Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Just retired from teaching at 55!

116 replies

Foxymoxy68 · 27/07/2023 20:58

I've just retired from teaching at the earliest possible opportunity.....55 next month. I thought it would never come as the last few years have been utterly horrendous! But I made it and it's just starting to sink in.

Does anyone have any retirement tips for me? Particularly if you were involved in teaching? I'm keeping a very open mind on what to do going forward. I'd like to earn a little to boost my reduced pension but would rather not have a contract and at the moment feel like I never want to set foot in a classroom ever again! For context, I taught for 31 years and was deputy head and SENCo for the last few years. Thanks.

OP posts:
LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 27/07/2023 21:06

Congratulations! I retired early at 60 but have a number of illnesses so really couldn't have gone on much longer. I had a couple of projects to ease me into retirement. I downsized and then did up my new house. I also started an art class. I wouldn't rush into a big commitment if I were you. Take time to get used to your time being your own. I now provide childcare for my two grandsons two days a week and the rest of the week is mine! I have never regretted it. (5years on)

garlictwist · 28/07/2023 01:46

Congratulations! Are you really going to retire forever though? You could potentially end up being retired for the next forty years.

Aquamarine1029 · 28/07/2023 01:49

What about private tutoring?

YesterdayO · 28/07/2023 02:00

Congratulations! I took early retirement from teaching, too.

I’d suggest you give it a year to see how you feel before you make any big decisions.

One tip I was given was not to commit to anything you have to do if you really don’t feel like it that day, or want to go on holiday, eg take U3A courses but don’t teach them. I haven’t quite stuck to that but I can see its merits.

Summer2424 · 28/07/2023 02:53

Hi @Foxymoxy68 congratulations!! Omg that must feel amazing, to be 55 and retired yay! Enjoy every moment x

Monty27 · 28/07/2023 02:54

@Foxymoxy68 I retired early at 58 not in teaching.
I started preparing my money pit of a house to downsize. I downsized to a house recently modernised and I love the relief of that.
I'm currently putting my stamp on the new house and not sure what the next steps will be. Holidays hopefully. Congratulations on your retirement.
I'm watching your thread with interest ☺️

echt · 28/07/2023 03:04

I retired from teaching at 67, end of '21 and 43 years in harness.
I don't think for one minute I'd have done this had the last 15 years been in the UK, but the relatively benign Victorian system: no-one ever looked at my lesson plans and I was only observed teaching once, helped a lot.

Back to retirement. I would quite like to downsize, but what I want, a single storey house, or house as they are called in Australia, is expensive unless I move away from friends, etc. which I won't do. I volunteer as art gallery/museum guide one day week but wouldn't commit to anything more.

Get used to your time, which I did to some extent by reducing hours in the last two years in work. In no time at all you'll be so busy you'll wonder how you ever found time to work.

Tippingadvice · 28/07/2023 03:15

Exam invigilator and/or exam marking are potential income sources.

BaroldBalonz · 28/07/2023 03:43

Has working for 31 years really paid enough into the pension pot for you to retire for the next 31 years?

It seems an insane concept that people are able to retire so young.

When the pension was introduced it was paid only at 4 years past average life expectancy. It's no wonder that the whole pension thing is completely buggered now, why on earth hasn't retirement age been raised higher as life expectancy has increased so much?

The NHS is floundering under the weight of all of the treatments for all of the people that are living far longer due to the treatments and everyone wants to stop working earlier. Madness.

AppleKatie · 28/07/2023 03:49

Well aren’t you a ray of sunshine 🤣

OP, enjoy. I would want at least a semi regular structure to my week. Museum/charity volunteering might be fun? I know an ex teacher who walks dogs for the RSPCA that always seems fun and relaxing.

plominoagain · 28/07/2023 05:40

Congratulations!! From someone who also works in a job where we retire from 50 upwards , the one thing I would say , is find something else to do . Just to keep you ticking over . The one thing that has happened to nearly all my peers , is that the ones who retired and just stopped completely , seemed to develop health issues and age much much more rapidly than those who did even a day a week either volunteering or a small part time role . My DH retired and now delivers cancer drugs for the nhs and is still fit and well . My mum is 76 , retired as a civil servant and now manages a charity shop , leads a walking group and delivers meals on wheels 'to the old people' and is healthier and happier than people many years younger . If you don't need the money , do something you'd enjoy but haven't had the chance to .

Enjoy ! I'm so jealous Grin

Quoria · 28/07/2023 05:48

BaroldBalonz · 28/07/2023 03:43

Has working for 31 years really paid enough into the pension pot for you to retire for the next 31 years?

It seems an insane concept that people are able to retire so young.

When the pension was introduced it was paid only at 4 years past average life expectancy. It's no wonder that the whole pension thing is completely buggered now, why on earth hasn't retirement age been raised higher as life expectancy has increased so much?

The NHS is floundering under the weight of all of the treatments for all of the people that are living far longer due to the treatments and everyone wants to stop working earlier. Madness.

It has been raised. I'm in my 30s and expected retirement age for my teaching pension is something like 68.

determinedtomakethiswork · 28/07/2023 06:00

Don't forget to keep paying your national insurance contribution. It's a great feeling to leave teaching and I hope you find another way of making money that's satisfying and less stressful.

timegoingtooquickly · 28/07/2023 06:09

I'm training for a new career which I hope to qualify by the time I'm 55. The job is a lot more flexible than teaching and as my children will be grown up I plan to travel the world and fund it with my new job!

