We make plans but they don't always work out. Are you prepared for an unexpected retirement due to health or other reasons?

For health/disability: I have long term disability insurance. After six months, I will get 66% of my salary. I pay about $9 a month for this insurance. One drawback is I would have to be disabled or sick for six months with no pay before it starts paying. (But that's why it was only $9 a month). And another drawback is I have to be disabled or medically unable to work. So that wouldn't be a fun reason to retire early.

I am 35 years old so "retirement" for other reasons would be a voluntary decision to quit my job or if Iost my job. If I determined I would not be entering the workforce again, we would have to make adjustments that are not part of retirement planning per se (like pulling a 2 year old out of daycare and 5 year old out of private kindergarten). In my retirement scenario, I don't have young children! But it is completely doable if I had to!

well if I was disabled, I would get money from the govt but since we are in our 40's with young kids who will be in their early 20's by the time we hit 65.   if I was retired ..well guess we can make it work with no money from me but would have to do something I think.    dh has disablitiy insurance from work at least.

Not really... my family would help if needed, but I prefer not to rely on them.  I save a reasonable amount every month (15%, not including retirement accounts), some in a regular savings account, some in a money market and some in an IRA.  I only have 2 debts - mortgage, and a private loan from a family member; everything else is bills - which makes it somewhat easier; if I were disabled I would stop adding to the savings and use what I already have.  Also, the private loan will be paid off in 2 years (yay!) at which point I will further accelerate the mortgage, which is currently recieving 25% extra in principal each month (another thing I could cut back if disabled) - those 2 together, the extra principal and money to savings - are nearly 25% of my total income, which would also reduce my expenses if I stopped those.  So with what I have in savings, I'd be okay until SSI disability kicked in... not comfortable, cut to the bone as far as expenses - but okay.

Not at all. DH & I both have retirement plans at work & 401K, but we have little savings othewise. We're both 38 now, with a 6 year old child, so there will be no retiring anytime soon around here. Once our debts are paid off (hopefully 2013), we can put more into savings & then we'll see how it goes.