Feeling deflated that financial boom years are over, even though we'll still be ok.

[LockLowMan]

NC for this.
Sorry, it's a bit of a 'diamond shoes are too tight' situation.
I can't talk to DH about this IRL so I'm whinging on MN.

DH and I have had a few financial boom years recently - high incomings, low outgoings, planning for a very comfortable early retirement. It's felt very invigorating and weirdly got me excited about work even though the long-term plan is early retirement.

But DH's salary will decrease significantly in early 2026 and its likely our outgoings will increase in about four years time.
I'm feeling a bit down about it to be honest. We'll still be saving each year but not nearly as much. Early retirement might not be so early or might not be so comfortable.
The invigoration I felt in our boom years is waning and work's starting to feel like a long, hard slog again.

I don't know what I'm after from this thread, sorry. I just needed to get this off my chest and I can't really talk to DH about it because I don't want to make him feel bad.

I know what you mean, though doing fine compared to most, I feel everything is getting harder and inflation is rampant and I feel sorry for the next generation.

Why don’t you put your approx figures down here and the retirement dates etc?

How come outgoings will increase? Do you just mean inflation?

The outgoings will increased because we'll start doing more things - the last few years we haven't had any holidays, day trips, not too many meals out etc. because of a combination of anxious, aging dog and DH's work pressures.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to do these things again!

Have you put all your savings into pensions? If not look at how much interest your savings are making, compound interest is a wonderful thing! And check everything is earning as much as it can, no accounts dropped into low interest maturity or were a good rate but now rubbish, spend a bit of time maximising everything. Earnings may be going down, but if you've been saving big amounts income from that should compensate a lot.

So you’re upset that in a few years you’re going to be going on holidays, day trips and meals out?

sorry, must be misreading!

You have a few choices don't you.

• Plan a future that will be within your existing means and yet still excite you.
• Find a way of making more money.
• Don't retire so early.

Definitely, I think the issue is that the increasing outgoings could be easily absorbed by the high income and we couldn't still saved for a very comfortable retirement. I need to readjust my thinking and decide what gives.

I know I'm being unreasonable, and sound like a spoilt brat but it's just an adjustment in thinking.

If you keep the high income you won't have time to do the things you say you haven't been able to do due to DH's work commitments.

Is there a halfway option where you do some of the holidays etc and put the other half in pensions.

Do you work? Can you increase your hours or salary? Yes you will have to adjust your budget and cut your cloth accordingly, but that’s what most people have to do when their finances change. I imagine if you’ve never struggled or had to budget it will be quite a shock for you.

Think of how much the money you saved during the boom years will grow, try and be half full and not half empty.

We are the spending year just in early retirement. We spent almost 70k on a Motorhome. Honestly any of us could drop dead at any time so why not.

We won't keep the high income, that's part of the point. DH's salary will reduce significantly in early 2026.

Yes, of course I work.

I don't work in an industry with paid overtime so I can't increase hours or salary.

We won't be struggling as such - just shifting expectations and future plans.

This is a great way to look at it, thank you.

I tend to be a glass-half-empty person. I am working on it.