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?

Congrats to everyone who has a new countdown!

4 months left for me and I'm in the odd position this week of vetting candidates to be my replacement.

I have the option of going part time (3 days) as a wind down, but very much thinking i'll just take the leap. I don't think I could switch off the days I'm not working and the cover in place is likely to be patchy, so in all likelihood I would end up doing the same amount of work for 60% of the pay! Anyone else have that option and decide to just leap? Still in two minds, but 70% sure I'll be off at Christmas!!

@HUSKYPALI did consider this but like you I concluded that I'd end up doing the same work for less pay. No thanks!

I have reduced to 3 days but it's super rare that I dont work on a fourth day, basically unpaid work.
It does give me some flex if I want to finish a bit early occasionally but I can never take all the time back as there just isn't time.
It's still a senior role so I might get phone calls on way home even if I do leave at 4 😅

Not me this year but I’m finishing April 2028 and already mentally counting down. Need to keep the count down in check because I should not be wishing my life away!

I switched to 3 days and have found I rarely think about work at all now when not working. It's given me a much healthier detachment that I didn't have when working 5 days. I log on, do my hours and, before I know it, it's the weekend again.

To add to that for @HUSKYPAL, I'm very strict about saying "these are my hours/days". Occasionally, because I've got stuck into something, I'll do more hours that day but will claw it back. I don't log on at all on my non-working days. And that is completely understood by my employer re anyone part-time. I guess senior senior senior SLT probably do but I'm not at that level.

You're working for free. Why would you do that?

It's a good question. Some answers:

Short staffed
Chronic "yes" person
Finishing in February
I sill have more flexibility than full time
It's tough in health at the moment

7 months for me or 119 works days, have stacked leave up. So end of March but actually 1 day before my 55th birthday. They don’t know yet.

Ooh a secret plan....🕵‍♀️

So I think I'm going to be asked to stay for a bit longer. No replacement lined up yet. The question is, what do I ask for in return? It has to be worth my while.

I guess that would be what would make it worth your while. V what would they be willing to pay v too much and they’d rather you go.

Just don't get sucked into the ....."one more year"..... cycle.

God no. It would be a month at most. Thinking of asking for a 3 day week for my full time salary 😂 If they're desperate, they might go for it!

I just gave notice today that I plan to retire in 3 months. I'm already starting to think "someone else can deal with that after I'm gone"!

Congratulations. That's not long.

I've got 23 weeks left and already thinking similar.
Or rather starting to think about what is possible to complete.

Just been on a short break in UK and it was lovely to use energy usually used up by work to do nice things.

I now have 3 working days left! Eeek!

Exciting!!!

Wow! I can't believe how this year has flown. About 60 working days left for me I think, holiday coming up soon.

It really does fly by the older you get.

Got my claim form from the DWP this morning. I can retire early Jan next year…..if I want to! I’ll think about it!

That's not ling @GenerousGardener
What do you think you're going to do?

I might stay on for a while. I only work two days a week now. It depends on how much the tax man takes. I might stay until my cruise in the summer. It’s nice to have the choice though.

I've decided I'm not staying, not for all the money in the world. I'm done! It just irritates me that I gave 6 months notice so that there could be a decent handover, and they just didn't get their act together.