Why do people want to retire so early?

[lonny23]

Seriously, why are people so caught up in retiring?

You spend most of the first 18 years of your life not working, but you have parents supporting you. Money is coming in.

Why do people want to stop working in their 50's and coast after that? You might outlive your money and you might have to cut back. I'm going to work until I can't work so that I can have more fun along the way and hopefully not outlive my money. Besides, I'll probably finish doing everything in the next 20 years that I ever wanted to do.

Social Security is the same way. People shouldn't take it until they can't work and need it.

[DrEdward]

Not everybody does want to do so. But if you find yourself unemployed in your 50s (or even worse, in your early 60s) as many have in recent periods, trying to find a new position can be a pretty daunting task. So many simply become accepting of the situation. Not good, but understandable.

As to social security, whether you take it at 62 or delay depends upon individual circumstances, not the least of which is how long you expect to live. For most, beginning the withdrawal at age 62 (if eligible) makes a good deal of financial sense despite the penalty.

[agmc27]

A lot of people hate their jobs.

Plus, people are getting fatter and want to sleep all day.

[lonny23]

Not everybody does want to do so. But if you find yourself unemployed in your 50s (or even worse, in your early 60s) as many have in recent periods, trying to find a new position can be a pretty daunting task. So many simply become accepting of the situation. Not good, but understandable.

As to social security, whether you take it at 62 or delay depends upon individual circumstances, not the least of which is how long you expect to live. For most, beginning the withdrawal at age 62 (if eligible) makes a good deal of financial sense despite the penalty.My mom struggles to get jobs because she's in her 60's, but circumstances keep her from staying on the same job.

[lonny23]

A lot of people hate their jobs.

Plus, people are getting fatter and want to sleep all day.
I can buy that!:D

[GoOwls]

Seriously, why are people so caught up in retiring?

You spend most of the first 18 years of your life not working, but you have parents supporting you. Money is coming in.

Why do people want to stop working in their 50's and coast after that? You might outlive your money and you might have to cut back. I'm going to work until I can't work so that I can have more fun along the way and hopefully not outlive my money. Besides, I'll probably finish doing everything in the next 20 years that I ever wanted to do.

Social Security is the same way. People shouldn't take it until they can't work and need it.

Lonny, you're counting on living a long time. What happens if you plan on living to 80 or 85, so you plan on working until 65 or 70 so you can afford it, then die at 64.....or 60....or 57.....:eek:

I would rather be retired for as long as possible and live on a tight budget than die young and not get any retirement, and my kids get the bucks I would have gotten and blow it all.

Also, I grew up in a farming community. I saw all those old farmers go right on farming until they died....usually well before age 70. My dad got out of the farming grind and got a job with benefits.....he retired at age 62 and enjoyed 15 years of modest retirement to the age of 77, when he died.

My mom and dad grilled the idea in my head to get a good job, with benefits, and good retirement so I could enjoy my older years and not suffer like their parents and grandparents did.........I heard the Post Office retired at 55 or 56....looked like a good deal, so I went for it.

I've got less than 5 years left now and I can't wait.

I know that in today's times, I will have to work part-time doing odd jobs to make property tax and home insurance money, but the time to do as I please and not have to answer the call of the friggin alarm clock every morning is like the Siren's call right now.

To not retire when possible would be to dishonor the efforts of my parents to give me a better life....efforts that I can never repay.

The weekly unfettered estate sale runs will be welcome.

[slorch]

I will work until I no longer can or until work is not fun any more. I will have 32 years with my employer at the age of 55 and will be eligible for full pension. On the other hand, i know I would be bored out of my mind without a job of some kind. I might just turn up the volunteer activities with my church and community in order to stay busy. I could even work at Victoria's Secret interviewing lingerie models... Throw in some travel for sporting events and time with the wife and grandkids( hopefully) and that might just be enough stuff to keep me busy.

[lonny23]

I will work until I no longer can or until work is not fun any more. I will have 32 years with my employer at the age of 55 and will be eligible for full pension. On the other hand, i know I would be bored out of my mind without a job of some kind. I might just turn up the volunteer activities with my church and community in order to stay busy. I could even work at Victoria's Secret interviewing lingerie models... Throw in some travel for sporting events and time with the wife and grandkids( hopefully) and that might just be enough stuff to keep me busy.I've often heard that in military life that a fair amount of people die once they retire. You spend your whole life working and you're missing out on a lot when you quit.

As far as the part about enjoying life later on, my philosophy has always been that I might not be able to enjoy later life, so I'm going to enjoy it now and every step along the way.

[mojotrain]

I retired from working for someone else @ 62. I had just finished winning a bout with cancer. After that, all things of life just looked different to me. I had already established hobbies that I could possibly devote full time to. Plus I have eleven grandchildren, 10 of which are in Odessa. All have been active in school sports or music. I follow Permian football, spring and fall. Permian is three blocks away so I go to a lot of practice sessions. I,ve had a place at Lake Amistad since 1973 and thats where I fish. I collect 30, 40 and 50s era Lionel electric trains. I also restore/repair trains for free, any that I can get my hands on. I perhaps have 1000 pieces in the train collection.I collect old tube type radios. I only deal in those that work and I have perhaps a dozen of those. I grow roses. I have 35 in my beds now but I will soon thin out to around 20. I don't have time for that many of them. I also have a small garden where I raise tomatoes, garlic, onions, okra and peppers. Add in a Annual trips to DC, Nashville, Vegas and a trip or three to Dallas, Austin or San Antonio.



