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By Analeese Burnabaker
Most people, even if they love their jobs, perk up at the
thought of early retirement. They can quickly come up with a
list of many reasons why they would be crazy not to take an
early retirement if it was offered to them. There are many
great things about taking an early retirement, that is for
sure, but there are some things you should consider carefully
before you decide to end your working career.
The benefits of early retirement seem obvious. Not having to
work full-time means having more time to do things you enjoy
more than work. The thought of spending everyday doing things
you love sounds too good to be true, right? Who would not love
hour after hour to garden, read, get in touch with friends or
join clubs in your community? Taking an early retirement means
having more time to travel and spend with family and close
friends.
You must take time to consider with caution all of the ways
your life will change because of taking early retirement.
Think
beyond all of the pleasures and freedoms you will enjoy and
consider your financial situation for a moment. Do you have
funds in place that will be able to support you if you take
early retirement? How will you pay for your home, cars,
insurances, and desires to travel? It is much easier to dream
about the kind of life early retirement would allow than it is
to pay for that kind of life. If you have a family, you must
also consider the responsibilities you have to provide for and
support them. Are all of your children through college? Are
there significant events like weddings that are yet to be paid
for? All of these questions must be answered honestly before
you decide that early retirement is right for you.
Another thing to carefully question before you decide on early
retirement is how your life will really look without a
full-time job in the picture. Sure, having no job sounds great
now, but are you really prepared to break away from all that
your job has required of you? Many people that have chosen an
early retirement end up regretting the decision when they
start
to actually miss work and interaction with co-workers. Chances
are strong that your job has played a bigger role in your life
and happiness than you realize, so be careful to weigh
carefully the pros and cons of leaving your job for an early
retirement.
The main thing in deciding about early retirement is not to
rush the decision. Take your time, consider all of your
options
and know yourself well before making a huge life change. If it
is right for you, early retirement can be full of joy and
blessing. If, however, you jump into early retirement
prematurely, you may be sorry for the rest of your
life.
About The Author: Still a long way from retirement, Analeese
Burnabaker loves to consult with people who are considering
major life changes. Thinking about early retirement? Check out
www.allearlyretirement.info to learn all you need to
know.
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