Do you look forward to retirement?

[JustJam4Tea]

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.

I'm 55 ... cannot wait !! .. need to do some serious sums and see if I can retire at 60

No

One I love my job and secondly I am someone who needs routine but I’m not at all self motivated

My dad retired at 75 and aged so much within a few months. He now has a part time volunteer job which is more about the social aspect (he is 80) and is much much happier with having a routine (and he is far more disciplined than I am he would still be up early, go to the gym a few times a week) it’s good to see him more himself again

I'm early 50's and work part time. No intention of ever going back to full time. It works for me right now. Not sure when I will retire completely.

I know I won't have a problem filling my days though. I have a lot of inexpensive hobbies. I am also able to save for some travel (once it gets easier!). I am doing the majority of my travelling before retirement though, certainly all the "big" trips. I know too many people who, even if they made it to 70+, ended up with various health issues that made travelling long distances unappealing. For every "fit and healthy" 75 yr old, there are plenty who are not! And I do have some health problems now which I don't expect will really get any better.

So I will spend my days "pottering" around and doing my hobbies. I have pets, to me that is preferable to a man getting under my feet all the time!

I travelled a lot in my 20s so my pension won't let me travel in my old age

I was one of those who said I'd carry on working, even if I won the lottery, after retirement age, etc.
I loved the best part of my job, social work, when our small team was really helping children and young people build confidence, have fun and contribute.
However, being attached to a large bureaucratic organisation includes all the corporate stuff, which got less and less palatable.
Plus, ageing with a health condition means I had less energy to spend on things I didn't want to do, and almost none left for me.

So I retired at the end of this summer and I’m still getting used to that wonderful feeling every morning that I don't have to run around to appointments and agendas.
My income is reduced, but I didn't realise how much my outgoings would also reduce. I still work, sessionally as a Registrar of Marriages and can choose when and how often. I am looking into volunteering locally.
I get to read, (and read and read and read…), see my family, and friends, do my hobbies, walk the dogs and work on my bit of land.
I can have days out and zip up to my cottage in Scotland more often, taking friends up with me. (We may end up having to sell it, but I’ll enjoy it for as long as I can.)
Some plans around travelling and big venue events are on hold due to Covid, but I don't feel too frustrated, I’ll wait and see how it all pans out.
Retirement is pretty good so far. I think the key to a good retirement is having some variety in life and looking for contentment in small things.

Wow in awe of those of you retiring in 50s and/or with extra homes as income.

That is soooo far from my reality.

I never really think about retirement but I've only worked 3 days/week since I was 39 which makes a huge difference. Having had the last 10 years to spend lots of time on my hobby has been wonderful because I won't be able to enjoy it as much as I get older.

@minmooch

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.

I remember your posts about your son. I hope you have a retirement that is bubbling over with fun, you've earned it. x

Those of you that have retired quite young, how much money do you have in your pension pot and how much do you plan to live on?

Not ready to retire at all! I've just gone back to working FT at 50 after having had my children late. DS is still at primary so no plans to retire before state pension age and I might drag it out a bit longer with PT work at a lower grade, I do interesting and worthwhile work - I'm a scientist. I was at University for most of my 20s so only got a permanent job in my 30s then had 3 maternity leaves in my late 30s/early 40s and worked PT for a decade so feel like now I'm ready to concentrate on work again for a bit. I had lots of time in my 20s and 30s to do the things people talk about doing in their retirement (travel, theatre, walking, friends) then after a bit of a hiatus when the DC were small we had started travelling again with the DC before Covid struck.

I will say that for me personally, the retirement age going up changed things. I'm 52 now and if I was going to retire at 60 I would have stuck out full time work for another 8 years. But I'm not sticking it out for another 15 so then I thought I might as well go part time now. I know we've known about it for years now but I can't help still feeling a bit cheated! My mum did her last day of work at age 21 and retired at 60 with a full state pension! (Plus she claims other benefits on top). I suppose I'm just jealous really!

Yes. Every time my alarm goes off at 6:30am on a weekday I yearn to be retired.

My DH and I retired at 55 and 52. We have nearly 1.5 million in various pension pots plus the state pension if it’s still around. It’s early days but really is fantastic. We’ve joined an amazing spa and enjoy going there. We’ve booked 6 holidays for this year. We both have Cineworld and National Trust memberships and enjoy weekly trips to both.
In my family my relatives don’t seem to live to a very old age and my DM developed Alzheimer’s in her almost mid 60’s so as soon as out youngest DC finished uni we retired.

Not retire but be self employed and my own boss. I'm 53 this year and planning to give up my job and move to be with my long distance long term partner once my DD goes to University. I've got a side hustle that I cannot wait to put more time in to that will give me a reasonable income until I can draw my old age pension (no private pension) unfortunately couldn't afford one as a single parent.

These last 6 months in my job are going to drag so much.

100% cannot wait!! Only another 35 yrs to go!!

I couldn't wait to retire, reduced my hours in the NHS (38) years, then worked in a local shop a few hours a week to keep me busy. Then in 2017 became ill, so stopped working in the NHS, but kept the 4 hours a day in the shop. 2019 I had to give up work completely as very ill, I'm now 60, don't work as can barely walk some days. It's horrible...retired completely and bored silly.

Yes. Both DH and I are giving up in June. With both pensions and savings we are looking at about a £250,000 initial pot, and are prepared to take equity release on our house should it ever be needed. DH is 9 years older than me, and that she had didn't seem so much when we got married but it does now he is nearly 70. He's said that he's like us to have some time together so that's what we're doing. We're looking forward to not being tied to early morning commutes and late evenings home.

NDNs are retired, they are early 60s I think. Today I am enviously watching Mr NDN do some outside DIY, and Mrs NDN is in the conservatory reading the paper. I am at my desk swearing furiously at non-working Excel formulas. No fair!

Can’t wait- I’m 34 and already counting down!

@KonTikki

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.

Hi @KonTikki - can I ask what sort of seasonal work you do? Thanks.

I’m 56 and aim to be very part time by 60, dh on the other hand will never retire, we have our own business and he loves it so will carry on.
I have lots of hobbies and will also do some voluntary work, and we have a grandchild, so I will always be busy. I cannot wait!!

oh heavens no! Im dreading it. TBH not sure Ill ever actually be able to afford to retire! But I know it would really drive me mad. Even 2 days at home at a weekend is a challenge tbh
Then again, I do love my job. It can be stresful but is very rewarding and took years and years of training and persistence to get to where I am now.

I've mixed feelings. I've got a biggish age gap with my partner (I'm older) so if retired at 60, I could potentially have 15 years before he could retire - I'll be getting on a bit then.

I'm aiming to consider my options for p/t at 60 - think that will give me good balance and maintain my income a little longer. Some on here clearly have enormous pensions though so a much easier decision.

For those who are considering living abroad for over 6 months, where are you thinking of going and how would you go about that?

Nope. Can’t afford to retire. Imagine I’ll be shuffling off to Dignitas when I am no longer physically able to work.

Can’t wait and I’m only 38