What age are you planning to retire

[Flutteringround]

I work in healthcare and I love my job and would be happy to just continue on till normal retirement age. However although the majority of the people I care for seem really happy and appreciative of my care, I’m becoming disillusioned by increasing number of people who ask for a change of practitioner (only up to 2-3 a year and never for any report of clinical failing or rudeness) but still feels demoralising each time. Therefore I’m thinking of retiring as soon as we can get the mortgage paid off (around 60 if we overpay etc) Just wondering what age other people are thinking of retiring and how planning to fund or if you work in healthcare have your or would you consider to switching another job nearer retirement?

That’s really quite sad, there should be more to life than work. I’d really urge you to try to find more ways than just work to fill your days and life that bring you joy.

personally im hugely excited, and as said up thread shortly retiring at 57. I can get up when I please and do what I please.

From going to the gym to out to lunch, to day trips out somewhere we fancy seeing,, to the movies, to shows, seeing friends, family as I can travel mid week and many of my friends and family are retired, I can go on low cost trips to Europe, travelling off peak on a Monday back on a Thursday. I can stay home and potter, do the garden, or read, I can do anything I wish, when I wish. The idea is utterly blissful

money is a cushion I admit that allows these things, and health is critical. But I certainly don’t need work as a reason to get out of bed. What do you do on the weekends? Are fhey joyful and full filling?

Not until 67 when my state pension kicks in. Years to go yet. I don't have a private pension for various reasons, but luckily I love my job and can continue it well into my 70s if I choose, which I probably will, on a very PT basis.

I've never enjoyed work, it's fine, I earn well and am respected but I just don't like having to do it and all of the relationships you have to manage. So I planned to retire ASAP.

I'm 50 now and could retire, mortgage paid off, pension at 60 and enough savings to bridge the gap. But dd has special needs and little hope of ever getting a job. So I will keep working, try to build up a fund to help support her.

Planning for 62. Still got over 20 years to go….

money is a cushion I admit that allows these things, and health is critical. But I certainly don’t need work as a reason to get out of bed

I agree with all this. I have a long list of things I'd like to do in retirement- DH and I recently renovated a 16th C cottage and I'd like to create a 16th C garden, which will be a huge amount of work (both in planning and physical labour) over years. I'd like to do a masters in English lit. I'd like to walk the full camino frances. None of these things is work (in the sense of a paid job) nor even volunteering but they would all be a very good reason to get up in the morning (for me- of course we all have our own interests).

I think the idea of retirement as a time to do nothing but sit in a chair and wait to die comes from an era when a lot of people died fairly soon after retirement and often had significant health issues before that. That isn't the case for lots of people these days, and by definition people who retire early tend to be fitter and healthier (because they are younger) and often have the money to live a very full life, which is why they're in the position to retire so early.

I think if you're someone who can only see retirement as "doing nothing" it is probably worth doing some thinking and planning ahead to try to build a picture of what a fulfilling retirement might mean, in case for any reason you're not able to carry on working indefinitely. My husband's employer also offers retirement coaching to help people with the transition (his industry is one in which people work very long hours and often work is a major part of identity)- that's something that might be useful, whether through an employer or privately.

68/70 I reckon. Won’t be able to afford to before then. I’ve only worked part-time for most of my life so I don’t feel hard done by. But my parents both died in their mid-60s so if I follow suit, I won’t retire at all.

You don’t have to potter (although nothing wrong with pottering) and can still have structure in your life a job. The beauty is you determine the amount of structure you want/need. I have several voluntary roles (some weekly, some monthly) and go the gym five times per week (Zumba, aqua, table tennis, gym etc) so there is some structure and then I have various other projects on the go at home and holiday planning and it all seems to fit together.

Unless I win the lottery, at 60. Hope to scale back work in some way after paying off the mortgage in five years' time (at 55).

Probably no younger than 57. Not sure I want to pull the trigger on early retirement before our youngest has finished school. Might feel differently as we get closer though, it feels like every year gets hard to stay on the treadmill!

Yes, I know exactly what you mean

I planned by overpaying my mortgage and buying extra pension. In reality I should have paid more into my pension and left my mortgage run a bit longer- if I went back I’d have done that instead £100 a month more in my pension for 3/4 years in my 40s

I did retire at 54. I’d got money saved and a couple of side hustles that bring in an income. I’ve never looked back and I started drawing my pension 4 years after stopping working.

Im comfortable, go away for 7/8 weeks a year on holiday. It’s the best thing i could have done

i stopped working with the attitude that if I had to, I’d get another job. I haven’t done that and have more in savings than when I stopped working. I’ve made interest and not spent it yet.

Id saved since I’d paid off my mortgage and always sought out high interest accounts and ISAs etc. continually making 5 year plans. I did live a lot though when I was working.

id just plan your finances every year, extra pension saves tax and over pay mortgage. Look for extra ways of making money

I was lucky to “retire” at 57, only I’m not really retired as my days are spent looking after elderlies and grandchildren and extended family pets. I just don’t have an income anymore.

Financially, I do have a pretty good DB pension and a smaller DC one, but won’t draw it until DH retires in three years then we will draw our pensions together.

We always had shared money so his salary keeps us both right now.

I'm 64.5 planning to retire 66.5 (6 mo before state pension age) and counting!! Can't wait! I have a tiny pension hence the wait. I like my job but it's very full on FT. I might consider PT going forward - but FT definitely not. I am enjoying the anticipation greatly - probably more than I will the arrival.

I'm planning on retiring at 48 😂

Can't bloody wait.

Eight years to go.

Even though I’ve been good with my pension (DH contributed when I was off having the kids) I love my job so much I would do it till I can’t. I’m a self employed maths tutor and primarily work with home ed kids and we just have so much fun! Well most of the time we do, sometimes we don’t because at the end of the day it’s maths and most kids don’t love doing maths - but we have as much fun as possible. I’ll probably slow down, but as long as I’m fit and healthy enough to maintain my standards I’ll carry on. I’d do it from beyond the grave if I could. I might slow down a bit, but it’s not something I’d ever want to fully stop. I’m 27 though so I might change my mind.

It’s very different being 27 to being 57. I also love my job and want to carry on as long as possible but I can’t deny I get more tired now.