If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
I came across this as a sneaky interviewer question whilst researching for a book I was writing on redundancy.
Yet it set me thinking: Would YOU?
How much money would be ‘enough’ for you?
If you had that amount, what would you be doing differently?
Which led me on to: What are you doing that could bring that scenario about?
We’re not talking happy-clappy-lala-land-navel-gazing “I can have it all” here. I don’t believe we can have it all:
Happily married to a gorgeous spouse with great kids and a string of affairs ‘on the side’?
Super healthy and fit with a fabulous body eating junk food and swilling pints of alcohol every night?
Being at the top of your tree business- or career-wise with balanced social and leisure time?
Surely there’s a cost for the things we deem important in life? And it’s down to us to decide whether it’s a price worth paying, isn’t it? And what may be number One on somebody’s list of priorities may not even feature on another’s. And that’s okay as it’s down to personal choice.
What do you think?
About Linda MattacksDoing what you love, your bit for humankind and the planet (if that turns you on) and making a decent, let alone great living don't necessarily come in the same package! With a background of sales training, marketing and market/marketing research spanning decades, for individuals and companies across the world from micros to corporations, Linda's finally found her niche... and some truly fabulous collaborators. Female employer, employee or entrepreneur, if you're not seeing the fruits of your potential value in the marketplace why not talk to Linda? Call +44(0)7879 628 367
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14 Responses to If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
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“What are you doing that could bring that scenario about?”
I think one of the main barriers to people retiring when they want to is their mortgage. We bought our first and only house about 13 years ago at approximately a quarter of it’s current market value. Whereas many others in the same situation have moved on and up the property ladder we’ve stayed put and concentrated on paying off our relatively small mortgage as soon as possible. We did increase our mortgage in order to convert our loft into an extra bedroom but it was still less expensive than moving to a larger house.
There are things I would like to change about the house (the on-road parking and the relatively small garden) but I consider it a small price to pay in exchange for our manageable monthly mortgage costs.
I am constantly surprised by people who take out a 25 year mortgage at – say – 25. Ten years later they move house and take out a new 25 year mortgage. Etc Etc. When we bought our first place, we took out a 25 year mortgage. When we moved 8 years later, we took out a 17 year mortgage.
“What are you doing that could bring that scenario about?”
I think one of the main barriers to people retiring when they want to is their mortgage. We bought our first and only house about 13 years ago at approximately a quarter of it’s current market value. Whereas many others in the same situation have moved on and up the property ladder we’ve stayed put and concentrated on paying off our relatively small mortgage as soon as possible. We did increase our mortgage in order to convert our loft into an extra bedroom but it was still less expensive than moving to a larger house.
There are things I would like to change about the house (the on-road parking and the relatively small garden) but I consider it a small price to pay in exchange for our manageable monthly mortgage costs.
I am constantly surprised by people who take out a 25 year mortgage at – say – 25. Ten years later they move house and take out a new 25 year mortgage. Etc Etc. When we bought our first place, we took out a 25 year mortgage. When we moved 8 years later, we took out a 17 year mortgage.
Being a writer, I will never retire. Many writers go on working well into their 80s and even 90s.
Actually, with a son to put through Uni I can’t afford to retire. Probably until I’m 90, if his academic and business plans are to come to fruition.
Anyway if I didn’t work and didn’t write, I would become a far worse pain in the ass than I am already, because I would get very, very bored.
So if at any time you see me sitting around doing nothing for more than a half hour or so in the next few years, for Heaven’s sake stick a laptop under my nose and say – “go, write! Now!”
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Suze…. go write – Now
Sorry, couldn’t resist 
*goes to hide under desk from thick ear winging its way over*
LMAO @ Sarah …
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Being a writer, I will never retire. Many writers go on working well into their 80s and even 90s.
Actually, with a son to put through Uni I can’t afford to retire. Probably until I’m 90, if his academic and business plans are to come to fruition.
Anyway if I didn’t work and didn’t write, I would become a far worse pain in the ass than I am already, because I would get very, very bored.
So if at any time you see me sitting around doing nothing for more than a half hour or so in the next few years, for Heaven’s sake stick a laptop under my nose and say – “go, write! Now!”
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Suze…. go write – Now
Sorry, couldn’t resist 
*goes to hide under desk from thick ear winging its way over*
LMAO @ Sarah …
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
I remember a friend of mine buying her first flat in a dodgy area that would have depressed me no end. The flat had 2 bedrooms and she got someone in to share and help pay the outgoings.
Within a couple of years she was able to sell it a profit and move back into the area she liked and buy a spacious three bedroom flat. She sold that place several years on and has bought a house outright on the proceeds.
Clever lady…
Twitter: comfort_selling
It’s all about having a plan. My late husband did something very similar.
I remember a friend of mine buying her first flat in a dodgy area that would have depressed me no end. The flat had 2 bedrooms and she got someone in to share and help pay the outgoings.
Within a couple of years she was able to sell it a profit and move back into the area she liked and buy a spacious three bedroom flat. She sold that place several years on and has bought a house outright on the proceeds.
Clever lady…
Twitter: comfort_selling
It’s all about having a plan. My late husband did something very similar.