Warning: this post may cause a little envy… but only a tiny bit 😏

[Flowerofdestiny]

Does anyone in their 50s actually exist who does nothing all day?

I feel a bit silly asking this, but I’ve been wondering…

Does anyone in their 50s exist whose kids are grown, who doesn’t work full-time, and literally has days completely free of obligations?

I’m genuinely curious: is it as boring as it sounds, or actually a little paradise?

I feel a bit nosy for asking, but I’d love honest answers 😅

this is absolutely my dream haha. After my babies, I’m going to climb the career ladder and work towards early retirement

This is my ideal - I have teen DS still at school, but I could happily spend my time dog walking, going to the gym, other hobbies/ crafts, gardening and meeting up with people. Also some lovely charities locally to volunteer at and my DM and DF are livery local - DF has Alzheimer’s so being on hand to help DM would be good.

When someone says I can't think of anything worse than...really? What the death of a loved one, serious illness, loneliness etc. I can certainly think that not being able to work when you want to, would be damaging but as for making no contribution when actually retirees tend to help with unpaid childcare, they volunteer, they contribute but perhaps these are not celebrated or acknowledged as they should. Anyhow if work is your only validation I think that's sad.

Sounds just lovely 😍 I fear i will be working til 75 to pay the mortgage..but would love to not work :)

I'm thinking of retiring - I'm currently 57 - I work 3 days a week in a job I like

DH already retired and DS nearly 18

I always thought I'd retire at 60 but DH is older than me and we would like to travel so I'm thinking about whether to go next autumn ?

I took early retirement at 58, now 65. The working life was never for me and I'd spend 40 years trying to fit into a workplace designed for the neurotypical, not the neurodiverse as I apparently am. Having beaten myself up for not being good enough for all those years, an inheritance gave me the chance to take time away from the pressures of work and figure out what I was best suited to, and it turned out the answer to that was living for pleasure alone.

So that's what I've done for the last 7 years. I've taken up sports, learned musical instruments, languages, got involved in political causes, embraced dozens of hobbies, my social circle is wider than it has even been and I've finally known true, stress-free happiness which really makes up for all those years trying to fit in in a way which I now know was never going to happen.

My friends are intelligent, interesting and diverse, have non-"mainstream" jobs and no-one works standard rat-race hours, or judges me on my work but rather the person I am. At this ripe old age I have found my tribe and I've never been happier. I finally belong.

Re. the OP's financial question, it depends on how you want to spend your days. Hobbies can be expensive, but some can also be really cheap, or free. Inherited money with no other income doesn't last forever, and I've slowly been tightening my belt as money dwindles. But maybe it's the optimist in me, but whenever things looked dire financially, I'd tell myself that something would turn up, and you know what? Something always did.

I'm getting close to state pension age (to the PP who can't imagine life without contributing to the tax system, yes, I have done this, paid full taxes and NI and have earned a full pension) so I know in future there will always be a fixed amount coming in.

I'd recommend that everyone embrace the chance to lead a happy and fulfilling life in a way that works for them, and remember that no-one's big regret in life is not having spent more time at the office.

You cant think of anything worse than not contributing to the tax system? What an odd thing to say!

Very similar here - worked from 21 after graduating until 57 when I retired. I am also very grateful. Live in a lovely rural part of the country. Look after my grandchild, have loads of hobbies, lots of socialising and gardening.

This thread has been a real eye opener. I don't know why I have so much guilt about the idea of giving up completely. There's also the risk. I think I can afford it, but it's quite hard to run the numbers when you don't feel able to talk to anyone about it. So there's uncertainty there for me as well.

I think perhaps it's the current economic and political climate but if you have any sort of inheritance, people are angry about that as well. One man said to me that some people lose their parents and don't get any money after all that horrible upset. I know. But it makes me quite concerned that people are so jealous now One issue with living in a small town, people know your business. And I hate that they can look up house prices! But I'm old enough to remember when people couldn't just look up the price of your property.

I possibly need to work on my confidence, but I've been thinking about it today and generally, I think it's hard to say to people if you're not working. But I would also find it really hard to lie. At the moment I just tell people I'll go back next year.

