Totally agree....we retired at 57 and 62. We lived below our means and all big items paid off. I thank my younger frugal self and spouse. Life is good! We aren't promised tommorrow or good health either.
Good for you. Living below my means was my secret too. It's so obvious, but not so common. People want the big homes, fancy cars and meals out, instead of a secure future.
I worked 2 jobs all throughout my 20’s to 40’s 6 and sometimes 7 days a week…. I missed a lot of family time to provide for my kids and give them the things I didn’t have….. now in my late 50’s and retired….. I see my kids emulating my life…. I never see them and they’re only 10 minutes from me….. it’s a sad vicious cycle 😢
Hey Mike, that's very sad. It reminds me of the Cats in the Cradle song. My life was very similar to yours, where I worked a lot and also did a lot of side-work to float my family. That's what it took on a single income, so I can't feel bad about it. Fortunately, my kids both live 10 minutes away and I get to see them a lot. My wife always has something going on for the family, so I am blessed. We also have Sunday family dinner, which is an awesome tradition. Thanks for your comment. Bret
I can relate. I worked long hours and stuck in traffic for sometimes hours one way. I missed a lot. Never married, my daughter’s father was in prison 10+ years.
@@madameclark3453 Hi Madame Clark, being a single mom is one of the hardest jobs I can think of. My mom was divorced and raised us 5 kids, plus she put herself through college and graduated with honors. I have so much respect for you. Bret
Great outlook, My own father worked every day of his life until a heart attack at 60 forced him into medical retirement he now lives with a pacemaker. We never took a single vacation together or as a family. He used to tell me "He couldn't afford it" but in reality he could have but he didn't make it a priority to be more than a provider. Even now he's never happier than reliving his war stories about how he overhauled 60 transmissions a week, fixing a blown motor in a parking lot and of course how many years he worked "like a dog" to provide for his family. Growing up on the border of poverty and watching him work so hard was a big reason i finished college and operate my own business.
Hey Gary, thanks for the awesome comment. I think you are smart to have started your own business. I often wish I had of done that, even though I had a great career. My dad used to take us out to the desert to camp, hike and look at the stars. He was an Engineer, so we weren't poor, but things were always tight with five kids. When I became a dad, I bought some used dirt bikes and took my kids out to the desert. My kids are pretty busy now, but we still go out once a year. I believe providing is half the job and spending time together is the other half. We are lucky our kids still live in town, and they still enjoy spending time with us. Bret
@@johnjaco5544 lol exactly i hate that song. He loves all those old shmaltsy soft rock jams jim crocce, john fogerty, simon garfuncle, brian wilson, nothing brings on the depression like it. I’m like _turn up van halen and rip off the knob._
I was fortunate to retire at 56. I have never looked back… I had a super stressful career and it was impacting my health. Once I retired I was finally able to focus on my health and have been able to turn my health issues around. I have now been retired for 8 years and am enjoying every minute. Great message!!
Hi Elizabeth, I'm so glad you were able to turn your health issues around. Even office jobs can really take a toll, especially the stress and sitting all day.
My best friend at work walked me out the day I retired, I asked him when? I’m right behind you, he passed away less than a year. I miss him a very descendent man.
Hey Juan, that is such a sad story. Nobody knows when their time is up. I have been losing a lot of friends lately in their early 60s and it's a bummer. I'm glad you got out, with some time for yourself. Bret
Thank you, we were born the same month and year. And we were New Yorkers. This year has been horrible, I have been to one too many funerals. I’m also sorry for your losses. Stay safe and healthy.
I saw my mom's friend at church last sunday. She retired because she had back surgery. She is so bent over and in pain that there's no way she is going to enjoy retirement. Do it as soon as you can because your health isn't guaranteed.
Retired at 44 y/o and at 59 now I think it was a good thing. At first it was a social issue as most of my peers were still working. However, I traveled and eventually settled on a piece of property starting a small hobby farm. It surely keeps me active and now many of my peers will be retiring soon and maybe we will reconnect... Good luck!!😊
Hey James, that's a great story. Good for you for retiring at 44. Most of my friends and family are still working too. I'm looking forward to when they retire, and we can do some fun things together. Bret
Reminds me of a VP who retired after our company was bought by another. He died of cancer within a year. Enjoyed the footage of Laguna Beach. Used to go there when visiting a supplier in CA many years ago.
Hey Wayne, thanks for stopping by. That is so sad. I would hate to get cancer. I'm glad you like the footage of Laguna Beach. I always try to film on cool locations, but I have been stuck around the house while my wife heals. Bret
A coworkers father passed away at 55 years old. He had a physical last week at the doctors office, given a clean bill of health, and was driving home. He stopped the car half way home and called 911. They arrived, transported him to the hospital, and pronounced him dead. I see way too many people dying before retirement and I will call it quits next year.
I see far too many men passing away within 6 months of retirement. I've spoken with many men who deeply regret retirement because it ceased being enjoyable for them after a few months.
@@gaiustacitus4242 ,,, "Ceased being enjoyable for them after a few months" ? ... People are their own worst enemies sometimes. The world is your oyster, enjoy it.. I've been retired for almost 12 years (retired at 60) and life couldn't be better.
I retired at age 52. Glad I did, I'm now 75 (and a half). Today I'm patching two tires on the garden cart and lots of other things to do if the mood hits me. If a person doesn't want to get out of bed in the morning, something needs to change.
This is worth sharing. I'm retiring in a few months at 62. Although I actually enjoy my job and coworkers, I keep thinking about my father who passed away at 55. He had a lot of dreams for retirement that he talked about that never happened. As others have said we are not guaranteed long term life or health, so I want to retire while I am still active and able to do active things like travel. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Lisa, thanks for stopping by and congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I think you have the right idea retiring at 62. My Dad also passed away young, at age 65. Luckily, he retired at 55 and got to spend some time for himself. I hope you get to go on many retirement adventures. Retiring at 58 was one of the best moves I have made. Bret
Another great video topic! Quality of life in retirement should be a large consideration in retirement planning. Give this guy some subscriptions to encourage him to keep making content!!
Great stuff. We didn’t understand work life balance until Jim suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. Life is far too short to work 60+ hrs a week like we used to.
I'm so happy you guys retired early and are enjoying life. I used to work a lot of hours too and then I realized I was way more loyal than my company. Once I started working four-day weeks, I figured it out and was soon retired.
@@HopeToProsper we wish we were fully retired, but working as hard as possible to get there. We see the lives you are living and want to be there. We aren’t that far from off, our savings rate this year is 60% so we are accelerating our rate to get there.
