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 know how much notice I need to give to retire so I tell myself that all the time - I'm only x months away. And that time goes very quickly. I've not quite got a Gucci bag job but people will apply for it and I have a good deal (served my time so I feel okay with that). But I am very bored and I don't care about anything. Tbh, that helps me detach. Every time I think of The Date, another curve ball turns up to set it back. But I'm only ever x months away.

@dudsville Yeah, I know what you mean. I have a MN mythical job (>100k plus benefits) fully homebased and flexible. I should be loving it and proud of what I have achieved, but I don't. I have all the cake I can eat, and am sick of cake.

About 5 years ago I went through full burnout and I am not sure I ever really recovered. Yesterday I had to access some of the files related to the project from 5 years ago and it left me feeling tearful and low again. I still feel flat today. The only way I am going to recover is quitting. But I am too senior to move company (it's a pretty niche role for UK) and too young to retire yet.

I feel exactly like that @damekindness, my organisation is like a toxic relationship I'm trying to move away from. And I'm also finding the mornings soooo hard @loveawineloveacrisp ,efficient is silly because up until the pandemic I was out of the house at 6.30 every morning. Since then I can sleep in until 7, have a pot of tea in bed until 8am, the luxury is crazy. But it's not enough. I'm done.

And those feelings of burnout, @PersimmonsAreNotTheOnlyFruit , it didn't occur to me that I might be until I was listening to a friend talk about the presentation she was giving on burnout and I just started crying. But I might just be angry at my organisation, only time will tell.

I feel like I took the first step in planning for my retirement today by taking out annual membership of a London art gallery! One of my plans is to have at least one day each month in the city.

That sounds exciting! I really hope I renew my interest in this like that. At the moment, and for the past several years, things like that sound exhausting, but I used to love it.

Bit of a belated response. I would be looking to book a winter sun holiday in January. It also saves on the heating 😂

I have a March winter sun holiday booked already to celebrate being freeeeeeeeeee!!!

We've booked a 28 day holiday to Egypt for £1600 each All Inclusive for the 2nd January.Last year the time after Christmas was so bleak. £57 per day for 3 meals plus snacks and drinks. It's a hotel we know and we plan to walk everyday, swim (pools are heated) and just relax.

Im in a similar boat - really ideal job with the right amount of stress and well paid. I go back and forward whether to retire or not as could afford to now. But I just keep thinking would I regret it if money became tight in the future plus working keeps me engaged and brain active. I’ve decided to keep going for now but there isn’t an easy answer. If I suddenly had to leave I would be ok with that too. Keeping working will lead to a better retirement though

Maybe it's the arrival of summer, or maybe I've worked through all the angst of decision making, I don't know, but I'm fully into a feeling of relief and excitement now. Seven months to go still, and that seems like such a long time to wait, but I'm already starting to feel lighter.

Same here. 7 months to go and decision made, I think, after deliberating about just getting 'one more bonus.' The thought of work in the heat tomorrow after a lovely long weekend is a bit depressing but not long to go.

Re missing this bonus, are you PAYE? If so then your tax is spread out across 12 months and you can apply for a rebate for the jan/feb/Mar period.

Actually I didn't mean to sound so certain, it's just something I was reading about yesterday

Tomorrow is my last day officially at work!!! I’ve been off sick since July last year, first off from February, tried and failed to go back!
I’ve been in two minds but it’s definitely the right thing to do. I think I’d die working as I was so exhausted, blood pressure through the roof and my
now life long conditions are only going to get worse or hopefully stay the same, but not get better.
im 54, studied years to get a degree and PhD so was committed to a long xareer, its a bit shorter than expected, but having spent since July weighing things up, its best for me.
i go in Thursday to take my stuff back and collect my bits and bobs.
so tomorrow it’ll be 🍾🥂

Best of luck @StormyLandCloud

Yes, I'll do that anyway. Bonus would've gone straight into pension so no tax impact but would need to hang on til the end of March.

Well done on feeling in a good place about finishing, I'm 56 and my last employed day is today too 🥳. I've been on leave for nearly a month and I'm definitely getting used to not working! Have a lovely day and celebrate what you have achieved 😊

Just found this thread and read through with interest. can I join?!

I have 17 working days left until I retire, at 60! Having resisted literally ticking the days off until I go, I cracked recently and am doing that each evening.

In my case the decision was motivated by ill health (my husband) and made possible by my father leaving me some money that will allow us to top up our income until various pensions come through. I’m lucky to be in 3 final salary pension schemes, two of which I’m taking early.

My plans are - art (looking at and doing - will take some classes), sewing, some volunteering, gardening, travel, sleeping in (though I should be so lucky - I’m waking up at about 5am what with the heat, anticipation etc ..).

I’m a little anxious about the actual leaving. I don’t like being the centre of attention and there will be some so am practicing my grin and bear it position. And the finances are a worry despite what I said above - living on savings and not earning anything will be a shock.

@WobblyLondoner It’s natural to feel anxious but if you are a saver ayou will find you are able to manage your money.

Have a look at organisations like u3a and WEA (Workers Education Association).

Oh congratulations @WobblyLondoner !! I'm incredibly envious. I'm sitting here having a glass of sunday evening wine because I feel sick at setting my retirement date so far away. I have moments of a real wave of happiness and relief at having set the date, a wave that I think surely must carry me through, interspersed with real low ebbs that I still have so many months ahead of me.

@dudsville I was in your position last year (I saw your post earlier about bring seven months off). It went very fast for me, especially the last three! There is definitely a shift once you move from thinking about it in weeks rather than months. Good luck with it all.

The first of the month marks another month down for me. Seven to go. Feels like forever!

Ours is 2027 DH will 67 and i will be 66 , 26 months!

I’m now at 4 & it still feels like forever!
I have my offer, I need to choose an option - my compensation or my compensation plus pension upload the documents & then start my notice!

I think once the end date goes on my record, and then I add my leave it’s going to start going quickly, well I hope it will! 🤣

It’s so busy at work, one team member off sick, another one going at the same time as me who seems to have thrown the towel in’ meh!

Apart from things that are already planned I might actually use my leave to work 4 day weeks - start my transition! 👐👐👐

@rockstarshoes it was the last 3 months that just sped by for me! I ended up saving my annual leave and taking it at the end, so I get a month’s pay after I finish.