I would like to know the alternative. Sounds as though you are suggesting that one should never work.

Marry rich; you may have to make yourself more attractive first. Shortcut: be born rich.

Oh no, work if you want, but don't think your employment will be secure until you're ready to retire.

Make sure you live a life and have a plan so that when you get fired, or when your retirement plan collapses, or when they raise the retirement age, or any one of 500 other very likely outcomes occur you can still live a good life.

I don't think I understand your point. If you believe the headline and think you're more likely to get fired when you're 50+, isn't that a sign that you might have no choice but to "sell your best years" (presumably the <50 ones), if anything?

> Make sure you live a life and have a plan so that when you get fired ... you can still live a good life.

Well yeah, I think just about everyone would like to have both a great life and financial security. The problem is that those two goals can be at odds for some/most people.

So that plan is save money in your post tax accounts (non retirement) and keep some insulated from the market fluctuations?

No offense op, but if you have a clear idea, it’s better to communicate clearly. Why play riddles and not flat out state what you’re trying to state?

I don't like to tell people how to live.

My plan is to live cheaply through my 20s, 30s and 40s, and put away money so that I can continue to do that forever, without really needing a lot of money because my wants and expenses are low.

I've had this plan when I was 18 and now that I'm 22 I'm not so happy with it. I've had a bit of luck and acquired a dirt cheap apartment this year so maybe frugality will pay off but so far I feel like it's holding me back.

I've driven from AK to Argentina (2 years) and around Africa (2.5 years and counting). Lived in the Yukon and went to Alaska all the time. I've snowboarded multiple 100+ day seasons, been a kayak guide, hiking guide, snowboard instructor and now I'm a freelance travel writer and photographer.

I've never owned a TV or a new car, never lived alone (always in a share house) and I've never bought a phone, I just get old, old ones off friends.

It's working great for me.

For me the alternative is not chasing the highest dollar jobs and working excessive hours that leave much less timen for leisure and family. Instead I happily work in a position that pays 30% or 40% less than I could be making if I chased constant advancement. I've actively declined opportunities like that. I am still paid very well for what I do, work a 40 hour work week, and still work on fun and interesting projects. So I'm not deferring until retirement the time I would have to wait to enjoy.

I'm not saying everyone should do this, it's just the answer I came up with. I know people who go the other way and also seem happy (though some not too) so it comes down to personal introspection abd preference.

Does HN have direct messages??? I'd like to share information about grades and time spent in lms! Drop me a line at [email protected].

Can't speak for OP, but personally I decided that I would follow my dreams as best I could while I could, and despite not having many resources I had a good run. Now 40+ and facing worsening job prospects with no hope for retirement, but also without regret. I'm fine with going out early. Much better, IMO, than spending my youth contributing to my 401k all so I can see the world when I'm a decrepit old man!

I’ve lived on a tight budget, contributing to my 401k, liquid savings, and after tax savings while killing debt and taking at least 1 vacation a year.

IMO, you don’t have to take a feast or starve approach but find a balance. My vacations weren’t the kind of Hawaii getaways that people in Hollywood are probably accustomed to. Cheap food, low end hotel, etc but I got to travel and see new cultures.

I’m not posting this to say I figured out some genius financial insight, but anyone reading this who’s young or early in their career - for the love of god, do save money in your retirement account. Assuming there’s a company match, it’s essentially free money. Do pay back student loans unless you can discharge them. A ruined credit is going to close so many doors, from financing an auto purchase to home ownership and other things.

You will have to retire some day, and depending on the broken welfare system (at least in the US) to provide for all your needs is reckless.

By all means be frugal and live as debt-free as possible. But I think the issue raised by the article is that in today’s economy even “reasonable” people making rational decisions are screwed once they pass 40, age out of the workforce and/or get hit by a financial emergency like a health issue. There comes a point where the reckless decision is actually to postpone “living” until an imagined idyllic retirement that most likely will never materialize. But I’m one of those people who’d rather leave early than stay late.

Are we talking about a 'Logan's Run' scenario here?

Everybody should live well, while they are young, because they should just die as soon as they've aged out?

I see a lot of support for your position out there, but it's hard for me to be thrilled about it at 50. I do like that you intend to keep doing economic activity, as you're a potential customer so you could be keeping ME alive for a while. But I'd like to think your choice here doesn't simply doom you later.