To wish I could retire at 50?

No, I’m 50 with a small child. I plan to work until they’re finished school, at least. I quite like my job, luckily for me!

I am 51 and feel I’ve got 2 more big jobs in me before I even begin to consider winding down. Absolutely no interest in retiring

I'm 52 and I love my job and the people I work with - albeit it's only 25h a week. But I was a sahm for 12 years and got awfully lonely. I'm hoping to keep going as long as I can.

I'm 51. I'd love to retire early from my teaching job, but at the same time I feel too young to even be thinking about it.

I took voluntary redundancy at 42 and then worked up to six months a year as a better paid freelance - part time is also another option!

I'm 48. Dropped to 30 hours/4 days a week at 44. Honestly the best thing I did. Having a 3 day weekend is bliss.
I already volunteer.
I honestly wouldn't know what to do with myself if I retired at 50.

I'd just like to know that I will ever get to retire, I'm planning on working as long as I physically can out of necessity.

But yes, I'm late 40's, if I could retire at 50 I could definitely keep myself busy, I have a lot of hobbies and interests I could work on, things to research and study, new things to learn... maybe a few books to write.

My dad retired at 48… my mum had just been made redundant so she retired too. I just thought that’s what you did…
Oh it most certainly isn’t for us!
I can get my first bit of pension at 60 and my husband is a bit older than me so we’re hoping that will work for us both… we’ll see!

OP started the post by saying she is bored with working life.

She has no option to retire early it would seem so the obvious answer is to find a less boring job. You can’t waste 17 years bored, just waiting for retirement.

I am 58 and when I was 45 I thought I'd like to retire at this age.
Now, not so much! DH is retired so there's less slack to pick up at home and I've been working on really exciting projects at work. Definitely 5 more years worth.

I thought so too. A big reason why I’d have retired by now if I could is that I’m itching to put more time into a hobby I’m really passionate about. And just not to be having to battle against the clock all the time.

I’m 45 and like to think that I’m now semi-retired.
i was made redundant about 6 years ago, built a v small business but then needed human company so took a part time job - I have no mortgage, DC in school so no childcare fees. I have a pension pot built up from earlier in my career and am still overpaying into one now (professional career and p-t job so can easily do it).
why not - try to enjoy your life while you can x

49 here and would retire tomorrow if I could.

Finances currently don’t permit, and my kids are 12 & 14 so I’ve got a few years ahead of me! I’m hoping that maybe 56 would be doable, the kids will be done with school.

Albeit medically, I did at 46. I spend my time pottering in my enormous garden with the dogs, and seeing friends and family. I can only do a little and would happily return to work in exchange for my health.

I think I'm fortunate financially and to have a supportive DH of over thirty years. It would be a very different story if I struggled alone.

I am currently enjoying having an afternoon every week with DIL while she's on maternity leave with my first GC (I'm now 54), a child I never dreamed I'd live long enough to see and appreciate every moment I have with them and the rest of my family.

Maybe I read it wrong but it seemed to me more like a desire to do things OP enjoyed more than work, rather than sad and giving up.

@AnnieKenneyfanclub I posted about FIRE on another thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/money-matters/5329524-financial-advice-to-your-younger-self?reply=144097158&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I think this sounds quite sad. I’m mid 40’s and no way ready to retire in 5 years. I still consider myself quite young!

But I really enjoy my career, have a great work/life balance, earn a lot but also spend a lot socialising, holidaying, clothes shopping. There’s no way I’d want to be living off a pension, all the fun things I love to do are so expensive.

OP, if you have no possible option to retire before state retirement age of 67, then do you really want to spend the next 17 years wishing your life away? Why not try to make some changes to your working life? Try something different? So you actually enjoy the next 17 years?

I might retire at 42 as im bored off my tits with office life.

I’m not sure retired as such has a formal definition, but usually means not working. I’d suggest this is more akin to plural working, or portfolio

I hear you OP… I’m 40 and would happily retire tomorrow if I could afford it.

I think by the time we reach our 40’s/50’s we’ve been working long enough to have been on the corporate bullshit merry go round a few times, and are disillusioned with it. Maybe we’ve dealt with batshit work colleagues or managers, pointless meetings, or petty nonsense and are tired of having to pretend to give a shit.

I’m far enough into my working life that it’s not new or interesting anymore, and I don’t have the enthusiasm I once had - but still too far away from retirement that it’s just a pipe dream.

I'd have retired at 50 at the drop of a hat, if I could have afforded to. As it is, I'm 57 and hope not to have to work too long past 60, certainly not all the way to 67. A long retirement is not a given, for any of us.

Correct me if I’m wrong but these sound like occasional rather than regular jobs. Retired tends to mean from regular full time work. Maybe just my perception.

For those saying they are making additional pension payments so they can retire at 50, don't forget that you cannot access pensions until 55 and this is soon to rise to 57.
You can stop work and live off savings / investments etc but you won't be able to access your pensions straight away.

Retired at 57, best thing I ever did.🙂

YANBU

I’m 46 and have been off for 6 weeks, having been let go. If I didn’t need the money I’d never go back, my health is better, my garden looks great, I’ve been able to spend more time with family and friends. I hope to retire by 60 (some hope!) but if I had health concerns I’d be doing what I could do expedite that.