this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2025
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If you had the money to retire at 30, your savings would be invested and on an average year your earnings would cover your expenses. You would have health insurance, so no worries there. The only catch is that you would have to keep your expenses at 65% of what you spend right now. Would you take it, or would you rather work a few more years for a better lifestyle and financial security?

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[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

My initial response was Hell yeah! But, then I remembered my job will pay for the kids college, so I'd be crazy to make that trade.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 months ago

I live frugally now.

I also just like to work. I don't plan to ever retire.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 4 points 2 months ago

I'd continue to work. I want to do more in my retirement than just stay at home.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

Lol, that's called being homeless

[–] KingBoo@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago
[–] hark@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

I don't think I could keep my expenses at 65% of what I spend now because I already spend as little as I can since I'm trying to save up for an early retirement. I'd love to retire as early as possible.

[–] Psythik@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

I would have retired at 16 if I could.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If living on 65% of my current income was possible.

If I had that little I would be homeless, not retired.

But by 30 most people have already contributed way more than they will ever consume by existing peacefully.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago

For sure no. I don't want to live frugally for the long term. I played that game in college and I'm not excited to go back.

[–] KombatWombat@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It depends on what you mean by current spending. I'm putting almost a third of my pre-tax income into savings already. If you mean I can live off of 65% of my default post-tax salary, sure. That probably wouldn't change too much from my current expenses, and I would love the free time. If you mean 65% of what's left over after my normal contributions, then that would be pretty tough. I consider my current lifestyle to be relatively frugal, so that would be very hard.

I'm actually trying to achieve the FIRE lifestyle, so the goal is getting to the point where average post-tax returns on investments is at least annual expenses. But I can't do it by thirty.

[–] ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

I'm not retiring until my house is paid off and I can include at least 1 large vacation a year into my budget. Those two things will probably happen simultaneously, but I've never heard of anyone paying off their mortgage by 30 in my life.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago

Fuck yeah. Nothing's more tiresome and stultifying than the whole work routine. That's time you're never getting back.

The whole idea of retiring at 65 after you've been squeezed like an orange that's been sent twice into the press, just to "enjoy" your failing body, failing senses, failing brain in your twilight years is absurd.

If you can retire at 30, hell yes do it.

[–] pachrist@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

My wife and I spend about 25% of our pre-tax income on childcare. Cutting that, plus another 10% other places would be fine.

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 3 points 2 months ago

I am older than 30, but am literally facing this decision right now. I have chosen the latter: work for more years for better lifestyle and financial security. My job isn't too bad, so I don't have a huge push to walk away.

I'm planning to scale back my career in a few years, but most likely part-time or seasonal work rather than full-on retirement.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago

I don't think you would keep up with inflation

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

When I was approaching 30 I was looking forward to kids, and that wouldn’t be sufficient to raise them.

In a couple years though ….. once they are through college so I’m done with those payments and child support, living on 65% of my income would be easy.

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

No.

My mortgage and childcare are like 80% of my outgoings. Once the mortgage is gone and kids in school maybe

[–] KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

Depends on if I could afford to own a scrapyard/pick and pull first. As a welder and machinist, thats basically a playground for me. If I ain't working, ill still be making. Otherwise, yes. I don't spend much now as it is, but growing my own weed would probably drop me below 65% by itself.

[–] etchinghillside@reddthat.com 3 points 2 months ago

30s are prime earning years – stick with it for a bit longer.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago

No, work is nice tbh. I might do 35 hours instead of 40 a week at some stage but full on retirement at 30 doesn't sound appealing at all to me.

[–] throws_lemy@lemmy.nz 3 points 2 months ago

I would, but it's not possible since I don't have millions of dollars in my savings account.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago

heck. health insurance is a third of my expenses as is. would take that in a heartbeat. not to mention whatever youthened me. thats just a bonus.

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