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Original poster

Do you look forward to retirement?

104 replies

JustJam4Tea · 10/01/2022 13:10

I can't wait to give up work. I'm 52 and have been planning what to do with retirement since I started work really. I don't hate what I do, and have had some great jobs.

But...there's so much more of the world I want to see than can be managed in annual leave, I want to garden, read books, do more exercise. I'm well paid, in a secure interesting job.

My husband on the other hand can't even imagine what he'll do when he retires, his identity was for years tied up in his job, not so much now in a new job, but working is still integral to his sense of self.

OP posts:
Mydogisagentleman · 10/01/2022 13:34

I honestly can’t wait.
I was outraged to find out that during our years abroad, my retirement age has increased to 67!
As I will turn 58 this year, I’ve got ages to go. Me and DH have recently bought a flat in Spain to live in once we both finish work. He’s got another year to do.
We are currently exploring options to enable me to finish work earlier

Sosigsandwich · 10/01/2022 13:38

We can't wait! We're 35, aiming for 50 at the latest. We love walking, going to some new in the UK for a holiday and exploring, eating good food, reading, spa days, spending more time with friends and family, random day trips. Can you tell we think about it a lot!

Isseywith3witchycats · 10/01/2022 14:43

im semi heading this way this year i cashed in my private pension as it wasnt enough to generate a monthly sum, but enough to cover me from february to august when my state pension kicks in, so at the moment i do two jobs one tues-thursday and sunday part time and the other job mon-wed part time my intention is give up one that i have to work sundays and keep the one that is mon-wed, so 3 days in 4 days off so can go places at weekends and not have to get out of bed at 6.30am cant wait 7 weeks to go

TeeBee · 10/01/2022 14:47

Oh god no! I'd go up the wall. I could retire now to be honest but have no desire to. Love my job, I love that it keeps my head busy and that I'm constantly learning. Think they might have to cart me away.

AuntieMarys · 10/01/2022 14:50

I retired recently years ago at 58. Love it! Comfortable income, dh still works. We go away a lot, eat out, go to theatre/ gigs, I go to the gym 5 times a week, meet friends, read and generally have a great life!

Enzbear · 10/01/2022 14:53

DH has just gone part time, I already took the plunge. At the moment I work 2 days, he does 3/4.
We can access our private pensions next year, have rental income and savings too. We could retire then but I think that we'll stay part time until late 50's unless we inherit or win a decent amount as we have got big and pretty costly holiday plans for the next 10 years.

Houseplantmad · 10/01/2022 14:58

Reading with interest as I'm currently doing the calculations to see when I can afford to retire (I'm 57). I'm thinking of going down to 4 days in 2024 as I work in a very fast-paced environment and am not sure I can sustain it beyond then full time. We will get the house redecorated/updated in the meantime. My loose plan is to finish in 5 years or drop down to 2 days a week as I'm not sure I would want to stop completely.

WoodenReindeer · 10/01/2022 15:01

Wow I think income swings this massively. I'm terrified of retiring as I know we will ne very poor. I'd look forward to it if I had a proper pension!

oldestmumaintheworld · 10/01/2022 15:03

No way! I could retire in the next couple of years if I wanted to but won't. Ive never not worked apart from two six month maternity leaves and love what I do. My Dad still works and he's in his 80s. I aim to be like him.

Original poster
JustJam4Tea · 10/01/2022 15:05

I want to go down to 4 days a week - and I think by doing that may last at work a bit longer.

Agreement with DH is that I just need to pay off my share of the mortgage.

I wouldn't mind doing some work in retirement - don't even really mind what. But I wouldn't be sat at home bored or going up the wall.

OP posts:
MrsKDB · 10/01/2022 15:05

i was thinking about this the other day and I am really not sure about it. I love the sense of purpose my job gives me and I only work 3-5 hours a day for what is the UK average FT salary.

I am saving for retirement but not actually sure that I want to do it!! although I'm only 43 so that might change.

DH is in a career where the most lucrative years are the last 10-15 so working that last bit gives us a brilliant opportunity to set up our kids (grandkids?!) for the future too.

KonTikki · 10/01/2022 15:12

Retired at 51 years on occupational pension.
Travelled in Asia for a year, did a MA part time on return.
Then did seasonal work 4 months every winter, until getting my state pension this year.
My advice, retire as soon as financially able, but keep yourself occupied, physically and mentally.

