11 Ways to Save Money So You Can Retire Early

The traditional American Dream focused around working hard in a decent job and providing a good life for your family. Now, the modernized American Dream is all about leaving that decent job behind as quickly as possible! Retiring early is something many people hope for, but not always the reality for those who desire it. The average age of retirement in the U.S. is 63 – two years earlier than the official age of 65. However, when people talk about early retirement they aren’t shooting for a difference of a few years; they’re aiming for a much more premature departure from the workforce.

If this sounds like you, then read on; these are the ways to save money now, so you can retire early.

1) Track Your Spending

Cutting back on spending is a logical starting place in terms of saving money. It’s easy to say that all your money is spoken for and there’s no room for pinching pennies.

Your perspective will change once you actually start tracking your spending. Use a simple excel spreadsheet or online app to help map out your spending habits. Doing this clearly illustrates monthly expenses and highlights the areas in where you could cut back. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, it’s important to start with small savings. Trying to cut back too fast and too soon could feel like major deprivations! Start small and build up. Bring your lunch from home instead of buying it. Skip daily coffee shop purchases and brew your own at home instead. Take public transportation whenever possible instead of driving or hopping in a cab. These little life hacks will help hone your saving skills.