Has anyone retired early and regretted it?

[50andup]

I'm in my 50s, have always saved into pensions/ISAs and am now in the very fortunate position of being able to afford to stop work if I want to.

I know lots of people would think - that's brilliant and be off! But I'm wondering if I'll regret retiring early? After all, if I live to 100 , that's 45ish years of effectively being on holiday!

I've got loads of friends, already volunteer and have interests I could invest more time into, but is that enough? No desire to travel the world (done that already) or any very significant plans, so wondering if I'll get bored after a bit...

Has anyone else retired early and then regretted it later?

@RampantIvy

Gosh, I can understand your DH not being sociable, but a lot of the things you list, can be done alone…cinema, theatre, markets, day trips, NT houses - you don’t necessarily need to be an extrovert to do any of them! There are so many places you can visit for a day (I think you live near where I grew up, a gorgeous county with lots to offer!).

Does he have any hobbies he can do at home?

I don’t have many hobbies, but do love walking and running, and happy to join groups for those, but also more than happy to do things alone!

Since I first heard about early retirement in my very early 20s I knew it was something I wanted to aim for. I came across the concept by chance online and immediately began investing in the stock market to set the wheels in motion.

I’m now 41 and dropped to PT after DC1 and then left work to become a SAHM after DC3 was born. They’re now all at school and I have no intention of returning to work and DH plans to work a few more years to then retire at 50.

Honestly, I never get bored. I worried I might feel a bit lonely after DC3 started school but although I’d class myself as an introvert who isn’t keen in large group situations I have lots of different friends I’ve “collected” from previous jobs, uni, school, school mum friends etc. Most of them work either PT or not at all so I have regular meet up with them for coffee/ breakfast/ lunch/ museum and gallery trips/ garden centres.

I made a long list of hobbies, existing and new ones, that I wanted to pursue with the extra free time but never get nearly as many done as I’d like. I’m someone that is interested in lots of different things and adores learning new stuff so that keeps me excited and I enjoy discussing existing hobbies and getting ideas for new ones with friends.

In truth, I think I’m probably a more interesting person to spend time with now because when I worked I was always stressed and in a rush. My mind is challenged by learning languages and online courses that I take for fun.

I already do them alone @BertiesShoes. No hobbies at home other than playing sudoku, drinking wine and watching TV. Although I also enjoy doing those.

I often go out alone because DH has no interest in any of the things I like. I will watch the new Bond movie on my own when it comes to our local cinema.

Retired nearly 4 years ago (now 60) with a public service pension and retirement package. DH almost a year. Mortgage paid off and an inheritance has helped but we have also always been financially cautious and never had to fund the biggest drain on resources (children). Covid has scuppered our travel plans for the moment but I cannot imagine going back to work. Time for studying, exercise classes, book club, voluntary work, garden and never having to squeeze all chores and leisure activities into a weekend again. Result.

I'm in the same boat.

I do enjoy my job, I get a large amount of satisfaction from it but also, often irritation.

My problem is in a terrible procrastinator. If I didn't have anything I needed to do and if I had unlimited time to do the things I'd like to do, I can see me spending my days -‐on MN-- literally doing nothing.

Retire partially and do consultancy work in your field. I'm super active and can't sit still for a moment. I'm semi retired but plan to go back to work. The thing is it's fluid, if you do it and can't cope with retirement, do something else.

DH is semi retired, and does a bit of consultancy work. The problem is that the work is drying up and he is bored because he has so few interests.

I also did FIRE - though didn't realise I was doing it until I stumbled across it online. I was able to retire at 52 and will live off my savings and my OH's salary until I can access my pension. I have not inherited a penny. How can I afford it?

I did a very, very stressful FT job for 30 years. I have two children but took only the minimum maternity leave (basically until the pay ran out, which was just 4 months back then ). My job paid pretty well for the area I live in.

We have lived in the same house for the last 25 years. We have had the kitchen and bathroom done once in that time. Do all the DIY myself. We are happy with the decor and furniture we have. Not interested in spending lots on carpets etc.

Mortgage was paid off five years early so we have been mortgage free since I was 42. This meant that the money could be put into savings every month.

No 'luxury' holidays . We went away every year but always SC, booked myself and using low cost flights. When the kids were small we always had two weeks always in SC with a pool, so we didn't scrimp, but I always shopped around rather than going on package holidays.

Never took out loans or built up credit card debts. Paid them off in full every month so no interest rate costs.

Switching insurances, broadband, energy providers etc regularly. No expensive Sky packages for stuff we didn't watch. No mobile phones on contract - I always buy a cheapish phone and use giff gaff bundles. I pay £8 a month for my phone bundle and it cost me £100 to buy.

We have two cars. Both very boring and low spec but they get me from a to b. Never used finance to buy them.

I food shop mainly in Aldi. I plan meals for the week. We throw very little food away.

Most importantly I have a husband who supported my decision to leave work. He could see how it was driving me into the brink of a breakdown. He works in a job he loves, though his wage is half what mine was. It would have been impossible to go down from two full time wages to one without the savings we have.

I know I am very, very lucky. I did have a well paid job. I have a supportive OH. I loved my job (until the final couple of years), though it was incredibly stressful and I worked crazy long hours and brought work home all weekends.

I made the right decision. had I stayed in the job my health would have suffered even more. I could have ended up with a lot more money in the bank but what I have gained instead is far more precious to me. The money may run out, the time certainly will. I chose time over money.

Duller?! I think you're more dull for working! Being retired means you're free to pursue what really interests you and more time to spend with your friends and family rather than sitting in a soulless office with people you barely like!

But it depends on what you retire into. Some peoples worlds quickly become very small.

