re: At what age did you retire, and what did you do to get there?

I’m 60 now and could retire. But I love what I do so I’m still doing it!

This is how I feel right now at 33.. not planning for marriage or kids so I'm basically doing what I want right now. Just now getting more serious about putting away at least a little - opened an Acorns Investment and Roth IRA accounts and have stuff through my job obviously.

58
Eat at home, mostly
Bring lunch to work
Wife buys food when it goes on sale
No fancy cell phones
Pay myself first
Live within my means
Used cars
Work like a dog
Discipline

Was able to pay house off in early 40's due to an inheritance.

My Dad is 83 years old and he got up at 5:00 am this morning to go to his $15/hr job. He also stays several hours late every day to help out despite the fact that he is off the clock and doesn't get compensated for that time.

He got his first job in 1949 and has been working ever since. His first job was a paperboy and when the deabeats on his route couldn't pay him the two bits they owed for their paper subscription, he took it out of his own pocket because he didn't want to go to his boss empty handed. In his adult career, he once went 31 years straight without missing a single day of work and his employer gave him a certificate which he still has in a frame.

He has been working 71 years and he still works twice as hard as anybody at his job. When the government gave out stimulus checks this year he tried to contact them and tell them he didn't want one. He's going to die on his feet. They don't make 'em like THAT anymore.

Was a plant Baw for 40 years. Planned to retire at 59 but back issues took me out early at 57. Took a lump sum pension buyout. Key for me was paying the house off early and getting debt free. Am on SS Disability now and have no interest in working not even part time. Living on investment earnings and spending lots of time exercising and staying in shape.

I am on track to retire at 60 years old. I don't even want to think about retiring earlier than that. Once 60 hits, I'll probably dedicate 4 months a year to national and international travel and find some easy/seasonal part-time gig to keep me engaged the other 8 months to supplement my Roth income and SS.

55
Worked at nuke plant 28 years, was always in top 3 in overtime
Lived under our means
Have a wife that saves money instead of recycling it.
Mowed yards on the side when I was on shift. At the end of 1 rotation had 7 days off
Paid for both my kids college out of pocket
Also sold a few cars a year
Last 2 years at work I went to training as instructor for our millwright apprenticeship, but I need both my knees and left hip replaced so they let me go out on medical retirement.
Resold my house to the builder and moved back to La from Tx
Company insurance is free to retirees
I don’t have expensive hobbies golf a few times a year
Above average 401 return

Lol...love that gif!

quote:

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55
Worked at nuke plant 28 years, was always in top 3 in overtime
Lived under our means
Have a wife that saves money instead of recycling it.
Mowed yards on the side when I was on shift. At the end of 1 rotation had 7 days off
Paid for both my kids college out of pocket
Also sold a few cars a year
Last 2 years at work I went to training as instructor for our millwright apprenticeship, but I need both my knees and left hip replaced so they let me go out on medical retirement.
Resold my house to the builder and moved back to La from Tx
Company insurance is free to retirees
I don’t have expensive hobbies golf a few times a year
Above average 401 return

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all commendable for sure. good job:)

I'm working til 70 or so........I'm in an executive position and its mentally stimulating with little physical demands.

One thing of serious consideration is gray matter stimulation. the use it or lose it paradox for retirees.

Sorry if already covered, but for you guys that retired early, how did you handle health insurance? That's the big issue the people that I know in their 50's and early 60's seem to worry about how to handle.