if you were able to retire early (55-62) how did you do it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker retired at 55. She has always been single, no kids. The world traveler type. She bought a condo I assume relatively young, and had minimal bills. She is living an amazing life; I told her I want to be her when I grow up!

Me too!! But I'll be 56 when I retire and have kids in college (paid for). I'm already plotting my travels and daydreaming about it.

We are not all child brides, orthodox or amish like you.

I do not understand this comment. For those who had kids in early-mid 30s - very typical - this timing would work out.

That is a child bride unless you only have 1 or 2 kids.

Well yes, 1-2 kids is not unusual. You are just being trollish.

Yes and no. Telling people to just get rid of some of their kids to retire early is extreme FIRE. Or miss your kids entire childhood working to retire early. Seems a big trade off.

Anyone could do that. I could be retired on a beach in a Tropical Island right now if my wife kept working, I never bought a trade up home, only had one kid and made that one kid pay their own college education and leave them with no inheritance. But that seems a big trade off. My good buddy did just that. Except he was so FIRE no children Him and wife both worked full time till 50 and he loaded up on stocks and he sits in a waterfront house in Turks and Cacos right now at 62 with his wife just the two of them. He is worth way more tham me. But I dont know. That that is not the FIRE most people want.

Or my other friend in Florida who retired early, one kid, wife and him always worked. Kid went off to college never came back. Feels zero closeness to her own parents. She had a nanny, ship to Day care, then onto to after school program then off to college. They barely interact.

Seems a heavy price to do it on purpose just to FIRE and Retire early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in my early 50s and in a job I like overall, but it's a very draining role, the commute isn't great, I'm getting bored with the work and the options for moving up the chain and seeing more significant raises are limited. I could stick it out for another five years, ideally more like 8-10, but it's getting to be a lot. Over the past year, a few of my older colleagues resigned before hitting 60. One retired early out of nowhere and management didn't throw him a retirement party, so I didn't have a chance to ask him what's next. Another left early after being with the org for about 15 years and was vested in the pension but still left earlier than most in the plan.

So, for those who've done it, how do you get to the point of making it happen? Did you assess your finances and accept a lower-paying or part time job for peace of mind and being ok with giving up the good salary? Or did you methodically plan for retiring early and sock away a lot of money since your first job?

Same on the bold.

We will fully retired when these two things happen:
1. House paid.
2. College paid. (two kids)

Until then, we will continue to work...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

I don’t work.

I am not seeking work.

I have a pension.

How is this not retired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

I don’t work.

I am not seeking work.

I have a pension.

How is this not retired?

In a similar boat here—Fed who took early retirement recently at 56 and have no plans to work again, one kid still at home. Not sure why the SAHM vs fully-retired distinction is important to anyone.

I felt comfortable retiring because:
Older kids are done with college and plenty in 529s for college for teen or grad school for older kids.
Paid off house.
Plenty of savings, plus small pension and Fed health insurance.
DH will work for another few years.
We are not big spenders, though look forward to fun travel once DH retires and youngest is no longer at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker retired at 55. She has always been single, no kids. The world traveler type. She bought a condo I assume relatively young, and had minimal bills. She is living an amazing life; I told her I want to be her when I grow up!

Me too!! But I'll be 56 when I retire and have kids in college (paid for). I'm already plotting my travels and daydreaming about it.

We are not all child brides, orthodox or amish like you.

wtf? LOL I had my kids at 35 and 38, got married at 33. We traveled a lot before kids came. Also, I worked in the tech industry. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker retired at 55. She has always been single, no kids. The world traveler type. She bought a condo I assume relatively young, and had minimal bills. She is living an amazing life; I told her I want to be her when I grow up!

Me too!! But I'll be 56 when I retire and have kids in college (paid for). I'm already plotting my travels and daydreaming about it.

We are not all child brides, orthodox or amish like you.

I do not understand this comment. For those who had kids in early-mid 30s - very typical - this timing would work out.

That is a child bride unless you only have 1 or 2 kids.

Well yes, 1-2 kids is not unusual. You are just being trollish.

^^PP is jealous. Maybe they are old and haggardly, and can't retire before 65.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker retired at 55. She has always been single, no kids. The world traveler type. She bought a condo I assume relatively young, and had minimal bills. She is living an amazing life; I told her I want to be her when I grow up!

Me too!! But I'll be 56 when I retire and have kids in college (paid for). I'm already plotting my travels and daydreaming about it.

We are not all child brides, orthodox or amish like you.

I do not understand this comment. For those who had kids in early-mid 30s - very typical - this timing would work out.

That is a child bride unless you only have 1 or 2 kids.

Well yes, 1-2 kids is not unusual. You are just being trollish.

Yes and no. Telling people to just get rid of some of their kids to retire early is extreme FIRE. Or miss your kids entire childhood working to retire early. Seems a big trade off.

