Retiring Early at 54: Was It Worth It?

Many people cant AFFORD TO RETIRE, ITS CALLED. THE COST OF LIVING 😂😂( Just heard that an annual income of $104,000 is considered LOW INCOME IN Orange County, Calif😢!!

I have watched a couple of your videos now and it's funny how much alike you and I are in our views on how we want our lives to be. I always tell my grown sons - I just want to be okay. Don't have to be wealthy - don't have to travel the world - just want to be okay and live according to what I want to do. I am 68 and still working full-time in my career job as a high school librarian. Difference is - you are in Canada and I am in So. California. You may have a pension from being a teacher. I do not as I work in a private school. I will continue working until at least 70 and probably beyond that. I would love to go part-time. I do have lots of time off with the academic year - I have my summers off - and I think that helps me get by. I am also not good being unstructured. I also say - do not schedule me - haha... Summers are funny as I hate having ANYthing scheduled. You are really pleasant to watch on video and do an excellent job with your presentations.

Gen-X here. I’ll be 51 this summer. I wish I could retire now after being in the workforce for 28 years (3 different jobs). Within that 28 years span, i was unemployed only less than a month when I decided to quit one of the jobs after 5 years, before I landed another one. Hopefully I could retire in a few years time with DB pension from my current job. I could technically retire now, but just trying to stay a little longer to complete my 20 years of service by Jan 2027 to get the full health coverage benefits.

I like to think about it as if you absolutely can buy time. Every dollar you set aside for your future, you’re “buying” your future time back. Life is short and we should all strive to spend as little time as we can on this earth devoted to work

I retired from sheep ranching in Saskatchewan at 56. Moved to New Brunswick and I’m thoroughly enjoying the great outdoors.
I also started a YouTube channel! 😊

Freed at 54

Planning is so important isn't it? Not just financial ... you also need to think about what you're going to do with your newfound time. Don't go into retirement looking around wondering what to do with your day. I suggest that you start your hobbies before you retire, so that you can slide into it easily. I haven't looked back - 8 years retired and not one regret. Plan, plan, plan.

Was your husband also able to retire early after you took half his stuff in the divorce Settlement?

I retired at 46, that was 11 years ago. It was the best decision I ever made. 👍

Thank you, Lisa, for your video. I decided to take a sabbatical year from high school teaching this past year to have more time to pursue my Energy Healing business and spend more time with my parents. I can relate completely to the things you did when you first retired, and it was nice to see that I am not the only one who resisted doing anything structured for the first half of year. Being away from school has taught me the value of living in the moment, releasing the programs that society has conditioned us to, and creating a life where you focus on ease and doing what feels right- following your heart. A few weeks ago, I turned in my letter of retirement and not returning for the '26-27 school year. I'm 54 and grateful to be entering into this new chapter of life. Thank you, again, for your story; it's confirmation for myself that I'm doing the right thing by following my heart.

Congratulations for retiring early 🙌. Thanks for sharing - I’m 54, 2 years away from paying off the mortgage and choose “freedom”. Thank you 🙏

How did you learn how to edit your videos?

I've been able to save a few millions, hard working and investing. I'm on track to retire at 55.... I'm basically waiting for kids to finish college, be independent so I can leave the cold and go to a warmer/tax friendly state in USA. Time is precious, and I can't buy any! I'm also aware my health will decline.
Since I bike to work everyday I've been blessed with good health, no gray hair. I can't wait to bike more often, but NOT going to work.

I’d retire at 54 too if I could take half my husband’s pension with a divorce

All I want is PEACE... and do what I want to do... Thank You for the video..

The Gov here says No, you can't legally Retire until 60, you get a special card that allows you to get a lot of reduced costs, Rego, Insurance, public transport is mostly free, as well as a bunch of things, to do with tax, they have a thing if you downsize and sell the Big family home, to move into a Retirement village, you can place 65% of the money into your super and the Gov can't tax it. We didn't even have kids, but the hardship was still there I was married and working at 25, we had grate Job at one of the big Uni here, but we worked a 40-45 hour week, some time week ends, we live with family got our first house in 1995. I did shift work for 8 years Night shift so yes I totally understand the Alarm clock. I would play Rush Working Man a lot and it was set as an alarm. I got a manual typewriter & plan to write a book, on my travels. The ones on my bike (motorcycle) in the back or my Van (Ford Transit Custom Trail) now parked next to my tiny home, on a mini farm in the country. I got sick of the costs involved with driving around and running my own business every year it was getting more & more expensive in service costs, it became not worth it. The Grind is just that. My Financial Advisor said the most important reason for retirement is Freedom, but freedom from debts & your footprint is way different.

