Anyone else on a countdown to retirement?

[littleblackcat27]

I'm planning on retiring from NHS role in May 2024 - I'll be 60 (gawd help me 😀) and don't want to revalidate/carry on in NHS etc.

I've saved a fair amount to take me through until state pension age at 67 - but also have received a small pension from NHS since I was 55.

I will get a 'little' job for extras - but will have enough to pay bills etc.

Anyone else doing this next year?

Only just saw this, @littleblackcat27 , I think because you posted it in Chat rather than in the Retirement board. Good luck with your plans ! What sort of "little job" are you thinking of doing ?

Yes but I’ve got 30 odd years til current retirement age. Sad times.

Yes, me. I'm planning on giving in notice end of Dec for last day to be end of March. I think I only have to give 2 months but given the red tape at my work thought id give them 3! I'll be 63 next March and have worked as adult care social worker for around 35 years. I've already gone down to 18.5 hours, that was supposed to get me used to the idea/develop other interests/ budget on less £ ! I don't know if I want another job at this stage, maybe some vol work. I've got a pre reirement course tomorrow to remind me what to do, I did one a while ago but all I can really remember from that was 'retire in spring, its psychologically better for you'. I'm excited about retiring but also a bit nervous.

I have 4 years to go, so happy for anyone who's getting out earlier than that! I'll be dog walking to top up my pension.

I'm on countdown and have another three years to go! I have special class status so can get the majority of my pension and lump sum penalty free at 55. Also NHS. Cannot wait.

I have four years to go until pension, but am thinking of saving to retire at 65, simply because I'm knackered a lot of the time now (and I only work 3 shifts) and the thought of keeping going until I'm 67 is just horrible.
Luckily I have another job that I do from home that I can keep doing and that will hopefully float me until pension kicks in, and beyond.

Found myself yesterday looking at the calendar and trying to work out whether I could just make it one more year of working, but I don't think I could afford that, but I might be able to cut one more shift.

There's a whole life out there that I want to be able to partake in while I've still got my health and a reasonable level of mobility.

@BookWorm45 - hiya - only just seen your post!

Thinking of a job in a shop (2 or 3 days a week) or cafe type thing. That is assuming I'll get a job !

Hoping it will prove less stressful than people going unconcious and me being responsible for them

I've worked full time in a shop before, and the worst I can say about it is that sometimes it's a bit boring. You do get rude customers too - but I can ignore that without too much difficulty.

@NecklessMumster Congrats for you on being able to retire - I bet that was a tough but satisfying career. You deserve a rest.

@cptartapp Are you going to work a few days a week after 55?

@HippeePrincess 😂 suck it up Sister!!

I did it last year - decided in Summer 22, retired in June 23, although I am older than you. DH and I were pretty burned out by 2022; I did the numbers and worked out we could afford to both retire/semi-retire a year earlier than we thought. I warned work in Autumn 22 so they could advance plan, which was appreciated.

I had a huge calendar/chuff chart on the wall and crossed off the weeks as they went.

And now I am retired and it's fabulous. Doing a bit of freelance and am getting paid to do some parts of my hobbies (eg gardening) which has stretched the savings something lovely.

Life at home is much more comfortable - things organised, food on the table, can plan together time round DHs work commitments, can visit other friends etc etc

Can Recommend 😁

@olderbutwiser sounds fab!

I have 11 working days left before retirement including today

I'm 58 and started working part time around 15 years ago - have been doing 12 hours a week for the last year but as of Xmas i am done completely and cannot wait.

I think i started planning for retirement during my first coffee break on my first day of working 35 years ago .

I retired early but had to due to my health and no regrets, I do have decent pension provision though and have only taken one of my pensions and have left the other untouched. But the big decision is the cash cow that is DH because he is still working. We have crunched the numbers over the last few months and though he has a really decent pension it’s still a big cut in income. However it’s really all about an unquantifiable equation that can never be solved, how long are we going to live for? He can do some consulting that would bring in a few thousand and I know we are in a better position than most but you get used to that level of income.

I have joined U3a which I really enjoy. The only thing that was annoying is because I retired at 50 all my friends were still working. One did retire early last year which was great but she has just relocated as her DH was made redundant and got a massive pay off.

I 'retired' from my NHS job when I was 60 so that I could get my pension, and went back to the same job at 4 days a week the statutory 1 month later. I'm counting down the days (3 years 7 months) until I get my state pension and can retire properly - can't afford to do it before then.

God yes, I can't wait, but its still nearly 10 years away 😢

I'm officially done August 31 next year and so excited and a bit terrified. Only the drop in income scares me, I'm the primary wage earner. We have saved and invested and should be fine but it's still the risk of for hire long?

DH retired from his own business two years ago, and is busier than ever - I don't want that for me! I want a rest after 40 odd years working flat out.

We have it all in hand to sell our house in February and downsize so hopefully will get some extra cash out of that.

Freedom calls!

Yes, I finally made a countdown calendar for it that has an old vw bus image on it with a surfboard.

76 days!

I tried it a few times but kept getting drawn back in with interesting projects.

I'm working on a PhD so that should keep me busy for awhile and getting ready to start a YouTube channel for fun.

I already moved countries earlier this year and not really enjoying it so will probably move again early next year

If you want a little side hussle after retirement look into invigilation at a local school. I'm on the invigilation team (not retired - self employed), and there are a lot of retired people on the team. You can make quite a bit over the exam season, and it isn't just once a year . You're needed for year Mocks as well. It's pretty constant throughout the year with short breaks.

DH and I are in our early 50’s. We started the wind down of our working lives last year and aim to be fully retired by next summer!

I retired 4 years ago on voluntary early severance aged 58. It’s bloody wonderful.

I was 66 in April. Still working although going to 4 days a week from January. I'll probably fully retire when I'm 70. My choice.

I enjoy my job and the salary is very good. Will miss it