tskeeter
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 20, 2011 19:37:45 GMT -5
Posts: 6,831
|
Post by tskeeter on May 24, 2011 18:11:41 GMT -5
I ain't gonna! I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna!
phoenix & midwestern, you have the opportunity to retire quite comfortably at age 55 if you really want to work at it just a bit. If it wasn't for the last few years, I'd have made it despite making several mistakes.
I didn't start saving for retirement until I was about 30. I took a couple of hardship withdrawals, that kicked me out of the 401K for a total of about 24 months (no loans in those days). I didn't save as aggressively as I could have, once I did start to save. I relocated several times, which kept my house payments at current (rising) market prices for 20 years, rather than buying one house and making payments based on housing prices from 20 years ago. At one time, the banks and I owned enough cars that my car payments were more than my house payment. (Why does a single guy need three cars, anyway?)
And I haven't had to scrimp, unless you consider annual ski trips, biannual Caribbean sailing trips, multiple two week European vacations, and new cars every 100K miles to be scrimping.
I think it is a good idea to work toward retiring at 50 or 55. Let me tell you, after a few decades, working just isn't as much fun as it once was. Just being close to being able to retire gives you lots of options for how you live the balance of your life. The choice to continue to work, or to go play with the retired big kids is your choice to make, not a choice that circumstances will make for you.
|
|
AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 11:59:07 GMT -5
Posts: 31,709
Favorite Drink: Sweetwater 420
|
Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on May 25, 2011 12:04:28 GMT -5
I'm going to be one of those old ladies who bitches about everything. Right now, I don't have the time to fight bad customer service, but when I actually do have the time, watch out, crappy merchants!!! I have the time now, and while I will enduldge occasionally, most of the time- it's not worth my time no matter how much time I've got.
|
|