Early-retirement wannabe

tetrarch

Another similar story....

I retired last Jul-19 at 54. My father also died, but very suddenly at 75, nearly 6 years ago.

He retired at 60 and never regretted a moment. I wanted that and now have 5 more years to play with

Regards

Tet

Anonymous101

Reading these comments certainly spur's me on!

bluenose1

itm2 wrote: »

Yes! I have never lost the huge sense of luxury that I feel when I wake up and see that it's an hour later than I would usually have arrived at the office!

Rub it in why don't you.:)
I am so looking forward to not getting up at 6am to start work at 7am. Not sure if it's because the end is in sight, but really feeling it this winter.
Roll on retirement.

gfplux

Great to hear so many positive retirement stories.
I am 75 and retired when I was 52.
Retirement has and is a wonderful thing.
One positive for me was that upon retirement I found time to get fitter and even today I am determined to keep my enjoyment of retirement going for as long as I can.
Good luck everybody.

itm2

gfplux wrote: »

Great to hear so many positive retirement stories.
One positive for me was that upon retirement I found time to get fitter and even today I am determined to keep my enjoyment of retirement going for as long as I can.

That's a really good point. I too am alot fitter than before retirement - playing tennis and badminton every week, and golf every week in the warmer months. Also trying to keep the brain fit by learning the piano and getting into guitar again.
I've never been enthusiastic about keeping fit (and never kept fit while working), but I think it'll allow me to continue enjoying retirement for alot longer. I figure if I'm lucky I still have 15 or so years to keep doing all of the things that I enjoy, after which the brain and/or body will start ruling things out (if I'm still around, anyway). The way the last few years have flown by, 15 years doesn't seem like a long time!

Bravepants

itm2 said:

gfplux wrote: »

Great to hear so many positive retirement stories.
One positive for me was that upon retirement I found time to get fitter and even today I am determined to keep my enjoyment of retirement going for as long as I can.

That's a really good point. I too am alot fitter than before retirement - playing tennis and badminton every week, and golf every week in the warmer months. Also trying to keep the brain fit by learning the piano and getting into guitar again.
I've never been enthusiastic about keeping fit (and never kept fit while working), but I think it'll allow me to continue enjoying retirement for alot longer. I figure if I'm lucky I still have 15 or so years to keep doing all of the things that I enjoy, after which the brain and/or body will start ruling things out (if I'm still around, anyway). The way the last few years have flown by, 15 years doesn't seem like a long time!

I'm 52 in May and am counting down the days. If I was brave I could go this year, but I'm trying at least to get to 55. I'm happy in the knowledge that I could just walk away at any point after this year though. I also play piano (ABRSM Grade 6), and guitar (still a rookie despite having one since I was a teenager!) and I play badminton once a week too! I got into music, proper, quite late in life, which I regret! But it's a fantastic hobby for the mind and maintaining co-ordination skills. I would like more time and energy for piano, guitar and electronic music production. I gave up piano lessons Christmas before last because I was too tired after work to travel to my lessons and sitting in rush hour traffic! I've also just started running with the aim of getting fit prior to retirement and staying fit during!

thriftytracey

I retired in May 2019 aged 59.  It has been great so far.  I signed on with my local U3A and do French, Music Appreciation, Art Appreciation, Book Group and attend the interesting monthly talks.  I also do weekly yoga, pilates and gardening, plus Lets Meet Up Explore by Paw walks.  I read loads more books and have more time to practice my piano playing.  Have had lots of outings and lunches out.  We have been away in our caravan in France for 7 weeks and also visited Cornwall for three weeks.  Been to cinema and National Trust. 

Negatives - Disappointment with the weather this winter so decided to go to Spain for a couple of months next year.  I have also put on weight!  Too much home cooking and lunches out ....

It is also good to take advantage of the "senior" offers (I am soon 60!!).  Cheaper lunches, dinners, cinema tickets etc.  I am managing to keep to my budget each month.  

My pension fund has increased in value so far (draw down) even after deductions for the IFA and pension provider costs.

The only cloud on the horizon is worrying about a worldwide recession and how it will affect the funds which we keep being warned is going to happen sooner or later, probably sooner.

