Retirement....is it all it's cracked up to be ?

Stages of life for me.
First day at primary school first day at grammar school, first day at Uni, first day at work, different jobs, then first day of no work which means the change I have coped with throughout my life has happened.
Hopefully enough pension provision has been invested but downsize house to fund expenditure.
Now for changing daily hours and finding things to do for 8 hours.
Break up into 1 or 2 hour slots and start realising simple things need doing and buying rather than missing work.

Not easy continuing to enjoy retirement but do things or life itself decides it is redundant.
 
I cannot wait, and, even though I enjoy what I do, I will embrace not having to work with complete enthusiasm and an abandon not possible with my current schedule. This assumes good health, of course, and that is not possible for many who reach retirement age. Retirement is 10 years away for me, unless I am bequeathed a small fortune.
 
NantwichBlue said:
I'm turning 53 this Saturday (FOC), and on December 31st, 2025, I’ll be finishing work. I wouldn't say I've retired, but what I will say is that I now have the freedom to do as I please. My bucket list is as long as your arm, and I’m looking forward to it ticking many of them off.

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You'll have a fucking ball mate.

I got out at 51, now 63 and honestly the last 12 years have gone in an instant (might be 'cos City are so good).

I was in the right place and at the right time in a Civil Service job and took my full Occ-Pen when I left but.it didn't increase with inflation until I was 55. I was sick to death dealing with fucking idiots who were supposedly on my side on fraud and all the red tape.

Once Mrs Moon's (she retired 8 years ago through ill health but, fine now) father passed we moved out of Oldham to the seaside and now do long prom walks. go for a beer if we fancy it, in fact do what the fuck we want really.

I've become OK+ at DIY, still do City but in a cheaper seat although the travelling is a pain I can walk less than 1/2 mile and I'm here wandering into the sun on the way for a beer.

What else I do? Who knows? but I'm yet to sit down twiddling my thumbs in 12 years.

IMG_20251208_115709987_HDR.jpg
 
mackenzie said:
I'm 62 in a couple of months and have been able to reduce to just 2 days a week a couple of years back. It's perfect, a good balance. I realise not everyone is able to do that but I found it better than just going from work to full retirement.
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Can't imagine having to get up and go into 'our' offices I'm shuddering actually typing it ;).

Can you not manage to make the full break even if it's to do something else less stressful?
 
heslops barnet said:
Keeping up with the Jones’s seems to be the mantra with a lot of folk nowadays.

Trouble is that we’re living in a materialistic society who want all the new things…..
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The thing is that everybody's needs are different.

I certainly don't need the latest gadget or a bigger house. I don't like wasting money on cars so only change every 9/10 years or when the cars starts to play up.

However, going on holiday and eating out are two of the things that give me the most pleasure in life. So whilst I could certainly spend hours reading, walking, improving my DIY, I wouldn't choose to retire until the right level of income is in place.

And whilst I've been working full time for the last 35 years, over the last 10 years, we've been spending a lot of money having a load of amazing holidays pre-retirement - i.e. whilst we are fit enough and have enough money. The idea that life only begins when you retire is, I think, a bit outdated.
 
mackenzie said:
I'm 62 in a couple of months and have been able to reduce to just 2 days a week a couple of years back. It's perfect, a good balance. I realise not everyone is able to do that but I found it better than just going from work to full retirement.
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Work to live not live to work, if you are genuinely happy doing what you do workwise then you're winning.

Too many people judge their own success by how well they've done financially these says, and they are most definitely doing it wrong.
 
I was furloughed during covid and what it did was open my eyes to not being scared of retirement
This was during the summer though, when we had that belting weather. When the country closed down again in the November, it was pretty shit
However, when I retire,for a couple of those winter months I intend to be in warmer climes

62 now, and will definitely pack in work year after next, just after my 64th birthday

As for the poster who said the government want us all to work until we're 70.
That's not quite true
They don't want to be paying a state pension to someone under the age of 70
 
blue b4 the moon said:
Can't imagine having to get up and go into 'our' offices I'm shuddering actually typing it ;).

