Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

54, had enough of the daily slog so I'm not going to do it anymore....

507 replies

erikbloodaxe · 25/05/2023 07:06

Well I have plan at least.

  1. Sell this house
  2. Buy little house
  3. Give notice at current job.
  4. Find remote PT job
  5. Earn enough to cover outgoings (no mortgage thankfully)
  6. Spend my time doing what makes me happy.

I'm not spending what time I have left bloody working full time. The time between now and retirement will just be wasted years.

Wish me luck! Adventures here I come Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 07:43

My parents and grandparents died early seventies so I doubt I'll be around much after that.

what on earth makes you think this OP?

yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 07:57

SerendipityJane · 25/05/2023 15:37

What a load of nonsense. You think you will be young forever, I guess? Well, newsflash - you won't.

How young do you think I am, by the way ? Older or younger than the OP ?

Well you definitely don’t work and over 50 according to your other thread.

DozyDelia · 26/05/2023 08:09

I guess it depends on what floats your boat!

Travelling doesn't float mine. I find it stressful TBH. I'm happier at home in my garden, investing in that and enjoying the best parts of the UK.

None of my friends have sold up, downsized, or retired early. They manage to do 3-week long trips (long haul) if that's what they want to do while still working.
Their family houses are now full of adult children and grandchildren, who come to visit, and they need the space!

They say there are people who live to work and who work to live.
It's sad to spend most of your life (IMO) doing work that doesn't fulfil you and is just a means to and end. That's a waste of life TBH.

My work was a vocation and I became self employed in my mid 40s. That worked for me, but DH loved his job and worked right through to 65.

LuckySantangelo35 · 26/05/2023 08:34

Pleasantly surprised by the replies on here!

I would have thought you’d have got lots of people shuddering at the very thought as they hate travelling and just like to stay home! Or worse, that OP has to stick around in order to look after any future grandkids if she wants her family to bother with her at all in her old age!

LuckySantangelo35 · 26/05/2023 08:35

Those posters on here who claim to literally love their work - what is it that you do?? Genuinely curious!

yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 09:04

LuckySantangelo35 · 26/05/2023 08:35

Those posters on here who claim to literally love their work - what is it that you do?? Genuinely curious!

Work for an international charity. Logistics

yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 09:05

“Who claim to love their job”

is it really so far fetched to you?

yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 09:05

LuckySantangelo35 · 26/05/2023 08:35

Those posters on here who claim to literally love their work - what is it that you do?? Genuinely curious!

Do you work? If so, take it you don’t enjoy nor never have?

ThePlasticScouser · 26/05/2023 09:14

I used to have a very high end job with loads of stress, travel and long hours. Now I work in retail. The customers are a bit of a nightmare, but the people I work with are fabulous and are some of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever met. I love the people and the benefits but the pay is crap and the company is run badly. I go in and out and don't think about it when I am not there. It allows me to do all the hobbies I want and I can go away for loads of long weekends. I save all my earnings and invest them for when I retire. I want to retire when I am 62, when my state pension is sured up, and will work P/T till then. I work so I am over the NI line, and I get the credits.

Aslanplustwo · 26/05/2023 09:19

yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 07:16

I love my job and only 2 days a week.

i also love my 3 days off but… they aren’t like yours! I exercise, garden, lots of dog walking and yes… meet friends for coffee/ lunch.

But aside from meeting friends for the odd coffee or day out… what do you actually do all day?

Show quote history

I was replying to someone about not having to work in the future,and addressing the stuff they insist I would still have to do if I wasn't working - it certainly wasn't a list of what I do. You ask what I do all day - at the moment I work, usually half days, sometimes full days, five days a week. You have jumped to conclusions without bothering to read the full post.

I said I don't have a dog, which was in answer to the pp - I never said I don't go out walking! One of the reasons I want to give up work is so I can walk more, but even while working I walk every day, and have done for years. I have had periods of not working, and can assure you that I am far busier on those days than when I do work. I have many interests, and many things I plan to do when I'm not working.

chopc · 26/05/2023 10:31

All those who are living the dream- do you have enough savings for your old age eg if you need to pay for your care? Or will the state be picking up that tab?

Original poster
erikbloodaxe · 26/05/2023 10:46

If I need care I'll top myself..... save anyone being troubled..... does that make you feel better now Confused

OP posts:
yepgoingforarun · 26/05/2023 11:14

chopc · 26/05/2023 10:31

All those who are living the dream- do you have enough savings for your old age eg if you need to pay for your care? Or will the state be picking up that tab?

Doesn’t that depend on how long you need care?!

savings for care for a few years yes

for decades… nope.

so, brace yourself. Yep the state!!

Dreamstate · 26/05/2023 11:17

chopc · 26/05/2023 10:31

All those who are living the dream- do you have enough savings for your old age eg if you need to pay for your care? Or will the state be picking up that tab?

Do you have enough money to pay for your care now if you hurt yourself or fall ill? Or you just okay to walk into GP and hospital and have taxpayers cover it?

Do you have enough money to cover costs of educating your children or are you okay with taxpayers covering it?

