Early retirement, did people question your choices?

[Floofydawg]

I'm planning on retiring at the end of this year, by which time I'll be 57. Professional, well paid job. I'm just tired of it all. I'll have a fairly comfortable retirement but I won't be rich. My thinking is that you can't get the time back, but I could always earn a bit more money at some point if I felt I needed to.

When I've told friends and family, some of them are questioning my choices quite hard. Family are very money driven and they can't understand why I would give up a well paid job this young.

If you retired early, did you have people questioning you? Did you regret your choice?

No, but I was caring for my husband. I dropped to a 4 day wk when I was 57 and couldn't get a 3 dy week for the following yr, so took early retirement.

I haven't had a free degree though. I didn't go to uni, like many people at that time. And as I worked from 18 that's 39 years of working.

Strange logic.

Id politely ask someone I knew well if it was a good idea, would part time be an option instead. In the extended family we have a number of 70 yos, the ones who worked into their 60s are active and independent. The few that retired in their 50s behave more like 90yos. Its a very marked difference and not related to any health issues.

But is it possible that the younger retirees had worse health, or much heavier jobs, which have affected their ability to age well?

I retired in my late 50s. Most people think I'm still that sort of age but they're now a decade out!

I retired at age 51 and I got a mixture of ‘wouldn’t know what to do with myself’ through to ‘you lucky person’. I also noted a lot of people like OhDear111 who thought that you need millions in the bank to retire early. We ran our numbers past our IFA who didn’t seem worried in the least of us ruining out of money in 20+ years time assuming we even live that long.

My motivation was that I had worked since I was 16 and seen many people not make it to 60 let alone state retirement age. You only get one life and don’t know what is round the corner therefore I am living it now while I still have my health.

I think it depends on mindset. If you park yourself in front of the TV for the next few decades, then that isn't good. But most people don't do that, unless they have a lot of health issues. Most of the people I know who retired early do voluntary work, look after the grandkids, travel etc.

I think it is definitely a generational thing, everyone i know my age would retire tomorrow if they could

What makes you think it's a generational thing? People have been retiring in their 50s for decades. Others prefer to keep working.

The only way you would "regret" retiring early is if are not in a financially sound place

Not necessarily. You could feel bored, lacking in purpose, socially isolated. Posters on this board tend to be in the Ra! Ra! Retirement Rocks group but for many the reality is very different.

This. When you see friends not making it even to 60, it gives you a different perspective.

well If someone needs work to stay active and independent they are perhaps lacking in the imagination department. I retired at 55 ( last August ) from the police because I was completely ground down. My DH also retired at 54 from the police. I have since found a very part time freelance role that I would prefer not to be doing but I wanted to top my pension up a bit. I actually had a fabulous few months before I started it in December. I played tennis 3 or 4 times a week, swam, used the gym, went to exhibitions and made some new friends. This year I’ve started a big decorating project so that’s going to keep me busy probably the whole year. I could mention half a dozen other hobbies that I would be keen to try but I don’t need to do everything at once. The only person who has been negative is my mum but she’s always been a martyr about being busy. She’s in her 80’s and very comfortably off but she hasn’t got time to read the papers because she has so much to do. 🤷‍♀️

I retired at 58. Most people were envious

I retired at 48. I simply didn’t tell anyone (except husband obvs) until I had done it. None of their business. When I told people afterwards it is a different conversation. More ‘wow! So what are you going to do now? Telling them in advance invites speculation and input into the decision, it’s natural. If you don’t want that, just don’t bring up the topic.
No, I have never regretted my decision. I miss my old income not gonna lie but never missed the work and didn’t miss the income enough to be prepared to work for it. I actually ended up doing part time work in a completely different area on my own terms somewhat by chance that I love but had I not worked again, that would have been fine by me too.

I was 52, DH was 55 (4 years ago), we had a few comments such as we bet you go back to work and what will you do all day and that type of thing . Once we got into a routine of lots of holidays and we joined golf clubs/spas and so on the comments stopped.

Do what you want to. I'd love to be able to do that! Haha!

I’m not retired but anytime anyone has told me they are retiring “early” I’ve said good for you and how exciting. Because they are grown ups and I’ve got to assume they’ve made the decision wisely and also I know nothing about their financial situation nor would I ask.

my dm was always super critical of my dh after he was made redundant and struggled to find work in his 60s, gave up completely at 67 after working very part time since redundancy.
she kept her mouth well shut when her other son in law, the golden one, retired at 58!

i dont know other people's pensions and ages so cannot comment but it is alien to me

I’m nearly 55 and was made redundant a year ago… had a few interviews but no job offers. This may morph into early retirement. The con is that working another 3 years would make life more comfortable and I’m not quite ready to hang up boots. The pro… I can find plenty of things to do that don’t need lots of money. I’ve also got an elderly parent who is needing more support. I say it’s your decision OP and no one else’s.

OP, I took early retirement at the end of 2025 at age 58. So I'm a month in already! I checked the pension simulator several times and drew up my annual budget. The numbers told me I could live very comfortably.
I bought a flat abroad in which to spend part of the year and and am having it renovated. I play sport and love the arts, plenty to do. Have hardly given the office a second thought. Everyone I told was either supportive or jealous.

Well, I went at 60.
I've only had comments like "Don't blame you" or "I wish I could" or "I'm just holding on until youngest dc finishes University"

I've not had anyone think it is a poor decision.

I'm 50 this month and will partially retire in 4 weeks, fully retire at 55 and have plans to move abroad. I've worked for the NHS since I was a teenager and have had enough! I won't be bored sitting by my pool drinking cocktails and having long leisurely lunches.
Life is for living, could drop dead at any given minute!

It's no one else's business unless you're asking them to fund your retirement.

I'm getting things in order so that I can retirement at 60 if I feel ready then (51 now). I actually really like my job (lawyer) and may keep going longer or go part time l/do consultancy for a few years instead but will see. My main reason is that my husband is 13 years older and we would like to enjoy some retirement years together while we are both still fit enough to enjoy travelling etc.

My dad retired as soon as he possibly could, age 55 as he just didn't like working. He got my mum to agree on the basis he would do 1-2 days locum work a week but he never did. So it was quite hard on her as she had to keep working until she was over 70 to make ends meet. I didn't say anything but I was quite tempted to! My point is that is different when it directly affects someone else.

Not asking anyone else to fund me, not even my husband? He'll be a couple of years behind me but he's fully supportive.

I retired at the same age in 2018. Never regretted it, I have a defined benefits indexed linked pension though.

I retired from a senior job at the same age. My colleagues were really surprised that I would give up the status and salary so easily. I have never regretted it. I have my freedom and enough money to live well without stress. It helps that, unlike most of my old colleagues, I am not at all interested in having new cars and the latest fashion.

Do it . I left a highly paid job in my early 50s and went part time in a lower stress role. I also picked up some ‘seasonal’ work, including tutoring in my degree subject and light gardening work for my local landscaper ( well, weeding, mostly)
I have used savings but have not touched my pension and have fully paid up my NI.

Yes, I had a free degree , but I worked through uni, and have paid a fuck-ton of tax.

Others did judge my choices, but I am healthier , happier and enjoying my life more.

Good for you! I retired at 58, my OH was 60 and we had both had enough of increasingly stressful but not that well paid jobs.

We have never been big spenders but had no mortgage and good savings. Life is sweet, we get plenty of exercise, we have creative hobbies, volunteer and still travel. Budget airlines and self catering, but have never been the 5 star types.

Life is what you make it and we've never been happier ☺️ Retire!