Early Birds: How To Retire Early And Make It Stick

Who wouldn't want to retire early, say so long to work for good?

And even better than that, what if you could retire and make it last, leaving you with nothing but good vibes that you won't be re-entering the workforce at an advanced age.

Retiring early doesn't have to be a pipe dream or something that is only reserved for people who make six-figure each year or have what could be described as a pristine retirement fund or a company that helps them more than others.

Those are excuses don't have to define who you are.

As for the company 401K match or a better paying job, those certainly help and if, for example, the former pertains to you and your company is itching to match funds you are putting into a retirement plan, and you're not taking advantage of it, shame on you. That's free money that you're letting slip through your fingers.

Overall, retirement optimism doesn't run rampant whatsoever as the average person doesn't believe they'll be able to retire at 60 or younger, suggesting they'll wait it out until 65 at best.

Retiring early might have more to do with the now than the later, and that would suggest you increase your ability to save more money while you're working.

Some go as far as to sell their larger house and start over smaller with an equally tiny rent or mortgage so they can take the last ten years of their working time and save money in the process. Downsizing also could include cutting your budget at this very moment, whether that means killing off a large car payment and buying used or taking that same "gently used" mentality with other elements of how you spend money: clothes, shoes, food, etc.

Even if you believe that you'll want or need to work beyond retiring from your day job, that doesn't mean you can't plan to do something on a smaller scale, part-time level. That is somewhat common and certainly helps the revenue stream coming into the house.

For most, retiring isn't something you think about until the very end (or near it), and that is a common mistake. You have to start planning and asking (a financial planner preferably) if you're on the right track and have what it takes at your current pace to save enough for retiring on your terms.

Otherwise, you'll merely need to adjust and start taking that retirement age down to a more reasonable place.