45 years relentless work

[FireflyJar]

I've worked for the last 45 years all through 3 children - never stopping once. Woke up today and just thought, I've had enough. I have 1 year of small mortgage left, I hate my job and want to leave and never work again. AIBU to resign and live off my savings of £15k for a few years till my mortgage kicks in?
Can I survive on this wage? I jußt can't do another 5 years - I'm burnt out.
How much do I even need to live on? Am I mad to even think it?

Why don't you find a different job?

start job hunting and find something different. You need an income! You wont be entitled to any help if you have resigned

£15K won’t go far even without a mortgage!

I know exactly how you feel. I worked 47 years and am exhausted. I have recently downsized and am mortgage free. Also now going part time, with a view to stopping completely in the next 12-18 months.

God no I wouldn't ask for help!!
I just want to recharge. How would a break in work look on a CV?

I know someone who resigned their long career and spent the last few years doing a job for satisfaction only. Is this an option for you? It will give you some income and maybe the change you need. Five years seems like a good window for that kind of move.

Did you mean until your pension kicks in?

Do you mean 'til your pension kicks in? (You wrote mortgage.) Anyway, I'm 52 and feel exactly like this. Trouble is, I've been trying to change jobs and I'm absolutely convinced my age is a huge factor in getting nowhere fast. I don't think having a break would be good as it's hard to get back again afterwards, but can you reduce hours, start planning a sideways move, less responsibility, or something?

Can you look at a lower stress job or working part time until your pension kicks in?

You are entitled to help, just not immediately.
But the OP is not asking for help, they are suggesting they will live off their savings.

Work out how much money you need to live off. Downsize, take a lodger, look for a hopefully- easier job with fewer hours.
how long before you get state pension?

How many years till you get your pension and how much does it cost to run your house? We worked out the exact costs to run our home recently to decide what year we can both be retired by. Are any of your children still at home?

If you have a spare room you could consider a lodger but that obviously has a lot of pitfalls.

I would look for something else, plus if you’re still FT go for a PT Job.

15k for “a few years”! With a mortgage! You’ll be lucky if that lasts a year, and what if the boiler breaks, or the roof needs repairing?

Is it 15k a year from your savings or 15k in total to last you how many years?

Do you drive? Many people go into being a driving instructor as it’s rewarding but still a bit stressful but you can work 2 or 10 hours a day and the rates are £35 to £50 for 1 hour gross which can be £20 to £25 an hour net after all your costs. The training is not easy and costs around 2k (use a small local firm) but you are your own boss and you can organize your diary.

I know quite a few people who have resigned from big jobs and spent the last few years of working doing something more fun - for example working in a seasonal job at a stately home, working in a shop linked to a hobby of theirs, selling things at markets.

There is a middle ground between full time work and earning nothing.

YANBU to feel burnt out, we work for a long time and it is a bit boring!

I would hand notice in at work and start looking for something different and go part time.

Yes I do

Can you switch to a job with very little pressure/responsibilities?

My MIL went from being a medical secretary to working in butterfly habitat for the last two years of her career before retiring. She was burnt out because she’d worked through covid in a GP surgery.

She spent her days welcoming people, selling tickets, giving out maps and generally just chatting to visitors from all over. She loved every minute and still volunteers there a few times a month.

£20 to £35 an hour net I meant

Depending on the money/time of course you can, although what you’ve posted is a bit confusing.

Do you have any hobbies you could make some spare money out of - eg I’m a very keen gardener and in a break I did gardening for old people via a local older person’s charity. Not a “salary” but nice to have some additional cash in my pocket for something I enjoyed doing.

Sorry for typos
15k savings
6 years to pension
Work in big city all through COVID
No kids at home
0 years till burn out

AIBU to resign and live off my savings of £15k for a few years

How many years do you think you can stretch 15k???

Can you go part time in a low stress job instead?

We both left work at 55, so 12 years until state pensions but we have joint private pensions of around 1000 a month and considerable savings.still 6 years to state pension, but we have had 6 years of freedom!

Sleeping without a care in the world, grandkids whenever we can, hobbies, fannying about, dogs!

I suggest reading the book " How to be free" by Tom Hodgkinson.

15k won't last long but there are a ton of low paid crap jobs out there if it doesn't.

Don't imagine all low paid crap jobs are stress free.

Hi @FireflyJar Can you take a pension early? I'm same age and about to start taking mine. It's not a lot but my ability /desire to work again are nil. Especially after burn out and illness.
You can live on less than you think. Have a look at your outgoings and see what you can sell. I trickle money in through ebay, gumtree etc.
And maybe a part time low stress job would suit you
Good luck, there's things I miss about work but not much. It takes some adjustment but the feeling of freedom is priceless