The Secret to a Planned Early Retirement

For most Americans, the indicator of true success is early retirement. About 90% of the working population would love to go into early retirement while they still feel they have some energy left in them to do the things they do not have time to do now.

One way to do this is to start early and invest into an IRA or a 401k. But with today’s economy you need to save every penny that you earn, and you can never guarantee that the place you work for is going to stay in business for your entire working life.

Since there are no guarantees, you need to start saving for early retirement now if that’s what you truly want - but it will come with a price. If most of your traditional retirement plans are designed to give you the maximum amount in your account when you reach retirement age, and will penalize you heavily for early withdrawal, then they are not for people who will want early retirement.

What you want is a savings account. With a savings account you have the option to withdraw the money whenever you want, put in as much or as little as you want and since you are already taxed on that money you won’t pay any further taxes except for the interest.

The downfall to this type of account is that, the interest rates aren’t that great and you have to have self control, in other words, when you deposit the money into the account you must not touch it. You need to keep reminding yourself that this money is for early retirement and you can not retire early if you can not keep your hands off the money until the right time.

You can, however, use the money if you plan on investing in bonds or stocks, because the money you are spending may yield a higher interest rate, giving you a better return for your money than a regular savings account.

The Secret

The big secret to early retirement is to evaluate your life right now and figure out how much you really need for your present lifestyle. Let’s assume you net $3,000 a month. Take that amount and subtract all of your bills, including, utilities, rent or mortgage, car, insurance, water, cable and trash. Now take your miscellaneous expenses like clothing dining out and movies - anything that can be classified as a luxury. Now take that total and subtract it from the new net income. What you may have remaining is very little.

This is the hard part where self control comes into play as you will have to decide what you can do without and take that money and invest it into your account and not touch it, ever, until early retirement time.

It would be ideal if you can invest 50% of your net pay, but a lot of times that is not feasible, so try to invest as close to 50% as possible. You can do this by eliminating your credit cards and pay cash or write a check for what you need and save yourself from paying that ridiculous interest.

A simple secret to paying off all credit card debt is to pay off the smallest balance first and then take the money you would have spent on that payment and apply it the payment on the next to the smallest credit card balance. In this way you will end up paying the largest credit card balance with the most amount of cash.

How much you want early retirement and what you are willing to do for it now is the real secret.

Early Retirement - Dalton approves early retirement offer to 27 public works employees (The Dalton Daily Citizen)

August 19th, 2008

If 27 Dalton public works employees accept an early retirement offer from the city, it could save the city $1.4 million to $1.5 million a year, says Mayor David Pennington. … read more


Times of Malta

Mediator steps in over shipyards privatisation
Times of Malta, Malta - 9 hours ago
The only other information that was forthcoming from the government was that if the voluntary early retirement/ resignation schemes are fine-tuned,
UPDATED: Mediator for Shipyards issue di-ve.com
Malta Shipyards privatisation: Government and union agree to meet Malta Independent Online
Mediator facilitating GWU, government shipyard talks MaltaMedia
di-ve.com - Times of Malta
all 21 news articles

… read more

Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature released Friday shows only 1,488 have accepted the state’s offer. … read more

(AP:TRENTON, N.J.) Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. … read more

An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the state’s workforce to ease New Jersey’s financial strain didn’t attract as many employees as had been projected, a state report released Friday showed. … read more

Early Retirement - Mediator steps in over shipyards privatisation - Times of Malta

August 19th, 2008


Mediator steps in over shipyards privatisation
Times of Malta, Malta - 3 hours ago
The only other information that was forthcoming from the government was that if the voluntary early retirement/ resignation schemes are fine-tuned,
UPDATED: Mediator for Shipyards issue di-ve.com
Malta Shipyards privatisation: Government and union agree to meet Malta Independent Online
Mediator facilitating GWU, government shipyard talks MaltaMedia
di-ve.com - Times of Malta
all 21 news articles

… read more


Retiring Early
CBS News, NY - Aug 17, 2008
One of the first things you can do to ensure an early retirement is start saving early. "A comfortable retirement is now resting firmly on our own shoulders

… read more


Douglas County offers incentives to encourage early retirement
Lawrence Journal World, KS - 1 hour ago
By George Diepenbrock The Douglas County Commission has sweetened the deal for employees close to retirement to try to convince some of them to leave