FrownedUpon · 10/01/2022 15:13

I can’t wait to retire. I do actually enjoy my job. It’s interesting & well paid. However, there’s so much more i want to do in life than work!

I plan to retire by 55 & we have lots of plans for holidays, hobbies, volunteering & spending winters abroad.

FanSpamTastic · 10/01/2022 15:14

Me too - I cannot wait - am the same age and aiming for 60 - hopefully by then all our kids will be through Uni or settled in jobs and will have moved out! I'd stop tomorrow if we won the lottery! I'm planning to potter around, read books, do my gardening, cook properly, travel when we want to, I might do some voluntary work if I get bored!

piney07 · 10/01/2022 15:16

Not at all! If I won the lotto I’d still work, I’d maybe shift to doing my own business rather than salaried however. I think I’d like to work forever. But I’m very aware I am immensely lucky to enjoy what I do. I’m only mid 30s though so maybe once I’m older I’ll be over working.

Lolalasagna · 10/01/2022 15:17

48 and cannae wait!

I have pretty much just tolerated every job I've ever had tbh, never really understood people who love work (well office type work anyway, I can totally understand how someone would love being a vet, or a pilot, or charity work (or something else exciting and/or making a difference).

EmmaStone · 10/01/2022 15:18

I love my job, and think it helps keep me young and aware of what's going on in the world beyond the broadsheets (I notice my parents, although they have pretty broad horizons, do seem to base a lot of opinion on whatever the Telegraph is saying).

However, we hope to winter abroad when we retire, and on a day like today, that feels like it can't come soon enough!!

seekinglondonlife · 10/01/2022 15:22

Can't wait, even though I have no private pension. Once the dc have finished university and hopefully have decent jobs we will scale back. My forecast is £150 per week which doesn't seem too bad. I do as much travelling now as I can and I doubt I will take up any expensive hobbies when I'm older either. I'd like to help out with any future grandchildren.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 10/01/2022 15:24

I always enjoyed my job and thought I'd be one of those people who carried on even if I won the lottery, but since hitting 40 I feel like I've hit a wall. I'm hoping to retire at 60 and move overseas, somewhere warm, rural and peaceful with nice food.

minmooch · 10/01/2022 15:26

I'm 55 next month and have made a promise to myself that I will retire on my 57th birthday! I can't wait.

Have worked all my life bar two years when kids were little then 3 years looking after my terminally ill son, then my terminally ill mother.
My father is at end stage dementia.

I'm tired of working and the responsibilities I've had. I've seen too much sadness and early death.

I'm fortunate that I'm mortgage free so working now to add to retirement funds.

I have plans to see friends, play golf, cycle more, use our camper van loads. Just have time to myself.

eagerlywaitingfor · 10/01/2022 15:28

Well, for years I'd been looking forward to my retirement date (in a few months time) but then they went and moved the sodding goalposts.

FlipFlops4Me · 10/01/2022 15:35

I am 65 and retire next December. And I am so very much looking forward to it! I am one of the cohort who were told we would be retiring at 63 and then all of a sudden they said "Oops, sorry - it's 66 now".

I get so tired. I wfh as a book keeper and commercial lettings account manager, and also look after my disabled DH. I get stressy which leads to me being bad tempered and it's totally not DH's fault. I want to be able to cook more, take him out for gentle walks and spend time with him. I want to be able - maybe - to have a hobby (I used to have so many).

I want a couple of years of being free just to live with DH and to ignore my computer for days at a time. Not to have to answer the phone. I'm tired.

cptartapp · 10/01/2022 16:02

I've invested nearly all my inheritance so I can retire at 55. I can get most of my NHS pension without penalty at that age plus a lump sum, and w already have had no mortgage for several years so it's very doable. Neither of my parents made it to 70.
Five years to go.

Kite22 · 10/01/2022 16:02

I'm looking forward to retirement.
I've worked for 40 years. All my adult life. I am really looking forward to be able to do things that I want to do, when I want to do them now.
I have had a challenging and rewarding career, but I feel I have done that now - I am ready for new challenges.

I think it helps in that I have always done things outside of work throughout my life. If all you have done is gone to work, and gone home again, then I guess there is something of the unknown about life without work. Whereas I often wish I didn't have to go to work, as there is X or Y I'd rather be doing. I also am friends with lots of retirees, and see how much happier they are as retirees than they were in the last 10 years of so of their working lives.

Livpool · 10/01/2022 16:08

I'm 41 and agree with you OP! One of my colleagues is retiring later this year and I am jealous.