Anyone could do that. I could be retired on a beach in a Tropical Island right now if my wife kept working, I never bought a trade up home, only had one kid and made that one kid pay their own college education and leave them with no inheritance. But that seems a big trade off. My good buddy did just that. Except he was so FIRE no children Him and wife both worked full time till 50 and he loaded up on stocks and he sits in a waterfront house in Turks and Cacos right now at 62 with his wife just the two of them. He is worth way more tham me. But I dont know. That that is not the FIRE most people want.

Or my other friend in Florida who retired early, one kid, wife and him always worked. Kid went off to college never came back. Feels zero closeness to her own parents. She had a nanny, ship to Day care, then onto to after school program then off to college. They barely interact.

Seems a heavy price to do it on purpose just to FIRE and Retire early.

? "get rid of some of their kids"? I don't understand this comment. I didn't get rid of any of my kids. LOL

We were actually only planning on having one, but then had another. So we have two kids. Didn't have a third and then got rid of them. LOL.

We moved to a lcol area, and I stepped back from work when the kids were young so that we don't have to miss our kids childhood. We actually didn't work *that* much. We attended their events, volunteered for field trips, etc. They did not have aftercare.

We just lived below our means so that we could be financially secure and retire before 65. That was always our goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker retired at 55. She has always been single, no kids. The world traveler type. She bought a condo I assume relatively young, and had minimal bills. She is living an amazing life; I told her I want to be her when I grow up!

Me too!! But I'll be 56 when I retire and have kids in college (paid for). I'm already plotting my travels and daydreaming about it.

We are not all child brides, orthodox or amish like you.

What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

60 was plenty of time to pay off the house and pay for college for us. The long bull market inflated our savings and access to retiree health insurance made it affordable to retire.


Sure it helps we only had one kid and live in a 2200 sq ft house but those are choices we made for ourselves. We did live below our means/save regularly but we never scrimped with the goal of retiring early— we still traveled a lot, one of us worked part time, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 56 and retiring next year. Husband is as well. We could probably both quit now, but I think I need a little time to mentally transition first.

How? A mix of smart budgeting and living below our means, investing, taking advantage of above-average employer matches to retirement funds, and some good fortune as it relates to our home purchases and appreciation. We also have a financial advisor who has helped develop a plan that minimizes tax burden and accounts for our insurance needs until 65.

Same, both of us fully retired at 57 when kids graduated college/launched.
FIRE = paid off house + max retirement/401 fund

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

I don’t work.

I am not seeking work.

I have a pension.

How is this not retired?

In a similar boat here—Fed who took early retirement recently at 56 and have no plans to work again, one kid still at home. Not sure why the SAHM vs fully-retired distinction is important to anyone.

I felt comfortable retiring because:
Older kids are done with college and plenty in 529s for college for teen or grad school for older kids.
Paid off house.
Plenty of savings, plus small pension and Fed health insurance.
DH will work for another few years.
We are not big spenders, though look forward to fun travel once DH retires and youngest is no longer at home.

A SAHM lives off husband's income... that's not "retiring from work".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

I don’t work.

I am not seeking work.

I have a pension.

How is this not retired?

In a similar boat here—Fed who took early retirement recently at 56 and have no plans to work again, one kid still at home. Not sure why the SAHM vs fully-retired distinction is important to anyone.

I felt comfortable retiring because:
Older kids are done with college and plenty in 529s for college for teen or grad school for older kids.
Paid off house.
Plenty of savings, plus small pension and Fed health insurance.
DH will work for another few years.
We are not big spenders, though look forward to fun travel once DH retires and youngest is no longer at home.

A SAHM lives off husband's income... that's not "retiring from work".

No, sorry, this is not how retirement is defined.

[Anonymous]

I quit a terrible job to care for an elderly relative in my early 50s. I use Medicaid and live very frugal. I have a very part time job. Kids have 529s for college. Time is one thing you can’t get more of. Don’t waste it in an unhappy situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired at 54. I didn’t expect to do this, but as a Fed, the perfect storm- Trump, Musk, DOGE, etc, made my decision to take an early retirement pretty easy. Sure, I am leaving money on the table - kind of, but no longer have a 45 mile commute each way and I have more time for family and doing things I enjoy. Also, I don’t have participate in Fed/corporate mumbo jumbo of endless meetings and pointless taskers that only exist to placate an ever growing team of middle manager bureaucrats.

How was I able to do it? I just did it. I have a small pension, healthcare from Fed retirement, spouse works and I like to think we somewhat live within our means. We enjoy our life, but stayed in our starter home and have a decent amount of savings.

you are a SAHM not retired.

I don’t work.

I am not seeking work.

I have a pension.

How is this not retired?

In a similar boat here—Fed who took early retirement recently at 56 and have no plans to work again, one kid still at home. Not sure why the SAHM vs fully-retired distinction is important to anyone.

I felt comfortable retiring because:
Older kids are done with college and plenty in 529s for college for teen or grad school for older kids.
Paid off house.
Plenty of savings, plus small pension and Fed health insurance.
DH will work for another few years.
We are not big spenders, though look forward to fun travel once DH retires and youngest is no longer at home.

A SAHM lives off husband's income... that's not "retiring from work".

They have a pension and if they’re in their 50s, probably have savings. Why do you care so much????