Exactly my life since age 48 when my wife and I started traveling the world. Now in mid 60’s we still run our little mom-n-pop business from home about 4 hours a day. Full retirement may wait till 70+.
Men typically do not live long after retirement. I wonder how many people are aware that payout from the Social Security system was intended to be like hitting the jackpot. When the Social Security system was first set up the retirement age was set at 65 because the average life expectancy of a man was 59.5 years and for a woman 63.5 years. This was how the system was designed to be sustainable. If the system had been maintained accordingly to ensure its viability, the retirement age would now be set at 81 years of age.
yep and it still could be to this day but the "healthcare" system can keep you alive and paying them for many years past your time until your broke.. Their are good things but their are bad things about the healthcare system ..
So I noticed.this 35 years ago when I first started working. Pension was paid out for about 2 years max. An older colleague explained it was because they had nothing to do in their life other than work. His recommendation - have decent hobbies. Don't live to work ... work so you can live.
2 yrs for me also ,retired once in 2021 relocated after a job transfer years ago , housing market had to take a mortgage to get a home they were selling so fast ,,,since paid it off , now helping my mom keep her home after a relationship break up ,,,been working 6 days a week going on 3 years
On the other end of the work life balance my little brother liked his job and finally retired when he turned 70. He died earlier this month a week after he turned 71. Much like your friend Jeff he didn't have much of a retirement. I retired when I was 48 and have never looked back for the last 25+ years.
Good for you for retiring so early. I know a number of people who plan on working until 70, but I like your plan so much better. As much as I loved my job at one point, I certainly don't miss it now. My condolences for your little brother.
Gotta retire debt free. Otherwise you have to sell stuff, or move. Unfortunately when you have a family and work to make ends meet, until they’re all out you can’t really save big time unless you make mucho bucks and we didn’t. So now we save. Four more years for me. One for my hubby. Then we are both done. He’s retiring early at 66 instead of 66 and 10 months.
This happens a lot more than you would think. One of my friends at work dropped dead on the sidewalk leaving the plant. He had been preparing for his retirement a few months after he died.
Do not wait to travel. Enjoy now that you have the energy. You can still save and travel. Just keep your cost down, don't get into crazy car & home payments.
My dream is to retire at 59.5…. Ten more years to go and if I’m lucky enough to make it that far I’ll never look back. St Pete and Key West will be my winter homes. Congratulations on your early retirement!
Hey Christian, thanks a bunch. I was shooting for 60, but my company closed down when I was 58.7. So, I waited all year for 59.5, but I had money put away in taxable accounts. It ended up being no big deal. Good for you for thinking 10 years out.
@@HopeToProsper I love the message you put out. I’m a funeral director from Indiana and I see it way too often when people work way too much and not get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, myself included.
Enjoyed your video. You have a great voice and sound younger than you are. I think you could do voice over work like audio books just for fun of course!! Going to check out your channel.🙂
Ya I agree ℹ hit 60 and as an Australian builder developer I started to get really frustrated on jobs and really new it was time to retire I own my home and living of dividends and loving live 🙏👍😁 thanks 🙏
Good for you. Two of my brothers own businesses and they are making good money right now. It's hard to know when enough is enough, after so many years of grinding away. I'm glad you figured it out. Bret
Sad to hear. Many times lawyers cut corners on their health habits ( and stress that you mentioned just now ). Grabbing a quick processed carb breakfast with trans fats on the way to the office, and that goes on for years. Really common.
I worked 22 yrs...retirement with fellow my colleagues..in short, three of them died, within 3 yr window of a 20 plus year career. They cashed maybe (1/16 th), fraction... of their total retirement package. Sad indeed......
Sad to hear but also worth hearing to put perspective back into life. In addition to losing a lot of our family and friends earlier than you would expect, it has made up our minds to retire early as well. Since we are well traveled and want to do more of it on a slower pace, that's what we are going to do. What you speak of concerning doing things earlier in life because when you get older, you won't want to or be able to. That concept is well explained in the book "Die with Zero" as time buckets. Do things at the appropriate age. If you are going to hike that mountain and camp, probably want to do that in your 20s to 50s. Put off cruises and the easy stuff for later perhaps. There are seasons to our lives and we don't know when a storm is going to blow in and roll us into a new season. Cheers !
Hey Bob, thanks for your comment. I need to read Die with Zero. A number of my viewers have been recommending it to me. I will be 60 in a couple weeks and I'm still hiking mountain peaks and camping in my truck. I don't know how long that will last, but I'm going to keep doing it as long as I can. Bret
Also a good option is to “retire a little as you go along” through life. May not ever see full time retirement. I retired at 57,currently 64. Don’t regret retiring along the way nor the current full retirement. Father Time is undefeated, some day he’s gonna get us all. Enjoy the journey.
Sometimes I wonder if people say “travel” is what they dream of because, it’s really just an excuse to take a few weeks off work and escape that mindset. True travel to me would be living life like a gypsy and free…
Hey Adriano, thanks for your comment. I love to travel and it's a big part of my retirement bucket list. But I like to travel for a couple weeks and then come back home. I'm not interested in continuous travel. I love where I live and have lots of friends and family. But I do need to do more slow travel. I am so used to the 9-day vacations from work, and I need to slow it down a bit, now that I have more free time.
my dad retired at 60 for health reasons died at 68. i will retire at 65 and take much better care of myself then he did. i would go at 62 but i need medicare
The idea that people who are working are not "embracing the journey" is pretty self centered. Who are you to tell other people they are not enjoying life if they like to work or keep working? I was a military officer and retired at 46 in 2022. I am still working because I actually enjoy it. I have plenty of time to do stuff, but I would be miserable sitting around 7 days a week.
Most people always work doing something. Who wants to just sit doing nothing? So this entire as of ‘retirement’ is bogus. You are simply leaving one, most likely ‘paid better’ job for a lesser paid but more interesting job. Not retirement in traditional sense, just job transfer. People on Utube always get it wrong
I worked as a civilian for DoD before I retired. What I noticed the most is that you folks love people to tell you what to do. Wasn't a lot of original thinkers! I can see why you wouldn't enjoy retirement, you would have to think for yourself.
Yea you just came off as a ass. Your not the only military member out here. You must not of payed attention. The guy was just giving his opinion. Im glad you like your job keep working.