I'm 65 and retire in July. I have been prevaricating about retirement for 4 years. I could have gone financially, but.... well I enjoy my job. I do only work 15 hrs per week, though. My long-suffering wife (already retired) is sick of me mentioning it. Her words were 'Just come home one day and tell me that you've done it'! I hope that I don't get under her feet and upset her well-established routine. 🤣 I will have my personal training clients (a side hustle) to keep me occupied. Therefore, I certainly agree that Gen Xers and Boomers need to invest in their health. It's what my channel is about.

What does retirement really mean? I haven't had an office job since I was in my 20s. Since then it's been freelance and work from home etc. I love what I do and will always try to make some money here and there. I think, as long as you are still working, even from home, it's not technically retirement. At the same time, it's not really "working" either. We are in the gray area.

Hi Lisa.
I’m 55 ,I’m nowhere near retirement 😫
Ah,well,I got a good 10 years🙁

I love my job, will never retire, hope to live to 110 years!

At 58 so damn gorgeous looking 😊❤

Do you know Michelle O’Neill?

Another great video! So happy I found your channel!!

Retiring early is fantastic. I went through my finances in my mid 30's.... and decided to pay off my mortgage. I've just uploaded my story to my channel.... I paid it off by 39 and have been semi retired since then. So good we all start talking about 'retirement'... and being free!! 😍😍

In the US, healthcare is the biggest challenge. You’d need a part time job just for the insurance.

Just turned 57 and Im retiring this summer. As I live in Ireland, I’ve free healthcare so that’s not a worry for me.

How many sessions did you have with the advisor before making your decision? And, if you don’t mind how did you find him/her?

Ive been forced into retirement at 53 and i don’t have any assets or enough super to live off I’ve resigned myself to just existing day by day the reality of life is so much more different to what you expected if you dont own a home and don’t have enough its more common than not if your fortunate to have all those things good for you but honestly I’m so glad i don’t have to deal with peoples bullshit at work any longer.

I was forced into retirement at 47 due to developing narcolepsy. Now i spend days sleeping at 68.

51 and would love to retire but don't think I can financially for a comfortable retirement. Things are just too expensive here in Australia

This is the first video of yours I am watching. I am 55 and so much of this resonates with me. Thank you for your thoughts and insight. I am at the age where I am planning my future retirement, but wishing it was now. As my mother passed at 71, I don’t want to wait far into my 60s before I retire. Definitely going to see a retirement specialist and at least get some questions answered. Thank you.

I retired at 54 also now 60 love it never have to work very important difference than “hope” I never have to work.

58 and thinking if retirement this summer…taught 32 years elementary school…

Nice job on this Lisa- many of our fellow Canadians are re-defining Retirement at different ages/stages! I am still happily working on it. Oh ya Freedom 55 is such a Canadian marketing hook!

Retired at 66 after 40 yrs of working 6 days a week 10 hrs a day . I don’t have a lot but I’m so Happy!!Doing whatever I want.

I love the idea of using retirement as a launching pad. I have an opportunity to retire from my 84hr a week job [which I do love but it is srarting to catch up.with me]...the biggest thing I struggle with is....what will I do with all my spare time?

I am 55 years old and as I watch this I am on my FINAL 14 day hitch away from home. I will get to sleep in my own bed every night from now on. Early retirement using IRS Rule 72T. It can be done

Im curious, most of you that have retired mid 50s, how much of a savings was needed. 500k? One million? 1.5 million? Just curious

Hoping to retire early! Glad I found you! You made me realize it IS attainable!! (And I would be my new grandson’s (coming in June) free babysitter!!! 🤗

I am 34 years old and just got incredibly stressed at work. I’m trying to invest in my retirement accounts as much as I possibly can so I can retire with the rule of 55

Sounds great but you need money.....

Awesome new channel for me to follow along with! Was really fortunate to had been able to retire at 52. Took one year to finalize any last items i had then left the country for the rest of the world and have no intention of returning.

Thank you for this, I struggle with the whole should I or shouldn't I. Not even a question of money, I just wonder if anything else in life will give me that satisfaction even though work is really frustrating. It's a really crazy battle going on in my head. Lol

I also retired early and have had moments of boredom, frustration but also happiness! It's tricky for sure. Thanks Lisa!

How would one handle medical insurance if I retire at 53? I live in NY.

I’m reacting to a health decline now 😢. I’m only 53. Put things into clear perspective. Take care of your health first. Without it, nothing else matters.

Why call it “retirement” if you still work a side hussle and bring in income. Working is working even if it is not the long term career. Volunteering after FULLY retiring is also good for our cognitive skills and charitable and kind❤

I am 55 and would retire now, but I have to wait until 62