4 ms·

A good reason to seek financial independence early - then at least you have some time to find what gives your life meaning and makes you happy.

siberianbear 7y ago
Yeah, I have this exact same opinion. I saved more than 50% of my take-home pay and retired when I was forty. I'm happier than ever, and can't figure out why my former colleagues didn't do the same and are still going to a cube every day.
- conwy 7y ago
  Good to see Americans wisening up to the necessity of saving.
- imesh 7y ago
  Age comes faster than people expect. People say they will start saving later, turn around and they are already 35 (Or older) and later came sooner than they expected. I'm 33 now and have been saving like you since I was 28, but I only had that realization of how fast time moves because until 27 I was trying to be a professional athlete. One day I woke up and realized it was too late for that dream and I didn't want the same thing to happen with retirement.
m463 7y ago
I have sort of a weird theory about this. Unless you are extremely self-motivated, I think it might be better to be 80% financially independent than 100%. Having forces acting on you to get you out of bed and be useful might be the best thing for you. Yes, by all means, don't live paycheck to paycheck or have to work in a demeaning way. But there have been studies showing that mortality goes up for people who have retired.
acapybara 7y ago
+1. Started on this journey of financial independence 10+ years ago. Have essentially achieved it (7 figure net worth, could sustain ongoing expenses for decades at least), but continue to work remote for a Santa Clara based company. I live with a wife and two kids in a relatively low cost of living city (we live in a 1900 sqft 4 br that costed $270K, worth ~$310K now). I got into software development out of passion --I did it for fun and for my own purposes starting at age 10. I am 33 now. I don't see myself being an employee forever. While I feel like I am just as good a programmer as ever, I am less willing to be exploited by employers. Earlier in my career, I gave way too much of my time, focus, and energy to my employers. This newfound moderation may seem like a decline in performance, skill, and ability --but it is deliberate. Still, I feel it would be very foolish to be fully dependent on any kind of career.
sidcool 7y ago
How does one become financially independent?
philshem 7y ago
Becoming financially independent early often means forgoing family, hobbies, travel, free time, etc. I’d personally rather not struggle for an uncertainty. And I’d like to find what matters to me sooner rather than later.

siberianbear 7y ago

Yeah, I have this exact same opinion. I saved more than 50% of my take-home pay and retired when I was forty. I'm happier than ever, and can't figure out why my former colleagues didn't do the same and are still going to a cube every day.

conwy 7y ago
Good to see Americans wisening up to the necessity of saving.
imesh 7y ago
Age comes faster than people expect. People say they will start saving later, turn around and they are already 35 (Or older) and later came sooner than they expected. I'm 33 now and have been saving like you since I was 28, but I only had that realization of how fast time moves because until 27 I was trying to be a professional athlete. One day I woke up and realized it was too late for that dream and I didn't want the same thing to happen with retirement.

m463 7y ago

I have sort of a weird theory about this. Unless you are extremely self-motivated, I think it might be better to be 80% financially independent than 100%. Having forces acting on you to get you out of bed and be useful might be the best thing for you. Yes, by all means, don't live paycheck to paycheck or have to work in a demeaning way. But there have been studies showing that mortality goes up for people who have retired.

acapybara 7y ago

+1. Started on this journey of financial independence 10+ years ago. Have essentially achieved it (7 figure net worth, could sustain ongoing expenses for decades at least), but continue to work remote for a Santa Clara based company. I live with a wife and two kids in a relatively low cost of living city (we live in a 1900 sqft 4 br that costed $270K, worth ~$310K now). I got into software development out of passion --I did it for fun and for my own purposes starting at age 10. I am 33 now. I don't see myself being an employee forever. While I feel like I am just as good a programmer as ever, I am less willing to be exploited by employers. Earlier in my career, I gave way too much of my time, focus, and energy to my employers. This newfound moderation may seem like a decline in performance, skill, and ability --but it is deliberate. Still, I feel it would be very foolish to be fully dependent on any kind of career.

sidcool 7y ago

How does one become financially independent?

philshem 7y ago

Becoming financially independent early often means forgoing family, hobbies, travel, free time, etc. I’d personally rather not struggle for an uncertainty. And I’d like to find what matters to me sooner rather than later.