Hey, you got a goooood looking kid behind you. Yeah, that’s all you really need (besides your family). You just gave me a concrete decision, why not, get out now. Man, I do do missed my customers though, they really care about me, and take care of me over the years. I don’t miss the job, but I missed the ppl in it. It’s a difficult decision but I know I have got to sign off on it. I am 67 yrs young, my body’s slowing down, and although I am still really sharp but I also forgot sometimes. The only thing standing in my way of decision is I afraid my mind goes to sleep on me…scared too. I have been working for 40 yrs, never once stop, yes, I am blessed, always have a job to go to. Yes, I liked the way you think, once one hits 70, it’s gonna slow down from there, I know that too…still being scared 😂😅😊 Thank you for happened to stop by, taking 2 mos off to tend to hubby (just a mild down time, we hoped). But I will do a double take on your heart ❤️ clip. Be safe, God bless, and stay healthy, my friend.
Hi Linh, thanks for your kind comment. If you can get out now at 67, I strongly recommend it. You will find new ways to keep your mind sharp and visit with the people who are important to you. Taking two months off is a great idea to try out retirement. Enjoy some time to yourself and see how you like it. Take care. Bret
@HopeToProsper love you, man 👨 Lol, it's been 3 wks, and I still can't get 😭 back to the normal that I set out to do (late shift 33 years). It's funny how your body is getting used to over time. I am training IT now. The picture of you and your GSD keeps flashing in front of me since. We have 4 GSD and staged them; 8, 6, 4, and 5 month old 🐶 🐕 Sorry, but I need no human, if I can help it. They literally kiss my tears away. Thanks again for being you. I will keep in touch. Be careful out there. I can't even trust my shadow 😪 😕
I retire at 58 too. The decision was based on no significant benefit on finance as well as some health issue.. I think it was right decision. I don’t think there is a similar criteria. for everyone, but I do think once you make decision just go forward and that feeding right will come along
Your comments are great and I agree with everything you said. But there is also some people who cannot survive post retirement years because everything they lived for in their life was tied to their job - their status, goals and even social life. For some people retirement literally means death if there is only void after retirement.
Thanks a bunch for your comment. I have thought about that a lot and I created a retirement "purpose", so I didn't have that void. I guess that's not so easy for someone whose whole life is wrapped up into their work. Bret
The sad part imo is the concept of retirement being the time to enjoy yourself is a little backwards. I loved my working years. If I didn't like a job I quit. I didn't have kids so I had that freedom. It's the journey a person should enjoy.
Just heard of ya from Sarasota Tim channel, it's hard , for me, to look at folks wearing sunglasses, bc i cannot see eyes, expressions, etc. I'm sorry 4 your loss.
Thanks a bunch for your feedback Lyceum. Sometimes I wear the hat and/or sunglasses in my videos and sometimes I don't. I need the sun protection, but I don't want to appear impersonal. I will try to remember to take them off, in my intros. BTW, could you please let me know which Sarasota Tim video you heard about me? I would greatly appreciate it. Bret
Around the 7:30 mark, where the guy tells you that you spent too much money on early travel as opposed to saving the money for travel in your 70’s- I would encourage that person the read “Die with Zero.” The premise is to spend your money along the way, at appropriate times, for the age-appropriate things. You seem to subscribe to this based on what your reply is to that person. Just thought I’d mention the book.
Thanks Heidi, for your comment. I plan to read Die with Zero soon and maybe post a review. I do subscribe to this philosophy somewhat. I plan to leave some money, but not all of it. My travel expenses are one of my best investments right now. I'm so lucky and thankful I can travel as much as I do. Bret
It’s what I’m going though now- I worked through my 20s and 40s and simply don’t have the money or time to retire. Not only that, I’ve got this weird Asian athetsclerosis that resulted in my getting a stroke (I’m half-Asian), so this means my 50s will be much MUCH more difficult to make money now. As I lay here in Culver City, I question EVERYTHING. Retirement not in the cards for me, sad to say.
Two of my very good friends have had strokes lately and it is devastating. I visited with one of them yesterday. He is mostly incapacitated, but luckily has an awesome spouse. I sure hope you can recover to a point where you can enjoy some of your later years. Bret
Retirement is a personal decision. What works for you may not have work for Jeff. There’s a certain amount of enjoyment and fulfillment from a rewarding career. He certainly had that. Living out of a truck is not the least bit appealing to me but you be you……
I just turned 61 years old. I plan on retiring next year when I turn 62. Why? My company that I work for will offer medical coverage until I reach 65 and my family too. After that they will they will help me with Medicare. Sounds like a a very good deal to me. They do not offer this today. My company also has a pension plan and a 401K plan too. My company today no longer has a pension plan for new employees. I am grandfather in. Thoughts?
Hi Alfred, I think this is a great deal and one very few workers in the US get these days. My thoughts are to get everything you possibly can from the company on your way out. The pension and medical coverage are both gold and you are fortunate. Two jobs ago, I got a large severance package and it helped me a lot. My last company shut down, so all I got was my vacation pay. I'm very happy for you.
@@HopeToProsper I agree, very few companied offer this today. I have heard rumors that the company that I work for might offer " buy outs". This is not confirmed. They might do it in October of this year. They have done this before in October before, not sure why. I plan on waiting to see if they do this. I will not do it if I might loose my medical coverage. I just need to get to 62 years old which will happen in May of next year. Not very far away. Thoughts?
@@alfredyost7972 They probably offer the buyouts in October, so they can clear the books for a good first quarter. I'm glad you asked me about this Alfred, because unfortunately, I have a lot of experience with downsizing. If there is any way you can score a buyout, go for it. They usually include medical and if it doesn't, you should reject it. You have to be really careful you don't get screwed over. They may be offering the buyout to get out of the medical. I wrote a blog post about this last year, and you can read it here. hopetoprosper.com/thriving-during-two-layoffs/ There is an affiliate link to an eBook called How to Engineer your Layoff. You don't have to click on my link, because I don't care about that. I bought this book before my first layoff, and it was the best $99 I have ever spent. My company was trying to shake me off my bonus and severance packages and I was able to avoid that. I got an extra $100K, just by following that book and it set me up. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you. Bret
@@HopeToProsper I definitely would not accept a buy out that takes away my medical benefits. The buy out I am hearing about is that my company lets you get all of your benefits in retirement. The buy out is that I would get 6 months of pay. Again, this is only rumor, so it may not even happen. Thoughts?
@@alfredyost7972 Six months of severance pay is exactly what I got. (13 years x 2 weeks = 26 weeks or 6 months) It was around $58K, which was huge for me as I was getting laid off. The bad news is that I live in California and almost half went to taxes. If you can get this same deal plus medical, grab it with both hands and don't let go.
I take advantage of my job in little subtle ways that don't hurt them too much, they are making plenty of money off my blood, sweat, and toil. And that way if they fire me I can at least feel good I took advantage a bit, no regrets.