Most of the above I did before I retired. I just do them better now. I piddle from can to can't and I love what I do now. This thing called retirement is the best job I ever had.

The secret of it all? A wife who besides being beautiful is also the best friend a guy could have. That is the truth.

[BDB]

if i have a crappy job with crappy coworkers/employees i'm pretty sure i'll be looking to retire early.

[mojotrain]

As someone mentioned earlier, early retirement is sometimes a matter that is forced upon one. I know of no corporation of today that beams with delight the fact that they have a load of 50 somethings hanging around. They don't like retirement benifits or insurance and in a lot of cases they don't like people who are smarter than them. This was not always the case. At one time a 25 to 45 year tenured employee was common and a goal of a lot of companys.

The last time I was involved with companys and their employees, about 10 years was the limit that a company felt warm and fuzzy with it's employees. I mean, from this point on they don't care if you leave.

When you are 50 or above and seeking new employment, its hard to impress a human resorce person with details about what you have been doing for the last 30 years. You rarely can switch companys and recieve the same wage or benifits. If any offer is forthcoming from a new company it's a little more labor intensive and/or less money. This is when most will start considering retirement options.

[tayb]

I'll retire as soon as my wife and I have enough money to last. I started my retirement fund when I was 18. Compound interest is a wonderful thing.

[KattTx]

The secret of it all? A wife who besides being beautiful is also the best friend a guy could have. That is the truth.

:notworthy

[stevefoxsc]

people should take the time to prepare for their future and stop trying to always rely on the government.

[Mr. Rod]

Im gonna work until i cant no more. That's why u get a college education so you can go into a field that you like.

[KattTx]

I guess it boils down to what people do outside of work. I don't have a lot of hobbies that I could spend that much time doing. My hobby is football and it lasts a few months a year. The rest of the time... I may as well work.

[mojotrain]

Im gonna work until i cant no more. That's why u get a college education so you can go into a field that you like.

True! You must keep in mind that You can love your field and hate the surrounding enviorment that includes other employees and or different levels of supervision. A old saying that sums this up is, If you are not the lead dog in a pack then you will always be looking at a bunch of A-- Hol--.

As you grow old with a company you also may find the average age of your peers seems to grow younger. As you know from this site that can be a volatile mixture.

[mojotrain]

I guess it boils down to what people do outside of work. I don't have a lot of hobbies that I could spend that much time doing. My hobby is football and it lasts a few months a year. The rest of the time... I may as well work.

Ah haw! Shortly after I retired I felt like I needed to stay fit, so I "hired out" part time to the company you work for. When rod trucks were due in they would let me know ahead of time and I would go unload them. That lasted about a week then I was ask to help unload down hole pump parts and ect. Other than being more hours than I wanted, it was still ok. Then I was ask to load rods on customer trailers.:eek: I had been at or near a desk for the last 20 years. I'm 62 and slinging rods from the ground to a trailer. :eek: I stuck with it for a few months. Then went home and played with my trains.

[tayb]

Im gonna work until i cant no more. That's why u get a college education so you can go into a field that you like.

I'm going to work until I'm tired of working and then I will start teaching. My grandparents retired for 5 years and then started teaching at the local schools.

[KattTx]

Ah haw! Shortly after I retired I felt like I needed to stay fit, so I "hired out" part time to the company you work for. When rod trucks were due in they would let me know ahead of time and I would go unload them. That lasted about a week then I was ask to help unload down hole pump parts and ect. Other than being more hours than I wanted, it was still ok. Then I was ask to load rods on customer trailers.:eek: I had been at or near a desk for the last 20 years. I'm 62 and slinging rods from the ground to a trailer. :eek: I stuck with it for a few months. Then went home and played with my trains.

Well, if you wouldn't be so stingy with your rose growing tips - I might not have to work until I keel over at my desk.

[mojotrain]

Well, if you wouldn't be so stingy with your rose growing tips - I might not have to work until I keel over at my desk.

Roses are pretty hard to grow in Odessa. If you ever find the right combination they are as pretty here as on the west coast. Put salsa on them!

[KattTx]

Roses are pretty hard to grow in Odessa. If you ever find the right combination they are as pretty here as on the west coast. Put salsa on them!

Big help. :rolleyes::D

[rocketgrl94]

sheeeeeit i wish i could retire right now..not that i hate my job and my co-workers are cool...i just dont want to worry about gettin' up early anymore..and do whatever the hell i want:D

[mojotrain]

Big help. :rolleyes::D

Throw up a picture of the rootball.

[KattTx]

Throw up a picture of the rootball.

Hardee-har-har. :rolleyes:

They look fine now ('cept The Beast, that bush just ain't right :Censor:) but here in about a month, they will look like crap. The leaves will look puny, the blooms will be about 1/2 of what they are now, etc...