If you could retire mid50s and change “career”…?

[Nugg]

I’m in the fortunate position that I could take my Work pension and retire this summer on my birthday and do something different. I want to work part-time. My health is only going to worsen because I have an autoimmune disorder that is suddenly ramping up.

I would love to do just something I enjoy and then make the most of life and travel and spend time with my children and extended family

I’m single, which has put me off retiring, but I just feel like I could do something else

I have enough savings to be able to pay myself a wage and not work if I needed to, but I would rather work and earn money and top up with my pension

I know it’s how long is a piece of string because everybody likes different things but what sort of thing would you do if you just wanted to work 2 to 3 days a week or even less than that?

I’m just looking for some different ideas!

Yes - I have varied my roles between public facing and behind the scenes, as I like to do helpful work but then I get drained and cynical quite quickly - I don’t want to be that person so run away from direct contact for a while.
I have worked in a variety of places - charity, fire service, adult tutor and volunteered at the Samaritans - as well as public services which I know doesn’t bring out the best in folk - but the capacity of people to be rude, aggressive or really oddly and even sick makingly offensive when you’re mainly trying to help is staggeringly widespread sadly and getting worse as well.

My father did this after he took early retirement in his 50s (for health reasons). It was great for him - 2/3 days per week, not physically demanding or stressful compared to his career job - although he did say some of the judges could be difficult to deal with! I don't think it was great pay, but it suited him well.

It depends if you have transferable skills or have the energy to retrain.

I've known several people (friends and acquaintances) who have trained as counsellors in their 50s. They studied with 'proper' training and became BACP registered. It's a lot of training, but one carried on working right to her late 70s.

You can be your own boss and manage your time.

Other options include a foster parent, child minder, (if you like kids) live-in house sitter (for when people go away)....

Thank you!! I'm manifesting my dodgy dance moves and dusting off my rara skirt as we speak! 💗😁 X

Following with interest as I want to do something very part time next year while I wait for my husband to retire. Was thinking maybe exam invigilator.

I gave up a lucrative but boring professional job at 55 and retrained and became self-employed. There were some anxious moments when work was slow to build, and I took a zero-hours customer service job to fill the gaps. My ‘bottom line’ (excuse the pun) was that I could always get work as a care assistant, not something I particularly wanted to do but I knew there’d be work available.

if you can afford it, go for it - you only live once. When you stop working full time you suddenly find opportunities that weren’t available before. You can pick and choose, you don’t have to feel tied to a job because you need the career progression. I was only able to do this because I’d paid off my mortgage and had savings. I’m now looking to retire, but the last ten years have been the most enjoyable and rewarding of my life.

There are loads of unpaid volunteer positions

However, paid jobs are more difficult to apply for.
Even "small" jobs now want 10 online pages of why you have applied for the job, CV, personal statement, some want videos.
Example
I spent lots of time applying online for a temporary Xmas job.
I attended the interview
I stated I was available all hours, including nights.
The job was given to someone whose relative worked there (relative was there at the interview)
What a waste of my time !
It seems it is who you know, not what you know

I've had a couple of other interviews too

I do already work a PT zero hours job, but I am looking for more hours

I got a job as a part-time administrator with a small charity. It was advertised in our local paper but I believe there's a website (sorry don't know the name) that lists such positions and also people who want to fill them.

I was 57 when I retired.

BTW
Driving jobs, need special insurance which costs more

Are you me? 🤣 I’ve owned pubs tho. Hard. Work! I do like being a bar tender, however!

I just want to thank you all so much you’ve given me so so much to think about I work for an ambulance service so one of the options I could do is just a few shifts as a call handler following training which could give me a lot more freedom

Initially, I might look into this because I love working where I work I just want more freedom. I can easily pay off my mortgage and still have enough savings and pension to not have to worry I do realise how lucky I am

Loads of brilliant ideas! especially @BillieWiper🤣🤣🤣

I don't have suggestions for jobs, but do consider seasonal or doing one off jobs. It can be good to work more in winter when getting outdoors is less appealing. Things like pet or house sitting can allow you to travel without having to do too much.

Secret shopper. Not much pay as by the task but interesting.

Magistrate. No pay but again interesting (according to my friend). There is a national recruitment programme at the moment to tackle the courts backlog.

I'm 58 and giving up my job in 3 weeks time... and I'm going to be a dog walker and cat sitter. My job wasn't well paid anyway and I'm burned out...and happiest in a field with dogs. We are going to continue to top up my pension (need to sort that) but can survive for a while without my wages.
I'm giving myself 6-12m to try and build a client base (all insured, dbs, canine first aid etc) and already have a couple of sitting jobs booked.

If it really doesn't work out I'll find SOMETHING a few days a week, I'm just never going back to working in schools!

I second companion / carer, lovely to use your time to help others and with your nhs background you will bring a wealth of experience