@@HopeToProsper Hardly, I show up and get my work done in a timely manner, no mistakes, no mishaps that would cost them thousands of dollars. I even enjoy the work somewhat but I need to get paid appropriately for it. You know, "adjust for inflation" properly lol.
Unless you’ve got an ownership stake, people owe no loyalty to an employer. Your voice sounds like you’re in your 20’s! I was an accountant who became ill at 45 & had to leave work fully disabled at age 48. I regret several things I missed with my family because I was too dedicated to “the office”. I was the highest ranking non partner in the firm & was there almost 16 years. I told my wife that I’d have gotten more recognition if I’d died that what I received when I left. 6 years into medical retirement at the age of 54 now, I’m mostly stuck at home. Live life to the fullest you can! while
Hey Jeff, thanks for stopping by. That's sad to fall ill at such a young age. I completely agree with getting an ownership stake. I worked for three startups, two of which failed. But the one that succeed really set me up for early retirement.
I'll bet he did like his job, especially the prestige and the sense of accomplishment. I loved my job too at one point, but I don't miss it now, one bit.
1. Have you heard of the slow travel Is movevent? If not look into it as it might right up your alley on youtube search 2. Also did you do the F.I.R.E. investment plan to be able to retire at your young age? 3. Does your wife now want to retire now too? Cheers!
Hey Bob, thanks a bunch for your comments. 1. Yes, I have heard of the Slow Travel movement, and I follow a number of these channels on UA-cam. I love watching, but I'm not interested in travelling full-time. I have a wonderful house and family and I love being home as much as I love to travel and adventure. 2. No, I was aware of the FIRE movement, but I was way more interested in creating wealth and becoming Financially Independent than in Retiring Early. I created a video on this you may like that explains my take on FIRE. ua-cam.com/video/FXwsLN9X4x8/v-deo.html 3. My wife has never worked in a career, but she has watched a lot of the kids in our family, so she has worked her butt off. She retired from watching kids about five years ago. So, I'm joining her in retirement, instead of her joining me.
Hey Jerome, I like the idea of retiring at 62 or earlier. The problem is that most people can't afford to do it, especially with the high inflation right now.
Nobody...and I mean NOBODY ever said on their deathbed , "I wish I would have spent MORE time at work". Don't wait until later to travel - travel NOW as much as you can afford it. I and my family did and we're glad we did. I"m 59 and planning to leave the rat race at 62. By the way, it's OBVIOUS the mayor of Laguna Beach is NOT a Democrap or a Liberal. HOw can I tell? The beach is NOT filled with tons of the disgusting homeless.
You are so right. I absolutely love being able to travel and spend time with family. Good luck on your future retirement. 62 will come before you know it.
Europeans have a better approach to life. Long vaccinations allow them more time to travel and be with family/loved ones while young. Had so many amazing holidays with my family and the kids while they where growing up. No need to retire to enjoy life!
Young man. Have a seat. You know probably most folks cant stop work at 60. There likely will be huge financial risks/losses if they did. So, its ok to share your thoughts but dont recommend them. 😮 K?
Hey Mike, thank you for your comment. You are correct that only about 8% of Americans retire by 60 and I'm one of those 8%ers. In my own life, I have accomplished a lot of seeming unrealistic goals, just by believing and making it happen. So, this is what I recommend to others on my channel, to aim high, plan well, and set big goals. One thing I never recommend and never will, is for someone to attempt to retire early when they aren't prepared financially. Bret
Get out while you can.
Totally agree....we retired at 57 and 62. We lived below our means and all big items paid off. I thank my younger frugal self and spouse. Life is good! We aren't promised tommorrow or good health either.
Good for you. Living below my means was my secret too. It's so obvious, but not so common. People want the big homes, fancy cars and meals out, instead of a secure future.
I worked 2 jobs all throughout my 20’s to 40’s 6 and sometimes 7 days a week…. I missed a lot of family time to provide for my kids and give them the things I didn’t have….. now in my late 50’s and retired….. I see my kids emulating my life…. I never see them and they’re only 10 minutes from me….. it’s a sad vicious cycle 😢
Hey Mike, that's very sad. It reminds me of the Cats in the Cradle song. My life was very similar to yours, where I worked a lot and also did a lot of side-work to float my family. That's what it took on a single income, so I can't feel bad about it. Fortunately, my kids both live 10 minutes away and I get to see them a lot. My wife always has something going on for the family, so I am blessed. We also have Sunday family dinner, which is an awesome tradition. Thanks for your comment. Bret
@@HopeToProsper you are truly blessed, never take it for granted!
I can relate. I worked long hours and stuck in traffic for sometimes hours one way. I missed a lot. Never married, my daughter’s father was in prison 10+ years.
@@marylandmike7655 Thanks Mike, I won't.
@@madameclark3453 Hi Madame Clark, being a single mom is one of the hardest jobs I can think of. My mom was divorced and raised us 5 kids, plus she put herself through college and graduated with honors. I have so much respect for you. Bret
Great outlook, My own father worked every day of his life until a heart attack at 60 forced him into medical retirement he now lives with a pacemaker. We never took a single vacation together or as a family. He used to tell me "He couldn't afford it" but in reality he could have but he didn't make it a priority to be more than a provider. Even now he's never happier than reliving his war stories about how he overhauled 60 transmissions a week, fixing a blown motor in a parking lot and of course how many years he worked "like a dog" to provide for his family. Growing up on the border of poverty and watching him work so hard was a big reason i finished college and operate my own business.
Hey Gary, thanks for the awesome comment. I think you are smart to have started your own business. I often wish I had of done that, even though I had a great career. My dad used to take us out to the desert to camp, hike and look at the stars. He was an Engineer, so we weren't poor, but things were always tight with five kids. When I became a dad, I bought some used dirt bikes and took my kids out to the desert. My kids are pretty busy now, but we still go out once a year. I believe providing is half the job and spending time together is the other half. We are lucky our kids still live in town, and they still enjoy spending time with us. Bret
Lucky,your Dad was a working man that took care of his family.
Listen to the Harry Chapin song,,Cat's in the cradle.That's you,and you Dad.
@@johnjaco5544 lol exactly i hate that song. He loves all those old shmaltsy soft rock jams jim crocce, john fogerty, simon garfuncle, brian wilson, nothing brings on the depression like it. I’m like _turn up van halen and rip off the knob._
@@garyt3hsna1l82 Crank it up and jerk your knob off.
I was fortunate to retire at 56. I have never looked back…
I had a super stressful career and it was impacting my health. Once I retired I was finally able to focus on my health and have been able to turn my health issues around. I have now been retired for 8 years and am enjoying every minute.
