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 😅

@DysonLover1 "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)."

I thought the second bit conflicted with the first bit. But I'll get it sorted before claiming pension time. I haven't got anything like that much in my pension though

@Newsenmum I don't understand it either but I think that poster has also said that volunteering doesn't require brains. It certainly did when I did it! In fact, having done my share of volunteering, I'm not sure I would do any more because it's just unpaid work

what next, we should all keep moving house so we pay stamp duty into the taxation pot as well?

I'm happy to help elderly neighbours and so on but I don't think I would do official volunteering again.

Slightly different age but my mum is early 70s but hasn’t worked at all for 10 years and for the ten years before that she into days a week.

always says she’s busy but don’t see how or what doing.

her house is tidy but certainly not clean like you would expect.

she’s always been very disorganised with her time and struggled a lot with even working two days a week but she’s just the same now that she doesn’t work at all.

if ever I pop over she’s always always sat down watching tv

she doesnt do any village group stuff or have any sort of routines going out for a walk to get a coffee or anything.

she has an electric bike but she’s been on it once.

she’s been saying she will be painting the garden fence for 8 years and never has and it’s now gone to wrack and ruin

my sister is exactly the same.

Im Mid forties and currently work in my own business too bloody many hours a week to count but am planning on doing less days but compressing hours so I can wind down and start having some me time with no constant clock watching or dashing around constantly.

I definitely wouldn’t be bored and no I wouldn’t be worried about no longer paying into the tax system. Like many I’ve been paying into it all my working life and a lot more since having a business

I was a parish councillor and chaired the local neighbourhood plan group (all voluntarily) for four years and it definitely required a brain and a great deal of strategy.

58 single Mum, own house and no mortgage. Not working currently but might do some p/t work in the future. I don't feel guilty at all. I had one afternoon off after exams at 16 then started f/t work til DS born when I was 41. Then worked p/t til 7 yrs ago.
I don't get bored, far from it. I study to gain qualifications and keep my brain active, go to the gym, walk my dog, potter in the house and garden. True, I don't have a lot of money so am not a 'lady that lunches' or always on holiday. It's not the life I saw for myself but circumstances and ill health left me with no choices.

I can't think of any voluntary jobs that don't require a brain. Can you give some examples?

I'm a trustee of a local charity. Our volunteers who do the actual work definitely need brains.

@HoskinsChoice you seem very disparaging of volunteers. Our society depends on volunteers, or are you saying you would only deign to be a volunteer if you need a first class degree and have been a CEO of a major company to take on the role. What about volunteers who help in schools (readers, PTA, governors), people who help in food banks, toddler groups, citizens advice, meals on wheels etc for the elderly, scouting groups and similar, people who help with charities for the disabled, elderly, homeless. Are all these options beneath you, do you not think people involved in these roles contribute to society?

They seem to think that everyone is below them, to be honest.

Why is it not?

Sounds fantastic to me! If you have the financial means, then why not. Doing what you want when you want is the way to go I reckon. I could definitely fill my time. I’d just do more of what I do at the moment that pleases me. Staying active would be a non negotiable though. I’m sure I would find it very easy not to leave the house for days at a time if I wasn’t strict with myself.

Kier Starmer? Get off mumsnet!!

I had to go back to work as doing nothing all day was pretty bad for my mental health. Coffees and lunches and the gym are fine but eventually it all feels very much empty… working FT now but thinking about dropping to 4 days a week now im established.

This reminds me of one of those ‘nudge ‘ threads- exhort the behaviour you require from the population. It’s not very subtle, in this instance 😄

If you’re not claiming benefits and you live in a household where someone is earning enough money to support you (ie will be paying a fair bit of tax), or you’ve accumulated enough (previously taxed income) to live on I don’t think that’s shameful at all.

whether it’s ’good For you’ not to work is another matter, I think for some it’s a disaster.

I’m mid-50s but I’m not ready for that yet. I do work part-time and have quite a bit of spare time (am changing jobs soon to less fast paced one when I can work at my own speed).

I was actually worried as I’ll have less social contact in my new job but I’ll probably find a volunteering role as well and join the local gym (5 mins walk) to get out the house. As I get older I do enjoy pottering round the house - I need to sort out drawers, sell stuff on vinted etc.

I can agree with lots of that which is why I mention my mil but there are also many things you can do with yout life apart from work for money.

@HoskinsChoice so how much do you work and how much tax do you pay? Are you contributing enough? Do you agree with retirement?

In my 40s and not carried out any paid work since my late 20s (stopped when I had kids).

Kids school age now but I fill my time when they are at school doing domestic duties, the gym/exercise, voluntary work and seeing friends.

Love the flexibility this life allows me and how I can attend every school event etc plus make life as easy for my husband as possible.

I know a few people sho retired early 50s. I don't envy them TBH. Their lives seem quite dull

Ooh yes your life early 60s sounds more like what I’m hoping for. I’m not sure ‘pottering’ and playing with cats would be for me, but time for lots of exercise, long (slightly boozy) lunches or dinners with friends, lots of travel and time spent with family is exactly what I dream of!

I think that's more something for those who choose a life on benefits to feel guilty for rather than people who want their life totally back after years of working.

I retired in my late 50s, though I do a bit of consulting work when it comes my way. I spend my time reading, studying languages, going to the theatre, and travelling, so yes, pretty ideal. But…. I also pay taxes on my pensions, which I paid into in 30 years of work, and on my state pension, having contributed through my taxes to other people’s pensions all my working life. I also volunteer in my community. So much happens locally, food banks, cultural societies, U3a, and so much more, that relies on the contribution of volunteers. One local society that I know of recently did their sums. If they had to pay someone to do what the volunteers do, it would cost over £50,000 a year. So being in paid work is not the only way to contribute, not even financially.

My husband is 60 and has retired and I am 51 and privileged enough to be able to go with him! We have an 8yr old daughter so we are incredibly lucky to be able to take her to school and pick her up. My days are filled with dog walks, pottering, reading and doing whatever the hell I want after 35 years of working in charities and for the NHS!

My auntie has been a volunteer since she retired around covid time, she was busy helping run vaccine clinics for a while, she volunteered with lung health awareness schemes, she volunteered with brain injured people and now she near enough full time volunteers at a crown court as witness support - a job I can't believe the don't pay people to do. So yes volunteers do need a brain!

My partner wants to retire at 62, I'll be 57 at that point. I'm 45 now and my plan is to beef up my savings and take the route of being a freelance h&s trainer in the next few years and slowly start winding back. I have depuytrens in my hands and potentially carpal tunnel in my wrists so full time computer work may not be something I can keep doing for too many more years.

The plan for my partner at retirement is to do more long term travelling - I see a lot of retirees where I live and they don't really go anywhere or do anything and I couldn't sit at home all the time especially through British winter!

I am 51 and I do not want to potter or garden or walk the dog (don't have one) or do any more domestic work than the reluctant minimum I currently do. Due to unwise matrimonial and career choices, I'll be working well into my sixties. I'm fine with that, and have my eye on a different role that isn't well paid but appears more enjoyable than my current one. Im hoping to do more travel when dc leaves home, but it will be cheap backpacking and I'm fine with that.

I've been lucky with health so far and I acknowledge that my feelings might change if (well, when) that changes.

I truly admire people who provide care to others.