I’m 57. ‘Retired’ following ghastly complications from a gallbladder op. Live in the countryside, no mortgage and no debt whatsoever. It can be boring in the winter. But my home is the tidiest it’s ever been. My husband still works full time in a full on job.

@WhitePudding sorry to hear of your troubles. 💐

I noticed a few posters have commented that they're in the countryside and in turn know others who are not working in 50s. That's interesting. A couple of the friends I would be really concerned about their opinion, are looking at never being able to retire - whilst also spending money on things I would never dream of spending on. That's not a criticism. It's just part of the things that make people unable to see another point of view.

Then you get into the next problem .. I do feel very boring. Not because I'm not working but because I only seem to know people who always want to go out, to see shows, to go for dinners etc. wearing expensive clothes. I do feel a bit too young for things like local craft circles.

I did used to have a lot of stuff attached to my working life. The only time I came closer to having FOMO was last week when a colleague went to the Springsteen film premiere. But I know the reality is I don't want to get dressed up and scmooze. I'm a real homebody and I'm happy with it.

Don't be daft.
You could do something voluntary work.

I dont do paid work, I'm comfortable and dont need too. No rent or mortgage.
I love my life. Never bored.

I forgot to add I volunteer in the EBay department for a local cancer charity one full day a week.

Tibby - At last someone with some common sense who understands how to play the retirement tax system. I was beginning to worry about the Mumsnet population

I am mystified by this

It depends what your salary is, but you have to pay tax on your pension after a certain point, which is very low

Don't you?

I am not that age yet, so I suppose it doesn't matter

You don't pay tax on voluntary work! I also can think of very few voluntary jobs that carry any true degree of strategy or a requirement for a brain. The exception are NED/Trustees but you need to have a decent career to step into those roles.

I’ve been retired since I was 55 . I do whatever I want , which is mainly painting. I do pay tax on passive income.

I’m 54. DH has just retired from a long service job. Kids are at uni. We are leaving to live by the sea and live an outdoor life. I love my garden and DH has an outdoors hobby he loves.

DH has been on the frontline for over 30 years and he nearly died a few times in war and policing so I think he’s contributed his fair share (to the poster who said they couldn’t face not contributing to society).

Nothing to be mystified by surely?
You pay tax on anything from a pension over £12,570
You can take 25% of your pension pot tax free to a maximum of £268k. So imagine taking your full tax free cash between 55 and 67 (state pension age). That’s 12 years, or £22k a year tax free.
If you have money in ISA you can withdraw this also tax free to top up the £12,570 and £22K.
Read up on FIRE - Financially Independent Retire Early.
Get an IFA if you struggle to understand this

@MaryOBlige
"I retired at 42. I don’t do much tbh. Lots of cooking, growing veg, dog walking, gym and travelling. I’m heading to Malaga next week where it’s still lovely and warm. We don’t have tons of money so live very frugally. I absolutely love it"

That sounds amazing! If you don’t mind sharing, could you give a few tips on how you managed to do something like that?
I’m well past 42 and still working, so it’s inspiring that you were able to retire young.
How do you make the travelling and living abroad without having lots of money?
What’s the secret?! 🙏

My mil but honestly I don’t know if it’s been good for her. She does very little and what she does do has reduced over time. Her health isnt the best. I think it can worl but you need to have structure and things to live for.

Really? If youve worked most of your life
you dont think you could retire in your 50s if you could afford to? Would you genuinely want to work until you die?

These threads always fascinate me. The whole ‘contributing to society’ so would working for a cigarette company until youre in youre dropping dead be better then retiring early and volunteering at a cancer charity because it’s ’contributing to society’? Makes no sense. Also do you really live to serve others? It makes no sense.

Average life expectancy is 83 - so that's a good 30 years of not working. Not that many less years than spent working for most 50 year olds. Given how quickly the world is changing i think you'd become quite out of touch - the 70 year olds I know that stopped working at 50 are a lot older seeming and slower going than those still working or recently stopped.