I’ve brought up the concept of FIRE to quite a few people now, since I’ve been on this path for around 7 months. While some are accepting and eager to hear about it, the MAJORITY thinks it’s crazy and laugh and pretty much say good luck. I had my friend ask if I was going through a mid life crisis hahaha. It just seems so simple and intriguing to me that I’d figure everyone would want to do it. Why work your whole life away just because it’s the normal thing to do?!
Why do people think we’re/I’m crazy? Lol
- Thread starter Huntnful
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That’s awesome you’re retired though!Because it is the normal thing to do.
Retire at SS Full Retirement Age or 62 soonest.
I'm only a little earlier than early normal at 59.
But hey, I signed up here after I retired -
ER Eddie
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I think most people just don't believe it can be done. They've gotten themselves too deep in debt, consumerism, lifestyle, and financial obligations. They can't possibly see themselves getting to the point of financial independence. So to them the idea seems "crazy."
Or else, they're just responding out of a sense that you're not behaving like a normal person behaves, like Robbie said. And so it seems nuts to them.
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Just_Steve
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You obviously are talking to the wrong people.
jazz4cash
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That's ok. You shouldn't go around telling everybody about ER. I don't think it works if everybody does it and there's already too many people out and about during the day when I thought I'd have the stores and roads to myself.
You have to feel out the folks that are receptive to the concept and/or stressed out from w*rk and conspire with them.
Travelfreek
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I got interested in my financial security in mid-2008 when I was working for a boss who advised me to move my TSP money to G (securities) and out of stocks (C-S-I). I did it and only lost $4k that year out of >$100k. Whew! I took early retirement in March '09 with immediate pension and started work 2 weeks later in a similar position (for State instead of Feds). From there I packed away a lot into both 401k and 457 plans since I had nearly a double income. This went on for almost 7 years! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to feather our nest during the 7 year period. My husband got a substantial promo during his last 5 years of work before retirement so he also packed a lot into deferred comp. We are currently aggressively paying down our house note and already paid down $60k this calendar year (2018) with our frothy IRA money taking advantage of the new lower tax bracket!
Now we'll let the market bubble up again before we make another 20k pmt this year! We've been though the dot com/dot bomb era (lost $7k in that one) so we are just holding steady. Steady wins the race.
Now we'll let the market bubble up again before we make another 20k pmt this year! We've been though the dot com/dot bomb era (lost $7k in that one) so we are just holding steady. Steady wins the race.
scrabbler1
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You have to have a little bit of outlier mentality in order to retire early. It, along with a lot of other things, goes against what most people do. I actually have a lot of outlier mentality, having many traits and lifestyle choices which go against the norm, so to speak. So, adding ER (at 45, 9 years ago) to that list of things is, simply put, no big deal. And to the people who know me well, it is not a big deal, either.
brucethebroker
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Some people (who say they do not believe in FI) seem happy to buy and spend. And some others are just jealous and miserable-those guys are the ones who tell you it can't be done. Because they can't/won't.
The whole idea is to do what makes you happy. (Many here are very happy with total FIRE. I prefer semi-RE. I have a great PT hobby job that I enjoy, and the extra money is nice. We now have the time to travel and snowbird. Some here, however, see the PT stuff as more w*rk and say so. But they seem happy and I am happy. What ever floats your boat.)
Take the attitude that those who do not strive for FI will continue to fund your future SS retirement benefits. 'Bless their hearts.....
You are on the right track-keep the faith.
The whole idea is to do what makes you happy. (Many here are very happy with total FIRE. I prefer semi-RE. I have a great PT hobby job that I enjoy, and the extra money is nice. We now have the time to travel and snowbird. Some here, however, see the PT stuff as more w*rk and say so. But they seem happy and I am happy. What ever floats your boat.)
Take the attitude that those who do not strive for FI will continue to fund your future SS retirement benefits. 'Bless their hearts.....
You are on the right track-keep the faith.
marko
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+1
A lot of people lack imagination.
Even many who can RE don't because they can't visualize life without doing the 9 to 5.
The single one thing that I always hated in life was a "don't bother trying, you can't win" attitude. ( or worse: "THEY won't let you win")
I really do think it's an American thing. I married into a family that was mainly from Portugal. when I mention ER to my European family, totally different reaction.
The old saying "Americans live to work, while everyone else works to live".
Go for it.
I semi retired at 56 when my mega corp gave me my "please go away nicely" package. I now have a p/t job doing a hobby that I love but will probably only do that maybe one or two more years. I'll definitely be done by 60.
Whenever you start to think "everyone would want to do" anything, think again.
IMHO, the secret to life is to always do what makes you and yours happy, and not worry about everyone. That way, you are happy while working and happy while not working.
I agree with others that it’s a cultural thing. Sports announcers praise the work ethic of players; labor unions praise the ennobling qualities of work; “idle” is still used as an insult, etc.
I suspect it stems from the U.S.’s early, puritanical immigrants and was simply reinforced by wave after wave of following migrants who moved here with the expectation and hope of work.
I suspect it stems from the U.S.’s early, puritanical immigrants and was simply reinforced by wave after wave of following migrants who moved here with the expectation and hope of work.
exnavynuke
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Why do people think we're crazy? Simply put, because spending is what they know and "retirement is that thing old people do when they can't work anymore".
My sister and her husband have a household income equivalent to mine, but their priorities are such that they'll never retire early. Spending, even while in significant debt, is just "life" to them. They can ask for advice on how to get out of tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt in the same conversation they mention planning on selling their current home (that they needed an 80/20 mortgage to buy in the first place) and buying a bigger place and going on another vacation. That's "normal" for them and, in their minds, that's a perfectly rational conversation..
