<prompt> Human: I see a lot of posts here of people giving and asking advice regarding retirement. How much do I need by age 55 to retire, or Max out your RoTH IRA and 401k up to company match. I see this as generally good advice; Being said, I probably know a lot less than most of you about personal finance. If you plan on living to an old age, then having that sum is good for when you are too old to work, or have enough to where you get to choose not to work; such luxury. What if, you dont make it there. What if in your 30s, 40s etc., come down with a terminal disease or are in an unexpected accident that ends your life? The game of what ifs isnt an easy one to play, and Id like to think that the numbers are generally in our favor here in the U.S. After reading through a few pages of the top posts of the past year, I sat there thinking to myself.. no one seems to be considering this. How would I plan my financial future if I decide that being 80 isnt for me, and I want to live life to its fullest up to the point of being dependent on others for everyday tasks. I understand that this is more of a philosophical question than a mathematical one, but, despite that, I think it should still be addressed. Lets say I decide to budget as if I was going to retire at 65, and then immediately kill myself. How would that change the long-term budget plan for people?Ive heard of people in retirement communities say that one of their biggest regrets is not taking more risks when they were younger Sorry, I dont have a citation for this. If you are constantly playing it safe and working towards that retirement account number, you can miss out on what is in front of you today. Does your life pass before you in a blur It might either way without you being able to take advantage of opportunities because you are so focused on your last years? At ages 20-50, you are, hypothetically, an adult capable of doing what you wish in the world within your means. Shouldnt this be the time to enjoy life, rather than work for your future self at age 70-90 when you are withering away? I realize that there isnt a focal point for this discussion, and I apologize if my grammar wasnt spot on for some of you. Im not necessarily looking for a concise answer, but more wanting to open up a discussion about another way at looking at life and how it affects your financial decisions.tl;dr: die early, savings wasted and life unoptimized?  <response>: How would I plan my financial future if I decide that being 80 isnt for me, and I want to live life to its fullest up to the point of being dependent on others for everyday tasks.Take a guess at what age thatll be, plan accordingly, and hope you arent wrong. Lets say I decide to budget as if I was going to retire at 65, and then immediately kill myself. How would that change the long-term budget plan for people?Hopefully it wouldnt.Saving for retirementmaking smart financial choices and enjoying yourself are not mutually exclusive. 