Great message!!
Hi Elizabeth, I'm so glad you were able to turn your health issues around. Even office jobs can really take a toll, especially the stress and sitting all day.
That's great!
I'm glad more of us are "escaping" !!
My best friend at work walked me out the day I retired, I asked him when? I’m right behind you, he passed away less than a year. I miss him a very descendent man.
Hey Juan, that is such a sad story. Nobody knows when their time is up. I have been losing a lot of friends lately in their early 60s and it's a bummer. I'm glad you got out, with some time for yourself. Bret
Thank you, we were born the same month and year. And we were New Yorkers. This year has been horrible, I have been to one too many funerals. I’m also sorry for your losses. Stay safe and healthy.
So sad!!
My old stomping grounds from the early 80s. I enjoy your videos.
I saw my mom's friend at church last sunday. She retired because she had back surgery. She is so bent over and in pain that there's no way she is going to enjoy retirement. Do it as soon as you can because your health isn't guaranteed.
That is so true. So many of my friends worked construction and they are all disabled.
Retired at 44 y/o and at 59 now I think it was a good thing. At first it was a social issue as most of my peers were still working. However, I traveled and eventually settled on a piece of property starting a small hobby farm. It surely keeps me active and now many of my peers will be retiring soon and maybe we will reconnect... Good luck!!😊
Hey James, that's a great story. Good for you for retiring at 44. Most of my friends and family are still working too. I'm looking forward to when they retire, and we can do some fun things together. Bret
Reminds me of a VP who retired after our company was bought by another. He died of cancer within a year. Enjoyed the footage of Laguna Beach. Used to go there when visiting a supplier in CA many years ago.
Hey Wayne, thanks for stopping by. That is so sad. I would hate to get cancer. I'm glad you like the footage of Laguna Beach. I always try to film on cool locations, but I have been stuck around the house while my wife heals. Bret
A coworkers father passed away at 55 years old. He had a physical last week at the doctors office, given a clean bill of health, and was driving home. He stopped the car half way home and called 911. They arrived, transported him to the hospital, and pronounced him dead. I see way too many people dying before retirement and I will call it quits next year.
I see far too many men passing away within 6 months of retirement. I've spoken with many men who deeply regret retirement because it ceased being enjoyable for them after a few months.
Good for you on calling quits. I have lost a lot of friends way too early lately.
@@gaiustacitus4242 ,,, "Ceased being enjoyable for them after a few months" ? ... People are their own worst enemies sometimes. The world is your oyster, enjoy it.. I've been retired for almost 12 years (retired at 60) and life couldn't be better.
Im done soon. Have worked hard my whole life i will be 59 in November. Im going to retire at 59 1/2. Im done with this crap.
@@thadeusmoor3535 Good for you Thadeus. You will never look back and miss work. I know I don't.
I retired at age 52. Glad I did, I'm now 75 (and a half). Today I'm patching two tires on the garden cart and lots of other things to do if the mood hits me. If a person doesn't want to get out of bed in the morning, something needs to change.
Hey Roscoe, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you were able to retire so early and enjoy so much of your life. Bret
Doesn't it depend on who is in the bed with you?? That old Bette Middler job about hanging out the washing!
This is worth sharing. I'm retiring in a few months at 62. Although I actually enjoy my job and coworkers, I keep thinking about my father who passed away at 55. He had a lot of dreams for retirement that he talked about that never happened. As others have said we are not guaranteed long term life or health, so I want to retire while I am still active and able to do active things like travel. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Lisa, thanks for stopping by and congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I think you have the right idea retiring at 62. My Dad also passed away young, at age 65. Luckily, he retired at 55 and got to spend some time for himself. I hope you get to go on many retirement adventures. Retiring at 58 was one of the best moves I have made. Bret
My own grandfather passed just a few months after his retirement. It was shocking!
Thanks so much for your comment. It's terrible for someone to work so hard and get no retirement. That's one of the reasons I went out early.
@@HopeToProsper Me too! I am semi-retired at 55.
I work 7 months out of the year and enjoy both the work and off time, always have something to look forward to.
Working 7 months a year sounds like a great opportunity for someone who still likes to work. I am happy you were able to get this arrangement.
@@HopeToProsperI don’t think he’s retired. Just work/life balance.
Another great video topic! Quality of life in retirement should be a large consideration in retirement planning. Give this guy some subscriptions to encourage him to keep making content!!
Thanks Carey. I know you had a similar experience with one of your coworkers. It's a wake-up call for sure.
Great stuff. We didn’t understand work life balance until Jim suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. Life is far too short to work 60+ hrs a week like we used to.
I'm so happy you guys retired early and are enjoying life. I used to work a lot of hours too and then I realized I was way more loyal than my company. Once I started working four-day weeks, I figured it out and was soon retired.
@@HopeToProsper we wish we were fully retired, but working as hard as possible to get there. We see the lives you are living and want to be there. We aren’t that far from off, our savings rate this year is 60% so we are accelerating our rate to get there.
@@OurRetireEarlyJourney That's awesome you are saving 60%. You will be retired before you know it, don't worry. It will definitely be worth it.
I wouldn’t trade all my memories of travel and being with friends for a distant hope of health and wealth. Don’t wait on life ever. Carpe Diem
I agree 100%. Don't wait on life. Do whatever you want and can do now.
Exactly my life since age 48 when my wife and I started traveling the world. Now in mid 60’s we still run our little mom-n-pop business from home about 4 hours a day. Full retirement may wait till 70+.
@@Summitclym That's perfect Alps Hiker. I was very interested in having a small business when I first semi-retired.
Men typically do not live long after retirement. I wonder how many people are aware that payout from the Social Security system was intended to be like hitting the jackpot. When the Social Security system was first set up the retirement age was set at 65 because the average life expectancy of a man was 59.5 years and for a woman 63.5 years. This was how the system was designed to be sustainable.
If the system had been maintained accordingly to ensure its viability, the retirement age would now be set at 81 years of age.
Sorry I missed this comment earlier. I hope to live a long, healthy life, but you never know.
yep and it still could be to this day but the "healthcare" system can keep you alive and paying them for many years past your time until your broke.. Their are good things but their are bad things about the healthcare system ..
So I noticed.this 35 years ago when I first started working. Pension was paid out for about 2 years max. An older colleague explained it was because they had nothing to do in their life other than work. His recommendation - have decent hobbies. Don't live to work ... work so you can live.
@@stephenhookings1985 So true Stephen. You have to have a retirement purpose or a least some fun hobbies.
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss
You can't buy back time. Enjoy life while you can. Retiring in 2 years.
