Would you like to be able to retire at a young age?

I actually did!
And I was petrified as my business sold within 4 weeks of putting it on the market. I had worked hard for 28 years and suddenly panicked, as I realised I had nothing else to do during the day.

I was delighted that the new owner wanted me there for several months but after that I went back to panic mode.

One important aspect of retiring young is that your friends generally do not. So I had to start finding a new "day life" for myself.

After about a year I was as happy as a pig in mud!
Loved not having to go to work and to this day, still love it even though I now work 3 times a week volunteering, and managing an op shop which is quite stressful with about 20 staff.

But it was lovely to retire early and be able to travel and do what I wanted after so many years of hard work.

by Finy

What type of business did you have?

Oh yes - I'd do it in a heartbeat if I could. Maybe after a while I'd do a couple of days volunteering, but would love to have the days as my own.

by poppy

I'm not really a fan of young retirement.
It's not natural, and it is important to keep busy.
I think about 60 is good, as after that your health goes down, due to age.

I am of the mind one should have some time to enjoy, after working all your life.

by jonaja

I would love to not have to worry about money, but I would probably keep working - maybe just less and maybe I'd do more volunteer work. I love the work that I do as a doula and childbirth educator and would love to be able to offer more support services to more women. As well as being able to spend more time with my children.

by lizzi

I would definitely love to retire young. I'd love to retire young with my husband

by AJ

I was forced to end my working days a week before I turned 50,due to a chronic and extremely painful illness which became totally debilitating for me on a work level, I'd suffered since my teens so I feel I lasted fairly well,considering the facts of the matter!!! It was a massive culture shock for me as I had always been so active,even walking to and from work!!! But I found that I could enjoy other aspects of my life more,or in some cases,again;including my garden,spending time with my beloved dogs,photography,and I learned my way around a computer which allowed me to feel much less isolated.I resumed my hobby of collecting old & antique children's books and also Art Glass through buying on-line. I have been able to research my treasures without leaving home and I have made some wonderful and genuine friends through the internet.So I can honestly say that I am very happy with my life.

by Jules

I ‘retired’ at age 26, in March, 1973, a month before our 1st of 2 daughters was born! My husband retired when his firm offered him a very good redundancy payout, at the age of 57. Since my husbands retirement, we’ve taken 11 cruises, (none with P&O) & we’re going on a 5 week cruise in Sept, 2015 around the pacific islands.

by miro_

Ah, miro_, are all these cruises you take at 'trade' discount?

I only ever worked for the money. I like being able to do a variety of things for short periods of time. I can always find plenty of things to do that are way more fun than work ... even when money is an issue. Of course if you are lucky enough (smart enough?) to love your work that'd be different.

by lynne

It would be nice but I think I'd become bored. I would probably work part time or similar.

by wotsy

Due to circs beyond my control, I retired two years' earlier than planned.
Not that it's caused any dramas, just two extra years' to enjoy my lifestyle, very measured, but with NO time restrictions! Yay!

by donjo

I've only just found your question from my previous answer.(jan '17) Yes donjo, we go through a firm that only does cruises for people in the travel business, e.g. airline staff, travel agents. My husband worked for an airline for 33 years, as i've mentioned, so he gets the discount for 33 years after he left, but he said he would have died before those 33 years were up, (after he left work.) I would get it for another 5 years, but I don't think I'd feel like going anywhere by then anyway!
We didn't cruise in 2016, & I don't think we'll be going this year in 2017 either.

No we didn't cruise in '17, but we did fly to Singapore for 3 days & then had 12 days in Bali, attending a family wedding. We are now booked on our 3rd south pacific cruise. This 1 is only 14 nights, to islands we haven't visited before, except for the Isle of Pines, which we loved the 1st time we were there, & we were hoping we'd return there. It's our 3rd Princess cruise. It's a Melbourne return, so we can spend time with the family down there, both sides of the cruise, so we'll be away from home about 1 month.

No. I will work until my body says stop. I find that work give a certain purpose to my life.

by Gia

I would like to retire early but only because there are so many things I would like to do if I had the time - wtrite novels, travel Australia, learn the piano, learn a language, take up painting, do some gardening - it's a long list. But alas, my reality is to continue working, to age 67 now or perhaps even more if the rules change again. I've never had children so I have been working for 39 years now, it is just part of life.

by Gayle Beveridge