Just hoping it all works out

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 28/07/2023 06:46

At 55, that’s a lot of years of retirement ahead. I agree with previous posters - find things to keep brain and body really active so that you remain healthy into old age. Examining and tutoring would be straightforward sources of income if you’re not interested in re-training for a career change rather than simply retiring.

Lucky you to be able to afford it!

PrivateSchoolTeacherParent · 28/07/2023 06:54

Congratulations, that's amazing! Planning on going at 57, in 5 years time, if finances work as expected. I have so many plans, including some more studying with the Open Uni or similar. Many former colleagues are back every year for Invigilation duties, which sounds tempting.

BookWorm45 · 28/07/2023 06:54

Congratulations !
You asked about ideas for boosting income - have you tried looking at the MSE Forum (Money Saving Expert), the discussion boards can be very helpful for ideas, including one for "over 50s money saving"

Floofydawg · 28/07/2023 06:59

BaroldBalonz · 28/07/2023 03:43

Has working for 31 years really paid enough into the pension pot for you to retire for the next 31 years?

It seems an insane concept that people are able to retire so young.

When the pension was introduced it was paid only at 4 years past average life expectancy. It's no wonder that the whole pension thing is completely buggered now, why on earth hasn't retirement age been raised higher as life expectancy has increased so much?

The NHS is floundering under the weight of all of the treatments for all of the people that are living far longer due to the treatments and everyone wants to stop working earlier. Madness.

Well she won't be claiming state pension at 55 will she - she'll have saved into a private pension pot!

Good on you OP - enjoy it. Am not in teaching but looking to retire relatively early myself at some point. It's hard to keep going FT in your fifties.

pompomdaisy · 28/07/2023 07:06

Congratulations. Just make sure you have a plan. I know two family members that retired at 55 and then returned to work three years later because they got bored and all the things they said they were going to do never materialised.

Dacquoises · 28/07/2023 07:59

I'm a couple of years into early retirement and loving it! I did start setting up plans of what to do with myself before I took the plunge and glad I did because by year two I have realised that I need some structure to my days or I start to become unmotivated and a bit bored. Also not everything you try works out.

My activities include yoga, pilates, WI, book club, art lessons (which I adore) , salsa lessons and various literature and writing classes that I dip in and out of. I'm just about to start training as a Citizen's Advice advisor to volunteer one day a week. Also planning to do a diploma in a craft I love at some stage. Although it sounds a lot I have gradually set this up to not overwhelm myself.

My partner is preparing for retirement and has dropped one day a week from work so we do lots of trips away, walking, and history stuff.

I don't see why thirty years or so of not working should be scary or a waste of your time especially if you've done your innings in a tough job. The only consideration is money really. It is a privilege to retire early, which I fully appreciate.

Dacquoises · 28/07/2023 08:03

Also congratulations 🎉 onwards and upwards!

Soontobe60 · 28/07/2023 08:11

I retired from teaching at 59. I was a Senco too! This was just before lockdown and I’ll admit I was very lonely, but also very pleased not to be teaching via Zoom!!!
As my husband still works, I have returned to work part time. I’m actually a PPA cover teacher in a lovely school, about to start in my 3rd year. I absolutely love it! It’s so different from being a full time class teacher. We had Ofsted earlier this year and although I was in school, I wasn’t observed, didn’t need to meet them and basically just made sure other teachers had everything they needed.
I work 2 days and have some flexibility so for example we are going abroad in October, before half term, so I will do 2 days at the start of the week (usually work wed / thur) and therefore benefit from cheaper flights. I do only get paid on M6 which is nowhere near what I was paid pre retirement, but I’m fine with that. I start work at 8am and leave at 3.30.

An alternative is exam marking. I mark SATs in May / June.

decaffonlypls · 28/07/2023 08:51

Not in your exact situation but what about private tutoring or working in a library part time? Do you enjoy exercise ? You could join a gym. Walking, a lot of communities have a ramblers group. Volunteering is another option. I'd make a list of house jobs I need to tackle too.

Initially I'd plan days so it feels like there is a structure and see how you go

drunkpeacock · 28/07/2023 08:58

There are plenty of "little income boosts" out there for ex-teachers (I'm 50 and have looked into this)
Tutoring,
Exam invigilator
Marking exams
Babysitting
Getting licensed as a chaperone can provide work especially around Christmas time.
PA/support work for a child or young person with disabilities.

Or you might decide to get a completely different full or part-time job once you've had time to decompress.

Good luck and enjoy retirement.

gingercat02 · 28/07/2023 10:33

BaroldBalonz · 28/07/2023 03:43

Has working for 31 years really paid enough into the pension pot for you to retire for the next 31 years?

It seems an insane concept that people are able to retire so young.

When the pension was introduced it was paid only at 4 years past average life expectancy. It's no wonder that the whole pension thing is completely buggered now, why on earth hasn't retirement age been raised higher as life expectancy has increased so much?

The NHS is floundering under the weight of all of the treatments for all of the people that are living far longer due to the treatments and everyone wants to stop working earlier. Madness.

Teachers like most public sector workers don't have a pension pot. My NHS pension will pay the same annual sum until I die. I'm out the door at 60. 6 years and counting