Hey, that wasn't so hard! It's all online!

I really believe, in spite of the bad things about it, the Internet was a gift from God, to be used for good purposes.  There's just so much you can do with it.  I found out you can even retire online!

Once I decided that early retirement was the way to go, which didn't take long at all for me,  I  proceeded step by step to "Just Do It", as the Nike ads have been saying for a long time.  Maybe it's the Gemini in me, or maybe it's because with my life experiences I've learned, in the school of  hard knocks,  that nothing is permanent on this planet.  At any rate, it didn't take me long to decide.  I think I was on my way in about two weeks after I was let go from the job.  I really didn't worry much about the ramifications, because I figured if it didn't work out somewhere down the road, I could hold my nose and dive back into the murky world of  working  for a living.  Right now, it is my turn to find other things to do with my time.

First things first, so I found out if  I could get COBRA for my insurance, which I  could, at a reduced rate.  Then I figured out what to do with my meager 401-K.  I simply took it out, and put it in a savings account, and learned I do have the discipline to not touch it unless I have to.  Last, I found out how easy it is to get set up for Social Security.  Well, truthfully, that took a bit of reading and wading through a rather long, but interesting,  web site, but the process itself only took a bit of information, a few clicks, and SUBMIT, and voila,  I was retired!  I got my first check via direct deposit, in two weeks. 

The next thing I did was decide to get out of debt.  When I got my check for the 401-K, I put part of it in my regular checking account, and the rest in savings. I had enough I was able to pay off  some fair-sized medical bills, which was all the debt I had.  Now, if I don't get slammed by any more medical tests that aren't covered by my insurance, and as long as my old truck holds up and keeps running, I'm good to go.  My wants and needs are relatively few, and I'm blessed to live in a small town, in a little apartment with low rent. 

I have had one lesson in Retirement Finance 101:  Christmas can really wreck things when you are on a fixed income.  Next time, I will have to be more frugal, and plan ahead. Anyway, I didn't starve: with all the holiday get- togethers, I ate very well.