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 😅

I work 2 days a, week. It's due to ill health, I can't physically do anymore although previously I worked ft (same job) for 16 years. I enjoy my job and although I am exhausted after the 2 days I'm glad I can do it. My other days I read, write, do my jigsaws and other crafts, rest, shop, walk, clean, see mum/friends and potter. I absolutely love my days off and am never bored. One day a week, I do a course at my local adult ed centre which I love. So far, I've done Creative Writing and Calligraphy and currently doing Book Club. I love learning and doing something for me. I really enjoy them. I'm 52.

It's all very well claiming that you are going to South Africa for three months and a multi location trip because you have imagination, but you seem to be misusing the word imagination in place of the word money (unless it's just a daydream and you're not actually paying for long haul flights and three months worth of accommodation and travel costs whilst still paying the bills for your home).

I said up thread (though of course nobody is expected to remember who said what aside from thevpne who wrote each post - I don't either) that the only way retiring very early is appealing is if you are independently wealthy.

People who don't have the means to do more travel than they did whilst working either do unpaid work which provides the same fulfilment as paid work, or they potter, which is essentially stretching out things they previously did anyway to fill more hours.

I certainly see the appeal of working less and having a good mix, but for the vast majority of people not working in their 50s leads to less money for the rest of their life (even once actually pension age, due to 15 or so fewer years of pension contributions) which is what limits their life options rather than less imagination.

😂😂😂 what are you on about?

@Gasbox Lovely post. Doesn't sound ridiculous at all. I had a similar experience myself and consequently don't ever want to fully retire. Definitely look at re-trainng. All the best.

@Flowerofdestiny , maybe your thread title should have been “Warning: this post may cause a lot of judgement, vitriol and heated discussions on tax and pension” 😂

Some facts from this article: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/understanding-retirement-uk

• For men aged 55, 81% are in paid work, falling to 44% by age 65. For women, employment rates fall from 74% to 34% over the same ages.
• People with average levels of wealth in their late 50s and early 60s have the highest employment rates (76%) compared with the poorest fifth (46% employment rate) or the richest fifth (65%).
• 83% of people with mortgages are still in employment aged 55–65, compared to 57% of people who own outright and 52% of renters.
• Only 40% of those with a disability [aged 55–65] are employed (73% for those without a disability).
• Before state pension age, those in paid work rely on their earnings (83% of income for workers aged 60–65), and those retired rely on their private pension (58% of income for retired people aged 60–65) and, to a lesser extent, a spouse’s earnings.

I have to disagree that work brings fulfillment to everyone. For some people it's a way to make money, pay off the mortgage and then work less or retire, to then do what really brings them fulfillment.
I certainly don't have energy left for the things I want to do on my work days, hate getting up to an alarm, and don't enjoy being in a state of 'at work'
I found a career I like so that I could cope with working.
I have met people I like and people I don't, but I have seperate friends and family I do things with outside of work.
Pottering isn't filling time, it's spending time in any way you please.
I can see from this thread that some people's identities are totally tied up.in work, and they can't imagine a life outside it, which is fine if it makes them happy.

Alright, I think we’ve gone a bit too far into taxes and pensions now — otherwise the thread drifts away from what it was meant to be in the first place!

Just to repeat, my idea was to hear some examples and stories, assuming they’d be the exception rather than the norm.

Personally, I think a certain level of financial comfort is needed for a life that’s genuinely free from stress and obligations.

But the thread It’s more about understanding what life actually looks like day to day for someone who’s completely free in their 50s.

Thanks again — I’ve really enjoyed reading all the replies. I thought I’d get a handful of responses, but there have been loads, and every single one (even the critical ones!) has been so interesting.

I think we’ve gone a bit too far into taxes
and pensions now — otherwise the thread drifts away from what it was meant to be in the first place!

I've found it really informative. The more education about pensions the better! We should have a Pensions & Pottering Board.