What seems to be an issue with some folks when it comes to financial freedom and early retirement is it’s either this or that. You’re either financially free and retired or not. Basically, If you choose to do any kind of paid work or activity then you are no longer retired or financially free. Give me a break, what a crock! Binary early retirement is nonsense. Having financial freedom means having choices without financial worry when using our common sense. Yet people just can’t shed outdated notions about early retirement and the financial freedom that allows for it. Especially those binary early retirement loving critics who haven’t experienced it for themselves. That said, let me say I do see why they think what they think and I hear their criticism. Simply, there are long entrenched traditions regarding retirement. However, let me explain where I am coming from. 

Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash

Why Binary Early Retirement Is Nonsense

After nearly 10 years of early retirement through financial freedom that has included a stepped down position, a highly paid encore career, a lucrative retirement side hustle, a fun little short-term retirement gig, and this early retirement focused website, I speak from REAL experience. I claim and truly believe I’ve been retired and financially free through it all. All the way back to day one in 2009 when I ditched my long career. I live it and I have enjoyed the hell out of it. I’ve even increased my wealth at my pleasure, on my terms, and at our corporate world’s expense (yes, I have a particular attitude toward the corporate world). A total win-win!

I use the terms “highly paid, lucrative, and increased wealth” above to get the attention of any financially focused binary early retirement believers. 

But the reason I can honestly say that I was still retired and financially free the entire time I was getting paid working is I had the financial freedom to accept worthy opportunities I was interested in doing without regard to pay. I also had the financial freedom to quit doing them as soon as my interest ended, regardless of what they paid, and I certainly did. 

Financially free early retirees still have all the energy and drive that got them there. If they choose to work pursuing their interests and passions they can still consider themselves retired and financially free. 

They can then add any earned income to their portfolio, donate it to charity, or use it to help support a cause or hobby they want to continue pursuing. That’s the freedom lifestyle earned through executing a successful spending, debt elimination, and investment strategy.

It’s the absence of NEEDING to work that defines retirement, not the absence of working 

That’s not just some catchy concept, it defines retirement perfectly. Reject the outdated and rigid notion that we work until we can afford to retire and then never work for pay again. Why be financially free and then put limits on our freedom? 

Everyone’s vision of financial freedom and early retirement is different 

What’s common among them is that they have enough of a portfolio and/or passive income to be able to pull off their desired version of FIRE. A version which may or may not include any paid work. 

If doing any paid work in early retirement turns you off then don’t do it. I’ve freely chosen not to be in the paid work game since the summer of 2016. But, if the right opportunity presents itself I wouldn’t binary label myself retired and not pursue it. That’s the beauty of financial freedom.

There’s no call for trolling or shaming anyone who engages in a paid activity in their early retirement. Nor any other dictates of binary early retirement where it’s this way to be considered early retired or you’re not. Don’t let others negative opinions who unproductively criticize dissuade you from your own early retirement vision. Take away ideas from financially free early retirement stories and live your own vision. 

OK, I feel better now.