My sister and her husband have a household income equivalent to mine, but their priorities are such that they'll never retire early. Spending, even while in significant debt, is just "life" to them. They can ask for advice on how to get out of tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt in the same conversation they mention planning on selling their current home (that they needed an 80/20 mortgage to buy in the first place) and buying a bigger place and going on another vacation. That's "normal" for them and, in their minds, that's a perfectly rational conversation..
Early retirees unite! You have nothing to lose but more years in the salt mines!
+1
Perhaps if this forum had more carnies and revolutionaries and soldiers of fortune then it wouldn't seem unusual. Those folks are expected to be abnormal.
Alas, ER.org boasts a disproportionate number of engineers and actuaries and such, professions the general public stereotypically regards as nerdy and dull. We are the poster children for living predictable lives. "Retire early? Nonsense! Of course you'll w*rk till 65 because that's what you're supposed to do! Now, back to your cubicle and get on those TPS reports!"
+1
Perhaps if this forum had more carnies and revolutionaries and soldiers of fortune then it wouldn't seem unusual. Those folks are expected to be abnormal.
Alas, ER.org boasts a disproportionate number of engineers and actuaries and such, professions the general public stereotypically regards as nerdy and dull. We are the poster children for living predictable lives. "Retire early? Nonsense! Of course you'll w*rk till 65 because that's what you're supposed to do! Now, back to your cubicle and get on those TPS reports!"
This is a great view point and puts it into a better perspective. I guess I have always done things outside the norm. That’s probably why it doesn’t seem so crazy to me personally.
Haha thanks for the sound advice! I guess it is what makes me happy, and it actually makes it much easier to go to work. Knowing at some point I’ll decide my end date. I debated on working on my own for the freedom, but after realizing what my high wages, 401k and company match will do for me over a short period of time I felt much better about my current position and outlook!
Mr._Graybeard
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Also, lots of retired public employees seem to gravitate to this forum.
Which Roger
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Retiring requires taking responsibility for structuring one's time and priorities. Having a job takes care of all that for you. So the latter is much easier in that regard.
Danmar
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Agree, much too much worrying about what others think. Quite often they aren’t thinking at all.
athena53
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I agree- I spent my entire career as a "wage slave" although a couple of jobs in small consulting firms were more entrepreneurial. I decided that I vastly preferred having someone else worry about having enough money to make payroll and pay the health insurance premiums.
As for why others think we're crazy- first, there's a part of the population in genuinely shaky, low-paying jobs for whom it will never be a possibility. I wouldn't be here (retired very comfortably at 61) if I'd spent my 39-year career as a cosmetologist or a clerk in retail. Then there's the segment planning on SS and whatever they manage to save (you've seen median savings stats for the near-retirement age group- pretty dismal). It takes some thinking and some discipline to forego all the fanciest TV and cell phone packages, the latest car, the 4 nights/week restaurant habits. If you're planning on SS being all or a major part of your retirement income, you can't retire before age 62.
Most of us are here through a combination of luck and smarts. From the whining I see on FB from retirees having a hard time making ends meet, we're in the minority.
MRG
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I don't think many people have been exposed to ER. I remember a guy who started with me and a dozen others. He's out door in his 40s!
I was concerned as I hadn't seen the guy do anything outside of work except drink beer. I saw him a few years later and wow! Seemed like a great idea.
Every year I was asked to talk to my guys about their 401k contribution. Wow did I learn a lot. Most of it was really just denial of why they didn't save, but some was pretty original(it's my children's job to take care of me!).
Who's crazy the person who gets out early to enjoy life, or the person who dies at the office?
FYI: A couple of months it'll be 5 years since I retired at 56, I can't believe how fast it's gone.
I was concerned as I hadn't seen the guy do anything outside of work except drink beer. I saw him a few years later and wow! Seemed like a great idea.
Every year I was asked to talk to my guys about their 401k contribution. Wow did I learn a lot. Most of it was really just denial of why they didn't save, but some was pretty original(it's my children's job to take care of me!).
Who's crazy the person who gets out early to enjoy life, or the person who dies at the office?
FYI: A couple of months it'll be 5 years since I retired at 56, I can't believe how fast it's gone.
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kcowan
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Dad worked until 65 and was retired for 30 years. Bro retired at 42 and was retired for 27 years. I have been retired for 15 years. I don't expect to match my Dad. Although I am planning for it.
Meadbh
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I agree with bcclover that this is an American thing. I believe it has to do partly with the Puritan work ethic that went into the founding of the US, and partly due to the fact that healthcare insurance in the US is tied to work.
It's always the quiet ones who surprise you the most
Sorry, didn't mean to leave anyone out. My DF was a government employee (an economist!) and without question the most conventional creature of habit ever to walk the earth. The epitome of "normal", his daily routine never varied a smidgen for 40 years...
...except once. He astonished everyone by taking early retirement at 60, dumping his house in the burbs and moving to a cabin deep in the woods of WV with DM. It sure seemed crazy and out-of-character at the time, but it worked out fine for many years.
Sorry, didn't mean to leave anyone out. My DF was a government employee (an economist!) and without question the most conventional creature of habit ever to walk the earth. The epitome of "normal", his daily routine never varied a smidgen for 40 years...
...except once. He astonished everyone by taking early retirement at 60, dumping his house in the burbs and moving to a cabin deep in the woods of WV with DM. It sure seemed crazy and out-of-character at the time, but it worked out fine for many years.