Good for you Happy Life. Come back in two years and we'll celebrate together.
Same here.....in about 2.5. I'll have to pay for healthcare for awhile since I"ll only be 62..............but I don't CARE.
2 yrs for me also ,retired once in 2021 relocated after a job transfer years ago , housing market had to take a mortgage to get a home they were selling so fast ,,,since paid it off , now helping my mom keep her home after a relationship break up ,,,been working 6 days a week going on 3 years
You work… u save and prepare… You can’t think about how long you’re going to live because nobody knows…
That is so true. I'm hoping for a long retirement, but who knows.
On the other end of the work life balance my little brother liked his job and finally retired when he turned 70. He died earlier this month a week after he turned 71. Much like your friend Jeff he didn't have much of a retirement. I retired when I was 48 and have never looked back for the last 25+ years.
Good for you for retiring so early. I know a number of people who plan on working until 70, but I like your plan so much better. As much as I loved my job at one point, I certainly don't miss it now. My condolences for your little brother.
Gotta retire debt free. Otherwise you have to sell stuff, or move. Unfortunately when you have a family and work to make ends meet, until they’re all out you can’t really save big time unless you make mucho bucks and we didn’t. So now we save. Four more years for me. One for my hubby. Then we are both done. He’s retiring early at 66 instead of 66 and 10 months.
Yes, saving is always a lot of tough choices, but I'm glad you guys are on top of it. Those four years will come soon. Bret
This happens a lot more than you would think. One of my friends at work dropped dead on the sidewalk leaving the plant. He had been preparing for his retirement a few months after he died.
Hi Eric, wow that's terrible about your friend. I guess this sort of thing does happen more than we think about.
Great, thought provoking video. I’ve just subscribed!
Thanks Philip, I appreciate you subscribing. I have some cool videos coming up that I hope you enjoy.
Thank you. Nice post.
Do not wait to travel. Enjoy now that you have the energy. You can still save and travel. Just keep your cost down, don't get into crazy car & home payments.
I agree completely. Travel will be one of my main retirement expenses for the next couple decades.
My dream is to retire at 59.5…. Ten more years to go and if I’m lucky enough to make it that far I’ll never look back. St Pete and Key West will be my winter homes. Congratulations on your early retirement!
Hey Christian, thanks a bunch. I was shooting for 60, but my company closed down when I was 58.7. So, I waited all year for 59.5, but I had money put away in taxable accounts. It ended up being no big deal. Good for you for thinking 10 years out.
@@HopeToProsper I love the message you put out. I’m a funeral director from Indiana and I see it way too often when people work way too much and not get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, myself included.
You've got a pleasant voice.
Would be great in radio
Thanks Isaac. I appreciate that. Bret
Enjoyed your video. You have a great voice and sound younger than you are. I think you could do voice over work like audio books just for fun of course!! Going to check out your channel.🙂
Thanks, that's so kind of you. I hope you enjoy my channel. If you have anything you want me to cover, just let me know.
Ya I agree ℹ hit 60 and as an Australian builder developer I started to get really frustrated on jobs and really new it was time to retire I own my home and living of dividends and loving live 🙏👍😁 thanks 🙏
Good for you. Two of my brothers own businesses and they are making good money right now. It's hard to know when enough is enough, after so many years of grinding away. I'm glad you figured it out. Bret
Sad to hear. Many times lawyers cut corners on their health habits ( and stress that you mentioned just now ). Grabbing a quick processed carb breakfast with trans fats on the way to the office, and that goes on for years. Really common.
Thanks Steve, for your comment. Bret
I worked 22 yrs...retirement with fellow my colleagues..in short, three of them died, within 3 yr window of a 20 plus year career. They cashed maybe (1/16 th), fraction... of their total retirement package. Sad indeed......
That is very sad and way too common.
Hey man your channel is nice, great advices
Thanks David. Greatly appreciated. Bret
Sad to hear but also worth hearing to put perspective back into life. In addition to losing a lot of our family and friends earlier than you would expect, it has made up our minds to retire early as well. Since we are well traveled and want to do more of it on a slower pace, that's what we are going to do. What you speak of concerning doing things earlier in life because when you get older, you won't want to or be able to. That concept is well explained in the book "Die with Zero" as time buckets. Do things at the appropriate age. If you are going to hike that mountain and camp, probably want to do that in your 20s to 50s. Put off cruises and the easy stuff for later perhaps. There are seasons to our lives and we don't know when a storm is going to blow in and roll us into a new season. Cheers !
Hey Bob, thanks for your comment. I need to read Die with Zero. A number of my viewers have been recommending it to me. I will be 60 in a couple weeks and I'm still hiking mountain peaks and camping in my truck. I don't know how long that will last, but I'm going to keep doing it as long as I can. Bret
@@HopeToProsper That is awesome ! I hope to be doing similar as we move forward. Rock on !
Also a good option is to “retire a little as you go along” through life. May not ever see full time retirement. I retired at 57,currently 64. Don’t regret retiring along the way nor the current full retirement. Father Time is undefeated, some day he’s gonna get us all. Enjoy the journey.
This is great advice. I never got to take a sabbatical, because I got married early. A lot of younger people are doing this, and it makes sense.
Adventure, love your attitude. Keep it going
Thanks Jason. Bret
I retired at 39. My mom died at 49 from cancer. Never smoked or drank. Your time is not guaranteed. Seize the day.
Good for you for getting out at 39. I hope you enjoy a long, happy retirement.
Sometimes I wonder if people say “travel” is what they dream of because, it’s really just an excuse to take a few weeks off work and escape that mindset. True travel to me would be living life like a gypsy and free…
Hey Adriano, thanks for your comment. I love to travel and it's a big part of my retirement bucket list. But I like to travel for a couple weeks and then come back home. I'm not interested in continuous travel. I love where I live and have lots of friends and family. But I do need to do more slow travel. I am so used to the 9-day vacations from work, and I need to slow it down a bit, now that I have more free time.
my dad retired at 60 for health reasons died at 68. i will retire at 65 and take much better care of myself then he did. i would go at 62 but i need medicare
Hey David, good for you for learning the lesson about good health. My dad smoked himself to death at 65. I'm not repeating that mistake either. Bret
The idea that people who are working are not "embracing the journey" is pretty self centered. Who are you to tell other people they are not enjoying life if they like to work or keep working? I was a military officer and retired at 46 in 2022. I am still working because I actually enjoy it. I have plenty of time to do stuff, but I would be miserable sitting around 7 days a week.
True, it’s a balancing act. I, too, would be extremely bored to not work at least a few hours (15-20) a week.
