We retired a few years ago when I had saved less than a half million. I was 63. Since then we have traveled to Italy and some of the states. The lake where we live has almost too much activity. Still expect to run out of time before we run out of money. Have more money saved now than when I gave up the paycheck. Really don't see the wisdom of being the richest person in the cemetery. Advise most of you to take retirement just as soon as you can pencil it. Time is what is limited.
My dad is probably one of the cheapest people I know even at 74 years old. He joked with me the other month when they had to have some foundation repair work done to their home "just spent some of your inheritance." He's the type of guy that will push a tank of gas down to the last drop just to save 5 or 10 cents a gallon at the next gas station just to save what amounts to a dollar or 2 of savings at the pump where the risk of running out of gas to me is not worth saving a buck or 2. Personally I don't care if my parents left me with a penny when they pass as after all they have done for me up to this point with helping pay for part of college and other things they helped me out with growing up that set me up to graduate college debt free and life lessons I learned from them I hope they get to enjoy their retirement after he worked until he was 70. Even in the past year with the markets my dad still tries to find opportunities to shift his investments around with the mindset if he buys in low he will make some money when the market rebounds.
It's a generational gap as I view things differently than he does. I value my time and am willing to pay for things that inconvenience me because I think I still net a gain while my dad will use time to find ways to save every penny he can. Only time will tell who had the right philosophy.