Retirement Planning: Are We Making a Huge Mistake?

Start young, go to college, get a job, be a consumer, borrow beyond your means, gamble with your savings, and hope to have enough money to retire wealthy.

Have you ever considered that we’ve been planning for retirement all wrong?

Societal Pressures in Retirement Planning

Due to societal pressures, many have focused excessively on money, neglecting what gives life true meaning. The thought of retiring in the face of adversity means that many people will put off retirement until it’s too late.

Not because they cannot live at a comfortable standard with the money they have, but because they fear looking like losers if they do not have a lifestyle that meets modern society’s standards.

With the help of Hasbro’s “The Game of LIFE” board game, I will expound upon these points.

How We’re Taught to Plan for Retirement

Many years ago, I dived headfirst into Facebook. Not satisfied with simply lurking, I enlisted my friends, bothered relatives, and even got my grown kids’ high school friends to join me in snooping on each other’s updates. For a couple of weeks, it was pure entertainment.

Then, one afternoon, I realized how much time I was spending scrolling through updates and reconnecting with old friends. My daughter interrupted my Facebook spree, asking me to play a board game. Her words lingered in my head: “Mom never plays games with us.”

The guilt hit me. While I may not *love* board games, the memories we create together matter far more than any social media status update. I closed my laptop and joined my daughters at the kitchen table for a game of LIFE.

An Eye-Opening Experience in Life’s Choices

That evening turned into more than just family bonding—it became a mini-exploration of life’s choices and consequences. After rolling the dice for our occupations, we received our game pieces and started playing.

In LIFE, you travel around collecting paychecks, taking loans, having kids, and facing challenges. Your spin of the wheel and decisions determine whether you enjoy retirement in Millionaire Estates or Countryside Acres.

Some outcomes feel random, while others reflect our choices. Who will find wealth and fortune?

“You’ll have adventure after adventure until you reach retirement. If you reach it first, you get a big chunk of change – and if you’re the wealthiest player in retirement, you win!” – Hasbro’s description of the object of the game.

Is This the Meaning of LIFE and Retirement?

Games like LIFE encourage us to place too much value on money. They encourage life in the rat race, irresponsible borrowing, and spendthrift behavior.

The common theme is to get a job, be a consumer, keep up with the Joneses, and hope to live until retirement. The underlying message is that where you live, what you wear, and how much you earn are the things that truly matter; these are what give life meaning.

If you’ve been playing the game of life this way, you’re probably way too stressed out.

Just-in-Time Retirement: Rewrite LIFE’s Rules

Stop chasing wealth, debt, and status—retirement isn’t just a finish line; it’s about living with intention, guided by the concept of Just-in-Time Retirement. This approach emphasizes the importance of value while developing a mindset that fosters a meaningful and abundant lifestyle.

The goal is to cut out waste, allowing you to free up resources for your retirement. By identifying what truly matters to you and adopting a mindset of continuous improvement, you can retire without the stress of financial concerns.

With Just-in-Time Retirement, you can make the most of your current situation. Redefine success by aligning your spending with a business approach rather than succumbing to societal pressures. It’s not about losing; it’s about gaining freedom.

Conclusion

Start today. Think of retirement as a journey, not just a distant goal. Life isn’t about acquiring millionaire estates—it’s about building a meaningful and joyful journey.

Leave the rat race behind. Embrace a life where every step is significant, living fully in the present while securing a future that truly matters.