Decision made

That seems to be most peoples experience , but thankfully not one I share .My alarm was set to 5-30am for 35 years and everyone told me that I would still wake at that time. How happy I was to prove them wrong
When I first retired I did consider still setting the alarm so that I could throw it at the wall and go back to sleep.

 

In summer I get up at 5:30am and in winter any time I want to, if I'm off fishing I'm probably getting up at 2:00am, I can get up whenever I want and do whatever I want every day of the week and I make the most of it.

If we'd carried on working we'd of had loads of money but no time to enjoy spending it.

 

Thanks everyone - encouraging to know that some have already taken this route and all went well. 55 is the earliest I can access the pension without my employers agreement. My pension is linked to the state retirement age - which as you know is increasing - I'm certainly not working into my late 60's (assuming I'm still here that is ). I'm going for it

 

Lots of sensible stuff said already which covers a lot of what I'd say. I retired early and it was the best thing I ever did. I worked pretty much since I was 17 so I'd done my bit. My retirement happened almost accidentially, but I was lucky enough though not to have any financial concerns which eases the decision, but even if I'd worked out we'd be on a tight budget I'd have done the same.

I think you are very fortunate going part-time as this will be an ideal testing period as well as giving you time to get your non-work life more how you'd like it so when it comes to the crunch you'll be in a good position to judge for the best.

Wishing you the best of luck! Bon courage!

GG

 

I've had one 10p/litre voucher already, off to Sainsburys again tomorrow, but I'm doing it a different way to above, buying a minimum of 10 items and including branded items on offer at Asda, plus items with cashback on and the most expensive product we can find where the manufacturer will refund cost if you send them the receipt.

So we 'spend' £30, get about £4 Brand Match back, £2.75 refund for not liking a product, and another £5 or so cashback items (and if any of those are cheaper at Asda we get further Brand Match refund in addition to being reimbursed the cost by others), plus use whatever printable coupons are around to get a few more pounds off. That will get us our £7 off petrol voucher for a net spend of only about £15 and we get '£30's worth' of shopping. Sometimes the coupons get more money off than the items cost (when on multi-save) and there's also say a £4 off £30 shop voucher to use. Last week's Sainsburys shop cost us pennies after deductions.

Last Sunday we came home with 9 carrier bags stuffed full of food that cost a total of 81p after using coupons that got the products free + money off our shopping, buying reduced multi-saves where the original saving is taken off at full price, bags of expensive wholemeal bread @ 10p loaf and fruit and veg again all at 10p. Also found a £5.50 Tesco Price Promise voucher from the day before blowing around the car park and used that. The £20+ stuff we bought at Waitrose came down to £1.88 at the checkout, but £1.15 was something for a neighbour, and we claimed £1.70 cashback on another item, so after £1 car parking was paid for it cost 3p. Did something similar previous Sunday and included a Mail on Sunday as our free newspaper (free as part of £10 shop) that had a code o get a £3 Waitrose gift card sent to us so made a profit on that shop.

Never had time for that sort of thing when I was working, too busy saving other people money.

 

I retired early at 52.. It was partly down to an accident that I packed up as I intended to retire at 55..
For me it was a disaster. I was bored within weeks and to be honest became depressed to the point I had eventually to seek medical help..

Now at 58 I'm Semi retired having returned to manage the company I started 30 odd years ago and sold when I retired at 52.

I cant imagine ever retiring completely now. And I'm happy doing what I do best and that's work. I bet a few here can empathise with this as I think its a generation thing. We work full stop.

So it seems the OP of this thread has it nailed. Drop down to part time and decide from there. Perfect and I wish the very best of luck and health to enjoy !

Charlie.

 

In theory, I could probably retire now. However, since we had to move last year, we had to take on a small mortgage. I'm fortunate enough to have a final salary pension, which comes with a lump sum option. Do I want to retire? Not sure, if I'm being honest. Thing is, I'm my own worst enemy, being something of a lazy git I guess when I reach the tipping point (financial security), I'll be looking for a part-time job, maybe 15 hours a week. This will give me a reason to get my lazy @rse out of bed

 

I don't have enough hours in the day and days in the week to do all the stuff I want to in my retirement. The campsites open in 11 days time and I'm already planning trips, checking out tides for sea fishing starting in April, getting loads of plants coming on under lights, starting to get things ready at the plot, getting bikes ready for better weather, planning photography walks/visits, days out, etc., I couldn't fit any work in even if I wanted to.

P.S. Free New Covent Garden soups are back, £1 coupons from their website, £1/carton at Morrisons, that will keep our shopping bills down, got a big purchase coming up.

 

excellent! I have a feeling you will really enjoy your time

 

Well done Canless & I wish you the best of luck, it's already been said but don't let work bully you into doing more than you want to do! I think you have done the right thing, how fantastic it will be for you to have more time doing the things you want to do.
We had a conversation at work yesterday about retiring we were all guessing how much money we would need...it's a bit of a mine field, but I think I've worked out my figure!
Hubby & I never wanted any children (not because we don't like kids, just never wanted any!) we work very hard
& long hours a lot of the time, we save hard & aren't flash people. The best thing we did was repaid our mortgage (I was only 30 at the time!) we are saving hard & we use every money off coupon/offer we can so when we've had enough of the daily grind hopefully we can either go part time or retire early, I enjoy working & work with some really lovely people, I'm only 38 so I feel I still have several years work in me as yet but like you I will know when the times right!
Any top tips you senior people can give me to help me on my way will be much appreciated!
Best of luck & I shall look forward to hearing about all the lovely things you will have time to enjoy....good on you!