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 .

Love this . I would have loved to have seen your colleagues faces .

At one time the retirement age for women was 60 and 65 for men . I feel it should have been set at 63 . How can people in high risk jobs such as firefighter etc go on until 67 and above ? Most people I know who have physically demanding jobs are worn out by 55 . Plus I think most people have mentally had enough by 60 snd just want to use their time to do what they want before physical decline and health problems set in . It's hard getting reasonable travel insurance the older you get . My sibling had a big stoke the year before they were due their good pension and was going to travel the world . It makes you think .

This cuts to the absolute heart of the matter. My 'fuck it' moment was actually a rather long moment! DH's job as a front-line social worker was making him ill - so he negotiated his exit at 57 (he's younger than me). I was getting increasingly hacked off with my job at a large Academy, the school no longer resembled the lovely school it had been and the pupils needs weren't being met - it was more about slavish adherence to the latest SLT dogma with no thought of what we were actually there for - i.e. to empower the children for their future and give them the basics for their future careers. It was a toxic environment with very toxic people (two schools were merged, so you can imagine the backstabbing).

So I went at 61 and it freed me up in so many ways. I came into education late as a second career, and had been working since the age of 17. Our work pensions kept us ticking over until the state pensions kicked in and we like the simple life anyway.

Ten years later - here we still are - having had those years together with peace of mind rather than the existential Sunday night dread. It has meant we had the space and energy to sell up our old house and move to a completely different area to be near our grown up child and grandchildren. The new area has given my husband different options as a volunteer in the nearest cathedral, which he loves as he meets people from all over the world. I see my daughter and grand-children regularly - we used to look after one before he started school, and he comes for sleepovers.

You never need as much money as you think you will, either. That was something that did worry us at the time, but it's absolutely fine with our fairly simple life.

Life is short - autonomy is precious and it's great to use it to one's advantage. So yes say 'fuck it'!!!!!

I think they should not have equalised the retirement age until those retiring had the benefit of the sex discrimination act to help them achieve a better education and employment.

Firefighters, police etc don't work until 67 they can retire at 55 for firefighters and I think it is the same for the police. Most then work elsewhere.

I sort of retired by default. At my PIP assessment they decided I could walk so would lose my Motability car.

The person who contacted me from ESA was shocked, she actually said, "it says here no meaningful prospect of future working".

I did appeal, lost that, I was ready for tribunal and then someone with an ounce of common sense realised that driving a car with hand controls is not the same as walking 50 metres.

Then covid hit and I never went back to work. I was doing supply teaching so short term contracts.

I dropped down to 4 days at 55 due to exhaustion (teaching) then we got a new HT who changed everything for the sake of change and anyone who challenged her unnecessary nonsense was seen as a troublemaker. Luckily I was 59 so decided enough was enough. I'd intended going on until 63/63 but wasn't enjoying my work any more.

The problem with dropping down to 4 days is that for some people their hours can now be spread over 5 days . I saw several colleagues get stung like this because their contracts were flexible . Management played along for a few weeks and then BANG my colleagues were back where they started but with less hours . They would have preferred to work 4 days only . Readers beware .

@CuttySarcasm i was intetested to read about these last hoorah achievements.
I've worked since twelve,and from 15 in my industry. We've been very poor and quite wealthy.
Last year I took on a very well paid role but unfortunately I worked for two crooks (one is currently in prison). The second director who was an ex milatary man threatened to shoot me. I became really ill. I resigned and thought fuck it, I'm too old (58) and this is the most toxic company I have ever worked for.
In the spring although bedbound with autoimmune conditions I worked for a new young company (I had done some free mentoring previously). They later gave me a shareholding for all my help as an industry expert.
The company have taken off and it makes me a millionaire.
I now have another role where I buy and sell companies in my industry and provide investment. It's a huge job and I am currently brokering a deal with a famous company. Last year I didn't think I would work again after the behaviour towards me, I was so ill and so bullied. I shall make hay until the end of next year then retire.
I always think of Bridget Jones, the Lily Allen song fu*k you and the joy of saying no to nutters (which I did to one potential employer last week).
For someone who grew up on a council estate, worked like a dog and has given to many on good days, I have had enough. I'll never forget having £14.53 to feed my family for a week but I'm going to enjoy my retirement and my money. I'm off back to university as is my DH. Could I work to 67? Not on your Nelly.

