FollowHow much do you really need to retire?
That is a question that is pondered everyday by most of us but wait a second, what are you going to do when you retire? Play golf, crochet, how much golf can you play and how many sweaters can you make before you go batty? I’ve met a lot of people who are retired and the reality is that no one really wants to retire and become irrelevant. Basically what we all want is the security to do what we want when we want sooner than later. So, what age is retirement? 65? 55?… why not 25 or 35? My point is why work until you hit a magic age and quit. Why not live a life of mini retirements or none at all? How about live a life you love?
If you were retired right now, What would you do? Besides just sitting on your butt until you die. Really, what would do? Would you go start a business, spent time helping others, travel? Is it important to have money when you’re old, YES. But, do you have to wait until you are old to do the things you want to do, NO. The better question then is to ask yourself, how do you get to a place where you can live the life you want? If you have the life you want to live what does retirement even mean?
There are many calculators on the internet that can help you figure the dollar amount you will need if you have an idea of what age you will retire, when you think you will die and how much money you will need to live between those two dates based on how much you think you will need per month to live on without working. There is nothing wrong with those calculators. It’s a good practice. However, can you accurately pick those numbers? If so, you’re more awesome then before you started reading this article. The best thing you can do is start living the life you desire and start saving money as early in life as you can, don’t live beyond your means but have fun.
Have you ever heard of people who worked at a job for 30-40 years, retired and died a few years later? That sucks. Live your dreams, don’t be foolish with your money and you’ll do alright.
