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Original poster

If you could afford to retire comfortably at 55, would you?

201 replies

QuickGuide · 05/05/2023 18:55

There's nothing wrong with my job, I quite like it. I certainly don't feel the dread on Sunday nights.

I sometimes feel it would be nice to have more time but I don't really have any burning desires to spend it on.

I'm widowed, which I think is relevant on 2 counts. 1. I am aware how short life can be. 2. I don't have anyone to do things with. All the travel/ gardening etc that people usually cite can be done alone, but it's not the same as having someone to share it with. E.g I used to.love the garden but there doesn't seem a lot of point when it's just me in it, it was something we did together.

My friends would mostly still be working.

So, I could retire, I'm not desperate to give up my job, but I feel like there should be more to life than work.

OP posts:
CampervanKween · 05/05/2023 18:57

No. My friends are all currently talking about doing this and it gives me the fear. All they seem to do is play golf and go to coffee shops. I need the mental stimulation I get from my job. I'd be bored.

LadyOfACertainAge · 05/05/2023 18:58

I would either give up paid work and volunteer/join groups to meet people or reduce my hours at work. Don’t retire without a plan as I think you’ll get lonely

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/05/2023 19:00

I'm 48 and I'd retire now if I could!

Theraffarian · 05/05/2023 19:00

Could you consider reducing your hours and going part time , freeing days up for whatever takes your fancy rather than weeks on end ?

SquareRootOfAllEvil · 05/05/2023 19:01

I don’t think I’d retire as in not do anything. I’d significantly reduce my hours or do some kind of unpaid work, though.

Sunshineesther · 05/05/2023 19:01

It depends
I am also alone.
I'm massively cutting my hours from 6 days a week to 2 and I've just turned 56.
I am aware that I need to fill those days though or I may binge watch TV/ clean/ overeat...the devil makes work for idle hands is an old saying.
So I am planning on visiting places I have always wanted to go to, build up my tolerance for cycling, read the many books I've bought etc
I have brought up 3 children singlehandedly and I really have no idea what I enjoy doing - but recently I have known of friends and colleagues who have had serious health issues to deal with in their 50's and 60's.
So I have decided to take time out to explore and enjoy life.
I hope you find a happy balance

DisforDarkChocolate · 05/05/2023 19:01

No. I do only work part-time though and find most of my work very meaningful.

Whatt · 05/05/2023 19:01

Hell yeah!

Whisper23 · 05/05/2023 19:03

Yep, I'll retire as soon as I can comfortably afford it. Probably won't be at 55 but I'm aiming for 60 at the latest. No doubt someone will be along shortly to tell me its my civic duty to continue working/paying tax until I'm 75 but sod that for a game of soldiers.

FrownedUpon · 05/05/2023 19:03

Yes definitely. There’s so much more to life than work. I have lots of interests & hobbies that I want to devote time to, so I know I wouldn’t be bored. I can’t wait to retire!

Blanketenvy · 05/05/2023 19:03

Yes.
Am super stressed that I won't ever be able to retire. Am now in my early 40s with multiple health conditions and hanging onto p/t employment by the skin of my teeth.
God knows how I will do it for another 25+ years.
There are so many ways I'd like to spend my energy other than work.

Hoppinggreen · 05/05/2023 19:04

Hopefully I will.
I will do volunteer work though, there are a couple of things I do now that I could do more of if I had the time

BlueDinoRawr · 05/05/2023 19:04

I’m 32 and would gladly retire now! Work just gets in the way of things I’d rather be doing!

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 05/05/2023 19:04

I am a widow and retired at 54, 6 months after my DH died.

We had been planning and saving for early retirement together and once on my own, there was no financial imperative to keep working. I kept working for the 6 months as I thought the structure would be useful, but I was worn out with grief and decided I needed to build a new single life for myself.

Five years on, I can’t imagine going back to work. I did, however have a couple of friends who worked part time that I would see once a week, but I have used my retirement to get involved in my local community and make new friends, I realised that this was important to build up as work would need to be replaced and I needed to adjust to being alone, potentially permanently.

How about going part time and using the days off to build a new lifestyle?

tiredhadenough · 05/05/2023 19:04

Yes! If I thought I could fill my days. I'm already involved in loads of groups and could give more time to them.

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 05/05/2023 19:04

No. I would not know what to do with myself and would end up as either a total hermit or an alcoholic.

KevinDeBrioche · 05/05/2023 19:05

No I don’t think so. I could theoretically give up work now - I’m 43 - and although sometimes I’m tempted, I do fear it would be overall be a Bad Thing.

HaggisFace · 05/05/2023 19:05

Travel is absolutely something not to give up on. I've solo travelled and always loved it. In your shoes I'd retire and travel the world.

brawhen · 05/05/2023 19:05

I don't think I'd retire at that age unless I had something I wanted to do with my time instead (travel, volunteer, have 3 dogs, whatever).

BUT - do you think you would develop more friendships & interests if you did new things outside of work (I mean in retirement) which would outweigh the loss of friendships/stimulation at work? If not, sounds like you would enjoy keeping working for a while yet.

Hedging your bets by going part time sounds a potential good idea.

Lunaballoon · 05/05/2023 19:05

No, the thought of retiring actually scares me.

MightyEagle · 05/05/2023 19:06

I think about this often (I'm 42 just now). I think financially I should be able to drop to 3 days a week by the time I'm 55. I love my job (teacher) but i see some colleagues really start to struggle in their late fifties. By cutting back sooner, I really hope I'd be able to keep going on 3 days until 65.

WomanBitingATowel · 05/05/2023 19:06

No, I love my work and would do it unpaid.

Swishhh · 05/05/2023 19:06

My DH and I retired last year at 52 and 55, honestly it’s amazing. It’s an incredible feeling that we have a great life and will never have to work again.
I think you definitely need a plan of what you’d like to do and also keep a clear distinction between the week and weekend.
We travel a lot and have been going on 10 holidays a year and then enjoy our normal routine at home.
OP in your circumstances I’d think about part time work before you actually retire and see if you enjoy the extra free time. Also perhaps try some travelling on your own, in a group or with a friend and see if any of these options work for you.
I have joined a lovely spa and made a new friend through aqua aerobics. I always seem to make good friends when I join new gyms so maybe think about things to join.

CapaciousHag · 05/05/2023 19:08

Hmm … I took a postgraduate degree and started a new career in my fifties, so retiring immediately would have been an odd move.Grin Louise Bourgeois is my work role model, so I’m taking my time and hoping to build up successes well into my nineties.

(But I can certainly see why someone might grab the opportunity to leave a job they hated as soon as possible.)

cptartapp · 05/05/2023 19:08

Absolutely, and have invested an inheritance to do just that. Well on track.
I lost both my parents before 70 which has made me look at life very differently, and 37 years in the NHS will have been more than enough for me.
Three years to go. Then we start travelling.

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