Thread

Show HN: How long do I need to work at my salary before I can coast, or retire?

51 points · 71 comments · karmanyaahm

sschueller · 1790226677 · focus · HN ↗
> Based on the available data, the percentage of the U.S. population that can realistically achieve FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is very small, likely less than 1% to 3%. This figure represents those who can both meet the strict financial criteria and successfully execute the plan to retire decades before the traditional age.
According to Gallup polling, only 1% of Americans in their early 40s are retired, and just 6% of those in their early 50s have left the workforce. [1]
Nice if you can do it. Most of us will never be able to.
[1] <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/what-percentage-of-people-achieve-financial-freedom-before-turning-50-and-how-yo-1775758391009-11946758#1" rel="nofollow">https://www.investopedia.com/what-percentage-of-people-achie...
1. sublinear · 1790230990 · focus · HN ↗
  I honestly don't even understand why someone would want to retire early. You're just leaving money on the table and setting yourself up for mental health problems.
  If you think working is worse for your mental health than not working, you need to pick something else to do.
  1. sschueller · 1790231847 · focus · HN ↗
    Because the thing you may want to do doesn't pay the bills. Anything from playing music, making art or even building cool electronic things doesn't pay bills most of the time.
    I have built many exciting things, many open source, none have brought in enough to cover my day to day.
  2. tasuki · 1790232056 · focus · HN ↗
    > You're just leaving money on the table
    LOL. Of course you're leaving money on the table: that is the whole point! Many people have hobbies they'd rather be doing than working. It's ok to leave money on the table. Especially so if you don't see anything meaningful to buy with the extra money.

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