How old were your children when you retired?

[pollypocketss]

Did their age/needs impact your decision of when to retire?

Please share your experiences and thoughts :)

When we became parents I became a SAHM.
I am not yet retired as DD2 is still dependent on me.
DH retired mid 50s when DD2 started school.

DH and I are retiring this summer - we’re in our mid 50’s. DT’s are both totally independent financially and living thousands of miles away. They are in their mid twenties.

42, 40 and 20. I was part time though.

My Husband and I both retired at the same time (as we took Voluntary Redundancy), we were both mid-50ish and our children were early/mid 20s. Both children still lived at home.

Their age was not a big factor in making the decision, the important considerations were that we had paid off the mortgage (so debt free) and had reasonable pension plans. After we retired my eldest child decided to resign from their job and go back to full time studying, which was a little shock but we have managed. Both of our children did find it odd at the start that they had to work/study and we didn’t. However, it has also made them consider their own lifestyle choices.

My Mum (80) on the other hand, has still not retired…works part-time!

Dcs are 28 and 25. Both financially independent, own flats, live 300 miles away. I'm mid 60s

Interesting thread. We are hoping to retire at 55, DC will be 16 and 18 then and will probably go to Uni. I'm hoping the pension and savings will cover our day to day expenses but we will downsize the house to free up money to get them through Uni.

I am working towards retiring at 60, when my youngest will be 18 and I will have paid off the mortgage.

I am absolutely open to working to 65 to get him through uni if necessary. Only time will tell if I'll have enough resources to leave at either 60 or 65.

we were early 50s, dd was 14 and ds was 20.

My Dad retired at 72. I was mid 30s. Not at all.
My late husband would have been 65 when our DD was 18, so I think not only was he not the type to retire fully anyway, but that he wouldn't until she was at least through university. I work part time and not at something you retire from.

Sold our business when husband was 55. I was 50. We had a 25 year old abroad, 23 year old abroad, six year old at primary school. I was bored so volunteered 3 days a week with two charities. Then I got a job in the charity for two years. I had a serious health issue so resigned.

It was lovely when my state pension kicked in and I didn't have to ask husband for every penny.

We're still not out of the woods the youngest is going back to university to do another three years after a working gap of two years.

We're awash with five grandchildren now, so it's a bit of a juggle.

I started working at 12 every weekend and every holiday for my father, so did my husband for his family. Family businesses back then it was expected.

It still is

I retired at 50 DS was 10. I never used the word retired.

Very wise a consultant told us if the word retired goes on your medical records you're pretty much fooked.

My parents are just about to take early retirement at 63.

I'm 39

I retired at age 61 and my husband was 57. Daughter mid-20's. We had been mortgage free from our 40's and I had an inheritance from my parents, part of which provided a house deposit for our daughter when she married. We both have DB pensions, one of which I took from age 55 together with a lump sum. State pension kicked in for me aged 63 and a few months. My husband got his at age 66.

I loved my job (education) but decided to retire at the same time as my husband. We had a lot of challenges early on in our marriage (my second), caring for aged parents etc. so it's been lovely to have this time now while we're still fit. It's been over ten years of retirement now. Did a house move five years ago to be near our daughter, (downsized from having a big garden) have looked after our little grandchild a couple of days a week and now enjoying another baby grandchild. My husband does volunteering and I do the garden (my main hobby and obsession!!!).

I'd worked from the age of 17 whereas my husband did the uni, masters route. I did my degree via Open University as a mature student - it was a fantastic experience. We've been fortunate really as we both have plenty of interests and enjoy our lives.

I'm planning on retiring in 10 years when mine will be 25, 28 and 31 x

My eldest is nearly 40. I can't see myself retiring for at least 10 years. State pension kicks in in 5 years.

DS was 20 and I was 55. DH will be 56 and by then DS will be 24.

It had no bearing but he was obviously an adult I do have three around my age friends who at 55 had 10 year olds and one who is a Dad had a 6 year old. Their retirement plans are looking very different.

I'm retiring later this year. I'm 60 and my children are 19 and 20 and at uni (younger one will start this year). DH 62 works about a day a week. We have been fortunate in our careers and could probably have retired sooner but I didn't want to retire while the children were at school. Not sure that's logical but I didn't want to reinforce my status as an older parent (not that I care about that, but the children did go through a stage of pointing out how ancient we were compared to their friends' parents, cheeky sods). But mainly I kept going because I mostly enjoyed my work and was still learning interesting stuff.

Retirement is definitely tied to kids commitments here. In a year the twins start uni, they'll likely do 4 years (incl yr abroad/in industry) each, so 5 years of supporting them means 2029 (aiming to finish mortgage at same time). Twins will be 22, eldest 25. I'll be 54 then, DP will be 60.

I guess it then depends how the finances are looking when we get to that point.

this thread is very interesting. Its amazing how many of us are retiring before 60 or 65 let alone the new retirement age of 67. I have friends who dont have kids and have no plans to retire, although they have, in my mind, plenty of money. There's something about the kids growing up and knowing its the next phase. Time to enjoy your freedom perhaps?

My DCs are 21 and 18. I am 57 and don’t plan to retire for at least 8 years. I need to see my younger one through uni and then may be needed to help them get established in life. Luckily I enjoy my job though it is getting increasingly tiring and I’m not 60 yet.

Mine are 40, 38 & 35.
still can’t retire for another 2.5 years.

This is a really interesting thread. My parents both retired late 50s when I was late 20s, I was doing well with house and job by then and it was great for me to have help when I had my own children. They enjoyed the grandchildren and voluntary work, getting fit and holidays.

I’m planning the same for myself - retiring late 50s when my own children will be late twenties.

I will go later this year when I’m 60….kids will be early 30s ….plus 3 GC age 6 to 9

I retired early at 57, DS was 29, DD 26