Being the day it is, I thought about what I could give my fellow No Limits Ladies. Porsches were out of the question (plus they're not very roomy, nah, you wouldn't like them). The hubby suggested new flat screen monitors (he would as he wants one himself) but that isn't in the budget either (unless someone buys a new house via the Amazon links).
Seriously, one of the things I love to do is give people examples of different ways to live. Not because I advise they follow these examples (everyone is different) but because it opens up opportunities. You don’t know what you don’t know.
And one possibility is extreme early retirement. We’re talking retirement in our 30’s, 40’s or 50’s.
Bankrate has an excellent article on two sets of retirees and their very different routes to early retirement. Neither had what I would consider a large nest egg when retiring. No millions of dollars. One couple had $500,000 (but I’m unsure as to whether that included real estate) and the other had $270,000 (not including any real estate). Yet they were able to retire and live the lives they wanted.
‘Course when you have that level of investments, frugality plays a big part in your lifestyle (one reason we have Frugal Fridays here on NoLimitsLadies). Every penny counts. But is it all sacrifice? Nope. One couple travels constantly, having seen countries many working people only dream of.
If I could do it all again (being semi retired myself), would I follow their same paths? No. Both couples live in low cost areas while I’m a city girl. Plus I’m a bit of a princess (I like my hotel rooms when traveling). But it does get me thinking… and I hope it gets you thinking too.
Thinking that hey, these couples got the lives they really wanted. They didn't wait. They didn't put it off until tomorrow. Through some focused financial management, they got it now.
And you can too.