Can you not manage to make the full break even if it's to do something else less stressful?
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To be honest I got lucky, as my partial retirement coincided with being based out of the main office and dealing only with 18-24 year olds that are considered as the more "job ready" ones. Much smaller caseload and half hour appointments compared to 10/15 minutes. It's like another world to be honest ;-) Thanks for asking x
 
mexico1970 said:
Work to live not live to work, if you are genuinely happy doing what you do workwise then you're winning.

Too many people judge their own success by how well they've done financially these says, and they are most definitely doing it wrong.
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You're right, and having a lot of money has never been important to me.
Peace of mind and connection to others is much more important.
 
RobMCFC said:
The thing is that everybody's needs are different.

I certainly don't need the latest gadget or a bigger house. I don't like wasting money on cars so only change every 9/10 years or when the cars starts to play up.

However, going on holiday and eating out are two of the things that give me the most pleasure in life. So whilst I could certainly spend hours reading, walking, improving my DIY, I wouldn't choose to retire until the right level of income is in place.

And whilst I've been working full time for the last 35 years, over the last 10 years, we've been spending a lot of money having a load of amazing holidays pre-retirement - i.e. whilst we are fit enough and have enough money. The idea that life only begins when you retire is, I think, a bit outdated.
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I've put a list together of Michelin star restaurants I want to tick off over next couple of years that will combine my love of good food and travel.
Sadly there's a few in the US I'm knocking on the head as I've no intention of visiting that shitshow anytime soon.
Food and travel is where it's at for me.
 
blue b4 the moon said:
You'll have a fucking ball mate.

I got out at 51, now 63 and honestly the last 12 years have gone in an instant (might be 'cos City are so good).

I was in the right place and at the right time in a Civil Service job and took my full Occ-Pen when I left but.it didn't increase with inflation until I was 55. I was sick to death dealing with fucking idiots who were supposedly on my side on fraud and all the red tape.

Once Mrs Moon's (she retired 8 years ago through ill health but, fine now) father passed we moved out of Oldham to the seaside and now do long prom walks. go for a beer if we fancy it, in fact do what the fuck we want really.

I've become OK+ at DIY, still do City but in a cheaper seat although the travelling is a pain I can walk less than 1/2 mile and I'm here wandering into the sun on the way for a beer.

What else I do? Who knows? but I'm yet to sit down twiddling my thumbs in 12 years.

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I'd love to live by the sea, missus doesn't fancy it on account of it always being windy <insert facepalm emoji here> Personal circumstances also make it a difficult relocation anyway, so probably wouldn't happen, but I do envy you
 
flook said:
I'd love to live by the sea, missus doesn't fancy it on account of it always being windy <insert facepalm emoji here> Personal circumstances also make it a difficult relocation anyway, so probably wouldn't happen, but I do envy you
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The trick to living by the sea is to choose somewhere warmer than Fleetwood!! Haha!
I've been in Mexico for last 7 months and it's not too bad apart from the occasional hurricane..
 
Phil1 said:
The trick to living by the sea is to choose somewhere warmer than Fleetwood!! Haha!
I've been in Mexico for last 7 months and it's not too bad apart from the occasional hurricane..
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yeah, that wind again though :)

TBH I wouldn't want to live any distance from my daughter in particular, and other family members in general, but each to their own
 
flook said:
I'd love to live by the sea, missus doesn't fancy it on account of it always being windy <insert facepalm emoji here> Personal circumstances also make it a difficult relocation anyway, so probably wouldn't happen, but I do envy you
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It's a balancing act, bit more wind but very much cleaner air and I always think if it's a bad day that people come over here and pay to stay as well as running a home elsewhere, it's like a 365 day free holiday.
 
54 now,paid mortgage off and down sized to Park Home life.( it's not a caravan you cheeky cunts!)
The cost of living for me is much lower so I may do another 5 years tops( if my glass back permits it)although could finish in 2 if necessary.
It's a nice position to be in,feel sorry for these young ones having 35 year mortgages and having to work well in to their sixties to pay it off.
 
I think alot depends on whether you like your job.
I'm lucky, not often do I wake up thinking I don't want to go into work.
I enjoy the challenge and have many friendships at work.
Ideally, I'll reduce to 2-3 days in the next couple of years to get a better work life balance.
 
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