I started at 14 pumping gas and have been retired now for 4 years.

For peace of mind, start with how much you know will be fixed, solid income.

Then, make a budget, how much for all of the essentials? Compare the two.

Work from there, nobody else can do it for you like you can. It is a starting point.

I missed on food and utilities, both have increased dramatically but the rest are spot on.

If you don't have enough for those, then that has to be your action plan.

Yep that's the key.
It's called the "time value" of money, or put another way the power of compounding over time.
Gotta have the discipline to put it away on a regular basis and don't touch it.

I go days without seeing another human besides my Mrs.

It is worth it, move back away from the masses.

I feel like that 65 mark is based more on having labored or you got taxed by raising kids. I'm an ocean away from doing what I love for a living, but I do alright financially and enjoy my life, I'm not really in a rush to retire even if I could financially.

Indeed. Of course, we have learned the meaning of "binge watching"..... :)

Best post in this thread.

You would have been fine. Genetics and animal instinct is clouding your mind.

We are hard-wired to think "oh kids are amazing" so we don't abandon them.

Lmfao. Every time someone in my family dies it costs me money, I am 36. Funerals are not cheap.

I am 49. Hoping to retire at 56-57 when the kids are out of college. By that time I will have taught Middle School for 35 years. I also hope that I have enough different pots of money that I can live comfortably.

That sounds fantastic.

What is that adjusted for inflation using the the last 40 as a guide?

And try saving $5K with a couple of kids in the house.

Look, not saying there is anything WRONG with having kids.

But they cost a lot.

They're not everyone's cup of tea. Nor SHOULD everyone have kids.

turned 57 in december.
finished 35 years at the same company last friday.
company puts in a nice % of my wage in my 401k...pretty good shape there.
will pay the house/farm off in 5 years.

company contract pays a fairly nice portion of health insurance until medicare kicks in, so unless i kick the ****in bucket, 5 years is my goal.
if i do die, some johnny stud is gonna make out like a bandit.:#
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It's 67 for most people now if you want to get social security.

Maybe I shouldn't have said that while you were holding the gun.

You might have to sell one of the kids. Retirement income is really important.