I'm lucky, although a large dollop of preparedness was involeved. Did very well out of the house sale from my divorce, which bought me a place back home, and that has proven to be my most significant break (or rather marrying a wealthy company director and divorcing her because of her infidelity was my luckiest break). Sold the 7 series post divorce, bought a Peugeot, and banked another 25k from that transaction. Lived in the house it briefly before renting it out to a local family that my Dad has known since the 60's, and that's given me a steady income with no mortgage to cover. Then there's my pension, my commutation (which has remained largely untouched), and my injury on duty insurance payout. Then Mrs D also retired early and got her pension, commutation and critical illness insurance payout as well. Then Mrs D has a part time job, so any luxuries, meals out, weekend brakes etc, come from Mrs D's wages.
I'm careful to make sure that I finish each month with more money in the savings than I started, and to be honest I usually do very nicely in that regard. I can usually bank my rental income and a bit more besides. I resist the temptation to spend it on Holidays in Florida or new German cars - If there's a capital outlay required I don't touch our savings, but set some aside each month until i have it.
Some might argue that it's there to enjoy, and it is. However, while I'm fit and healthy now Mrs D isn't, and there's nothing to say I won't be similarly stricken tomorrow and I'll suddenly need to spend a load. I'd rather die comfortable with a chunk in the bank, than live to be 90 but worrying every minute of that existence where the next meal is coming from. If people want 6 bedroom houses, multiple annual foreign holidays, iPhones, or flash German cars then good luck to them, but I don't want to hear them bleating that they're having to work until they're eleventy eight to pay for it all.
This is a great and inspirational website. In most peoples cases it'll be too late to take heed, but if you're in your twenties then read, digest and take heed.
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/