To think I retired too early

[hrenfe]

I always wanted an early retirement. I didn’t have a particularly stressful job but I didn’t enjoy it after covid as I was fully remote and my job was always at risk of being axed. It paid OK (£50k) and I had 35 days annual leave a year. No mortgage

Got offered redundancy at 58. Took it. Been retired a few years now. Whilst it’s super not to have to work, I can’t help but feel I took retirement a bit too early. Money is fine and DP (younger) still works.

However, we can’t really afford to do anything “big” that we thought we’d too in retirement. Had always imagined taking a big trip like a month in New Zealand but can’t really afford it.

Almost all of DDs friends have had big parental contributions to their weddings or big chunks of flat deposits given to them. We can’t do this. AIBU to think I should have just milked my job and worked another two years or so?

I worked beside Consultants who believed they couldn’t ever be done without…one finished his clinic, went home and dropped dead, one had a massive stroke and died, another died in his sleep….all ‘indispensable’ guess what? The world kept turning without them. My husband is a retired physician, his job was his life, he loved it, everyone was shocked when he retired and wondered ‘but what will he do???!!!’ He’s living his best life, never looked back! We’re kicking up our heels and enjoying life.

I think OP has retired early from this thread!

I have an older more or less retired DH, he is 11 years older than me, so he was pushing 70 when I retired at 58. I wanted to make sure we had some healthy retirement time together. My father retired at 60, died at 67 and he and my mother never got any retirement together. My DH is 75 now but still fit and well.

Get two goats

Where’s your redundancy money?!?

Wow, such a helpful response. Not the OPs fault she had a better job than you … don’t be so jealous diddums!

Exactly. No information on why,despite having taking a redundancy deal (which one could assume included a lump sum and early access to a pension?),no mortgage and a partner who is still working,there is no money for a big holiday.

Actually tbh I’m not jealous. What I interesting is that people who earn a lot so often prove the theory that money doesn’t provide happiness. I’m poor but actually very happy with my lot. :)

I don't think the OP earmed "alot". Above average, possibly. But realistically depending on where OP lives and the fact OP obviously has kid(s) and had fully paid mortgage it just seems they have put the money toward that. 50k after tax isn't massive nowadays that I would expect she'd loads of savings.

OP never said they were unhappy just that perhaps they now have ambitions they didn't pre-plan.

Really? I'm retired and loving it. I also took voluntary redundancy, at 59, and only worked temp, part-time, or casual until I retired fully at 65 (the age you get superannuation here). All of my friends are retired and all are extremely happy, none suffer from any form of poor mental health, have not grown old overnight or way beyond their time, nor do they feel useless. In fact all the retired people I know live full and busy lives. I was bored for most of my working life and the hours pass so much more quickly now and I am also much, much, happier.

Yeah, but 'Bob from down the road,' and 'Beryl in the next village' are not working til they're 90 though.

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Same. I have never met anyone who regrets retiring. Everyone I know is thrilled to have retired. Many retire as young as they can possibly do so.

That seems unusual to me. Most people wait until state retirement age to retire, surely, and they might be glad to retire then.

We were offered redundancy at my last full time job. They wanted to reduce the workforce by 1.5 people. 5 of us accepted the redundancy - and they had to hire people to replace those who left, which didn't work out great. So you are wrong (and yes, the managers I worked for were idiotic and handled it badly!).

You might not have, other businesses have indeed offered it to people they actually wanted to keep, having not a clue that those people would be happy to take the money and run.

My job was ageing me far more quickly than retirement is - I was bored and spending most of my day clock watching, and office politics are beyond irritating. Yes, everyone needs a purpose in life - no, it doesn't have to be work. I worked to pay the bills and to contribute tax, nothing beyond that. I feel far more fulfilled now that I don't work. If people find a job they love then good on them for continuing to work, I might have done so myself, but please stop this nonsense that the retired are simply sitting around waiting to die.

I know people who have gone back to work after retirement. Normally into less stressful, lower paid jobs, maybe shorter hours. A good compromise so you're getting more income without being overworked/overstretched with no time to yourself.

Well, I've met people who've gone back to work so maybe that counts as regretting the first retirement. One of them was 80 at his final retirement.

Working, without the financial need to, is not really work - it's a discretionary hobby - just another possible retirement activity.

It's possible to enjoy the "work" without feeing oppressed by the HR nonsense that goes with jobs that you financially rely on.

Yes, and the kind of people that I know who do this are those who have jobs they are really interested in and can do part time.

For most people it doesn't make as much sense. It can keep you active and talking to people, but as for avoiding boredom, I think most jobs do the opposite!

I disagree.

There are many people in full time work who are no longer doing it for the money. I think they'd be pretty short with you if you said they won't 'working'.

Working for money is one way, but working for fulfilment, intellectual stimulation, or helping society at the same time, is another.

Work is not simply transactional.