These days, it’s easy to find advice that says you should never retire. There is evidence that maintaining some structure and the social network that work provides is good for your physical, mental and financial health. And there is nothing wrong with putting a positive spin on the necessity that far too many face; the need to keep working to pay the bills well beyond the normal retirement age.

Unfortunately, this line of thought is being used to justify not saving for retirement. That is a mistake. Even if you love your job, there is a good chance that you won’t be able to do it forever. The older you get, the more health issues can sabotage your plans, whether the issues are your own or a loved one’s. Older workers face higher unemployment, and it’s more difficult to get a job after the age of fifty-five.

But while you are young, and have the time to save for retirement, these eventualities seem remote and certainly not your own. So it may be a good time to start thinking about your life beyond work in different terms. While retirement conjures visions of white haired people playing endless golf and gardening, having enough money to be able live without a paycheck has a much more important benefit – financial freedom.

That is why I left work at the age of 51. My husband and I had saved enough money to support our lifestyle for the rest of our lives. He had retired the previous year. We didn’t need to work for pay anymore. While I liked my work, which was challenging, I had become tired of catering to other people’s demands. I figured if I didn’t like retirement, I could always go back to work. Because we had saved, we had choices.

I have never looked back. Since leaving work, my husband and I have done the things that are important to us. I began this blog and wrote a book to help others learn how to save and invest for their own financial security and retirement (you can find it on Amazon). I’ve personally helped dozens plan for their retirement and get their financial houses in order, all for free, because I think its important and I like doing the work.

I also serve on the boards of a few non-profits where I do volunteer bookkeeping and offer my expertise. That includes the non-profit my husband started to coordinate services to low income and homeless individuals and families. He is building a mobile shower unit to serve the homeless in our county. You can read about the project here. The proceeds from my book have gone to fund this effort.

So, as you can see, our time is filled with activities that have meaning and that we value. The money we saved for retirement gave us financial freedom to do what is important to us. It gave us the power to choose what we do with our days, and the freedom from fear of losing a job.

What would you do, if it didn’t matter whether you brought home a paycheck? Start a business? Create art? Help a family member or neighbor in need? Leave me a comment if you’re willing to share. You may not know right now what you would do with your financial freedom. But wouldn’t it be nice to have choices?

Maybe it’s time to retire the word “retirement” and replace it with financial freedom, as in, “I’m saving for my financial freedom.” That might just be motivating enough to get you to start working toward it today.

Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

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Save Yourself; Your Guide to Saving for Retirement and Building Financial Security, is available on Amazon.