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Original poster

What do you want in Retirement?

207 replies

Retirementvisions · 27/01/2023 11:10

I have just been reading the thread on pension pots. Some people are saving big sums for their retirements. It has left me wondering what are your visions for retirement?
Do you plan on cruising the world full time?! Etc

My pension plan is a modest private pension to top up state pension. I will downsize the family home to a small manageable home and release the equity.

I want to live in a nice area within a vibrant community to dip in and out off. I want peace and nature. I'd like the NHS /care system to be running well. I'd like good healthy food at home and to eat out occasionally. I'd like to be able to go on walks and explore the UK. I will probably read more and do a few low key/cost hobbies. I don't foresee loads of world travel at that stage of life. I'd like enough money in the pot to pay for a decent care home should it come to it.

To those who are saving what are you saving for? 🤔 I'm a bit worried I'm missing something... or being totally boring and unimaginative!

OP posts:
Toddlingturtle · 27/01/2023 18:20

I’m not planning on retiring particularly early. I hope to work until my mid 60’s and then if I have health to do exactly what my parents have done. Lots of travel, they’re still doing the most incredible trips into their 70’s. Theatre, walking, seeing friends and volunteering,

I may or may not downsize, hve no mortgage as it is. Will inherit too and have plenty of savings so expect to be ok financially

WinterFoxes · 27/01/2023 18:28

I want fitness and adventure and to be around to help with granmdchildren if there are any. I aim to do as much of my strenuous, active long haul travelling as soon as I can (any long hikes and trails) before the bones start crumbling. Then get a dog and potter around UK, grow a veg garden, play with grandchildren, bake. Be a cliche of a granny.

So retirement funds need to cover a bit of adventure travel followed by a decade or so of gentle quiet living. I have zero desire to live beyond 80, if that old. Zero desire to waste DC's inheritance living in pain and confusion in a care home.

Suzi888 · 27/01/2023 18:30

Cars, holidays, house maintenance (if the roof should blow away).
Dogs. All the dogs all have! 😬

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General money Retirement & pensions
Mary46 · 27/01/2023 18:33

Some travel be nice. Like others my dad had a stroke. Sad how it went. Agree good health is everything. It be nice not clock watching (when at work) your time not as rushed

beguilingeyes · 27/01/2023 18:35

Definitely a dog, or two. I'm older than DH so while I'm semi-retired now at 61, he's got at least four years to go. I'm waiting for him to catch me up.

winelove · 27/01/2023 18:38

Health
Friends, I try hard to keep my female friendships up

I want to spend a month in the Caribbean on retirement, swimming in the sea everyday, eating locally etc.
For my next big birthday I want to do an expedition
A fair bit of traveling

Interesting where to live - at the moment I am rurally but go to London, Birmingham, Cambridge and other cities when I want to.
I will probably down size and would like a lovely cottage garden and grow flowers - need to up my gardening skill.
A bit of voluntary work

I lack hobbies, so that is something I need to think about.

My husband is a fair bit older than me, so enjoy him and being together as much as possible.

I am not sure I feel ready to retire yet. Maybe a couple of years time. WFH has been a godsend.

DilemmaDelilah · 27/01/2023 18:40

I want to have enough saved to top up my pension so that we can continue with our current standard of living. There won't be enough to do any more than that... And I will have both an NHS and a state pension - and we are comfortable but not at all well off!

snowsilver · 27/01/2023 18:44

Health is key. You can do all the right things, be as fit as a flea but something gets you. I retired at 58. Developed rheumatoid arthritis, then breast cancer, then a heart problem. None of these are compatible with the lifestyle I imagined.

So if you want to travel and do exciting things do not wait.

ArcticSkewer · 27/01/2023 18:44

a quiet life, dogs, a new-ish car, no stress over paying bills, enough to buy presents if I have grandkids

SeasonsBleatings · 27/01/2023 18:49

I tend to imagine retirement alone. I'm happily married but there's a history in my closest family of women ending up alone so that's largely my experience. I'm building up a good pension and I want to retire no later than 60 and buy outright a lovely two to three bed home with a garden, space for my family to visit, and spare money for hobbies. Also three holidays abroad a year as that's where much of my family are. Weekend trips to the coast and countryside. Enough for good food and to keep my home in a good state of repair and warm.

Curlyreine · 27/01/2023 18:51

Another one for a quiet life here. We live abroad so will probably have to return to the uk. But I would like to be available for grandchildren (wherever they end up).

I would like to live near the coast, with a small dog for company.

