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Original poster

Would you keep working after 45 if you didn't need to?

112 replies

elsamayy · 07/10/2025 08:46

Disclaimer: This is not me yet, I am just thinking ahead and evaluating options.

My ambition is to accumulate and invest enough money within the next 10 years to put me in a position of financial independence. I am mid-30s now, so that will take me to mid-40s. I am also planning to have a child in the next couple of years. So by that point, I might have a primary school-aged DC.

At the moment, I work full-time in a regular corporate job with decent flexibility and good perks, nothing awful, but it’s still a lot. I’m someone who experiences financial anxiety, so feeling financially secure is really fundamental for me. My partner earns a good wage as well, but I prefer not to rely on anyone else but me for my financial stability. The agreement with my partner is that he will go part-time for a few years if a DC arrives.

I love the idea of scaling back or stepping away from work to spend more time at home and just enjoy life and family a bit more, but I am conscious that 45 is very young to stop working, and it might be a silly plan.

So, I’m wondering: if you reached a point where you could afford not to work through financial independence, would you actually stop? Or would you keep working for structure, social contact, or “just in case”?

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s thought about or done something similar.

OP posts:

Crushed23 · 08/10/2025 18:45

It’s a great idea, OP, best of luck with it. Your best bet for achieving financial freedom though is to not have a child as they are very expensive, but obviously that’s a personal decision.

RegularHere · 08/10/2025 18:59

I stopped in my mid-forties becuase I could and was bored.

My first-preference would have been to have found a profession that motivated me enough to become a true vocation. If you have time to transition to that then I’d recommend you do that.

But I enjoy what I do now, mainly charity and board roles and a side project I’m getting off the ground. I feel a bit under-utilised, but better utilising myself for things I care about than feeling stretched but for something with no value to me.

Mollydoggerson · 08/10/2025 19:32

If you want to retire early, pump money into a pension while you can. Consider having a secondary source of passive income, consider potential healthcare needs into the future. You will need the safety net of assets.

I m 46, in 2 years my children will be in university, hopefully moving towards self sufficiency. I m very seriously thinking about retiring at 50, or taking some time off, going into consultancy.

JazzyBBBG · 08/10/2025 19:55

I am 46.

I would absolutely give up if I could.

Tired of the bullshit and exhausted from peri. There's more to life than work.

JazzyBBBG · 08/10/2025 19:57

However if you want a kid beware - they drain your finances beyond belief. Whatever you think it will cost - triple it.

UniversityofWarwick · 08/10/2025 20:14

My mum stopped working full-time at 47 due to being widowed and having a young child. She did some very part-time work for a few years but I don’t remember her working at all after I went to senior school so age 53.

It was not a good move. The lack of adult interaction did her no favours. It would have been better for me to be a latchkey kid and her to work.

If in were you I’d keep part-time hours doing something.

TMMC1 · 08/10/2025 20:17

Have child, take a sabbatical at the end of maternity. See what you think then.
if DH earns well you could be a stay at home mum but surely you want some purpose of your own, your own identity, and as you say financial independence

Original poster

elsamayy · 09/10/2025 11:01

UniversityofWarwick · 08/10/2025 20:14

It was not a good move. The lack of adult interaction did her no favours. It would have been better for me to be a latchkey kid and her to work.

If in were you I’d keep part-time hours doing something.

I see your point about losing touch with the world if not working at all. I guess the move might be to shift to self-employment or part-time work that gives more flexibility

OP posts:

Original poster

elsamayy · 09/10/2025 11:01

JazzyBBBG · 08/10/2025 19:57

However if you want a kid beware - they drain your finances beyond belief. Whatever you think it will cost - triple it.

Oh dear😅

OP posts:

Original poster

elsamayy · 09/10/2025 11:02

Mollydoggerson · 08/10/2025 19:32

I m 46, in 2 years my children will be in university, hopefully moving towards self sufficiency. I m very seriously thinking about retiring at 50, or taking some time off, going into consultancy.

I am saving quite a bit into a pension fund monthly, as well as investing in stocks and bonds. I am hoping that financial discipline will pay off down the line if I keep at it

OP posts:

Rosesanddaffs · 09/10/2025 11:03

I’m 47, mortgage free but still work 3 days a week as it helps with other expenses and keeps me sane.

One day I might just think I’ve had enough but for now I’m happy just plodding on xx

Keepoffmyartichokes · 09/10/2025 11:07

What would you do every day? I would have to have something to do, be it volunteering or travelling etc. I know with my parents and my in laws their biggest decline happened as soon as they retired and I think it's a lack of focus, interaction with the outside world has aged them. I would retire early but would need something to occupy my time definitely. But I enjoy my job so might have a skewed perspective.

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