“OMG, the stock market is going to collapse and the world come to an end! And then what are you going to do, wise guy? Go back to work? Ha! Get real. You haven’t worked in forever. Nobody wants your out of date skills. And in a big downturn EVERYONE is looking for a job, and you will be last on every employer’s list. Loser.”
I love 2018. Internet people are so friendly these days. But as much as I am unlikely to invite this guy over for dinner, he does have a point.
“Going back to work” is a fall back plan for a lot of aspiring retirees. If you are dealt a poor sequence of returns in the early years, just call your old boss. But woe is me, this is no longer an option.
But not because my skillz have been back shelved. And not because I am far too busy. The truth is, as far as employment is concerned, retirement has completely ruined me.
(GCC: During our months in Guatemala, we had some truly unforgettable experiences with new lifelong friends. I recall one guy who radiated positivity, was always up for an adventure, and was a gracious guest and generous tipper. Over a few weeks and numerous $0.50 rum & cokes, we talked at length about travel and money, and how to be better at both. I felt inspired to be more generous. He felt inspired to build a respectable “travel for life” fund. And Winnie claims to have not understood any of it, because Nick has quite the heavy Australian accent. So maybe it is a good thing that you get to read his story…. and OMG the PICTURES!!!!)
I am super honoured to be asked to write this for some definite idols of mine. (And I am not one to have many). Other than my parents, who have shown me how to be a decent human being and how to raise a family, (my life’s main goal), Jeremy and Winnie are up there. After meeting them in Guatemala, they have stood out with their ambition of living their dream. Not just because they found a way to retire early and travel, (my life’s second goal), but because they saw their dream and went for it. They didn’t get bogged down and follow the mundane society’s way of life. They are living their dream. Hopefully I am on that path now, as here I am currently working for a year at Mawson Station in Antarctica!
First Job: Money Model – “Like a kid in a toy store with 100 Euros and Daddy’s credit card”
(GCC: I recently asked Chief Mom Officer a very pointed question:
Winnie and I both grew up poor, and a big part of our money value system started from a place of deprivation. We ended up in the right place, but not in necessarily the healthiest way possible. Now we are raising our own family with an abundance of money and time… how to instill those same values about saving, delayed gratification, etc… in a positive and healthy way?
What recommendations would you make to families like ours? Today’s post is the answer.)
How do you teach kids the important lessons about money, especially if you didn’t grow up with a great parental example?
Teaching your children important money lessons can be tricky. I would know. As the mother of three boys, ranging in age from 14 down to 3, I’ve had a lot of experience with teaching kids of different ages the basics of smart money management.
(GCC: A few years ago at FinCon, I had a chat with a fiery young woman whose dream was to save just enough $ to leave the corporate world. “I’m going to front load 100% of my retirement savings and then just let it percolate while I pursue other interests.” I loved the idea and the gumption. Fast forward to today: mission accomplished!)
My name is Gwen. I’m 27 years old, and even if I never save another penny I will enjoy a comfortable standard retirement. How did I manage that? I’m glad you asked!
If I could summarize the human meet and greet ritual in a single phrase, it would be:
Hi… So, what do you do?
It’s an interesting question. What is it that we who no longer have jobs do? How can we answer this question in a way that helps us connect with others? What happens when we are completely honest with our new friends?
Over the years I’ve experienced this inquiry in numerous countries, languages, and cultures. Here are a few of the more entertaining interactions.
To live an unconventional life you have to do unconventional things, which leads to unconventional conversations.
Which is why I enjoy meeting fellow early retirees and aspirees so much. There is so much more to build on than with more traditional thinkers: “Early retirement? Oh my…. I just don’t know what I would do with myself all day.”
So recently I had coffee with a reader who was passing through Taipei while doing nontraditional things, and we had a traditional conversation. This included riffing on that stereotypical question: “What would you do if you had $10 million?”
