I started planning my own retirement when I was 25. opened all the right accounts, and made the 401k dance happen, and filed all the right paperwork. As a state employee, at 20 years you get a full retirement with full benefits, so I knew I could get out at 45 and be ok. Woo! it pays to think ahead. I was able to walk away, even tho I was just a couple years shy of my 20, I had all the right contacts, and all the right accounts, and since I had been planning for it anyway, my budget survived well.