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

Can you expand on this? Why?

My MIL never worked after she married and her children left home when she was in her late 40s. She had a couple of hobbies, but as she always fell out with people they never lasted. FIL did a lot in the house & garden so I have no idea how she fills her days, then or now as an elderly widow.

I would say she has shaky mental health, which has definately declined over the years - this may be the reason for her never leaving the house much, but I sometimes wonder if not having to didn't help. Chicken & egg, who knows? But it's her life. I certainly don't envy it.

What about disabled people, then? I'm disabled, and while I've worked in the past, it caused me to be in and out of employment constantly because I'd get so burnt out no matter what type of job I did. I'd get so burnt out, I'd become physically unwell, and therefore I'd be off of work, which would then lead to me being fired because when I did try going back to work, I'd have a mental breakdown from stress, panic and anxiety, which would lead me to being on and off benefits like a yo-yo depending on if I was working at the time or not.

So yeah, maybe I don't contribute anymore to tax, but I contribute by being a damn good parent, helping other people (charity donations, emotional support, etc) and just being a generally good person.

Unlike you, who seems to pay tax but is very fucking judgemental of those who are unable to work and therefore pay tax.

No one said anything about not contributing to society. If you’ve worked, raised kids well, or just been a decent law abiding person then you have contributed to society. But if you want to work till you drop then all power to you.

I'm 56 and work, but with seniority I'm paid for responsibility and knowledge more than activity, so my main roles are decision making and can carrying. And when there are no cans, it leaves me with more leisure than I've ever had.
My children are adults, my elderly relatives are dead, and while I do GC care, it's not as much as it was now they're getting older. I spend a lot of time on excercise, socialising, reading and wasting time on here.
Truth be told, while its restful and pleasant, it's not anywhere near as stimulating as it should be and I often get a sense of filling time and pottering about which I don't think is good for me, on the basis of the less you do, the less you want to do. Sometimes it almost horrifies me that this will be my pace and extent of my life for the next 30 years and I'm worried it will age me before it should.
If I could muster the motivation, I should change jobs and do more, so the idea of retiring and doing even less is the last thing I'd consider.

You live to pay the tax man?

If you've worked all your adult life, you've contributed enough.

I do not think anyone can be happy without a full on purpose. Either raising children, keeping a cosy, clean and tidy home, learning something new, crafts or gardening, charities, childcare for others...
If you do have something meaningful to put your time into, then you get a lot of pleasure from that type of living.
I only know retired people over 60 in this situation. Others are mostly home, due to health issues and that is proper depressing and soul destroying.
I think those able to be full owners of their time, without a job to tend to, are very lucky indeed!

I’m pretty much like this but early 60s. I do have a little stress free part time job a couple of evenings a week but my day times are totally free. I’m a few year’s off state pension age but have work pensions. I love being at home (I’ve always been a homebody). I found working full time in offices stressful a lot of the time and did it for many years. I am never bored even when I have no plans because being at home is my favourite place to be. I have family and friends and a dog so I’m not isolated. I see my adult kids. I answer to no one. I have put well over the required years of NI contributions so there’s no guilt there.

That sounds really hard. I hope you find the role you’re looking for. Just to keep you in the game, mentally, would you be able to do any interesting volunteering in the meantime? Being a trustee of a local school? A magistrate?

@HoskinsChoice virtue signaling 🤣

My parents retired in their late 50s - theyre mid 60s now. My dad spent a little bit of rhat time caring for my grandmother. Then when she died, they moved house, they have completely renovated their new home, go on lots of uk holidays, walk rhe dogs for miles, go to the pub for lunch and just generally potter about. Theyre not wealthy by any stretch, but comfortable. They both love it, after both working since they left school.

Some of these replies are ridiculous and the one about not contributing to society is batshit! The OP is clearly talking about women in their 50s who have worked, not those who have never had a job or haven’t for about 35 years! I’m nearly 50 and can’t afford to retire yet but I plan to as soon as I am able to. Worst case scenario for me at the moment is 60. I know lots of people around my age who have retired or who are planning to in the next few years. I also know of a few people who have waited until they are in their 60s and have died soon after. Life is too short, absolutely retire as soon as you are able to and don’t feel any guilt!

What different life would you have chosen?

I'm 52 and haven't worked since I was 31 (when we had eldest DC). Now the eldest has finished at Oxford and living at home again to do an MSc in London. Middle DC at LSE and never left because there was no point paying rent to live in student accommodation when we're quite close by anyway. Youngest is in final year of A-levels. I've never been bored. House is always busy. DH made a lot of money through his companies and there just wasn't a need for me to be working as well. He doesn't really work much now either - he's always been self-employed and works from home so his hours are whstever he wants to make them. I've never been bored, it's London! We travel a fair bit. Various cats and 2 dogs. Lots of friends around me in similar situations. Love our house which I renovated. I've done some other renovations over the years too. I just enjoy freedom and time really. I genuinely don't care what anyone thinks because this is my life and our family and we're doing fine. Sorry if this sounds entitled, but you did ask OP.

I work part time
i would be bored to fk if I gave it up

I worked since I was 14 and a half full time payed tax on my pension and now at 70 retired and getting a workplace pension and state pension which I again am having to pay tax on. I took out some of my draw down pension ( I already have had my 25% tax free when I was 66 so I have had to pay a hefty amount of tax for something I have already paid tax on. So You never ever live tax free and I love being retired and don't for one second feel guilty be cause I have and still am paying my way.

Doont know anyone like that and I'm in my 50s with lots of friends a similar age. Sounds extremely boring tbh

I'm in my 50s and will never be able to retire - I'm single and only have a small pension, no savings, and a mortgage - I just pray I still can work/ have a job when I'm older. I think not working at all would be boring, but working less/ being able to chose when to work would be a bliss.

Pretty much everyone who I know who doesn't work are financially supported by their other half. Nor sure I would be able to live happily knowing I'm 100% dependent on someone else...Also know a lady who's husband left her when she was late 50s. She never worked and had nothing to her name - he made sure she got nothing... Not a nice situation.

I know lots of older family friends & relatives who never even worked or worked very p/t. The majority do help with gc, attend clubs eg yoga, most have holiday homes so often spent a month or two away.

I was going to say my parents until I realised it's not 2010 and they are nearly 70. 😭

I am 48 and work 3 days a week. Both DC are not home (one and Uni and one working in London), I live alone. I do very little on my days off and it is utter bliss, I often feel guilty for being so lazy but the reality is I love it. I can retire at 60 but I worry I will simply rot away on my sofa so I will be found after being eaten by my cat.

Late 50s usually work 2 1/2 days a week so I'm off work more than I'm in. No children and a mainly self sufficient partner. I can spend my days fannying about, a bit of shopping, tidying up but getting massively distracted, crafting, cooking, listing items in my freezer, making lists of stuff I have. Some days no real purpose, I love it.

Hard agree!

50 and no job. Still got teens and youngest is eight, and life revolves around them, so absolutely not able to please myself in life but am alone 9am until 3pm.

I do house stuff badly, a morning volunteering and an exercise class a week. The house still looks crap, I can't deal with paperwork stuff as it makes me almost explode with anxiety, I feel guilty about pretty much everything and I struggle with sleep. Not working for a long time makes me feel useless and worthless to be honest so much so that I'm not able to do it. I wouldn't advise anyone to go down my path in life.

Thank God for the loveliest partner and kids who give me a place in the world.

Hes 65 and simply ignores his obligations rather than not having any