To wish I could retire at 50?

I retired at 60 (which I thought was too soon as I enjoyed my work and the people I was working with) to enjoy my husbands last few years together. He was much older than me and sadly had Parkinsons. Not an easy time but we enjoyed times together. Mission acccomplished. Now I am on my own and having a marvellous time doing things just for me. Not necessarily expensive things but walking, volunteering (& meeting new people) taking free tours, learning - just LIVING? I am short of cash but have taken in a lodger and spending all that income on travelling on my own. I LOVE it. Retirement is great if you have an active and inventive mind. Retirement is not just sitting and watching tv. It is living with a capital L. Even on a tight budget. If you hate your job . . .move! what are your strengths? Play to those. Live!

It’s actually a relief to not feel alone in these feelings. I’m early 50s and just can’t be arsed with it all. The corporate bullsh.t is just bonkers half the time when you have already heard all the “new” things several times over the years. I can’t feign enthusiasm for it any more. I’d be super busy without the job as have both my parents been well into their 80s and only slowing now but dad retired at 52. He did lots of odd job stuff when he felt like it but not his stressful career job. My work colleagues just look at me oddly when I say geez id retire tomorrow given the chance.

@Seeyousoonboo my friend who was a nurse did exactly that - she took the pension at 57 , did a bit of occasional bank nursing 1 or 2 days a week at most - now65 and has a really great and really interesting part time job dealing with continuous care claims on NHS - there are some really interesting options if you want to continue to work ‘a bit’ - I reckon she will stop when her state pension kicks in but in the meantime she’s providing a great service in an area she knows a lot about and it’s kept her mind sharp

48 here and yes would love to retire, not so much stop working but leave nursing. Currently work FT over 3 long days though which I have been doing for 20 years and is the only way I survive the job. Really hoping to go at 57 or go down to 1-2 days a week, having paid into my pension since 95 I can hopefully make it work.

@dollyblue01 on a private pension? You must be putting most of your salary in then?

I'd like to retire soon (in my late 50s) but worry that I won't have enough money if they suddenly decide to do some kind of means test on the state pension in 10 years time. The thought they might do it makes my blood boil if I'm honest.

I also feel that I need to keep earning to help the children with their lives, given how much harder it is for them than it was for me at their age. To give up a fairly well paid job and do nothing while they struggle just seems wrong.

I recognise this. I was a bit of a workaholic in my younger days. I had an all-encompassing job with long hours and travel. I changed career direction in my mid-40s and thought of it as a mid-career move. Twenty years down, twenty to go. A few years on and I’m pushing 50. Although I’m very happy with my change of direction I feel done with working. If I could retire soon I would. As it is I’m aiming at 56. My daughter will have finished school by then and with a push we will have paid off the mortgage.

We have close family members who died before 65 so we have planned from our 30's to try to be in a position to afford retirement before 60. Honestly, if voluntary redundancy was offered to me in the near future, I wouldn't hesitate to take it.

53 and finally doing a 4 day week. I have been doing loads more gardening and sewing and I love it! Youngest DC is 18 and I'm happy to fully stop doing paid work at 55/56. The new rules regarding pension age comes in April 2028. Even if I don't retire at 55, I only have to wait 6 mths after April 2028 to turn 57. I'm not waiting until 57. I still need to work on DH to retire in the next few years since I would like to do a middle age gap year with him whilst we still have the inclination/energy.

www.fidelity.co.uk/normal-minimum-pension-age-nmpa/#:~:text=The%20government%20is%20raising%20the,spend%20more%20time%20in%20retirement.

I'm expecting to have to work either until I drop or if something catastrophically medical comes up, being retired on health grounds (if I'm not made redundant and stuck on the dole for however long that still exists).

If I hadn't been so damn poor throughout my twenties and thirties, I'd be aiming for retiring at 55. As it is, 67 - 70 would be good going - not just for finances, but because my father and two siblings were dead before that age.

I'm 56 and would retire tomorrow if I could I wouldn't be bored for a second loads to do both chores hobbies and shopping in the village roll on 60!!

