We work at home entrepreneurs already have one advantage over the “nine-to-fivers”. We know how to manage money. Working hard to make our way in this world, we tend to be more knowledgeable of how the money is earned, and, more importantly, how our income is spent.

For some of us, retirement is a significant topic. Many of use are consumed with the idea that maybe there is more to life than just earning a living. After all, why do we work so hard unless there is a future goal of an more fulfilling lifestyle.

With that in mind, let’s look at how to retire early.

Number one, most important in my mind, it’s not how much I make, but how much I spend. Many top wage owners live “paycheck to paycheck”. Yes, those individuals control significant assets; a fine home, expensive cars, furniture, jewels, etc. Note I use the word “control”, not own.

Do those individuals truly own the items, or are they just “making payments” for their use. Miss one paycheck, causing the individuals to forgo a few payments on their mortgage, home-equity loan and credit cards — that’s how the U.S. mortgage mortgage became such a mess.

Once an individual has their spending in check, regular savings plus the idea of compound interest from “safe” investments will almost always guarantee an early retirement. The exact dollar amount you need to remove from each paycheck is not as important as committing to saving 10% to 20% of your total income. This must be set up so that the amount is withdrawn automatically. Many financial advisors call this “paying yourself first”.

In my mind, the exact vehicle for making your retirement investment is not nearly important as making a commitment to regular savings. Even low-yielding CDs or money market funds, with the concept of “compound interest”, will provide enough funds allowing you to retire way before the age of 65.