We have had one unexpected expense - roof repairs, the cost of which will need to come out of savings - as that is what they are there for I guess.

I miss the banter at work but other than that I do not miss the commute, lack of sleep, performance targets, office politics, exhaustion etc.

Go for it.  You never know what is around the corner, health-wise as happened to some of my contemporaries.

ffacoffipawb

thriftytracey said:

I retired in May 2019 aged 59.  It has been great so far.  I signed on with my local U3A and do French, Music Appreciation, Art Appreciation, Book Group and attend the interesting monthly talks.  I also do weekly yoga, pilates and gardening, plus Lets Meet Up Explore by Paw walks.  I read loads more books and have more time to practice my piano playing.  Have had lots of outings and lunches out.  We have been away in our caravan in France for 7 weeks and also visited Cornwall for three weeks.  Been to cinema and National Trust. 

Negatives - Disappointment with the weather this winter so decided to go to Spain for a couple of months next year.  I have also put on weight!  Too much home cooking and lunches out ....

It is also good to take advantage of the "senior" offers (I am soon 60!!).  Cheaper lunches, dinners, cinema tickets etc.  I am managing to keep to my budget each month.  

My pension fund has increased in value so far (draw down) even after deductions for the IFA and pension provider costs.

The only cloud on the horizon is worrying about a worldwide recession and how it will affect the funds which we keep being warned is going to happen sooner or later, probably sooner.

We have had one unexpected expense - roof repairs, the cost of which will need to come out of savings - as that is what they are there for I guess.

I miss the banter at work but other than that I do not miss the commute, lack of sleep, performance targets, office politics, exhaustion etc.

Go for it.  You never know what is around the corner, health-wise as happened to some of my contemporaries

I went at 55, best thing i ever did.

MallyGirl

Bravepants said:

itm2 said:

gfplux wrote: »

Great to hear so many positive retirement stories.
One positive for me was that upon retirement I found time to get fitter and even today I am determined to keep my enjoyment of retirement going for as long as I can.

That's a really good point. I too am alot fitter than before retirement - playing tennis and badminton every week, and golf every week in the warmer months. Also trying to keep the brain fit by learning the piano and getting into guitar again.
I've never been enthusiastic about keeping fit (and never kept fit while working), but I think it'll allow me to continue enjoying retirement for alot longer. I figure if I'm lucky I still have 15 or so years to keep doing all of the things that I enjoy, after which the brain and/or body will start ruling things out (if I'm still around, anyway). The way the last few years have flown by, 15 years doesn't seem like a long time!

I'm 52 in May and am counting down the days. If I was brave I could go this year, but I'm trying at least to get to 55. I'm happy in the knowledge that I could just walk away at any point after this year though. I also play piano (ABRSM Grade 6), and guitar (still a rookie despite having one since I was a teenager!) and I play badminton once a week too! I got into music, proper, quite late in life, which I regret! But it's a fantastic hobby for the mind and maintaining co-ordination skills. I would like more time and energy for piano, guitar and electronic music production. I gave up piano lessons Christmas before last because I was too tired after work to travel to my lessons and sitting in rush hour traffic! I've also just started running with the aim of getting fit prior to retirement and staying fit during!

You sound like me. Also 52 and counting the days. I could go at 55 but DH won't - he'd rather work a bit longer as he, in his own words, is not frugal. We do also have some big/expensive travel plans so he is probably right. I am aiming for 58. I bought an electric piano to learn on. That was 20 years ago and I have not made any progress - since then I have had a daughter and watched her reach grade 8 in 2 instruments, one being piano. I also bought a tenor recorder to learn as I love the sound. Again no progress!
I joined a running club last January and am entered for my first 10k in May. I just want to get round without resorting to walking or being pulled up because I am so slow and they want to reopen the roads!!!! I have also joined a triathlon club but that is just to get access to swim sessions as all the local pools have been closed due to lack of funding - I had to learn to swim crawl before I could join. I am never going to do a triathlon.

Clive_Woody

ffacoffipawb said:

I went at 55, best thing i ever did.

That's my target age for calling it a day, or at last having the option to retire and start spending some money.