I think you're right, some people's lives do become very small. There are previous posters who seem to have really exciting lives learning languages, travelling, and doing all sorts of wonderful things. I think if you're going to retire early, you need to have some kind of plan for how you'll spend your time

and more time to spend with your friends and family rather than sitting in a soulless office with people you barely like!

All my local friends work. We have no local family, and I like my workmates.

Yes I see early retired people spending time with their retired family and friends. It largely means spending time with people much older than them as their peers are still working. I have wondered if this is a reason over time they start to seem older than their age.

My colleague retired early. I suggested that he may be a little under stimulated but he was adamant that he had lots planned and would enjoy his time.
Within 3 month he was back at work as he was utterly bored at home.
I look at my retired neighbour, same age as me, 66, and the highlight of his week is a trip to Waitrose.
So I intend to keep on working as long as possible.

I don't know anyone retired whose highlight si going to the supermarket. More typically what I see is people settling into a pattern like -

• Morning walk with dogs
• Lunch
• Bit of gardening, housework or baking
• Another walk
• Tea
• Then usual evening stuff

They tend to be physically very active, but without much mental stimulation or mental challenge and it shows after a few years.
The exceptions are those who retire with very firm plans of what they want to achieve. Achievement being the key thing, not just things to fill their days.

If I retired I'd be taking full advantage of my rather pricey gym membership and use the outdoor swimming pool most days as I see many elderly people doing.

I have several reasons for retiring at 55, but my main one is that I feel I can only hope for reasonably good health up until 70/75. I know I'm fortunate to be able to do this. Like you, I have worried about giving up my job, but the pandemic has given me a real understanding of how much happier I am away from work. So the cost benefit analysis is in favour of getting out as soon as I can.

@purpleleotard

My colleague retired early. I suggested that he may be a little under stimulated but he was adamant that he had lots planned and would enjoy his time. Within 3 month he was back at work as he was utterly bored at home. I look at my retired neighbour, same age as me, 66, and the highlight of his week is a trip to Waitrose. So I intend to keep on working as long as possible.

But that doesn’t mean your early retirement would be the same. Surely you have things other than work to keep you busy?

There are so many things to do out there. Why would you choose to just go to Waitrose once a week. I’ll be doing my hobbies, walking, cycling, going on days out, trips away, spending winters abroad. Can’t imagine being bored.

@Rosenborg

Duller?! I think you're more dull for working! Being retired means you're free to pursue what really interests you and more time to spend with your friends and family rather than sitting in a soulless office with people you barely like!

Nah, I am not more dull for working - I am more alive, more connected and more often pushed out of my comfort zone and building my confidence.

I know that retiree don’t like to hear this but it is true - people quickly lose that edge once they retire. So what? They’ve earned it and they probably don’t care. But it does generally make for duller company.

Interesting thread.

DH and I are late 50s. DH took retirement last Spring when an inheritance coincided with Covid risk making a job he disliked even worse so it was a no brainer for him at the time and definitely the right thing to do to take some time out at that time .

Obviously it's not been the easiest of years with so many things closed but seeing him spending the majority of his time on the sofa watching TV - I don't think is a good thing for this to be his whole life going forward.

It has made me re-evaluate retirement though . I'm currently WFH and I do 4 short days a week (I finish at 2.30) so I'm feeling in the position that I have the opportunity to do other things with my day but working gives me some structure. And I won't give up work until I've got other things in place to provide that structure.

I had considered doing a pre retirement course this year but decided it was too early - maybe next year though as it may advise of things to take into consideration before I do go .

Thanks to the poster who said they did some work for Amazon flex - this looks ideal for my DH.

DH and I retired recently at 52 and 55. We like to travel so go away about 8 or more times a year. We’ve joined a really lovely spa and go there a couple of times a week. DH has taken up golf and joined a club so he does that when I see my friends.
We have lunch out a couple of times during the week. On weekends we tend to go to the cinema or go in costal walks which is what we used to do.
We’re fortunate to have a large pension pot so can afford to do lots of nice things.

@Antinerak

I wouldn't say I'm retired, but it's unlikely I'll be working again. I'm 24 next week, last worked aged 19. I get bored but have a house to keep up with and husband to clean up after. I have my own hobbies, have a very small business I work on sometimes and I have time to babysit my nieces and nephews. So far, I'm not bored.

There will always be a way for you to work again if you need or want to. Even if it's a part time job at somewhere with shit pay but good work. If you can, why not make the most of your life?

Unless you have a health condition meaning you can't work, that sounds quite worrying @Antinerak

It totally depends on the work you do, and whether you live to work or work to live!

I have semi retired at 55. I run my own business which takes 3-4 half days a week.

I did my previous job mostly part time for 25 years and honestly don't miss it one bit in any shape or form! I miss the people I worked with but I could easily see them if I wanted to enough.

I'm fundamentally lazy though so I'm very happy with the being on holiday aspect. I also live by the sea so can spend days on beaches etc. I've never once been bored in the last 18 months!

@Movinghouseatlast I think reducing working hours is best. You are still working part-time so have the mental challenge, but have more time to do what you want. Working full-time leaves little time to pursue other interests.

Retired 6 weeks ago at age 51, absolutely zero regrets so far though obviously it very early days. Am really enjoying the lazy mornings and the extra cup of coffee - though am strict about being up/showered and dressed by 9.00am.

Several of my girlfriends gave up work years ago, so it's lovely I can now meet up with them more often (and get expert tips on how to best use all this free time). DD1 has just gone away to university, which prompted me to do a lot of decluttering and re-organising of our home which has been cathartic and so satisfying.

My next project is planning our kitchen renovation and knocking through from the dinning room to make one huge living dinning kitchen area. I'm happily creating a Pinterest board for inspiration and ideas. I predict this may take quite some time

DH intends retiring in the next 2-3 years and we're planning on travelling quite a bit and he wants to improve his golf handicap.