PetitPorpoise · 27/01/2023 18:52

I'd like to semi-retire by moving to a less pressured role, possibly part time by the time I'm 60 at the absolute latest, ideally early 50s. If I can get something that is low stress and I am well enough then I'd be happy to work past retirement age.

I'd like to have my mortgage paid off.

One foreign holiday each year.

Just enough really to not have to worry too much about getting what we want in the weekly shop or buying a winter coat.

winterpastasalad · 27/01/2023 18:55

I'm a ft carer for disabled ds and one thing life has shown me is that no one is promised tomorrow. I do as much as I can now. We travel very cheaply when we can (I've always taken the dc out of school), spend quality time with good friends, take nice walks and generally try to see the beauty in the small stuff.
I've been on benefits for years so no private pension and I privately rent. I'd love to get into a flat in Central London in my retirement, with shops and a GP within walking distance. I'd also love to help out with any gdc. I'm in my 40s and already knackered so I doubt I will take up any new hobbies or travel much in my late 60s.
My biggest worry is what is going to happen to ds when I'm gone.

HereComesMaleficent · 27/01/2023 18:55

I want a modest retirement. No extravagant holidays, I want to retire at 55 watch TV, maybe go to the odd hobby/social club possibly some volunteering.

I want to just sit in my house like a hermit most days though with my cat and watch the world go by.

As long as I can eat, heat my home, run a little car and relax. I'll be happy.

cravingtoblerone · 27/01/2023 18:58

I want to live in comfort and dignity for as long as possible.

That means:

Mortgage free obvs.

And enough income to meet my outgoings and to have a few modest hobbies or social activities, an annual holiday abroad etc.

A decent welfare state to support my health and care needs as I get older.

The option of going to Dignitas when I'm dying and obviously past the point of recovery.

To be able to run a car for as long as I'm safe to drive.

But I don't aspire to be stinking rich in retirement. I'd rather use the funds to ensure my needs are met in middle-age. None of us are guaranteed another year...

roselune · 27/01/2023 19:06

I will likely work well into my 70s but I'm in a line of work where that is not unusual and there are ways to make a reasonable salary working part time hours. I don't mind because work is an important part of my life and I've retrained to do something that suits me.

I suppose the only problem would be if my health declined in such a way that I needed a lot of care and would have to fund it.

I have never had a workplace pension over the absolutely minimum level of employer contributions so don't have a pension pot as such but do have some other assets.

RaininSummer · 27/01/2023 19:06

Well I figure I won't need a huge sum as retiring at 67 I am unlikely to be gallivanting after about 10 to 15 years and that's if I'm still alive at all.

magicthree · 27/01/2023 19:18

I just want a healthy retirement! I rent, work part-time, and rely a little on savings, at the moment and while no doubt the sensible option would be to work full-time until I am 65 (national superannuation age here) I am far happier having free time to myself and plan to leave work as soon as I can. For most of my working life I have been bored rigid, but when I was unemployed for a while I was happy and busy.

I live a simple life, and am very happy with my life. My parents have left me some money and if I have to use all that up in my life time just to get by so be it, but I do have a small pension fund as well.

bluetongue · 27/01/2023 19:26

I’m doing as much travelling now, before I’m retired. I’d hate to be like my mum with bad knees and limited mobility, wishing I’d lived it up while I had the chance.

Also don’t believe in saving every penny for an extra nice care home. Once again would rather spend it while I’m (relatively) young and active.

I’ll have a paid off house when I retire. Would fancy moving somewhere a bit more rural for some peace and quiet and get myself more whippets. Work commitments are limiting me to one whippet at the moment.

bluetongue · 27/01/2023 19:27

Forgot to add I don’t have children so won’t be worrying about leaving an inheritance.

lmnabc · 27/01/2023 19:28

I don't want anything special, just enough to pay the bills without having to go out to work.

ImBlueDab · 27/01/2023 19:33

I plan to retire with about the same disposable income as we've got now. We plan to travel, buy a caravan and take short breaks in the uk and Europe and travel further afield once a year. We have a lovely home, I love gardening and we've dogs which we love to walk wIth.

mamabear715 · 27/01/2023 19:41

I am retired.. agree with PP's who mention limitations of physical health, but also your mindset seems to change, too.
A lot of the things I thought I would love to do, I find I can't be bothered - which isn't a bad thing! I am very content. :-)

Blueisthecolour1 · 27/01/2023 19:42

To live to see my Grandchildren. That would complete the circle. I’m 40 now & not in the best of health but I want to live long enough to see their faces

Pandor · 27/01/2023 19:43

Business class travel, fine dining, helping out the kids, a well stocked drinks cabinet, theatre, exhibitions…