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 :)

This is weird logic.

Single. Graduate. Worked in education then self employed, ft 43 years to 67 to support children, then 31 and 25, with Uni and post grad studies so no debt. Downsized age 71 to help them with house purchases.

Currently look after 2 grandchildren 3 and 9 months 3 days a week.

Both my parents ( divorced when I was 1) dead 20 plus years before I retired. Both from v poor back grounds, grandparents no property as single father ( mother died of pneumonia) and single mother ( father died in industrial accident) 8 live children each.) Mother no property, father v small, v old house, I inherited about £6k.

But your kids wouldnt be supporting you if you werent claiming state pension (as you were not old enough). Strange idea.

I was 30 when mum retired at 60. 15 years ago - she was classed as an old mum when I was growing up. How times change!! I was ( years older when my first was born.
I was thrilled mum was able to retire from her fFT career given she'd been a single parent.
My goal is to be retired from corporate life when my eldest is 19/20... let's see!

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst

My parents are only 20 years older than me. Does that mean that when I am 63, I can't retire if my parents are still alive and retired?

Of course it may be unususl retiring in your early 50s and parents 70s. However if you wanted to retire in your early 60s, no matter what age your parents are, you should be able to retire. I will have worked for 45 years at 62 so it would be very unfair if I felt I had to keep working just because my patents were retired.

My parents are retiring next year at 59 and 62; I’m 32.

I had my children very young so they were in their late 30s when I retired. Helped out a lot with child care and looked after my mother for years.

21,23 and 33 and my DH and I were 55 and 52.

DS was 10 when we retired at 46 and moved abroad. We're all back in the UK now and have been for a number of years. DS is in his early 30s, fluent in a couple of languages and has a good job in London following university in UK.

Dh and I retired 3 years ago me 55, him 58 . Dds were 17 still at home and 19 at uni. We have been able to support them , dd1 has just finished uni and dd2 is just about to start. We planned carefully for maybe 3 years prior , ploughing money into sips. These have been the most frugal years it’s just about to get easier with a second pension of Dhs becoming accessible. Dhs parents are very elderly now so we feel able to help them , my mums younger and ok. My dad died young and never got to enjoy a retirement.

I was 66. My DC were 36, 38 and 39

woow, many retired with very old kids: over 30

DH is planning to retire in 5 years when he is 65, DD1 will be 23 and DD2 19. He has older children who will be on their 30s. Not sure about me, but hopefully by 57, which will be in 5 years too. Sounds like our kids will be too young so we may continue part time

For people that managed to retire before 60; how did they do it? Started pension early?

26 and 29 I was 57 but it’s a funny old retirement as it’s spent caring for everyone else, circumstances meant it wasn’t possible to continue working as I did. So I don’t work but I’m not really living the dream and travelling the world.

My son will be almost 50 by the time I retire (if retirement age stays the same as now, which I doubt it will!)