Tips on making it to finish line.

CarrierbagsAndPJs · 21/02/2026 20:32

Yoga?

Tresesgreen · 21/02/2026 21:30

Hopthegoodgod · 21/02/2026 20:31

Full time teacher here and got another 4.5 years to go until I can afford to retire at 65. I am often incredibly tired but do enjoy the job and have managed to get my role into 45 hours a week with no home or weekend working. I am full of general aches and pains but nothing serious and in good health atm . Has anyone got any useful tips on how to keep going until 65? I am free at weekends with no ties but weekday eves are out of the question as tucked up in bed by 8.30. What has worked for you ? I already take many different supplements and get a monthly masssage.

I’m 53 and I’m going this year but pulling my pension at 55. Taking it early. No much of a decrease and get it for much longer. Then get the state pension. Between us we will have £50K at 55 and £74K at 67.

My normal retirement age for full pension is 60 and I’m younger than you are you checking your pensions on TPS calculators?

Original poster

Hopthegoodgod · 21/02/2026 22:00

Tresesgreen · 21/02/2026 21:30

I’m 53 and I’m going this year but pulling my pension at 55. Taking it early. No much of a decrease and get it for much longer. Then get the state pension. Between us we will have £50K at 55 and £74K at 67.

My normal retirement age for full pension is 60 and I’m younger than you are you checking your pensions on TPS calculators?

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Unfortunately I started teaching late and didn't start paying in until 2013. Had a private pension with company prior to that but not as generous as TPS. That combined with living in large , older property which needs alot if tlc means I need to have a certain figure annually. Don't want to sell as love living here. Also son in Australia so annual trips are lengthy and costly.

OP posts:

Kirschcherries · 25/02/2026 20:03

@Hopthegoodgod I assume going part time is also out of the equation. Have you investigated retiring earlier but doing tutoring, invigilation, marking etc. to top up your pension?

Keep eating healthy and keep walking - physical mobility is very easy to lose. Maximise school holidays by using them to try out new hobbies, things you would like to do/do more off when retired. Use weekend for self care.

Also quietly quit - don’t volunteer for anything extra unless you want to do it.

Make sure you have your finances tied down - by that I mean know what your expenses in retirement are and what income you will have.

I had a count down calendar with milestones. As a teacher if you are looking at retiring in July 2030 you have 13 terms after Easter (I hope my maths is right 😂)

Original poster

Hopthegoodgod · 26/02/2026 07:10

Kirschcherries · 25/02/2026 20:03

@Hopthegoodgod I assume going part time is also out of the equation. Have you investigated retiring earlier but doing tutoring, invigilation, marking etc. to top up your pension?

Keep eating healthy and keep walking - physical mobility is very easy to lose. Maximise school holidays by using them to try out new hobbies, things you would like to do/do more off when retired. Use weekend for self care.

Also quietly quit - don’t volunteer for anything extra unless you want to do it.

Make sure you have your finances tied down - by that I mean know what your expenses in retirement are and what income you will have.

I had a count down calendar with milestones. As a teacher if you are looking at retiring in July 2030 you have 13 terms after Easter (I hope my maths is right 😂)

Thanks so much for this sound advice. 👍🏼

OP posts:

IamMummyhearmeROAR · 26/02/2026 07:18

55 year old teacher here too. The job is unrecognisable to what it was when I started at 22. It’s now much more physical- I always wear trainers because pursuits often feature in a working week! As I get older I’m less able to cope with the lack of predictability and the volatility. But I love so many parts of it and am in a great team. Just watching with interest as how I can thrive in my last 5 years of full time

Decorhate · 08/03/2026 09:37

The quiet quitting is good advice.
Some schools run so many residential or overseas trips in the holidays that teachers don't get a chance to recharge. Also things like drama productions that take months of after school rehearsals.

It's good that you can get all your work done in the daytime. I see so many young teachers bemoaning the marking they have to do in the evening which they could get done at school if they didn't waste their free periods chatting in the staff room!

MN2025 · 09/03/2026 20:51

Hopthegoodgod · 21/02/2026 20:31

Full time teacher here and got another 4.5 years to go until I can afford to retire at 65. I am often incredibly tired but do enjoy the job and have managed to get my role into 45 hours a week with no home or weekend working. I am full of general aches and pains but nothing serious and in good health atm . Has anyone got any useful tips on how to keep going until 65? I am free at weekends with no ties but weekday eves are out of the question as tucked up in bed by 8.30. What has worked for you ? I already take many different supplements and get a monthly masssage.

I’m coming up for 62 this year and retiring in August - I’ve done 40 years in education and it’s time to move on.

I’ve been counting down the last 5 years just like you -

for me it’s all about having an active work life balance - which can be hard as a headteacher but I very rarely work weekends - I get all my work done in the week - and the weekends are for myself to enjoy - go on walks, meet up with friends and family and hobbies! In my early years of teaching, I’d work until 10pm at night and work every Sunday - and I look back and it’s often admin tasks that were somewhat needless!

My successor was appointed this week - retirement feels that more real now!