… read more


Dalton approves early retirement offer to 27 public works employees
Daily Citizen, GA - 9 hours ago
If 27 Dalton public works employees accept an early retirement offer from the city, it could save the city $1.4 million to $1.5 million a year,

… read more

Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature released Friday shows only 1,488 have accepted the state’s offer. … read more


Park District to offer early retirement push
Aurora Beacon News, IL - Aug 17, 2008
The Park District Board is set to adopt the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund early-retirement incentive, which allows district employees over the age of

… read more


NJ falls short of early retirement goal
Forbes, NY - Aug 15, 2008
AP 08.15.08, 5:52 PM ET Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature
Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal Cherry Hill Courier Post
State early retirement plan comes up short The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 11 news articles

… read more

Early Retirement - 'St. Pete Times' Avoids Staff Layoffs - Editor & Publisher

August 19th, 2008


Editor & Publisher - 8 hours ago
memo that due to staffers' positive response to the company's early retirement incentives, general layoffs can be avoided for the time being.

… read more

Early Retirement - New Jersey falls short of early-retirement goal (Herald News)

August 18th, 2008

TRENTON - Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. The retirement incentives were a key part of the $32.8 billion budget legislators approved in June. … read more

An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the state’s workforce to ease New Jersey’s financial strain didn’t attract as many employees as had been projected, a state report released Friday showed. … read more

Following the state’s lead, NJ Transit’s board of directors approved its own early retirement plan Wednesday and a two-year hiring freeze of administrative workers, which officials hope could net the agency an estimated $6 million in annual savings and benefits. … read more


Retiring Early
CBS News, NY - 19 hours ago
One of the first things you can do to ensure an early retirement is start saving early. "A comfortable retirement is now resting firmly on our own shoulders

… read more


Douglas County offers incentives to encourage early retirement
Lawrence Journal World, KS - 4 hours ago
By George Diepenbrock The Douglas County Commission has sweetened the deal for employees close to retirement to try to convince some of them to leave

… read more

A total of 36 Cape Coral police officers and firefighters have opted for early retirement buyouts. … read more

Early Retirement - NJ falls short of early retirement goal - Forbes

August 18th, 2008


Forbes, NY - Aug 15, 2008
AP 08.15.08, 5:52 PM ET Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature
Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal Cherry Hill Courier Post
State early retirement plan comes up short The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 11 news articles

… read more

An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the state’s workforce to ease New Jersey’s financial strain didn’t attract as many employees as had been projected, a state report released Friday showed. … read more


THAI offers early retirement in order to save costs
eTravelBlackboard - Asia Edition, Australia - 14 hours ago
In a bid to stem spiralling losses arising from global fuel prices, THAI Airways has offered 500 staff access to their early retirement scheme.

… read more


30 Batelco staff accept early retirement
ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates - Aug 16, 2008
by Tom Arnold on Sunday, 17 August 2008 U-TURN: Thirty Batelco staff have accepted early retirement package after telecom u-turned on decision to lay them

… read more


AB offers sweetened early retirement package to cut employment costs
Bizjournals.com, NC - Aug 12, 2008
Inc. said it is boosting its early retirement plan for salaried workers to cut costs, according to a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange
US: Anheuser-Busch warns of one-off charges just-drinks.com (subscription)
Anheuser-Busch boosting retirement plan options for salaried employees Kansas City Star
all 154 news articles

… read more

Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature released Friday shows only 1,488 have accepted the state’s offer. … read more


Park District to offer early retirement push
Aurora Beacon News, IL - Aug 17, 2008
The Park District Board is set to adopt the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund early-retirement incentive, which allows district employees over the age of

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »

Early Retirement - Corzine’s early retirement program falls well short of goal (Courier-Post)

August 18th, 2008

An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the government work force to ease New Jersey’s financial strain didn’t attract as many employees as had been projected, a report released Friday showed. … read more


THAI offers early retirement
Bangkok Post, Thailand - Aug 14, 2008
Thai Airways International Plc has offered early retirement to 500 staff after notching up a second-quarter net loss of 9.3 billion baht, the national

… read more


NJ falls short of early retirement goal
Forbes, NY - Aug 15, 2008
AP 08.15.08, 5:52 PM ET Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature
Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal Cherry Hill Courier Post
State early retirement plan comes up short The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 11 news articles

