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If you fancy for retirement at 40, why not first save money so much that you can do what you think you would do when retired for one year? It is quite likely th

If you fancy for retirement at 40, why not first save money so much that you can do what you think you would do when retired for one year? It is quite likely that after this experiment: 1. You realize that actually having a work is quite nice and being retired for extended time periods is boring 2. If you one day find something you really want to do instead of your day job, the treshold to quit your job and give a try is much lower because you already have faced the anxiety and uncertainty that means. Obviously, this is easier to do if you do not have massive mortgage, student loan, car loan and four kids. Also it helps if your retirement plans do not include flying around with a private jet.

taurath 8y ago
It can be a little difficult to get past the “this is a vacation” phase of your mindset if you know it’s bookended by the search for more income - a lot of people need months just to de-stress alone, and then the clock is kind of ticking. Plus the opportunity cost of leaving a potentially lucrative position you already have if you’re saving on the path. That said, sabbaticals are really useful to realign your priorities. You can pick things up that you wouldn’t normally with a regular work schedule, something that might feel a lot more personally fulfilling. It’s usually less about the avoidance of work and more about doing something without having the grind of having to go for more money.
mattnewport 8y ago
> You realize that actually having a work is quite nice and being retired for extended time periods is boring Have you actually done this? I have and that was not my experience. I took a year off and it was great, I was never bored and the only reason I returned to work is because I need more saved before I could afford to make it permanent.
- Zanni 8y ago
  I have, and it was absolutely my experience. I "retired" at 28. Before that, I loathed my job and couldn't wait to quit. After? I realized that satisfying work is one of the main ingredients of happiness. If I had figured that out sooner, I could have found a job I enjoyed more, rather than quitting, bumbling around for years trying to figure out what to do with my life. I do think a significant hazard of a real job is not nearly enough time off (precluding extended travel and so on), but again, if that's the sticking point, negotiate that.
  - mattnewport 8y ago
    I've heard this type of thing before but it seems to set up something of a false dichotomy to me. Not having to work a full time job doesn't mean doing nothing, it means financial independence to pursue whatever projects are meaningful to you. I don't really resonate with the approach described in the article because for me those projects tend to require a bit more than a subsistence level of income. There are endless interesting projects to pursue that aren't the most viable options when you have to worry about paying the bills however.
    - rdiddly 8y ago
      Sometimes all it means is continuing in the same job, but saying what you're really thinking more often!
andai 8y ago
Your comment was very helpful to me. I've been rethinking my career lately. I'm a postman who codes for fun in his spare time, but I don't make a lot of money. I calculated that with my job as a postman, it would take 10-30 years to save 1-3 years living expenses. I suppose it's time for a new job.

taurath 8y ago

It can be a little difficult to get past the “this is a vacation” phase of your mindset if you know it’s bookended by the search for more income - a lot of people need months just to de-stress alone, and then the clock is kind of ticking. Plus the opportunity cost of leaving a potentially lucrative position you already have if you’re saving on the path. That said, sabbaticals are really useful to realign your priorities. You can pick things up that you wouldn’t normally with a regular work schedule, something that might feel a lot more personally fulfilling. It’s usually less about the avoidance of work and more about doing something without having the grind of having to go for more money.

mattnewport 8y ago

> You realize that actually having a work is quite nice and being retired for extended time periods is boring Have you actually done this? I have and that was not my experience. I took a year off and it was great, I was never bored and the only reason I returned to work is because I need more saved before I could afford to make it permanent.

Zanni 8y ago
I have, and it was absolutely my experience. I "retired" at 28. Before that, I loathed my job and couldn't wait to quit. After? I realized that satisfying work is one of the main ingredients of happiness. If I had figured that out sooner, I could have found a job I enjoyed more, rather than quitting, bumbling around for years trying to figure out what to do with my life. I do think a significant hazard of a real job is not nearly enough time off (precluding extended travel and so on), but again, if that's the sticking point, negotiate that.
- mattnewport 8y ago
  I've heard this type of thing before but it seems to set up something of a false dichotomy to me. Not having to work a full time job doesn't mean doing nothing, it means financial independence to pursue whatever projects are meaningful to you. I don't really resonate with the approach described in the article because for me those projects tend to require a bit more than a subsistence level of income. There are endless interesting projects to pursue that aren't the most viable options when you have to worry about paying the bills however.
  - rdiddly 8y ago
    Sometimes all it means is continuing in the same job, but saying what you're really thinking more often!

andai 8y ago

Your comment was very helpful to me. I've been rethinking my career lately. I'm a postman who codes for fun in his spare time, but I don't make a lot of money. I calculated that with my job as a postman, it would take 10-30 years to save 1-3 years living expenses. I suppose it's time for a new job.