Comments on: How To Retire the Day After Tomorrow http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/ Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:39:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: dan http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-11401 dan Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:18:40 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-11401 Save money in your 401k to the max. Eliminate credit card debt totally. Refinance your mortgage down to the lowest level you can. Don't re-finance and borrow against the equity unless you ABSOLUTE need to. Cut your monthly expenses, newspaper, cable, cell phones, home phones, all subscriptions. KEEP your expenses low and NO ONE will OWN you. It is as simple as that!! If I would have only adopted these principles in my 30's versus my 50's! Save money in your 401k to the max. Eliminate credit card debt totally. Refinance your mortgage down to the lowest level you can. Don’t re-finance and borrow against the equity unless you ABSOLUTE need to. Cut your monthly expenses, newspaper, cable, cell phones, home phones, all subscriptions. KEEP your expenses low and NO ONE will OWN you. It is as simple as that!! If I would have only adopted these principles in my 30’s versus my 50’s!

]]> By: xenia http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-11353 xenia Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:07:16 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-11353 I am a huge fan of the whole site, and have read many, many posts about all sorts of topics. but one thing continues to nag at me ... how does one stop doing work they hate, and work at something they enjoy, when they need the money to live on? my only hobby is reading, and I enjoy very, very little else. how can I stop being a "wage slave" if I need at least $500 a week to pay the bills? I aspire to be you, Chris, and I would do anything to be just as you are - travel constantly. But I need the money and would hate doing whatever it would take to get that sort of capital :) I am a huge fan of the whole site, and have read many, many posts about all sorts of topics. but one thing continues to nag at me … how does one stop doing work they hate, and work at something they enjoy, when they need the money to live on? my only hobby is reading, and I enjoy very, very little else. how can I stop being a “wage slave” if I need at least $500 a week to pay the bills?

I aspire to be you, Chris, and I would do anything to be just as you are – travel constantly. But I need the money and would hate doing whatever it would take to get that sort of capital :)

]]> By: Sue http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-9452 Sue Sat, 23 May 2009 03:45:07 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-9452 Hi Chris, I really enjoyed this post. Life is indeed too short to spend at a workplace that is draining for whatever reason, so the "things to stop" list is a good idea. I used to really like my work and the work environment and actually had a fairly wide latitude of freedom, but the addition of a few really toxic people (and one them a work place bully) has made me completely rethink where and how I want to make my living, not to mention that being targeted by said toxic bully caused enough distress on all levels of being that I've ended up on stress leave. (To Ginger M--I'm sorry to hear that your work place pushed you into such a difficult place, but inspired to hear that the result of your breakdown--or maybe breakthrough--was to walk away and start your own business. It certainly can take a while to get one's health, confidence, etc, up and running again after such a depleting experience.) I like most of the work I do (survey design and data analysis, writing the occasional literature review, integrating data from various sources into a coherent, user-friendly report) and I've realized that while I can take those skills to any number of other workplaces (and probably will have to do that in the short run), I, too, would ultimately like to start my own small business doing what I'm good at (research and writing) and in a way that can contribute to making a positive difference in the world--even if it's for one person at a time. Chris, I may soon be looking at some of your e-books on starting up small businesses! Look forward to reading your next post! Cheers! Hi Chris,

I really enjoyed this post. Life is indeed too short to spend at a workplace that is draining for whatever reason, so the “things to stop” list is a good idea. I used to really like my work and the work environment and actually had a fairly wide latitude of freedom, but the addition of a few really toxic people (and one them a work place bully) has made me completely rethink where and how I want to make my living, not to mention that being targeted by said toxic bully caused enough distress on all levels of being that I’ve ended up on stress leave. (To Ginger M–I’m sorry to hear that your work place pushed you into such a difficult place, but inspired to hear that the result of your breakdown–or maybe breakthrough–was to walk away and start your own business. It certainly can take a while to get one’s health, confidence, etc, up and running again after such a depleting experience.)

I like most of the work I do (survey design and data analysis, writing the occasional literature review, integrating data from various sources into a coherent, user-friendly report) and I’ve realized that while I can take those skills to any number of other workplaces (and probably will have to do that in the short run), I, too, would ultimately like to start my own small business doing what I’m good at (research and writing) and in a way that can contribute to making a positive difference in the world–even if it’s for one person at a time. Chris, I may soon be looking at some of your e-books on starting up small businesses! Look forward to reading your next post!

Cheers!

]]> By: Carlos Rodriguez http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-9121 Carlos Rodriguez Wed, 13 May 2009 07:51:48 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-9121 Great post! I enjoyed it and agree with it 100%. However, it is hard to believe how many people prefer the slavery route rather than freedom. I hope you had a good time in The Dominican Republic. Carlos HolaDR.com Great post! I enjoyed it and agree with it 100%. However, it is hard to believe how many people prefer the slavery route rather than freedom. I hope you had a good time in The Dominican Republic.

