Does anyone else feel guilty about retiring early?

[RetireEarly]

I have retired at 59. Hubby is 58 and is still at work (intends to work until age 70). DH was happy for me to retire as he knew I wasn't enjoying my job. DH enjoys his job, so happy to carry on working.
I can't help feeling guilty while DH is still working like a trojan and I am floating about doing lunches and hobbies. I also feel guilty about letting down my former team, who were very short staffed.

I have started two days a week in a volunteer role, which does feel like working in one way.

Can anyone else relate to this sense of guilt for retiring early or is it just me?

I retired at 50, but do a pin money job and will die early so I'm having my retirement while I can.

Ah yes of course I forgot the old paying off mortgage. Possible at such different ages depending on where in the country you live. I've got my London-centric hat on, silly me.

I retired at 57 and OH (55) still works 2-days a week but will quit in a year or so.
Don't feel guilty at all. 😁

Our retirement is completely financed by ourselves as no SP will be forthcoming for another decade or so.
If we hadn't made provision in our pensions/investments then we would not be in this position so apart from having the guts to ask my senior manager if they would offer me a package to leave (which they did!😲👍), it is all down to us making sensible financial decisions for our entire working lives.

I am sure that as soon as I left work my old team forgot I had ever been there.

Yes, I do, slightly, because I'm fit and able and could do a job or a voluntary role though I might struggle to do the job I retired from. But then I remember that in my 40 years of work I put in about 60 f.t.e years. Having been prone to workaholism for most of my adult life, I also feel slightly ashamed at how much I enjoy not working.

DH is a few years younger than me, but we decided that he'd retire 18 months after I did in the hope that we can have a few years of healthy retirement together before old age limits or changes our activities.

Don’t feel guilty. It is what it is. But do be mindful that many people will not have this option. Especially the younger generations.

Retired at 57, one year after my husband retired at 62.

Don't feel guilty for one minute.

We looked hard at all the hours of unpaid overtime that we both did as we were very conscientious and we both suddenly realised that if we left , the employers will still go on , using other people.

We have fun now.

Oh god no, I wouldn't feel guilty

If you can afford it, live the good life!

No well done! It might take time to get used to it but enjoy your life and congratulations

I am mid 50s and retired 2 years ago. I really struggle with it and haven’t made the adjustment well. I now work on temp contracts, supposedly part time but often full time. I don’t have many friends and struggle to fill my time if I don’t work. Lots of other stuff as well. The positives are that I do now have more flexibility and none of the stress or responsibilities that I had previously.

Bah....I wouldn't have felt guilty if I'd retired at 18. Still on the treadmill at 62. I've eaten 2 cream buns tonight because I'm sick of it all.

Feel no guilt, OP, but be glad you had the option.

Honestly don't feel guilty, but do realise I am very lucky to have had the option to go at 55
I had my DC at 21 and 22, I was left on my own with a mortgage and small children and really struggled for close to 20 years, I chose to go permanent nights to boost my pension (old final salary one) and I spent the last 5 years before retirement putting every spare penny I had into savings
My needs are modest so I manage. My savings have to last until my state pension kicks in in 10 years.
I lost quite a few friends in their mid-fifties and some who stayed working until the mid-'60s and got hit by a life-changing illness. My dad died mid-fifties, so I was determined I would retire as soon and as young as I could and enjoy my time.

Employer? - they can find someone else, who actually needs the money

Husband: does he feel stressed? Is your income enough for your needs? Would it matter if he lost his job? And do you do the bulk of the household tasks while he's working?

H was made redundant at the age of 50, hasn't worked since, and is now, 6 years later, looking at taking his pension early. It's great for me because he does all the cooking cleaning and laundry I'm likely to go another 12 years, but fair enough I had the time off during the boys' childhood.

Retirement age is just a social construct . It’s such an arbitrary figure based on economics. I will retire at 55 in 9 months time because
a) I can afford to. I wont be living the high life but Ill be comfortable
b) I want the freedom to do things I want to do
c) DH is 10 years older than me and retired so I want us to enjoy this stage of our life together
d) Tomorrow is never guaranteed and finally
e) I cannot stand listening to anyone “think outside the box going forward” for one minute longer!!!

Thanks all for your thoughts. Much appreciated.
In my previous job, I encountered many people of my age who had severe disabilities, plus people with limited life expectancies. I do get a sense of trying to enjoy life while I still can.

No, not in the slightest.

I've worked part time from 13-21, full time from 22- 60, while raising ds on my own. I've worked through cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo & radiotherapy and I've got 43 years NI paid.

I intend to retire at 62 without a moment's guilt. 🙂 Only 20 months to go 💃🍾

I don't feel guilty! I have a much better pension than he does. He will probably go PT next year at 65...I've been semi retired for 6 years.

I'm going at 55. I've no mortgage. Adult children.
I've saved and planned for it and can't wait

I also wouldn’t consider 59 early. Don’t waste the early years of your retirement feeling guilty, life is for living, enjoy it whilst you can.

Not for a single moment. I worked my socks off as a teacher in a state school, going above and beyond and (so I’ve been told) made a real difference to young people’s lives. My own children sometimes missed out when I was spending weekends marking, rather than with them.

I’ve earned my retirement and enjoy every moment. I do volunteer for a charity and as a school governor but don’t want to work again. I look after my aged parent and my gorgeous grandchildren. My DH did insist we both retired at the same time so we didn’t have that inequality and I think he was right about that.

I sometimes think work places brainwash us into thinking the only useful life is a working life and that’s a huge capitalist con to keep us going.

I retired at 56, no guilt here at all. I volunteer, help with GC when needed and have a few hobbies. I started working on Saturdays aged 14, then full time work as soon as I turned 16. I was a SAHM for 14 years before going back to ft work until I took voluntary redundancy at age 56.

I feel like I’ve earned my retirement and fully intend to enjoy it. DH retired last summer aged 60, he worked ft from aged 17 so he’s also earned retirement. We’re both in an extremely fortunate position.

I’m planning to retire at 53. Don’t feel guilty at all, why would I?

Same here . Except in my case people think it's down to luck . It's not it's the same planning and prudence you have done in order to be where you are today

Are you kidding?! No way OP, if you can do it financially then do. I expect your husband's quality of life will benefit hugely from you being at home and organising life "stuff"..you've worked long enough and no one knows what around the corner so embrace it !

I must live in a different universe. No one I knows can afford to retire until they are at least 65. We will have a mortgage until we are at least 57 and have no savings.
If I could afford it I would be well chuffed, though I love my jobs and would probably keep one or two of them on.