If you currently have plenty of time to (do stuff) why would retirement mean sitting around 7 days a week, which does sound miserable BTW.. 🤔
Most people always work doing something. Who wants to just sit doing nothing? So this entire as of ‘retirement’ is bogus. You are simply leaving one, most likely ‘paid better’ job for a lesser paid but more interesting job. Not retirement in traditional sense, just job transfer. People on Utube always get it wrong
I worked as a civilian for DoD before I retired. What I noticed the most is that you folks love people to tell you what to do. Wasn't a lot of original thinkers! I can see why you wouldn't enjoy retirement, you would have to think for yourself.
Yea you just came off as a ass. Your not the only military member out here. You must not of payed attention. The guy was just giving his opinion. Im glad you like your job keep working.
Great video 👍🏼
Hey, you got a goooood looking kid behind you. Yeah, that’s all you really need (besides your family).
You just gave me a concrete decision, why not, get out now. Man, I do do missed my customers though, they really care about me, and take care of me over the years. I don’t miss the job, but I missed the ppl in it. It’s a difficult decision but I know I have got to sign off on it. I am 67 yrs young, my body’s slowing down, and although I am still really sharp but I also forgot sometimes.
The only thing standing in my way of decision is I afraid my mind goes to sleep on me…scared too. I have been working for 40 yrs, never once stop, yes, I am blessed, always have a job to go to.
Yes, I liked the way you think, once one hits 70, it’s gonna slow down from there, I know that too…still being scared 😂😅😊
Thank you for happened to stop by, taking 2 mos off to tend to hubby (just a mild down time, we hoped). But I will do a double take on your heart ❤️ clip. Be safe, God bless, and stay healthy, my friend.
Hi Linh, thanks for your kind comment. If you can get out now at 67, I strongly recommend it. You will find new ways to keep your mind sharp and visit with the people who are important to you. Taking two months off is a great idea to try out retirement. Enjoy some time to yourself and see how you like it. Take care. Bret
@HopeToProsper love you, man 👨
Lol, it's been 3 wks, and I still can't get 😭 back to the normal that I set out to do (late shift 33 years). It's funny how your body is getting used to over time. I am training IT now. The picture of you and your GSD keeps flashing in front of me since.
We have 4 GSD and staged them; 8, 6, 4, and 5 month old 🐶 🐕
Sorry, but I need no human, if I can help it. They literally kiss my tears away.
Thanks again for being you. I will keep in touch.
Be careful out there.
I can't even trust my shadow 😪 😕
I worked like a dog & lived below my means from age 13 to 53. Then, I retired. That was 9 months ago.😬
Good for you. That is pretty impressive to be able to retire at such a young age. I hope you enjoy it to its fullest.
I retire at 58 too. The decision was based on no significant benefit on finance as well as some health issue.. I think it was right decision. I don’t think there is a similar criteria. for everyone, but I do think once you make decision just go forward and that feeding right will come along
Congratulations on retiring at 58. It's quite an accomplishment. I know it was one of my best decisions and I'm glad you were able to do it too.
Your comments are great and I agree with everything you said. But there is also some people who cannot survive post retirement years because everything they lived for in their life was tied to their job - their status, goals and even social life. For some people retirement literally means death if there is only void after retirement.
Thanks a bunch for your comment. I have thought about that a lot and I created a retirement "purpose", so I didn't have that void. I guess that's not so easy for someone whose whole life is wrapped up into their work. Bret
The sad part imo is the concept of retirement being the time to enjoy yourself is a little backwards. I loved my working years. If I didn't like a job I quit. I didn't have kids so I had that freedom. It's the journey a person should enjoy.
I agree on life being a journey not waiting until retirement to enjoy it. Thanks for your comment. Bret
Just heard of ya from Sarasota Tim channel, it's hard , for me, to look at folks wearing sunglasses, bc i cannot see eyes, expressions, etc. I'm sorry 4 your loss.
Thanks a bunch for your feedback Lyceum. Sometimes I wear the hat and/or sunglasses in my videos and sometimes I don't. I need the sun protection, but I don't want to appear impersonal. I will try to remember to take them off, in my intros.
BTW, could you please let me know which Sarasota Tim video you heard about me? I would greatly appreciate it. Bret
@@HopeToProsper I cannot remember, sorry
Around the 7:30 mark, where the guy tells you that you spent too much money on early travel as opposed to saving the money for travel in your 70’s- I would encourage that person the read “Die with Zero.” The premise is to spend your money along the way, at appropriate times, for the age-appropriate things. You seem to subscribe to this based on what your reply is to that person. Just thought I’d mention the book.
Thanks Heidi, for your comment. I plan to read Die with Zero soon and maybe post a review. I do subscribe to this philosophy somewhat. I plan to leave some money, but not all of it. My travel expenses are one of my best investments right now. I'm so lucky and thankful I can travel as much as I do. Bret
I promise you, you will enjoy it!
Well said
So true. 100% agree
It’s what I’m going though now- I worked through my 20s and 40s and simply don’t have the money or time to retire. Not only that, I’ve got this weird Asian athetsclerosis that resulted in my getting a stroke (I’m half-Asian), so this means my 50s will be much MUCH more difficult to make money now.
As I lay here in Culver City, I question EVERYTHING.
Retirement not in the cards for me, sad to say.
Two of my very good friends have had strokes lately and it is devastating. I visited with one of them yesterday. He is mostly incapacitated, but luckily has an awesome spouse. I sure hope you can recover to a point where you can enjoy some of your later years. Bret
Retirement is a personal decision. What works for you may not have work for Jeff. There’s a certain amount of enjoyment and fulfillment from a rewarding career. He certainly had that. Living out of a truck is not the least bit appealing to me but you be you……
That is so true. Thanks for your comment.
I saw many people never making it to retirement.
That is very sad, after all that hard work.
I just turned 61 years old. I plan on retiring next year when I turn 62. Why? My company that I work for will offer medical coverage until I reach 65 and my family too. After that they will they will help me with Medicare. Sounds like a a very good deal to me. They do not offer this today. My company also has a pension plan and a 401K plan too. My company today no longer has a pension plan for new employees. I am grandfather in. Thoughts?
Hi Alfred, I think this is a great deal and one very few workers in the US get these days. My thoughts are to get everything you possibly can from the company on your way out. The pension and medical coverage are both gold and you are fortunate. Two jobs ago, I got a large severance package and it helped me a lot. My last company shut down, so all I got was my vacation pay. I'm very happy for you.
