I don't want to work anymore!

[ettieb]

I'm 55 and have been working since I was 16 apart from a couple of years off when my son was little. I'm so over working. I don't hate my job.. I've worked there a long time... with lovely people.. my boss is great and I can choose whether I work from home or go into the office or a bit of both.. so I know I'm very lucky but I just want freedom to do what I want when I want. It doesn't help that a lot of my friends are retired and do lovely things which I want to join in with. I can't believe I've got to do this for another 12 years... there are no options for me financially to go part time. We are on holiday at the moment in Devon.. nothing fancy.. just a caravan and cooking for ourselves mostly as we can't really afford to eat out... but I'm as happy as Larry... just knitting.. doing crosswords.. generally bimbling around doing my own thing. I just think I wanted to moan!

I'm 54 this year and yes would love to retire! On paper my job is great. I wfh, lots of flexibility, time to myself as my work is based on output rather than hours put in. But I would love to never have to look at the work laptop again.

I'm resisting reducing my hours just yet as I feel I'll need it more later on and should earn the max while I can but I am tired of it. My loose plan is to go to about 3 days a week at 60. But I think once I hit 67, that's it. I don't care about how frugal I might have to be. My freedom will mean more to me.

I’m early 50s and would love more flexibility. I think that would keep me going. Retirement can give you that.

I feel the same OP (I’m 52). I had 5 months off last Summer after taking a severance payment from work. I got a new job straight away and they held the start date for me so I didn’t have to stress about getting another job. It was bloody bliss! I could easily fill my time and felt so much less stressed and anxious.

I'm 59 and feel exactly the same. I'm bored and tired of working. I'm far from being ready to be put out to graze, I just want the time to do all the things I wanted to do for years. I also started work at 16 and have only ever had maternity leave. We no longer have a mortgage and I dream of selling up and travelling and spending the kids inheritance. I wish I were brave enough to do it.

Cab you buy back more free weeks without affecting or substantially affecting your pension?

Thanks so much for all your replies and suggestions. Unfortunately I still have a mortgage and a grown up son with autism who can't work so still have commitments. My house is already on the market as I can't afford the mortgage really so looking to downsize. I haven't been sat in my chair knitting and doing crosswords all the time! we've been really blessed with the weather so I've been in the sea twice a day every day and explored local towns. I have loads of hobbies... gardening.. cooking... swimming... reading... plus friends that are retired to spend time with. I think if I could work part time that would help as it's the feeling of freedom I get on holidays and at the weekend I love.

This will be me next summer hopefully- 57 and retired. I have a research project that will never be completed while I’m working. I will leave my post as an academic to do some academic work. No more admin and marking.

Instead, much more exercise, reading and other hobbies.

This. Retired at 58 4 years back and pretty much the first thing old friends say is " you look younger". Job was stressful and unsupported by senior management.

I’m very lucky as was able to retire at 57 - pension not massive but enough. I’m now, 6 months later, doing some agency work because I can’t mentally accept not working!!! My husband tells me to just jack it in and that I’ve worked more than enough. I don’t hate the work but I’m also happy just pottering around at home and going to the gym/out on my fab new e-bike. And now it’s getting cold and dark in the mornings …..I just wish I could give myself permission to fully retire!!

interested if anyone else has felt the same?

Lots of people here retiring early! I’m 51 and in the work till you drop at 67 situation.

Has everyone worked in very high paying jobs to be able to do this? We have ‘professional’ jobs and have lived and saved carefully (London) but our pensions are pretty poor even with a 67 yo retirement age.

Tbh I don’t know anyone (financial services/legal) who is retiring in their 50s.

Obviously people who say they don’t spend much still need to pay rent/mortgages/bills/for children etc don’t they? Or do people have investments /other income? Am intrigued!

Mortgage might be paid off; children might be independent or the retiree might be childfree.

My mortgage is paid off, bills are low and children are independent young adults.

Oh snap @OnAFrolicOfMyOwn

I can totally understand you don't want to work. I don't want to work full time either and I've only been doing it 10 years.

But the reality for any one my age is we will have to work probably until we are mid 70s or maybe longer than that: In 20 years time; retiring before 60 will be a luxury for very few people unless they inherit a ton of money. Many people are having to take mortgages out on lengthy terms until they are 68 now.

Working for 35 years and then enjoying a retirement of over 30 years just will not be possible for young people today, so mid 50s seems very young to complain about having to work. Can you afford to go part time or switch careers to go part time if the current employer doesn't allow it?

I intend to go very part time when I am 60 which is still a long way off.

I don't know any people, rich or otherwise, who do 'nothing' even if not working. The rich people I know who retired from the workplace young still do a mix of things - sometimes consultancy work, sometimes full on volunteering for not-for-profit organisations. In fact I worked for paid employment for a charity and all the top decision making roles were rich people who were now using their skills in unpaid volunteer roles.

But how did you afford this? Most people who just not be able to.

Might you be able to compress your work week to full time over 4 days? That could feel like part time?

Totally sympathise. I like my job too but what I hate is having work he the centre of life and everything else has to fit around it. I'd like to dip in and out of work as I please, and also just take the whole day at the park if the weather is nice.

This, exactly the same for me.

I am feeling the same, just totally bored with it all. Would love to be able to just do my own thing. I am 54, worked Fulltime since I was 16. (apart from 5 years when the children were young).
The earliest I can afford to go and maybe not fully is 60. I am very intrigued how others can afford to go early. Some advice would be great from those that have gone early as I feel I must be doing something wrong or think I need more money than I do to retire.
we don’t have an extravagant lifestyle, not been abroad since before covid. Partner and I will have 30 years NHS pension at 60, we finished the mortgage last year and I have a small private pension which I am cashing in next year. Despite all this going at 60 May still not be financially possible

Why didn't you plan? Presumably you could have opted for saving more pension and less holidays throughout your working life? Not sure what else to say.

I’ve got a local government pension which is generous. I earn 70k so decent but not mega bucks. The pension makes up for that though

Yes maybe OP should have given up Netflix and avocado toast too

She retired on ill health grounds, so presumably got her pension early because she was too ill to work.