How on earth do you afford it?

[ILoveJoeBrown]

Just been chatting with an acquaintance who recently went through cancer treatment this year. She's now retiring [

A lot of your answers are in your own post. We afford it by keeping bills low (one car) inexpensive hobbies, a3rd of our salaries go straight into a pensions savings account. We also have pensions through or jobs.

You can either afford to retire early or not. It sounds like you and dh cannot, well not if you continue to fritter cash and not make pension provisions or be able to live frugally.

People who want to retire early (if they are sensible about it), plan for years. It could be taking a high paying stressful job that they know they will jack in and/or living very frugally and saving loads.

Google FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) for tips.

By not behaving like your dh!
I retired at 58. Careful planning over the years. Own my house. Not bored at all....wonder how I managed to fit in work!

My friend's life assurance linked to their mortgage paid off the outstanding balance when she contracted cancer

Kind of knew the answer really. I'm better at saving than DH. We do own our own home but have a small flexiloan bank account just in case.

DH is now putting a percentage of his salary to a pension, partly because it avoids paying high rate tax. Think we left it far too late though. My parents are passing on their estate by paying me + my sisters a small amount every year so I have either put that in savings for my 3DSs or more recently in my own pension / ISA.

We should in theory be OK. I guess maybe my main worry is the dissatisfaction at work but it's local, flexible + has a final salary pension which I don't qualify for yet, but only a couple more years.

DH says he's relishing his job but needs so much sleep at weekends that we are never seemingly up and about at the same time. I'm happy that he's happy iyswim but kind of miss his company at weekends?

I do have my own hobbies - mostly running, yoga, gym, so I do some of that while he's in bed in the mornings or after work as I don't have that tiring commute to do.

Perhaps I need a change of job - so I can work at home? Just 'thinking aloud'. Actually it doesn't sound that bad does it? I probably could retire in a couple of years myself if I wanted to and he is still happy in his job.

Downsize when your children have left home? That’s the easiest way to release money and also you will have a home that is easier to maintain as you get older.

I’m retiring at 60, our outgoings are very low and I’ll have a full pension after 38 years working, plus whatever the state pension is.
You may have to carry out some tough love on your husband, if he won’t see sense about expenditure, then cover the household bills and not his personal expenses including clothes and hobbies. Think if it as a house share. He will sell stuff/cut down when he can’t afford to replace his shoes.