Did anyone else have a "fuck it, I'm retiring" moment?

[MrsMoastyToasty]

I'm in my late 50s, mortgage paid off, have worked since the age of 18. I'm so close to jacking my job my job in .

Daily, but I'm at least 20 years out from retiring. One can daydream the work day away quite efficiently like that, though.

This. Three days a week is properly part time. Four days is a mug’s game.

@Mum2Fergus

What is IFA please

I came out of a contracting/freelance career to work for an old boss in a very senior permanent role. I offered them two years, thinking it would be a good financial stepping stone to retirement. One day, a year in, I had a meeting with them and just couldn’t stop myself telling them how fucked over and disrespected I felt as a result of their total inability to step up to their role and let me do mine. I had no intention of retiring when I went into the room, but by the time I came out, that was what was happening. Fuck it, I was retiring. I was 58, financially secure (thank god), and I’ve never worked a day since I completed my notice period.

Independent Financial Adviser

I had mine in September last year . 31 years in policing, and loved it . And then 3 things happened in short succcession. The first was that three close professional friends passed away, two from cancer , one from an accident on the way back from night shift. The second was that I calculated that I’d commuted a literal million miles to work and back in my career. And the third was that I took a long hard look at the organisation I was working for, saw how decimated it was, and how much worse it was going to get , and decided that I was sick to death of having my career constantly slated by people who have absolutely fuck all clue about modern policing at all. So papers went in, and I retired on NYE.

So far, I’ve paid off the house, bought another horse , and spend my days mucking out and spending a small fortune in horse shops 😃

I'm really enjoying reading this and everyone's f*ck it moments..

I'm trying to work out if I should do a career change now for the last ten years of my career. Or keep going in well paid job to max out pension as much as I can for another couple of years so a career change will be less risky as I'll have more security behind me.

I'm 48 so a bit far off retiring but 55 is in my head!

Could possibly start winding down/do something different in a few years. Need to do some calculations. Also very aware that the job market is awful at the moment, might be better in a few years.

@coolcahuna depends on how much you hate your job. If you don’t hate it I’d max out on the money. Especially if you want to retire early and travel etc

Thankyou. I probably need to model up the options and get my thoughts on paper. I'm probably over thinking a little . I don't hate my job but it's alot of responsibility and stress which I don't want to do for too much longer, it even features in my dreams.

My main problem is my job is easy,and I am cruising.I have limited contact with my line manager,i set my own diary for site visits...and work from home 3 days a week. I have a pension of 25K and 300k in savings. BUT it is really difficult to say f...k it I'm out of here,when the job is this good.I am 64 yrs old and in good health . Thoughts?

@Confined61 in which case is there actually a problem? Are you bored, or is life pretty OK this way? No need to retire if you don't want to.

If you are happy then carry on . Some people like the routine and structure work brings into their lives and the social contact. As you said you have a cushy little number and they are hard to come by . Most people on here hate their jobs and have reached burn out .

Does cruising mean you feel bored? Is there anything else you fancy doing but can't because you're working? Could you go down to 3 days so your work life balance tilts to you more than work?

But if you enjoy your job, keep going. There's lots where I work who work longer than they "need" to because, presumably, some like the intellectual challenge work gives them.

I think you know when you've had enough. I dread every Monday morning - I cannot stand my job. I do it, I'm good at it. My colleagues are great but I just don't want to be there.

I have 80 work days to go.

I have come to the conclusion this week that my partner won't slow down until I do & this is difficult as we have nearly a 20 year age gap. He is a trade though so if he works full days all week he just sleeps all weekend.
I am early 50's to his late 60's so this is difficult, as we also have separate finances. I will always have my caring responsibilities as well.
My head just spins with the figures trying to work out what monthly income is enough . I am also self employed & all my clients tell me I'm not allowed to retire 😆

I did it at 55. I was headteacher of a very small school, teaching all the juniors in one class, four days a week and running the school on the other day. The other teacher was a very difficult person to work with and wasn't good at her job. The last straw was the Welsh government deciding that, as well as all my other duties and responsibilities, I had to set up and run a breakfast club. I would have been dealing with this myself as I had so few staff.

I took early retirement and gave up a quarter of my pension, but seventeen years later, I have never regretted it. I lost my husband two and a half years ago after a debilitating illness and we had some wonderful holidays and times together before he became unwell which give me many happy memories.

Is that a £25k/year defined benefit pension (good, but what age can you draw it without reduction/what is the reduction for taking early?), or a £25k defined contribution pot (tiny)?

Defined benefits 25k for ever,plus i get state pension in 3 years.

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You do you - just because others are retiring doesn’t mean you have to. If you enjoy your job and your life, carry on!

what I would say is, at 64 you’re probably in your ‘go go’ years when you are fit and healthy (hopefully). In future years your health might decline, meaning some activities you want to do, might be more difficult.

I found the book Die with Zero helpful in clarifying what I wanted. That, and realising that friends and family aren’t getting any younger, and are having serious health issues made me realise we aren’t promised tomorrow.

@Confined61 I'd be outta there like a shot in your position. Travel, enjoy your time.

Another teacher here, I’ve handed in my notice to take early retirement in the summer at 55. I’ll want some part time work but I’m done with teaching. Can’t wait!

I have been retired one month and can honestly say I feel sooo much better. I set my radio alarm an hour later than I used to. I can then listen for a while and get up when I feel ready. I have attended events that I used to wish I could go to (but couldn’t because of work - worked in a school so no term time leave). The shopping and chores are done by the weekend and the dog is enjoying/coping with all the extra walks! I’m 62 and still fit & well and making the most of it.

When I retired my psoriasis completely went and I no longer care if I drink alcohol. I used to look forward to my bottle of wine on a weekend. I don't care anymore if I have a glass of wine or not .

@StarSwooshSpangles that’s what I’m hoping too - currently I fall into a bottle of wine, together with crisps and chocolate on a Friday night as a ‘reward’ for a tough week at work. My evenings will completely change.

Thats a good amount, then. What's the pension age, though?