sure. wait. what?

My calendar is booked until next week, so I might as well churn out a post even if it’s one day late.

I recently chatted with a friend whose current goal is to retire at 40. This friend lives elsewhere – not in the Philippines, though I assume he’s thinking of retiring in the Philippines.

Anyway, we haven’t had the chance yet to discuss the logistics of how he’s planning to retire in a few years. I’d also have to ask him what made him change his mind, because only a few years ago, I swear he told me he was gunning for a top, top position in the Philippine government (he’s not a politician, I’ll tell you that much).

I myself don’t think I can retire at 40. Even if I reduce all my expenses to the barest minimum-est value, the math simply won’t math. I have a mortgage to pay, and I won’t have the benefits afforded to old people, who rightfully deserve to peace out of the workforce. But me? An able-bodied person who just decided to stop working at 40? Nah. Ain’t no handouts for that.

Not that I want to retire at 40. If, say, I won the lottery and money was no longer a constraint, I think I’d still continue working. Or maybe I’d even go back to school. Ya, probably the latter.

I have another friend who’s pushing for Coast FI (coast financial independence). That is, she wants to invest so much money before she turns 35 so she can just let compound interest do its thing without worrying about whether she will have money by the time she hits 65. At least that’s what I think it is.

I don’t think I can do Coast FI either. I spend too much money on unnecessary stuff, none of which I’m going to tell you right now because, frankly, my eyes are already closed while I’m typing this. It’s late and I’m tired.

Enjoy the rest of your week, y’all. See you again next Tuesday (or maybe not).