What a journey, huge congrats, it sounds like your hard work and integrity paid off! Enjoy retirement 🤗

@StarSwooshSpangles Not sure what you mean by "Readers beware" in relation to my post. I was relating what happened in my situation. I went from a full time contract to a 4 day one. Nobody could reduce it further.

I meant in some cases ( not yours ) people have signed flexible contracts . What I meant was beware of this before asking to drop a day as some people i worked with found their remaining hours stretched over five days .

Time with ur granddaughter. Priceless. 💞

Yup and two weeks today ,I’ll be off.

Love this :) sounds 👌

I had it on my mind from 55 (when I could draw my work pension). My in laws passed away 5 weeks apart and I was the one making all the phone calls and arranging everything. DH & BiL not capable. After the 2nd funeral I said to DH “I am handing my notice in tomorrow”, he didn’t believe me. My Manager didn’t believe me either when I told her in a pre arranged meeting. Went back to my desk, composed and pressed send.
I was 62, I have another 13 months until I get SP but we are no worse off, I have a brand new car, two holidays abroad a year and lots of UK breaks. We can afford the heating and eating and eat out on a regular basis. We don’t feel we have had to make compromises. DH hasn’t worked for 20 years due to accident injury and claims PIP and also gets a work pension.

You do have to work out your financial position and my employer provided pre retirement planning from an external company who went through everything on an individual basis to give advice and made me realise it wasn’t the wrong decision.

Yup! Driving to work, 50 mile round commute, cold, wet, dark morning in October, I suddenly thought I'm not doing this anymore. I wasn't enjoying my job and I was very tired, I went to see financial advisor to make sure I had enough money to live on until my pension
( I was 59) and when he said yes I put in my notice and left the week before Christmas, never worked since and I am.so content

I retired at 55 after getting made redundant, just thought thats it had enough of retail work, husband self employed working from home , said go for it, mortgage was paid off, had sometime to myself then took up dog sitting/ walking, I love it, out in all weathers , still doing it now at 64.

I have it every day but can't do it thanks to the Tories raising the retirement age to 67

I loved my job, but it was in a local authority library service and they were 'restructuring' the service, which included, farming out book selection to suppliers and bringing in volunteers to do the lovely jobs like children's story times and adult reading groups. They were also reducing the number of managers, and we would have to compete for the jobs. We were offered redundancy / early retirement packages, so I could afford to retire at 60. It was the best thing I ever did!

I did and left work aged 58.
I have never regretted it for a moment.

To be honest, these "can't wait to retire" posts are a little hard for me to relate to (and I'm well paid but not on the C-Suite track by any means.)

I'm 48 and lucky that I like my job. It's about so much more than the money though. I was self-employed and at home for a while when my kids were younger and when I was out of work I felt that the world was passing me by a bit. Nothing worse than feeling set apart from it all. God willing I'll live a long life - I think average female life expectancy is about 82 where I am - I can't imagine spending 20-25 years just "pottering" about. I love my leisure time in part because it's a contrast from work. Everything in moderation!

Just another perspective.

I got breast cancer at 51. I spent so much time worrying about my lack of pension. Don't be me!

Oh yes - went at 58. Decided 12 hour days - with me still working at my desk in school as the Archers started - was too much. Got a dog, booked a holiday and never looked back. Best decision ever

Early 40s, mortgage paid off, no debt. Pension pot near £1m, low 6 figs in savings. Inexpensive lifestyle. Hope to do it very soon!

Yes, I gave up work at 55. Had enough of the stress and people being rude to me. The workload was forever increasing and the pay wasn't much more than minimum pay rates. Living off my ISA's until I get my state pension. Our mortgage is paid off and we don't have a lavish lifestyle. Wish I'd done it sooner. Absolutely no regrets. I don't have much spending money but I'm a lot happier. 😊

My mum and (step)dad worked their collective socks off to have a great retirement. They managed a couple of "bucket list" holidays (cruises, Caribbean, type) before dad got hit with vascular dementia. Mum spent the next several years watching him disappear before her eyes, before she lost him completely. She died 5 years after him having done nothing but mourn his loss.

If you can afford it, retire early. Do everything you can with whoever you want to. Enjoy every day. Don't leave it too late, don't leave it to the vagaries of health. You can not count on tomorrow.