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »

Early Retirement - New Jersey falls short of early-retirement goal (Herald News)

August 18th, 2008

TRENTON - Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. The retirement incentives were a key part of the $32.8 billion budget legislators approved in June. … read more

AURORA — Nestled in the consent agenda of Monday’s Fox Valley Park District meeting there is a small item that could cost the district about $1.5 million and could end up saving even more. … read more


30 Batelco staff accept early retirement
ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates - 22 hours ago
by Tom Arnold on Sunday, 17 August 2008 U-TURN: Thirty Batelco staff have accepted early retirement package after telecom u-turned on decision to lay them

… read more


AB offers sweetened early retirement package to cut employment costs
Bizjournals.com, NC - Aug 12, 2008
Inc. said it is boosting its early retirement plan for salaried workers to cut costs, according to a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange
US: Anheuser-Busch warns of one-off charges just-drinks.com (subscription)
Anheuser-Busch boosting retirement plan options for salaried employees Kansas City Star
all 154 news articles

… read more

A total of 36 Cape Coral police officers and firefighters have opted for early retirement buyouts. … read more


NJ falls short of early retirement goal
Forbes, NY - Aug 15, 2008
AP 08.15.08, 5:52 PM ET Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature
Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal Cherry Hill Courier Post
State early retirement plan comes up short The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 11 news articles

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »

Early Retirement - Early retirement for public servants - Sunday Observer

August 17th, 2008


Early retirement for public servants
Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka - Aug 16, 2008
An executive in the Department of Small Industries, Nirmala Amarasinghe welcomed an early retirement scheme for Government servants and urged the

… read more

A total of 36 Cape Coral police officers and firefighters have opted for early retirement buyouts. … read more

TRENTON - Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. The retirement incentives were a key part of the $32.8 billion budget legislators approved in June. … read more

Following the state’s lead, NJ Transit’s board of directors approved its own early retirement plan Wednesday and a two-year hiring freeze of administrative workers, which officials hope could net the agency an estimated $6 million in annual savings and benefits. … read more


30 Batelco staff accept early retirement
ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates - 16 hours ago
by Tom Arnold on Sunday, 17 August 2008 U-TURN: Thirty Batelco staff have accepted early retirement package after telecom u-turned on decision to lay them

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »

Early Retirement - Early retirement for public servants - Sunday Observer

August 17th, 2008


Early retirement for public servants
Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka - 21 hours ago
An executive in the Department of Small Industries, Nirmala Amarasinghe welcomed an early retirement scheme for Government servants and urged the

… read more

Following the state’s lead, NJ Transit’s board of directors approved its own early retirement plan Wednesday and a two-year hiring freeze of administrative workers, which officials hope could net the agency an estimated $6 million in annual savings and benefits. … read more

TRENTON - Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. The retirement incentives were a key part of the $32.8 billion budget legislators approved in June. … read more


State early retirement plan comes up short
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - Aug 15, 2008
According to an update on the Early Retirement Incentive program submitted to state lawmakers today, 1488 of 3828 eligible workers took up Corzine on his

… read more


Park District to offer early retirement push
Aurora Beacon News, IL - 7 hours ago
The Park District Board is set to adopt the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund early-retirement incentive, which allows district employees over the age of

… read more


Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - Aug 16, 2008
By LISA G. RYAN Gannett State Bureau August 16, 2008 TRENTON An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the government work force to ease New

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »

Early Retirement - Corzine's early retirement program falls well short of goal - Cherry Hill Courier Post

August 17th, 2008


Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - Aug 16, 2008
By LISA G. RYAN Gannett State Bureau August 16, 2008 TRENTON An early retirement incentive aimed at reducing the government work force to ease New

… read more

TRENTON - Fewer state workers than hoped have accepted New Jersey’s offer of early retirement. Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2,100 workers from the state payroll. The retirement incentives were a key part of the $32.8 billion budget legislators approved in June. … read more


NJ falls short of early retirement goal
Forbes, NY - Aug 15, 2008
AP 08.15.08, 5:52 PM ET Gov. Jon S. Corzine hoped to save $90 million by trimming 2100 workers from the state payroll. However, a report to the Legislature

… read more

Posted in Early Retirement | No Comments »