Planning for retirement at age 25 - anyone else?

ams25

I'm not entirely sure why, but started saving/investing in my teens and as soon as I started earning a salary, maxed peps (the predecessor the ISA, launched way back in 1987!) then isas and opened a personal pension in my early 20s before joining a FS scheme a few years later. Kept loading ISAs as much as I could.

I always planned to be able to retire/stop working/FIRE (before it was a thing) at 55 if I wanted to. Got so caught up in my career for a while that I saw myself working much longer....then hit 50 and decided work was overrated and within a year or so quit. Only possible because I started the savings habit so early. So grateful to my 20 something younger self.

Any 20 year olds reading....automate savings/investments..as much as you can (but still sensibly enjoy life today). Maximise earnings and avoid lifestyle inflation. No need to be extreme but prioritise saving. There is nothing better than 30 years of compounding to gift to your older self.

It may seem like a very long time away....but it really isn't