Stick it out for 20mths til retirement or ***k It and leave now and live on my savings

[booboo57]

I have just had enough of my relatively well paid but stressful job.
Last couple of years have been so difficult with Covid, wfh etc but now we are back in the office pt it is no better. Don't get me wrong, my job is no where near as hellish as some who post on here but i have just had enough.

Can't motivate myself to get my arse in gear, things are slipping, I'm forgetting to do things. Feels more than the usual up and downs as i've had this feeling since June.
One of the reasons for taking this job on was the extra money i could save for my retirement, i manage to save nearly £1k most months (I know, I'm really lucky). Some of this has been spent on home improvments and v expensive holiday in a Cornish spa hotel this summer (so worth it but did nothing to improve my attitude to work).
DH rekons I'm mad to pass up the opportunity to save more money for the sake of a few months. Looked at going part-time or changing roles but the thought of starting again in a new role is so depressing.
My current plan is to give my 3 months notice next month. Have six months off over the summer and if i really hate it look at a temping or such in Sept. next year.

What do you think? I feel I'm being a bit chicken giving up and not "leaning in" but on the other hand I deserve some time to myself.

I'd leave if you're in a position to do so!

Could you stick it out for a shorter period such as 10 months rather than 20?

If you can afford it - then do it.

You are in a lucky enough position to hand your notice in, so do it. The last 18 months have taught us many things, and one of those lessons it is about how important mental health is. Once that's gone it's hard to get back.

Have a break, get out of the toxic work environment. Get yourself back and when you feel ready fo some temp work like you suggested.

Good luck!

Is your husband happy to support you during that time? Is he happy in his job?

Won't it affect your pension as well as your savings?

@vivainsomnia

Is your husband happy to support you during that time? Is he happy in his job?

She already said she can live on her savings. We don’t all need husbands to support us you know 🤣

I think the most important thing is to check your pension status very carefully before making any decision.

I took semi retirement early due to illness.
I regret the 12 months I struggled and wish I'd gone early.
Money is important but you never get the time back, I begrudge the time I lost.

If you can afford to live, and your pension is healthy enough, do it.

But it is a very different feeling when your bank balance and savings just go down every month.

I wouldn’t be spending money on Spa hotels.

20 months I could stick out for anything tbh. I think if you are that close to retirement you are unlikely to find another job and it sounds like this one is financially great for you.
Make yourself a calendar and tick weeks off, then celebrate milestones in 5 month blocks. In two of those it will be less than a year to go, and with holiday booked in at intervals it will go so quickly

@vivainsomnia

Is your husband happy to support you during that time? Is he happy in his job?

Considering she's paid for home improvements, extravagant holidays and will be living off her savings, I don't think he gets a say...

If you can afford it, Chuck it in now.

I’ve known too many people who passed away too soon... life is too short

You only have one life. Don’t waste it being unhappy.

It’s totally up to you and sounds like you can afford to do what you like!

Personally in your position, if I were banking £1k a month this close to retirement, I’d stick it out as long as I could (but maybe you feel that point has already been reached).

I also wouldn’t worry about your lack of motivation - what are they going to do, sack you? If they do it doesn’t matter!

I'd stick it out. Save all you can while you can.

@girlmom21 of course he does as I assume their finances are interlinked.

I’d be sticking it out if I were you. 20 months isn’t that long, and it could make a world of difference financially which in turn, will improve all the years afterwards.

For me it's not that you're not gaining 20 but that if you're using the same amount in savings you'll be 40k worse off.

I think I would stick it out for 40k+. Do you have the option to buy additional annual leave. Or it it's becoming too stressful and you're forgetting things you could talk to your gp and see if you could be signed off for a month or so just to give your mind a rest?

I'm in almost the same situation as you, booboo. I enjoyed my job pre Covid but since then it has been more difficult, and i'm not able to work so effectively running my team. I have 11 months to go to retirement now and i will probably stick it out, though I would rather be leaving in the spring next year than at the end of August. I began to feel far more positive once I reached the 12 month stage. I know that every part of my yearly routine of appraisals, policy reviews, quality assurance etc. is being done for the last time. I have a spreadsheet and tick off the days. I want to leave the department in good order for my successor and I have some enthusiasm for this even though the main part of my job remains depressing.
I lhave expensive habits too. We will have a decent income in retirement but I don't want to dip into my savings or lump sum now, to cover the gap until I get my state pension and draw my private one.
I'm trying to make work easier. I've allowed myself a few concessions that I felt were a bit selfish before.I bring my dog into the office some mornings, take Mondays or Fridays off for lieu days when I used to take a quiet mid week day for that. I delegate more.
I intend to stick it out if I can.

Personally I'd try and stick it out if possible.

To be honest, for the sake of the extra £40K+, I'd stick it out. You may well find that it gets easier as you get back into the routine, and I suspect you would regret that £40K if you leave now.

What are your plans for activities during retirement? Will you have less or more costs then - save on commuting vs need to heat house all day?

Thanks everyone.

Some of you have really summed it up for me in that I'm worried at life passing my by whilst I'm working. Both my parents died at 69 so part of me wants to grab life while I can.
I want to have time to spend on my health, exercise, eat healthy, that type of thing. I really enjoyed getting my house in order whilst in the early days of lockdown, it's chaos again now. It will be nice to have time to catch up with friends and family. Plan a European Caravan holiday if we can travel. None of this sounds very exciting but I am smiling just thinking about it. Surely mental health trumps money.
Will check out the impact on pension though. But I've only been here 4 yrs so not much I guess.
Thanks again. I glad none of you think I'm being a coward.

I'd stick it out, or at least look at going part time or something rather than quitting altogether. This is your last chance to amass significant savings, the least you can do is not erode what you've built up.