Carlos
HolaDR.com

]]> By: Lisa http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-8755 Lisa Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:23:40 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-8755 Great post Chris! I know I am a bit behind here as I just started reading your site, but I wanted to drop a note and let you know how right on you are. I am in the process of trying to implement many of the things you are talking about here. I am finishing up Grad school this summer and am trying to figure out what to do after that, the idea of writing your own job description is great! I can identify with so many of the comments as well, I work (full-time) at a job that while I don't hate it certainly doesn't challenge me in the way that I think a "real" job should. Too much time is spent pushing papers and wasting time just to collect the paycheck. Keep changing the world Chris! Great post Chris! I know I am a bit behind here as I just started reading your site, but I wanted to drop a note and let you know how right on you are. I am in the process of trying to implement many of the things you are talking about here. I am finishing up Grad school this summer and am trying to figure out what to do after that, the idea of writing your own job description is great! I can identify with so many of the comments as well, I work (full-time) at a job that while I don’t hate it certainly doesn’t challenge me in the way that I think a “real” job should. Too much time is spent pushing papers and wasting time just to collect the paycheck.

Keep changing the world Chris!

]]> By: Fran http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-8215 Fran Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:37:24 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-8215 A few years ago, I had a job that I didn't like going to. Three quarters of the time I was doing things that I hated, with a lot of busy work. My relationships there were also horrible. So I decided that I wouldn't waste my time doing what I didn't want to do in an atmosphere where I was uncomfortable. I've never been one to live that way. No job is worth that. Instead of retiring, I told them that I wanted to go to part-time, doing only the aspects of the job that I enjoyed when they needed me. It worked out for both of us. Now I'm happier and they're happier. I still do it even though I now work a different full-time job that I like. They count on me and trust me to do what I'm good at and enjoy, and I'm happy to do it for them because the relationship is so much better. Deciding what I wouldn't do made all the difference. A few years ago, I had a job that I didn’t like going to. Three quarters of the time I was doing things that I hated, with a lot of busy work. My relationships there were also horrible. So I decided that I wouldn’t waste my time doing what I didn’t want to do in an atmosphere where I was uncomfortable. I’ve never been one to live that way. No job is worth that. Instead of retiring, I told them that I wanted to go to part-time, doing only the aspects of the job that I enjoyed when they needed me. It worked out for both of us. Now I’m happier and they’re happier. I still do it even though I now work a different full-time job that I like. They count on me and trust me to do what I’m good at and enjoy, and I’m happy to do it for them because the relationship is so much better. Deciding what I wouldn’t do made all the difference.

]]> By: Bethan http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-6904 Bethan Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:50:03 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-6904 I retired last week from my job in a shipping company - If I'd read this artical before I would have retired sooner. I'm 24 and was doing data entry for a company that I didn't like, odly enough, yesterday I found out that my boyfriend - was being moved into my position instead of being made redundant. So it worked out for the best. All you need is the courage to take the first step. I retired last week from my job in a shipping company – If I’d read this artical before I would have retired sooner. I’m 24 and was doing data entry for a company that I didn’t like, odly enough, yesterday I found out that my boyfriend – was being moved into my position instead of being made redundant. So it worked out for the best. All you need is the courage to take the first step.

]]> By: Trackback from All about Inertia http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-4666 Trackback from All about Inertia Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:39:28 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-4666 [...] is that we are so reluctant to CHANGE, and that non conformity with anything seems so scary a task, that we make ourselves vulnerable to the easier path to [...] [...] is that we are so reluctant to CHANGE, and that non conformity with anything seems so scary a task, that we make ourselves vulnerable to the easier path to [...]

]]> By: Dan http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-4522 Dan Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:17:51 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-4522 Wage slaves, that's right on the money. I had a boss who was bipolar, hot and cold and you never knew where he was or what he was up to. 27 years I worked for the Company and the past 12 under him. I swore I would never become a victim but there I was. My position got displaced without notice, so I retired. I have not been happier. Stress levels are at an all time low. You do have to have some resources, like a savings account, 401k that you can dip into, or better yet , have all your expenses in order, before you jump off the track. There are tons of opportunities on the internet to research. Inertia is hard at first, but is key. Chris, great idea on the stop doing list. Thank you for this article. Wage slaves, that’s right on the money. I had a boss who was bipolar, hot and cold and you never knew where he was or what he was up to. 27 years I worked for the Company and the past 12 under him. I swore I would never become a victim but there I was. My position got displaced without notice, so I retired. I have not been happier. Stress levels are at an all time low. You do have to have some resources, like a savings account, 401k that you can dip into, or better yet , have all your expenses in order, before you jump off the track. There are tons of opportunities on the internet to research. Inertia is hard at first, but is key.
Chris, great idea on the stop doing list. Thank you for this article.

]]> By: michael http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/comment-page-1/#comment-4292 michael Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:32:58 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/how-to-retire-the-day-after-tomorrow/#comment-4292 Why bother retiring; just do the things you like doing. That's what I do and every day I enjoy what I do because I don't know the difference between my hobbies and my work. I am reinventing myself again right now, and sceptics can see the result at bizlearn.biz. I cannot envisage retirement and and I intend to stay relevant so that my active clients will regret my passing. I do feel sorry for the wage slaves in our society, but I chose the path less traveled 35 years ago and I have never regretted it. People who don't like their work simply need the courage to discard their self imposed shackles. Why bother retiring; just do the things you like doing. That’s what I do and every day I enjoy what I do because I don’t know the difference between my hobbies and my work. I am reinventing myself again right now, and sceptics can see the result at bizlearn.biz.
I cannot envisage retirement and and I intend to stay relevant so that my active clients will regret my passing.
I do feel sorry for the wage slaves in our society, but I chose the path less traveled 35 years ago and I have never regretted it. People who don’t like their work simply need the courage to discard their self imposed shackles.

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