Are you curious about how to retire early? The idea of early retirement sounds great but might feel impossible. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help you retire early.
When you pay off debt with ACCC, you can save more money for retirement.
How to Retire Early From Work
Retirement looks a lot different than it used to; pensions are dwindling, some work part-time while “retired,” and others have to rely on family to get them through their golden years. It’s not all bad these days though as some are able to retire early. It takes a lot of hard work, but there are ways to stop working years before retirement age.
The Mint Life blog posted three great stories about folks retiring early. Here are some of the strategies people used to accomplish their financial retirement goals from that blog post along with some of our own suggestions from the Talking Cents blog.
- Live below your means. Well below your means.
- Eliminate debt you have now quickly, and don’t carry any into the future.
- Make savings and investment a priority in your budget.
- Invest as early as you can. Take advantage of the compound interest.
- Avoid upscaling your lifestyle when you receive a promotion. Stick that new money away somewhere productive.
- Utilize as many free resources, activities and events as you can. Community resources, such as the library, can save families hundreds or thousands of dollars each year on books, media and more.
- Keep your starter home. Instead of upgrading your home, you can pay off your mortgage, keep maintenance costs and taxes lower than with a bigger abode.
- Learn how to make and repair things yourself to save money.
- Kick or limit expensive habits, like smoking and drinking.
- Stick to one car or none if you can. Utilize public transportation, walking or biking.
- Transition gradually from full-time work to part-time to fully retired to keep income flowing for a while longer.
- Keep expenses low while in retirement. Plan to keep things simple or find good deals on travel. Your money will last longer if you spend less.
Above all, you need to have a solid plan if you want to successfully retire early. Keep your goals clear and you’ll be ready to not only hit early retirement but potentially avoid any major financial hiccups later on.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
