Hi Everyone. Great forum and a wealth of information.
A little about me...... I'm a 51 year old female and am hoping to retire by 55 with a COLA'd pension of around 68% of my current salary. I can probably live just fine off that since I currently save around 25% of my income, but just in case I need a few extras, I also have a nice 403(b) account that can provide another 20-25% (assuming a withdrawal rate of 3-4%). Medical, dental and vision insurance are provided in retirement for a minimal cost. I feel very fortunate for the retirement bennies I'll have available.
What I'm not so sure about is what my expenses will be in the future. I currently live a quiet, single suburban life but I've always dreamed of living in a high-rise condo in the middle of a bustling city. I want to enjoy all the amenities a large city has to offer (restaurants, theaters, museums, art galleries, etc). Of course I know I can cut back like nobody's business if I need to or even move after a few years if it's not everything I always wanted.....
My SO currently lives about 4 hours away and recently retired. He's hoping to sell his house and move up here within the next couple of years so I'll have some help with expenses (but I want to be careful not to get too comfy just in case..... been there, done that).
As for my current job, I still like it but I think I'd just like less of it. One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten off this forum is to see about cutting down your hours to help with burnout. I am happy to announce that as of Nov. 1, I am now an 80% employee (after 32+ years of 100%). I get every Friday off for a wonderful 3-day weekend. Life is good. This forum is GREAT!
A little about me...... I'm a 51 year old female and am hoping to retire by 55 with a COLA'd pension of around 68% of my current salary. I can probably live just fine off that since I currently save around 25% of my income, but just in case I need a few extras, I also have a nice 403(b) account that can provide another 20-25% (assuming a withdrawal rate of 3-4%). Medical, dental and vision insurance are provided in retirement for a minimal cost. I feel very fortunate for the retirement bennies I'll have available.
What I'm not so sure about is what my expenses will be in the future. I currently live a quiet, single suburban life but I've always dreamed of living in a high-rise condo in the middle of a bustling city. I want to enjoy all the amenities a large city has to offer (restaurants, theaters, museums, art galleries, etc). Of course I know I can cut back like nobody's business if I need to or even move after a few years if it's not everything I always wanted.....
My SO currently lives about 4 hours away and recently retired. He's hoping to sell his house and move up here within the next couple of years so I'll have some help with expenses (but I want to be careful not to get too comfy just in case..... been there, done that).
As for my current job, I still like it but I think I'd just like less of it. One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten off this forum is to see about cutting down your hours to help with burnout. I am happy to announce that as of Nov. 1, I am now an 80% employee (after 32+ years of 100%). I get every Friday off for a wonderful 3-day weekend. Life is good. This forum is GREAT!