What do I say....

Rosieandjim

Yes WestTV you are probably right.

longleggedhair

Thank you for the positive comments. I have my money invested in quite a mix of different things, some individual shares, investment trusts (which will be providing the bulk of the income), an income bond from an insurance company, P2P, NSI index linked certificates, and two years of living costs floating around in various current accounts earning between 3-5% (as an insurance policy in the event of everything else collapsing!).

I enjoy my work but moved to P/T due to my health deteriorating and am struggling to manage now even on reduced hours hence why I think it's time to put my plans into action....

I have a small circle of friends and am not a particularly social person so probably won't be coming into huge contact with others, but nevertheless it's more family members I was thinking about....and yes I feel nervous but excited at the same time and I'm looking forward to dropping the responsibility and just doing what I want to do!

skcollo

Tell them you are taking a long career break as you feel you have earned it.

I finished at fifty, I just told anyone who asked I had had enough.

Lend people money ? Dont be silly, there is an old adage "its better to give than to lend" and it usually costs about the same.
No-one was ever dumb enough to ask to borrow money off me.

GunJack

If your health is deteriorating, just tell them that and that you've had to stop work because of it..if they press further tell 'em you've had to go on ill-health benefits

Snakey

Do your family often call you at work/meet you after work or for lunch, or do they live in the same town with a huge network of bored mutual acquaintances so they'll find out whenever you go to the park, shops etc?

It seems strange because it will make such a big difference to you personally, but often nobody else is going to notice. Especially if you are not going to be travelling the world etc but mainly pottering around locally with the only real difference being that instead of being in the office between 9-1 and 2-5 on weekdays you are at home. And since you've already gone part time, it's even less difference than that.

My family, and most of my friends for that matter, would only know if I left my job if I were to tell them.

If you bump in to them up town just say you have the day off/you've switched to mornings/you no longer work Tuesdays or whatever happens to fit. Again, perhaps it's me and my peculiar friends, but I never find people could really care less. If they ask, it's polite small talk - it wouldn't occur to them to quiz me in case I'm hiding something. I suppose if you habitually complain about work they might notice you've stopped doing that! You'll just have to tell them you got a formal warning about slagging off your employer and you can't do it any more.

One new anxiety for your collection - you worry that people will make demands on your money, just you wait till they find our you now have all this spare time! You'll be walking dogs, giving lifts, waiting in for deliveries, watching people's kids after school etc etc before you can say "er, well, actually, I'm not sure I...".

kidmugsy

A_T wrote: »

say you're an international secret agent

Hm, but you'd phrase it along the lines of "I work for the government but I am not allowed to elaborate." Then shoot him.

jamiehelsinki

You can always do it for a year or so to begin with, take time for yourself tell friends/neighbours you have a new job which is home based.
Re assess every year or so whether you want or need to work again to increase your income or because you want to.
Quite a few of my neighbours seem to work from home now, I don't really know what they do but I am envious.

ianthy

I also really finished at age 50 and just said I was taking a career break. It wasn't too far from the truth as we then travelled for 3 years and then returned home. Now age 55 if asked I just say no I don't work.

cloud_dog

longleggedhair wrote: »

I will be 40 when I finish, however if I do leave work and take it easy what do I tell people when they ask me what I do!!

Just tell then you provide 'consultancy services' in your area of expertise.

Say you work from home which provides you with a better work / home balance and that it provides great flexibility in how you choose to work, i.e. if you choose to work from 5pm to 1am that is your choice; as long as you deliver, and it allows you to take time off when you choose, again as long as you deliver.

EDIT: I work in that field and work from home, and no one has a clue what I do. :rotfl:

soulsaver

My cousin who built up and extended a small hotel on Hagley Road in Birmingham before selling out to a London property consortium, when asked what he does used to say '...I'm living on the interest from my overdraft...'