Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Retirement

Planning your retirement? Join our Retirement forum for advice and help from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have retired!

46 replies

FlipFlops4Me · 01/07/2022 08:51

At last. I have - according to my Gateway - 50 full years of contributions but I have finally retired. I can only think that my teenage weekend/evening jobs counted as I didn't leave school until I was 17 when I went into training.

I don't get my pension for six months but the stress of wfh and caring for my DH (who is a stroke victim with serious cognitive issues) was making me ill and I knew I couldn't last until December.

My leaving lunch was wonderful - we are a tiny firm but an ex-colleague and a client I've known since 1995 both came, and my DH. I was so grateful for how kind everyone was to DH and it didn't matter that I needed to cut up his food etc.

But now I am retired and I still can't believe it. I'm tackling my morning tasks like a whirling dervish because normally I'd do them and then settle down to wfh for 5 hours. Not any more ....🤗

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 01/07/2022 08:53

Congratulations, enjoy your retirement, I know caring roles are difficult but make sure you take time to develop your own interests and activities

Cervinia · 01/07/2022 08:55

Congratulations 👏 I hope I’m not too far behind you.

Lobelia123 · 01/07/2022 08:56

Enjoy every moment! And what a super sending off they gave you! What are your plans now? Will you be able to maybe do a nice trip, or planning to catch up on reading and family etc?

Cloud16 · 01/07/2022 08:57

Congrats!!! Amazing. Well done you.

Jellifer · 01/07/2022 08:58

How wonderful, enjoy your well earned retirement !

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 01/07/2022 08:58

Congratulations! 23 months more work for me then I join you! Can’t wait!

PolkaDotMankini · 01/07/2022 08:58

Congratulations! I hope your DH is sufficiently well that you can enjoy having more relaxed time together.

33 years to go here...

dudsville · 01/07/2022 08:59

Woop woop @FlipFlops4Me !!!!!

Original poster
FlipFlops4Me · 01/07/2022 09:00

I'm hoping to get back to crochet and cross stitch, also reading properly again would be nice instead of just mooching on Youtube late at night when I can't sleep.

I have a few stress related physical conditions which I very much hope will sink into the background as I relax more. Looking after DH isn't stressful; it was trying to fit in working from home as well that did for me because my boss was one of those who felt that because I was always here, he could always contact me for any reason. I like the man a lot but that was deeply stressful.

OP posts:
Dougieowner · 01/07/2022 09:02

Good luck.

I applied for early retirement yesterday (57), hope I am successful and can also start planning my retirement activities.

Coastalcreeksider · 01/07/2022 09:03

I remember when I was 18 months away from retiring and my friend telling me "it will go so quickly, you'll be surprised"! I thought she was just trying to make me feel better but she was right, it absolutely flew by.

Enjoy your retirement, I can honestly say, despite a few hiccups with hospital admissions and then Covid descending on us all a few weeks after I left, I am so glad I retired!

AlisonDonut · 01/07/2022 09:05

I retired a year ago, took early retirement and then moved to France. It is awesome. The thought of never working again takes quite a while to get your head around. Enjoy every minute.

nellienolan · 01/07/2022 09:07

Congratulations. Enjoy this new chapter of your life.

Original poster
FlipFlops4Me · 01/07/2022 09:09

Thank you all - I can see it is going to take me awhile to get used to the idea, but I'm going to enjoy every day when I get up and don't get the knot of tension waiting for the first phone call, the flood of emails and and and.....

OP posts:
fishingpaintings · 01/07/2022 09:11

Congratulations!

caringcarer · 01/07/2022 09:17

I early retired from teaching 4 years ago. I found the best bit for me is if I am not feeling very well I no longer having to drag myself into school because I worry about students falling behind. If I have a headache I can have a lie in. I am still a foster carer but even though I know it is employment I don't see it as a job. You will be able to potter in garden in sunshine and have a glass of wine. Pick up your old hobbies and maybe meet a friend for lunch sometimes or go with DH. Had you thought you may be able to claim Carers Allowance for caring for your DH? The form is easy to fill in. Not a long one.

Jessejuice · 01/07/2022 09:20

Congratulations. Enjoy every moment 🙂

Original poster
FlipFlops4Me · 01/07/2022 09:32

@caringcarer - Yes, I applied for Carers Allowance today. I wasn't eligible while I was employed as it is means tested, but now that I'm unemployed I should get it because DH gets Attendance Allowance. It'll only be for the six months until I can claim my state pension but it'll help. Luckily DH has an occupational pension as well as his state pension so if we're careful we can manage just on his money.

Mind you - I'll be a very careful shopper!

OP posts:
Maggiesgirl · 01/07/2022 09:34

Congratulations. I have 15 days to go and can't wait. 😁

withiceplease · 01/07/2022 09:40

Congratulations!
I have passed my first retirement date so feel very worthy continuing to work. Not that I'm counting but 2 years 9 months...

Mischance · 01/07/2022 10:01

I too have retired - I love it! Enjoy!

Countdown2023 · 05/07/2022 17:22

Congrats and enjoy

SilentHedges · 05/07/2022 22:26

Coastalcreeksider · 01/07/2022 09:03

I remember when I was 18 months away from retiring and my friend telling me "it will go so quickly, you'll be surprised"! I thought she was just trying to make me feel better but she was right, it absolutely flew by.

Enjoy your retirement, I can honestly say, despite a few hiccups with hospital admissions and then Covid descending on us all a few weeks after I left, I am so glad I retired!

I do hope you're right, I've got 2 years and 8 months and I cannot wait to get out of full time work (menopause, anxiety, insomnia stress, lazy co-workers). I just want to focus on getting me back and the days aren't going quick enough.

@FlipFlops4Me Well done, so well deserved, I think of work as retiring from real life in some respects. Enjoy your new freedom 🙂

Original poster
FlipFlops4Me · 07/07/2022 11:03

I'm loving it so far - I've rediscovered cooking and just about halved our food bill simply by cooking from scratch and not throwing anything away. For instance, last night's leftovers are today's lunch - whizzed & souped - and I make my own bread (in the breadmaker...) to go with the soup.

I'm having fun and saving a fortune! All because I have time. The difference is astounding. I actually feel rested, and my eczema has subsided. Wonderful!

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 13/09/2022 15:10

Congratulations! I've just found the retirement board. I retired in the summer from teaching and was all for going back doing supply but I looked at the pile of resources I'd amassed over 40 years and just can't be bothered. I'm whiling away the time nicely and have a new baby grandson, so don't think I'll be going back at all. Plus the freedom to book holidays in term time and pay a lot less is amazing 😀