Warning: this post may cause a little envy… but only a tiny bit 😏

Sounds wonderful!

I think I like the idea mainly because I’m so over busy most of the time though.

I can't think of anything worse than feeling that - free of the need to work - one can't make a contribution to society.

With imagination surely, totally free, one can contribute more than ever?

Same here.

I feel obliged to retire because DH has just retired and has had quite the wake up call recently, requiring major heart surgery. I already volunteer with a charity, and will up my volunteering when I retire. I will probably join local U3A groups and other activities as well. Sadly, we won't be able to holiday as extensively as everyone else I know who has retired, but it is what it is.

Having a life with no obligations or purpose at all would be pretty pointless for me.

This is me exactly. And it's a lovely life. As kids are grown and gone housework and cooking is far less which is great. But l am busy but only doing things l love particularly exercise/ meeting friends/ volunteering and catching up with kids and extended family. I have a good pension which l contributed to all my working life so happy out now.

There are people at my church like this. They spend a huge amount of time and energy volunteering in the community. They bring high level skills from their time in the business world. Absolute gems.

Newly retired. Worked all my life since I was 16 . I’m now 53. No stress of work anymore, can do what I like when I like. Finding out I have a rare serious health condition has completely changed my perspective on life.

I'm 59. I love the work I do, it makes a difference. I'd like to go less than full time now but there is little opportunity for that.

If I did though I'd fill my days with voluntary work, so what's the point 🤔

I might still be working in 70s if health isn't an issue because I love my work. I also currently look at least a decade younger than I am so no one would know that I was 70+, lol!

Once I retire I plan to downsize and holiday a lot. I might even live on a boat or buy a small piece of land and site a static on it to keep my costs down 😜

We moved over 300 miles to the borders of Scotland . Still kept our house down south as wasn't convinced we'd get on ok.
Dh had a well paid job , and we jointly decided there was no rush for me to work .
It took about two years before we felt settled enough to sell our house and buy up here .
During that time , I lived a very old style housewife life . Did lots of baking , housework but also having days out by myself , did a lot of reading , took over doing all the gardening in our rented place .

It was ok , I was at times a bit bored , and if I'm honest , bored .

I know loads of people like this! DM retired at 51 as DF was older
Many never went back to work after having DC
As a lone parent I’ve always worked full time and can’t afford to retire ever!
If I had the luxury of not working I would do more voluntary work, if I could afford it would holiday more

I retired last year aged 58 and I love it. I had a high paid job so I did contribute a lot to the tax system (including the LTA charge which in retrospect I wouldn’t have needed to pay!) No regrets at all here, I absolutely love it.

I was worried about not having a purpose, but my purpose is to enjoy myself! And to get fitter. I go on plenty of holidays, I do a lot of walking cycling and badminton, and I meet up with friends a lot. I really am living my best life, sorry!

I do do a couple of worthwhile things - I travel 3 hours to see my elderly mum frequently and there’s always things to do for her, and I’m a trustee of a local charity, so there is some meaning to my empty shallow life!

@Londontown12 I don't agree. It is your husband who is paying the taxes if you don't work.

Not me, but my close friend. She’s never worked and her kids are grown. She spends her days playing golf and meeting friends for lunch.

@DysonLover1 Wow! What did you do for a living?

This sounds very pleasant. The only thing that would worry me is all this gently "@pottering' in fifties sounds a bit 'old before your time' and I would worry about dementia creeping in down the line. I think its very important to keep your mind active, doing puzzles or whatever, if not working, as I have seen how easily my mother and MIL slid into dementia. Both hadn't worked for decades, lost their husbands in their early sixties and did very little from then. Not a great way to go and I'm very concious of the value of keeping busy.

🙄🙄

I don't have kids and don't work, OP.
Lucrative marriage.
However, at fifty, I believe I'm still going to have to "do" stuff, since it's very unlikely I'll be by myself then and that age is quite close.
☕

I do. No kids, work 3 days a week. Love it! Worked full time my whole working life until about 4 years ago (59 now). It's not boring, it's freedom! Those free days are filled with something though (if I want to). I have a dog who needs walking, a mum who needs visiting but neither of those are onerous.

Good! And I hope you enjoy every bloody minute of it! Will you do holidays and the like? That would be my dream. Lots of exploring.

Im 52 and don’t work, but not as well set up as you sadly cuz myDH got sick so had to quit to look after him :(

I'm 50 and only work very part time, DH is a higher earner and pays plenty of tax. I absolutely love it. I was a fantastic SAHM to an autistic child who is now working as a software engineer thanks to the time i was able to put into him.

Now I travel a lot, I grow lots of veggies, I do loads of cooking, I'm not constantly stressed or tired, harried or hurried.

I have a Masters but hated every full time job I ever had. I have learned so much from not working though because I had the time to really research autism, really research all the places I've travelled to, learnt languages, learnt how to grow fruit and vegetables, learnt how cook different cuisines from scratch. I have learnt many more (interesting) things than I would have from working IMO.

But a lot of people feel their career is very central to who they are and that's fine too. Let's not pretend you do it because you're desperate to pay tax though - because if that's the only reason you do it then I do feel sorry for you.

• Income Tax
• Capital Gains Tax
• National Insurance
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Bank payroll Tax
• Petroleum Revenue Tax
• Fuel Duties
• Inheritance Tax
• Stamp Duty
• Tobacco Duties
• Spirits Duties
• Beer Duties
• Wines Duties
• Cider Duties
• Betting & Gaming Duties
• Air Passenger Duty
• Insurance Premium Tax
• Landfill Tax
• Climate Change Levy
• Aggregates Tax

My colleague seems to enjoy a life of working 2.5 days a week. Does nothing much at work on the days she does work. has some kind of family trust to keep her and lives with relatives.

😆 he's turned 60 now but still.. he's going to need to take to charitable works, both to rehabilitate himself in any way, and also for something to do!

Stopped work at 54, hubby retired and I retired with him, he has ill health so I do care for him, my days are quiet but filled with things I enjoy, reading, cooking, gardening and spending time with my hubby as we don't know how long we have together. We do go away a lot but in the UK

Not arguing with that, but income tax, which you are referring to, is not the only tax. VAT, road tax, NI, etc.

I’m 52. Currently on sick due to a traumatic bereavement so I’ve not worked for 3 months. I could easily do this forever. My days are busy and full. Shame I have to return but finances dictate I must.