If your chasing retirement - it is very possible your have goals out of order. Funding retirement and building a 'pile' should be part of your safety net for change and the ultimate stress reducer and nothing more.
God I Hate my job.
I'm 63 and long past the time when the 'pile' was sufficient to retire; I've had more then one friend say why don't you just retire? The answer is I like my work -it is often diverse and challenging; I like the people I work with I find them interesting. I can't understand why anyone would work a job that they dislike for 35 years and live everyday for their retirement. If the job you are doing doesn't stimulate you then find your passion and build an execute an exit strategy. Ah you say that's easy for him say - the thing is I did it. I started my career as an accountant BS, MBA, MS and I worked for a huge company and life and the job was ok but I can't say I had a passion for the work. Thats when I read my first book on programming; it had an immediate impact on my work. I became the go to guy for automation; I took every computer course the company would pay for. I won a $5,000 recognition award for my work. My position changed with time and I'm now I am 'big data' guy. I took my work home gladly because I loved the challenge - if work is just a means to pay the bills - you might be wasting your life.
The pile as a means to deal with change
I've managed to save 20-30% of my salary for nearly 25 years. The Mrs and I both came from very humble beginnings - the truth is I was poorer then a church mouse. We were determined to change all that and quietly without discussing the budget we adopted a LBYM strategy.
1. We bought a small home and paid off the mortgage early.
2. Friday night pizza or Chinese and a $1 movie was our entertainment
3. I was the plumber, carpenter and mason
4. She was the painter, coupon clipper and sale shopper.
5. We bought simply reliable cars kept them for ever.
6. We saved wind falls like tax returns, bonuses etc
7. We kept our vacations modest.
8. We invested our savings.
The result of all this is that we are able to deal with most the curveballs life throws our way without stress. The dentist, tires for the jalopy, the roof, etc. That pile will also serve us in retirement. I never felt I was doing without and I never felt we were chasing a pile or retirement. It was simply incidental to living right and seeking a low stress life.
My unofficial not yet announced date is July I'll be 63. Things are still good at work ...I just think it is time to sit in the sun and toss a lure into the sea.
God I Hate my job.
I'm 63 and long past the time when the 'pile' was sufficient to retire; I've had more then one friend say why don't you just retire? The answer is I like my work -it is often diverse and challenging; I like the people I work with I find them interesting. I can't understand why anyone would work a job that they dislike for 35 years and live everyday for their retirement. If the job you are doing doesn't stimulate you then find your passion and build an execute an exit strategy. Ah you say that's easy for him say - the thing is I did it. I started my career as an accountant BS, MBA, MS and I worked for a huge company and life and the job was ok but I can't say I had a passion for the work. Thats when I read my first book on programming; it had an immediate impact on my work. I became the go to guy for automation; I took every computer course the company would pay for. I won a $5,000 recognition award for my work. My position changed with time and I'm now I am 'big data' guy. I took my work home gladly because I loved the challenge - if work is just a means to pay the bills - you might be wasting your life.
The pile as a means to deal with change
I've managed to save 20-30% of my salary for nearly 25 years. The Mrs and I both came from very humble beginnings - the truth is I was poorer then a church mouse. We were determined to change all that and quietly without discussing the budget we adopted a LBYM strategy.
1. We bought a small home and paid off the mortgage early.
2. Friday night pizza or Chinese and a $1 movie was our entertainment
3. I was the plumber, carpenter and mason
4. She was the painter, coupon clipper and sale shopper.
5. We bought simply reliable cars kept them for ever.
6. We saved wind falls like tax returns, bonuses etc
7. We kept our vacations modest.
8. We invested our savings.
The result of all this is that we are able to deal with most the curveballs life throws our way without stress. The dentist, tires for the jalopy, the roof, etc. That pile will also serve us in retirement. I never felt I was doing without and I never felt we were chasing a pile or retirement. It was simply incidental to living right and seeking a low stress life.
My unofficial not yet announced date is July I'll be 63. Things are still good at work ...I just think it is time to sit in the sun and toss a lure into the sea.
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