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 26/05/2023 11:21

@chopc if I need care I have my NHS pension as well as state pension, that is enough to pay for care in my home out of income; also I own the house and 50 % of the value ( other 50% belongs to DH) would pay for years of care and as most people do not go into care, and those that do it is on average for 18months - 2years there is more than enough. you do hear of the occasional person because of something else needing care for 20+ years but this is so unususal that it could not be expected to figure in most people's planning
as I have paid higher rate tax for more than 70% of my working life I have contributed more than average and of course I will still be paying tax on my pension

AlisonDonut · 26/05/2023 11:23

chopc · 26/05/2023 10:31

All those who are living the dream- do you have enough savings for your old age eg if you need to pay for your care? Or will the state be picking up that tab?

Yes thanks so much for your concern.

We have enough for our needs and now live in a country with a decent health service and were higher tax payers in the UK, so enjoy using our taxes in your old age.

CaptainSeven · 26/05/2023 11:29

LuckySantangelo35 · 26/05/2023 08:35

Those posters on here who claim to literally love their work - what is it that you do?? Genuinely curious!

I work for a charity. Small and due to size I know we make a difference every day. I love what I do.

I feel very privileged and lucky.

itsmylife7 · 26/05/2023 11:34
Beach Life GIF by NOSAM

Sounds bloody amazing OP.

SusanMaria · 26/05/2023 11:59

chopc · 26/05/2023 10:31

All those who are living the dream- do you have enough savings for your old age eg if you need to pay for your care? Or will the state be picking up that tab?

Care is very expensive. Unless you're very well off or don't need care for very long, the state will be picking up the tab at some point regardless of what assets you start off with. That's the system. So fuck off with your moralising as if you're better than anyone else. Even if people are very well off, that hasn't come about purely by hard work and can't be achieved purely by hard work. Lots of people work hard and will never be very well off. People who are will have had elements of good fortune, opportunities not available to everyone or inherited wealth. It's not a moral failing to only have a basic pension and be reliant on the state for care.

SerendipityJane · 26/05/2023 12:03

Hands up who read (and remembers ...) "The Lotus Eaters" at school ?

DozyDelia · 26/05/2023 12:29

SusanMaria · 26/05/2023 11:59

Care is very expensive. Unless you're very well off or don't need care for very long, the state will be picking up the tab at some point regardless of what assets you start off with. That's the system. So fuck off with your moralising as if you're better than anyone else. Even if people are very well off, that hasn't come about purely by hard work and can't be achieved purely by hard work. Lots of people work hard and will never be very well off. People who are will have had elements of good fortune, opportunities not available to everyone or inherited wealth. It's not a moral failing to only have a basic pension and be reliant on the state for care.

Show quote history

I'm not sure you understand the finances around this @SusanMaria
I think @chopc makes a point.

Now obviously things can and will change but at the moment, if you need a care home you are responsible for the first £86K which includes your assets ( so house) up to the value of your assets of £100K. This figure doesn't include all care- it doesn't cover food for example and other costs.

Obviously there are people who are not home owners and have no savings over £100K.

If someone has no assets they will be allocated a place in a state-owned care home. These are usually far below the quality of other care homes. So it means they are in a very basic care home and with no choice over which.

What often happens is that home owners can choose a care home 'on credit' (if they have no other assets) and then it's paid for when they die and probate is completed.

I do think that there is a lot of misunderstanding on this and also the amount of money needed to live reasonably comfortably off a pension.

Many younger people now (in their 40s and 50s) may live to 90.
They could have 25 years or more post-retirement at 65 (or on full earnings.) Some of those years may be in care home, but hopefully not many (the time spent in care is usually between 2-4 years.)

There are plenty of figures online as to how you can fund this but even doing some simple maths will show that to live on £20Kpa, (less than £2K a month) for 25 years you would need £500,000 (ignoring inflation.)

Say the state pension is £10K, you would still need to have £250K in a pension pot, or savings.

Thesharkradar · 26/05/2023 12:32

SerendipityJane · 26/05/2023 12:03

Hands up who read (and remembers ...) "The Lotus Eaters" at school ?

I'm not really familiar with it but I had a quick Google, please enlighten us 🙏
(if you've got time ☝🏻👀)

SerendipityJane · 26/05/2023 13:03

Thesharkradar · 26/05/2023 12:32

I'm not really familiar with it but I had a quick Google, please enlighten us 🙏
(if you've got time ☝🏻👀)

Show quote history

Given it's author, I'm surprised it's not more widely celebrated. We did in school too (along with Doris Lessing, and F. Scott Fitzgerald and a fourth author whose name escapes me).

The central plotline is a English guy who fell in love with Malta on holiday. HE ups sticks and moves there having calculated he can live until 60 on his savings. Come 60 he will commit suicide having had a perfect life. Only he bodges it to become the focus for the author who encounters his pitiful condition a few years later. The title comes from a Greek myth.

That's my precis with no notes. Do I get an A this time, Miss C ?

Thesharkradar · 26/05/2023 13:31

My mistake @SerendipityJane I thought you meant theTennyson poem!
Sounds like a good book though ☝🏻 😁

Swipe left for the next trending thread