Join me in a 2026 retirement countdown

[loveawineloveacrisp]

Next year is the year I'm going to hang up my corporate boots and retire and I can't wait. I'll be 57 and I want to finish just before Christmas, none of that arguing over who's going to cover the Christmas period nonsense.

Not really sure when I should let my boss know. I'm on 3 months notice so I guess that's plenty of time.

Anyone care to join me in a countdown?

I started my countdown for my retirement in Autumn 2024 and retired this summer.

It will fly by. Are you totally retiring or finding something else to do.

How exciting! I’ll join you, if I may. By this time next year I’ll be working my three months notice and retiring from corporate life in February 2027. Can’t wait!

I wouldn’t tell your boss too early: if there is any chance they might need to make redundancies before the end of the year you’d be better off taking that rather than them just waiting for you to retire.

So I would stick to your 3 months and keep shctum in the meantime.

Congratulations.👍

I also retired at 57 and it has been great, still young enough to enjoy the free time without the feeling of Old Father Time looking over your shoulder.

Just give them the correct amount of notice, the issue will be if you want to keep it a secret from everyone up until the day you do that?
When I went, it was agreed some 8-months in advance so no secret with everyone knowing.

@BG2015I'm retiring completely. Unless I feel the need to do a bit of very part time work if I get bored.

@FollowSpot I've not been there long enough to benefit from redundancy so am not really worried about that.

Congratulations, I'm a few months ahead of you, I retired at the beginning of this December.
It was utter bliss not to have to be concerned with the Christmas rostering.
I agree that you should only tell your employers when necessary to avoid missing out on any potential redundancy payments as you never know what's down the line.

I’ve been debating for a while whether to retire. I’m a nurse and have worked within the NHS for 46 years. I have recently done bank shifts so am not on a permanent contract. I’ve hated getting up in the mornings during the Winter! I also don’t want to have to provide the 3 yearly portfolio for re validation in March so think it’s time to go. I like working in a small team but I don’t think I’ll miss it. I just need to not get lazy and keep busy as my husband works full time in his own business.

I’ll join. I’m 57 next summer and am about to be made voluntarily redundant from my part time job at end Feb 26. I can’t wait. We’ve had a really tough year and I intend to spend a bit of time recovering and getting used to not working, spending more time with my Mum (she’s 82) and the rest of my family. I do want to travel but that will have to wait a year or 2 as will have 2 starting uni in Sept.
Going to find more time to exercise and might eventually look for some ad hoc voluntary work.

Congrats to all with retirement plans this year, something to look forward to 🥂

My last official day as a teacher is today. Tomorrow I am unemployed/retired. (I took redundancy/early retirement. I am 59. Doing supply until the summer then who knows…

@tinytemper66ive been doing primary supply since October and I've really enjoyed it. I only work Tues to Thursday and will only accept pre- booked work. The money isn't brilliant and HMRC have changed my tax code 4 times but hopefully it will all work out come April.

I retired at 57 abd also on three months' notice. I think I resigned around six months before I retired.
Enjoy, it will be the best job youve ever had!

Perhaps check that you are not reducing your pension by doing bank. A lot of your pension will be 'final salary' rather than 'career average'. Might benefit you to go sooner rather than later, depending how long you've done bank for and the pensionable pay for bank and your previous post. Good Facebook page for NHS pensions.

This ⬆️ I retire today, aged 54, gave 3 months notice in October. 🥂🍾 tonight

Thanks for replying. I am nervous. I will actually be on supply doing my own timetable (they have no one in school with the hours to cover the 40hrs!) So supply I we for myself! 🤣 then when someone returns from maternity leave they will be part time and we will share my timetable until the summer. I am quite prepared to have various tax codes! My pension should kick in the first week of January but I haven’t had my official figures so will need to work for income!

I am on the same timeline as @Blondeissimo - mainly so as to get my 2026 bonus hopefully (due jan 27). Totally keeping it quiet til I have to give notice. It’s a lovely feeling though.

I am also retiring in December 2026 and 3 months notice.
I will be 60 then. My husband has already retired.
I like my job but just don’t want to have regrets about not making the most of my time left.
First grandchild expected in 2026. I hope to be quite involved.

I’m finishing on 31 Mar at 56 years and 9 months. I’m beyond excited and looking forward to moving and enjoying time with my husband who has been retired for over 2 years. Literally counting down the days.

I am retiring 31st March 2026, approx 60 working days, have printed out a calendar and cross off the days since we made the decision in November. I am 60, husband 58, we met and got married late in life and have decided that we want spend quality time enjoying the things we want to do.

Me too! I’ve only been working 2 days a week this last couple of years in a job I’ve been in 8 years (used to combine it with another part time job) and plan to finish end of March. I’ll be 68 on 2 April and my husband, same age, has just retired, slightly unexpectedly earlier than planned due to a corporate reorganisation. I want us to make the most of the time we have left while we can. And enjoy life more. Haven’t officially resigned yet, I’m on one month’s notice, but won’t be able to put off planning to recruit my replacement once I’m back to work in the new year. Slightly nervous about giving up salary as we don’t yet have full details of projected pension income, but am assured we won’t starve. Really looking forward to it and have now really lost my work mojo!

@threescoopswe have worked out our budget and like you feel we won’t starve, will be better off once our state pensions kicks in, but life really is too short. There is a possibility that I may be made redundant so I am holding off my notice until last possible moment.

Most of you are so young! I’m 60 in March and won’t be retiring for years. I work full time and am envious of you. My DH retired at 63 but I’m looking at perhaps 65.

I was ready to keep working but I took voluntary redundancy/early retirement. It pushed me into the decision really. I would have worked about 2 more years.
my husband has been retired for 2 years now.

I was always going to retire at 60 and had made provision to do so but the chance then came along to go 3-years early (with minimal financial penalty) so I took it.

No regrets.

I'm also thinking of retiring at the end of 2026. Will be 62 so hoping small private pension and savings will be enough to see me through till state pension kicks in.