectibles since 1986. In 2000, I left my former job rather suddenly with nothing else lined up. For about 3 months, I was not employed in my career. During that time, I ramped up my collectibles business and sold quite actively on ebay. I hit yard sales, thrift shops, auctions and flea markets to buy merchandise to resell and I had a ball. My best month, I think I had sales of about $3,000 gross. That wasn't nearly enough money to pay the bills, though it did help reduce the hit to the EF. But I wasn't really doing it for the money. I was doing it to keep busy and because I really enjoyed it. Now, working full-time, I sell here and there but not very much at all. In retirement, I'd love to get back to the collectibles sales, attending auctions and strolling through flea markets hunting for bargains. Is that work? Kind of, but not really.

[elessar78]

I'm actually a communist and I'm just biding my time until your precious "capitalism" fades away... you pigs.

[maat55]

Retirement can mean different things. Some people retire from work they do not like and move to something they enjoy.

Some just want to play, read etc.

I will likely work after normal retirement age just for something to do that does not spend money. I consider financial security(knock,knock) the true retirement at any age.

[Mike75]

I love my job

I love working and running my 'not so big' but still lucrative business. The only reason I would like to retire is to have the time to see the world. I want to go to place that I have never even heard of. I want explore the unexplored.

[buddy]

I save vigilantly because for the past 30 years I've done my best in social services. When I retire from my current job I will still work but hope to have less stress and angst about a system that take it's toll on workers and recipients.