| There is a general difference of opinion regarding | | | | the desire to redesign their careers to have more |
| the philosophy of life as to whether we live to | | | | personal meaning. Finding passion outside of a |
| work or work to live. There are many who have | | | | career that had become a chore is a theme |
| changed the traditional age of retiring. The dream | | | | among most extreme early retirees. Such people |
| to retire early can be true if one is consistently | | | | do not care about the social viewpoint; have an |
| disciplined, focused and motivated. In fact, there is | | | | unwavering focus on their goal and also an |
| a big media hype about those retiring early, which | | | | indifferent attitude toward amassing all the latest |
| is certainly encouraging others to follow suit. | | | | stuff. There is no one set category that seems |
| Those canvassing early retirement opine that | | | | to be generally opting for early retirement. They |
| retiring early leaves you with youth, vigor and | | | | range from young parents, singles and |
| plenty of enthusiasm to venture out into traveling | | | | dual-income couples without children. Early |
| the globe. It is like being set free to explore the | | | | retirement may mean rarely eating out or no |
| world and experience diverse cultures. There are | | | | television but for many that too is an acceptable |
| many who have taken the plunge. The Kaderlis, | | | | option. They share an excitement about their |
| who retired at the age of 38, are members of a | | | | lives, a desire to spend time in pursuits that are |
| small group of founders of the extreme early | | | | meaningful to them, and often, an environmental |
| retirement trend among baby boomers. The | | | | conscience. |
| Kaderlis' initial 500,000 dollars savings grew | | | | The aspiration to retire early demands planning |
| steadily, partly because they hung in the stock | | | | and certain changes in one's lifestyle. Firstly, the |
| market through the '90s boom and partly | | | | spending and investment priorities need to be set |
| because they cut down their cost of living to an | | | | beforehand. Secondly, one must remember to |
| average of just 24,000 dollars a year. Also, initially | | | | stay 100 percent out of debt, except for a |
| they put all their savings in a low-cost index fund. | | | | mortgage. Thirdly, consider investing in stocks |
| They feel retiring at 38 was an excellent age | | | | through index and mutual funds. Fourthly, it is wise |
| because they had accumulated life experiences | | | | to utilize the compounding effect of time by |
| through their careers. Now in their 50's, they still | | | | investing early and lastly, one should try to search |
| have no regrets except that given a second | | | | for a partner with the same financial values. |
| chance they would probably invest sooner and | | | | Extreme early retirees often face unanticipated |
| with more confidence. They have their own | | | | opposition from those around them. The reason |
| website, which serves as a platform of | | | | could be envy or just sheer loathing for anyone |
| communicating with other early retirees and helps | | | | who dares to think differently. An early |
| to educate the younger generation. They | | | | retirement is undoubtedly difficult to afford. One's |
| propagate the basic rule of saving everything and | | | | lifestyle is restrained to a large extent. But for |
| staying out of debt. | | | | those who find solace in early retirement, the |
| Early retirement is a fast catching concept with | | | | satisfaction lies in being able to determine what |
| today's generation. There is a renaissance of | | | | one is going to do with his or her precious life |
| attitude amongst the youth. They no longer want | | | | energy. |
| to be chained to their desks. Instead they harness | | | | |