Early-retirement wannabe

Gatser

Hear Hear!! CycloneBri!
...and now I am prompted to respond to your comments.
Although I have had numbers and spreadsheets on the go for many years just to keep us on track, I too am always relating to the many friends and relatives that are no longer with us.. or unable to do as much as they used to... age does not discriminate!
Talking of age... I will be joining your group of "Victor's" very soon ... maybe not on the riverbank, but certainly doing lots of inexpensive activities rather than sitting behind a desk 9-5 :j
One piece of advice from my already retired (youngish) friends:
"You do NOT need a massive pension pot/savings to make a change and do more with your life whilst you have good health... Do not wait until your age or health prevent you from enjoying a healthy lifestyle" :T

crux

Last few posts lead me to suggest that investment for retirement and indeed retirement planning in general should add an often overlooked risk diversifier.

Health & fitness.

Invest some of your time in to your personal view on best practice regards diet, weight, keeping strong and being fit.

No guarantee it will help of course but in terms of risk reward, this surely is the best investment you can possibly make!

MABLE

I gave up my stressful job about 2 years ago through early retirement.
Always coming home with bad headaches and stomach problems. Now I enjoy life and never suffer any stressful symptons anymore.

Me I am going to enjoy what money I have and if my relations are expecting a payout when I die they will be sadly disappointed. My advice to them is work for it like I had to.

hugheskevi

As one of the younger contributers to the thread (34), I agree strongly with what is above.

I've spent nearly 4 years of my life so far travelling the world, living mostly in a tent. Fantastic years, but if I think about the foregone earnings in that time....well, they were expensive years on that measure Not that I don't do a lot of pension saving too - there is a lot of sacrifice going on now to fund a very early retirement.

But they were essentially early-retirement years - because of those years, I will have to work a few more years at the end of my working life than I otherwise would have done.

As Loughton Monkey often states on other threads, you have so many years working, and so many years not working, and there is a need to divide the years between the different periods. A bit of creative thinking and flexibility can give great life outcomes.

cyclonebri1

hugheskevi wrote: »

As one of the younger contributers to the thread (34), I agree strongly with what is above.

I've spent nearly 4 years of my life so far travelling the world, living mostly in a tent. Fantastic years, but if I think about the foregone earnings in that time....well, they were expensive years on that measure Not that I don't do a lot of pension saving too - there is a lot of sacrifice going on now to fund a very early retirement.

But they were essentially early-retirement years - because of those years, I will have to work a few more years at the end of my working life than I otherwise would have done.

As Loughton Monkey often states on other threads, you have so many years working, and so many years not working, and there is a need to divide the years between the different periods. A bit of creative thinking and flexibility can give great life outcomes.

Hugh, that was always my philosophy through life, compromise

Spend some, save some, but for your own sake enjoy some.

I hate to bore folks again, but I missed 1 of the most poinient bits of the conversation I had with these chaps yesterday;

We got to talking about the waters our club runs.
They mentioned a day out they had last week, local club water favoured by the less able folks due to easy access with waterside parking.
They got to talking with an old guy, in his 70's, couldn't keep him quiet.
Spent as much time talking as fishing. When all was done and these 2 were about to leave the old guy asked;
"Are you coming again next week?, only I'm usually here on my own, all my old friends and fishing mates are either dead or house bound, even if I catch something great, I have no one to show it to.


That was the bit that made me think, it must be hard to be the last man standing.:(



PS, I'm a happy guy, come to terms with my situation, but a little reflection doesn't hurt.

coastline

I've done it...cash savings..investments built up...and a reduced final salary pension...
You can't take your money with you so I decided to go for it...just keep things simple such as bills etc...run an average car...and still go out and about..
You'd be surprised how many fellas over 50 yo are in the same boat...some had a cash target ...but many were forced out .
Since the late 1970's millions of men in industry have retired in their 50's due to their work being transfered worldwide in cost cutting measures.
Redundancy packages and early pensions have enabled millions to live a basic life away from the workplace....of course this has led to a running down of final salary pension schemes in general..
Lets face it if companies didnt offer generous terms there would have been friction on a grand scale over the last generation..
Things are a bit different today...as many young people cant find work and buy their own home...but to those who are fortunate enough it might be a dream..
So spend a bit and save a bit...then in a few decades see how you are set up...maybe the basics in life will be enough for your happiness..

JoeCrystal

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

"Are you coming again next week?, only I'm usually here on my own, all my old friends and fishing mates are either dead or house bound, even if I catch something great, I have no one to show it to.


That was the bit that made me think, it must be hard to be the last man standing.:(

*sniff* That is so sad. Still, thank you cyclonebri1 for nice posts on the topic. It does make me reflect on myself. I do agree with hugheskevi as well. There is so much I would like to do, even though I am even younger at 26 years old but alas, it is hard to get on with it. :)

Cheers,

Joe

gadgetmind

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

They got to talking with an old guy, in his 70's, couldn't keep him quiet.

And I was out cycling with a guy of 74 a while back and I couldn't keep up with him!

ffacoffipawb

gadgetmind wrote: »

And I was out cycling with a guy of 74 a while back and I couldn't keep up with him!

That's probably because you're 88.

gadgetmind

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

That's probably because you're 88.

Sadly not! I'm a quarter of a century younger and to make matters worse he pointed out the spot at which he'd had a heart attack a year ago.

Use it or lose it. Work both brain and body hard and they will last longer.