Actively wanting to retire has hit my like a bus. I’ve gone from happily beavering away, doing CPD and All The Work Things to Just Not Wanting to.
52 and would walk away after 30 years without a backwards glance
I NEVER imagined I’d feel like this
Fuck knows how to find any kind of motivation or enthusiasm for next decade or so 🙁
YANBU

I’m late 50’s and haven’t worked for a long time although till recently did voluntary. My ideal scenario would be to become a grandma
in the next few years but I guess that’s not up to me! I spend a lot of time cooking for friends and family but there’s definitely something missing from my life.

I have been fortunate to retire very young. I still work occasionally, as I don't wish to lose my skill set, but it's so much nicer being able to do it through choice rather than necessity. I spend my time travelling, volunteering and helping family and friends.

I retired at 49 & absolutely love it. I’m learning languages & a musical instrument & do lots of my old hobbies. I’m doing a bit of volunteering now too which I enjoy. We travel a lot. I’m much fitter & healthier as I have time to exercise & eat well. No complaints here.

I'm 48 and don't.think I'll be able to.retire until state pension age. I do love my job (20hrs per week) and am also building up a practice in another job I recently retrained for. Some weeks i do feel tired though. My parents both retired in their early 60s and have no regrets

@take10yearsofmylife I know one person who retired at 50, he had been a corporate lawyer in America for years. He is though no figures available very wealthy. The others in mid fifties all have defined benefits pensions, except one. One of the ones with a defined benefits pensions also inherited a million. Four of them took the enhanced severance deals offered by the Universities they worked for in the last couple of years, that includes my DH. There are 9 of us in my friendship circle who have all retired by 57. I am in the shortest marriage at 25 years, everyone else except DH and I married in their twenties, none of the women or men were SAHP at any point.

This is what I think the government are being unfair about. Increasing pension age to nearly 70! Hopefully everyone will be fit and well and can retire early. 60 was the age for DM and my Cousin. I have Cancer and have had Chemo. Most of the time tired after a day out! Yet younger people don't seem to want to work. Therefore less taxes paid .Increasing pension age

I'm 41 and would love to retire. However barring a lottery win....I have another 20 years of slog to go (at least). Its so depressing.

I know a couple, who both recently turned 80. He was a dental surgeon, she a nurse then at SAHM. They had their children in early mid twenties. He retired at 50. They are well off, and he was bored of his job. I guess he couldn't exactly chat much with his patients. They have a wonderful life, both exercise at least an hour a day, he cycles with a group 20 miles every weekend. They love cooking, entertaining, travelling and eating out. He is a great reader and I mean heavy books, The bible of Saint John was what I last heard he was reading, she is an avid bridge player. Loves reading too, but not as heavy. I have not noticed any cognitive decline. They have been lucky healthwise, they eat well and are not overweight. I hope I am in a position to do similar, but think it would be more 55. I think if you are able to do so financially and are fed up of working why not. As the lady always says to me when we have a treat like wine or something, we deserve it.

I'm 57, DH is 60, we have property we rent out and substantial savings but we are both still working full time. I'm the more exhausted of the two of us because I get up at 5 and have a long commute while he WFH. He does a lot of international travel and has some health issues, I don't.

I've told him I'll retire in 3 years and he can please himself.

I mean, wouldn't we all like to retire and be work?

I’m 50, can’t imagine retiring, I leaned back into my career the last few years as my kids are older and still have so much I want to achieve! I would be bored retired, most people I am friends with my age have younger kids and no plans to retire for 10+ years. I do know some kid few people who retired early but their lives have been very different from
mine

I only have a tiny pension amount at 57 so have to keep working - !!!! Even either the state pension lucky to retire at 70!!

I’m 59 with disabilities. I too wish to retire at times and have a lovely sewing room/ art studio to play in. But at the same time I’m worried about giving up my work as it’s my way to socialise and I enjoy it. I also worry about how I will be able to live without my salary