So few people I know of are planning for or even think about ER. It seems, as a rule, the way it works in North America is to work your whole life, making payments on houses, cars, boats, shopping for a hobby etc. Putting the very minimum or zero away for retirement. Living beyond their means, not even caring about prices of these things as long as they can make the monthly payment. Their banks make their financial decisions, "yes we can lend you the money for that, it will be this $$$ a month". Everytime someone I know buys a brand new vehicle, I'm thinking, well you just added 5 years to your retirement age. I even hear people that are making very good money say " I'll have what I'll have when I retire, the government will take care of me".
Of course everyone is free to do as they wish, I just find it shocking that so few are actually taking positive financial steps so they don't have to work until they're dead.
Of course everyone is free to do as they wish, I just find it shocking that so few are actually taking positive financial steps so they don't have to work until they're dead.