I retired at 57, AMA

[PuzzledObserver]

Six months in, no regrets.

Do you think you would have retired if you were single? I am thinking more about company not finances.

How much was your mortgage?

I agree you don't need anyones permission. Just venturing my 'not for me' opinion. I have teenage children living at home so our lives are very different!

Well done. Like you I wouldn't get bored. I find there's nothing more boring than having to go to work every day. Definitely over it after 40 years but can't retire yet myself.

Do you think it will be better for health not going to work as I think my job is making me old as it's so sedentary and not enough sleep?

Good for you OP …am guessing you are a retired NHS worker I really don’t blame you ! Am checking out my pension next week and hoping as an ex NHS worker I have a fairly decent pot.

@Feetupteashot

What's your annual travel budget?

We haven’t broken it down like that. But our disposable income is broadly similar to when we were working, so I guess we could spend the same on holidays…. Maybe about £4K? Although if we do eventually do the much anticipated trip of a lifetime type thing, that would be a one-off in addition.

I loved my job but I also retired at 57 and I love retirement even more!

Which and how many ISA's.

@UserBotTrending - wow, three posts….let’s see….

I’m sorry about your pension situation. I do realise I am very fortunate.

Clay and jumpsuits do not appeal to me, but the North Koreans, I’d be there with you.

And my ADHD was only diagnosed last year - too late to make a difference to my working life, but made a lot of sense to me. Have you seen this? add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf

That sounds fantastic OP. How much of a mortgage did you have to pay off and did you stay in a smaller home to retire earlier?

I will likely be working until 67 but will need to find a sideways move as I find my job takes its toll physically and I'm only in my 30's. We naturally budget well etc but living costs are biting.

I’m 54 and have one DD in her first year at uni with the younger DD hopefully heading to uni in September, so I don’t think I’ll be retiring for a while. I should get some pensions aged 60 but no where near enough to retire, but hope I’ll be able to reduce my hours then!

Sounds fab Puzzled my DH and I just retired we are 55 and 52.

Good for you! It sounds great and I hope you are enjoying every minute. Personally, I cannot wait for that first Monday morning when the alarm doesn’t go off at 5am…….

I retired at 57, absolutely loving life now. I hated my work and now I am doing an open university degree, looking after my elderly parents and helping out with new baby granddaughter. I walk my dogs twice a day and do yoga every morning from YouTube. I will be joining local leisure centre in March for the lighter longer days and do a couple swim sessions and evening classes there.

Definitely not bored and not allowing my brain to slow down.

How did you afford it?

Well done and so pleased to hear you are enjoying retirement. I’m the same age, planning on going in next few years once I max out tax allowances for AVCs. Could go now but would miss out on 60K in AVCs so that’s keeping me at it. I had loads of children / no inheritances btw and was a single parent for much of my working years. I did it by taking on extra work on top of my main job that I did late evenings when kids were asleep. Plus very very lucky to have a final salary pension. I have so many things planned that will keep me happy in retirement and doing many of them now - just not enough, as time restricted due to work. My question is do you feel any sort of “guilt” (for want of a better word) over being so fortunate? I’m already feeling it when colleagues say how hard it will be to work another 10, 20, 30 years etc. Yet at their ages, I can honestly say I loved my work (too much maybe!). Another point for those that say, love work, don’t want to retire etc, that can change quite quickly as I and other colleagues discovered.

Nurse or other AHP I'm guessing. MH nurse.

Anyway, no questions, just wanted to say I'm very envious! Enjoy retirement!

@Jewel1968

Do you think you would have retired if you were single? I am thinking more about company not finances.

That’s a really good question and not something I have considered. I don’t know for sure - but probably.

It sounds like my day op but I get paid £60k for it!

so did I (retire at 57)

@DomPom47

How much was your mortgage?

The last mortgage I had on my own was £70K on a house I bought for £110K.

When DH and I got together (in 2000) I sold that house and moved into his, and paid off his mortgage with the proceeds of my house sale. We have never had a mortgage together.

PS now 11 years in

@RaininSummer Do you think it will be better for health not going to work as I think my job is making me old as it's so sedentary and not enough sleep?

It is definitely better for my mental health - I have struggled a lot with anxiety and depression the past few years. On physical health, the jury is out. We have joined the local leisure centre and the walking group…. but also enjoy eating cake a bit too often!

@camperqueen54 you get paid 60k to do jigsaws?

Good for you OP!
Dh and retired last year at 53 and 52 also no regrets and not bored.