@@HopeToProsper I agree, very few companied offer this today. I have heard rumors that the company that I work for might offer " buy outs". This is not confirmed. They might do it in October of this year. They have done this before in October before, not sure why. I plan on waiting to see if they do this. I will not do it if I might loose my medical coverage. I just need to get to 62 years old which will happen in May of next year. Not very far away. Thoughts?
@@alfredyost7972 They probably offer the buyouts in October, so they can clear the books for a good first quarter. I'm glad you asked me about this Alfred, because unfortunately, I have a lot of experience with downsizing. If there is any way you can score a buyout, go for it. They usually include medical and if it doesn't, you should reject it. You have to be really careful you don't get screwed over. They may be offering the buyout to get out of the medical. I wrote a blog post about this last year, and you can read it here. hopetoprosper.com/thriving-during-two-layoffs/ There is an affiliate link to an eBook called How to Engineer your Layoff. You don't have to click on my link, because I don't care about that. I bought this book before my first layoff, and it was the best $99 I have ever spent. My company was trying to shake me off my bonus and severance packages and I was able to avoid that. I got an extra $100K, just by following that book and it set me up. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you. Bret
@@HopeToProsper I definitely would not accept a buy out that takes away my medical benefits. The buy out I am hearing about is that my company lets you get all of your benefits in retirement. The buy out is that I would get 6 months of pay. Again, this is only rumor, so it may not even happen. Thoughts?
@@alfredyost7972 Six months of severance pay is exactly what I got. (13 years x 2 weeks = 26 weeks or 6 months) It was around $58K, which was huge for me as I was getting laid off. The bad news is that I live in California and almost half went to taxes. If you can get this same deal plus medical, grab it with both hands and don't let go.
I take advantage of my job in little subtle ways that don't hurt them too much, they are making plenty of money off my blood, sweat, and toil. And that way if they fire me I can at least feel good I took advantage a bit, no regrets.
That sounds a little bit like Quiet Quitting. Employees are definitely tired of being exploited and I don't blame them.
@@HopeToProsper Hardly, I show up and get my work done in a timely manner, no mistakes, no mishaps that would cost them thousands of dollars. I even enjoy the work somewhat but I need to get paid appropriately for it. You know, "adjust for inflation" properly lol.
@@Ja50nkAt Yeah, inflation is killing everyone. I hope you get paid appropriately.
Unless you’ve got an ownership stake, people owe no loyalty to an employer. Your voice sounds like you’re in your 20’s! I was an accountant who became ill at 45 & had to leave work fully disabled at age 48.
I regret several things I missed with my family because I was too dedicated to “the office”. I was the highest ranking non partner in the firm & was there almost 16 years. I told my wife that I’d have gotten more recognition if I’d died that what I received when I left. 6 years into medical retirement at the age of 54 now, I’m mostly stuck at home.
Live life to the fullest you can! while
Hey Jeff, thanks for stopping by. That's sad to fall ill at such a young age. I completely agree with getting an ownership stake. I worked for three startups, two of which failed. But the one that succeed really set me up for early retirement.
Maybe he enjoyed his work. Some People are very happy working and actually enjoy it.
I'll bet he did like his job, especially the prestige and the sense of accomplishment. I loved my job too at one point, but I don't miss it now, one bit.
I ain't one of them nuts....
I think people only enjoy their jobs because it’s the only way of living they know. Most likely they are the type of person to not like change, too.
Agree!!
Very few people have the health and will to travel in their 70s
You are so right. I'm trying to get as much travel and adventure as possible, while I'm still in my 60s.
1. Have you heard of the slow travel Is movevent? If not look into it as it might right up your alley on youtube search 2. Also did you do the F.I.R.E. investment plan to be able to retire at your young age? 3. Does your wife now want to retire now too? Cheers!
Hey Bob, thanks a bunch for your comments. 1. Yes, I have heard of the Slow Travel movement, and I follow a number of these channels on UA-cam. I love watching, but I'm not interested in travelling full-time. I have a wonderful house and family and I love being home as much as I love to travel and adventure. 2. No, I was aware of the FIRE movement, but I was way more interested in creating wealth and becoming Financially Independent than in Retiring Early. I created a video on this you may like that explains my take on FIRE. ua-cam.com/video/FXwsLN9X4x8/v-deo.html 3. My wife has never worked in a career, but she has watched a lot of the kids in our family, so she has worked her butt off. She retired from watching kids about five years ago. So, I'm joining her in retirement, instead of her joining me.
Bro you're surfing 😊
70s F that…. I won’t have energy left now let alone 70s
True story Tony. I'm not even 60 yet and I know exactly what you mean. I went mountain biking yesterday and I feel like I got beat up.
The goal should be to find a job that is essentially a hobby.
This was my goal when I first retired, but I really started to value my time over money.
Well, everyone hates the idea of retiring at 62, so work til you die!!!!
Hey Jerome, I like the idea of retiring at 62 or earlier. The problem is that most people can't afford to do it, especially with the high inflation right now.
SUBJECTIVE.
Nobody...and I mean NOBODY ever said on their deathbed , "I wish I would have spent MORE time at work". Don't wait until later to travel - travel NOW as much as you can afford it. I and my family did and we're glad we did. I"m 59 and planning to leave the rat race at 62.
By the way, it's OBVIOUS the mayor of Laguna Beach is NOT a Democrap or a Liberal. HOw can I tell? The beach is NOT filled with tons of the disgusting homeless.
You are so right. I absolutely love being able to travel and spend time with family. Good luck on your future retirement. 62 will come before you know it.
have no prob with work life balance, but don't ask tax payers to support the life part of the equation.
I agree. Everyone who is able-bodied should contribute.
Are you referring to SS?
Europeans have a better approach to life. Long vaccinations allow them more time to travel and be with family/loved ones while young. Had so many amazing holidays with my family and the kids while they where growing up. No need to retire to enjoy life!
I used to be proud of the American Grind when I was younger. Now that I'm a little older and wiser, I think America needs better work/life balance.
Young man. Have a seat. You know probably most folks cant stop work at 60. There likely will be huge financial risks/losses if they did. So, its ok to share your thoughts but dont recommend them. 😮 K?
He is not a Jedi Master performing mind tricks on the audience. If anyone retires based on this video, they deserve everything they have coming.
Hey Mike, thank you for your comment. You are correct that only about 8% of Americans retire by 60 and I'm one of those 8%ers. In my own life, I have accomplished a lot of seeming unrealistic goals, just by believing and making it happen. So, this is what I recommend to others on my channel, to aim high, plan well, and set big goals. One thing I never recommend and never will, is for someone to attempt to retire early when they aren't prepared financially. Bret
I retired at 49 on a modest military pension. It can be done, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail...never been happier.