[rickd]

This is exactly what I planned when I left school. Cool! My plan was to work for 5 years at a job I at least LIKED- put away enough to live for 1-2 years without doing anything at all- and then work on whatever startup idea I figured would be best at the time. Why did I choose 5 years? Honestly, it was because most companies vest employees in their retirement plan of choice after 5 years.

Fast forward to 5 years later (last June 15th) and I'm ready! Money saved, credit card balances at 0, no debt, no obligations! I've even started to work on some of the code for my idea. The only thing I didn't count on was the housing market... so now I just have to hang around my current job until my place sells. anybody want to buy a condo in Chicago?

Seriously though- from where I'm sitting, it's a great plan. Give yourself the opportunity and ability to do something amazing, and chances are you will! Not to mention, if you are at least managing your money successfully, and not going in to debt- you're doing vastly better than many Americans already.

Good Luck!! :cross posted from comments: