How to keep going for the last couple of years

GunJack

JoeEngland wrote: »

Rural is good for me, but that's a good point about jobs. A few weeks back I had a quick look on a jobs board and there weren't many jobs on Anglesey, but at least the mainland is nearby. Are there any rural areas on the mainland that you'd recommend I look into?

You may have more joy on the outskirts of Bangor/Caernarfon just because there's more non-seasonal employment around there, and less travelling to supermarkets and the like. A lot depends on what you're used to now and how rural you want to go.

zagubov

Any time I've handed in notice, it's given me a second wind.

You start to think of how you can leave it a better (or no worse a) place and you'll feel so de-stressed you'll want to help your workmates who don't have the same escape plan.

crv1963

Hi JoeEngland,


I also feel the pain! Theoretically I could go this October but financially we can't quite manage it. Our plan is work 1-3 years more and in that time we're a) building up the buffer monies to last from retiring to SP age b) sorting/ repairing/ age proofing the house c) taking holidays d) planning what we want to do with the retirement time itself.


To stay motivated at work, I have sought a different role in a different team, I appreciate doing that depends on what you do for a living now and isn't always a choice. If you are "stuck" in your job then the planning and countdown is the way to go IMO.


Having handed in my notice with my current manager my mindset has gone to "this is my last Team meeting/ my last session with so and so/ only 38 working days left etc". If I feel even half as liberated when I put my notice in to retire..............I will be so happy!

fred246

zagubov wrote: »

Any time I've handed in notice, it's given me a second wind.

You start to think of how you can leave it a better (or no worse a) place and you'll feel so de-stressed you'll want to help your workmates who don't have the same escape plan.

I have retired early by earning a lot and saving a good proportion. One of my colleagues in a similar position to me was saying to others that he'd regretted sending 4 children to private school. He also spent a fortune on cars. One of poorest members of staff basically on minimum wage came up to me and wished me a very long and happy retirement. He told me to enjoy spending all my extra free time with my family and hobbys etc. I was nearly in tears. I was trying to think of any way I could help him to retire early apart from giving him my money and I carry on. It did get me thinking about class divisions in retirement. The poorest will retire the latest and then die the soonest. The rich will retire early and live longer.

OldMusicGuy

JoeEngland wrote: »

OMG, where are you hoping to move to? I've got some ideas for us, one of which is Anglesey so we're going there for a long weekend this year to have a look around.

We currently live in Berkshire and plan to move to the Gloucestershire/Somerset area. Stroud currently tops the list. We want to go somewhere a bit more "funky" (not in the musical sense I hasten to add).

We want to get a smaller place that will suit just the two of us for the next 20 years or longer (hopefully). It will be a project that we will both enjoy and will release equity from our current place.

ianthy

I think a few posters have recommended confirming the date when you will finish, then you will find the time will pass very quickly. We are working towards a finish date of April 2020, our plan to take us up to the finish line has included refreshing the house, new kitchen, roof etc., plus planning a big trip just after we have finished. Now we have started to turn our thoughts to how we want to spend our time. Some further training on interests/hobbies that we would like to pursue after we have finished. For us the time is flying by.

MallyGirl

I have about 9 years unless I managed to talk OH into going earlier. 51 at the moment so need a few more years in the job. I will re-evaluate regularly once we reach 55. DD will be at uni by then so we will have a clearer idea of where we are and what is in the coffers - I have one tiny DB and OH has none so it is all DC and S&S ISAs to bulk up.

mollycat

As a recent retiree, I agree with much of what has been said above with regard to the psychological management of the final 2 years in a job that was unbearable. It's all good advice

Personally, I feel you will arrive at a "tipping point", which will be an enormous help.

Before the tipping point, everything appeared to be taking for ever; after things seemed to move very quickly and the burden I felt at going in to work just washed away with the realisation that I was "almost there".

During this time time the real markers will come thick and fast; last time you have to do mandatory training, last meeting it's your turn to chair, last time you need to pay your professional fees, etc, etc.

My personal tipping point was about 6 months out, (it may be different for others). If anyone had told me beforehand that I would have enjoyed heading off to work during this time I would have thought them mad!

Im glad my career finished well, ( no thanks to my employer).

Spending time in a more relaxed, happy mode with people I'd known for decades, rather than resentful, agitated and stressed made my actual retirement all the sweeter.

Good luck!
Just look back 2 years and think how quickly that time has passed.

JoeEngland

mollycat wrote: »

As a recent retiree, I agree with much of what has been said above with regard to the psychological management of the final 2 years in a job that was unbearable. It's all good advice

Personally, I feel you will arrive at a "tipping point", which will be an enormous help.

Before the tipping point, everything appeared to be taking for ever; after things seemed to move very quickly and the burden I felt at going in to work just washed away with the realisation that I was "almost there".

During this time time the real markers will come thick and fast; last time you have to do mandatory training, last meeting it's your turn to chair, last time you need to pay your professional fees, etc, etc.

My personal tipping point was about 6 months out, (it may be different for others). If anyone had told me beforehand that I would have enjoyed heading off to work during this time I would have thought them mad!

Im glad my career finished well, ( no thanks to my employer).

Spending time in a more relaxed, happy mode with people I'd known for decades, rather than resentful, agitated and stressed made my actual retirement all the sweeter.

Good luck!
Just look back 2 years and think how quickly that time has passed.

Thanks. At the moment it strangely feels like the more days pass the further away retirement seems. I think that when all the jobs are done on the house, hopefully by next summer, I'll feel more relaxed as there'll be less financial pressure and only a year left. Probably just getting into Jan 2019 will be good as I can then say " I'm retiring next year" :j

fred246

I was a fan of FIRE websites for years. We had paid off the mortgage and had substantial savings. Suddenly I had an unexpected inheritance and so I retired immediately and missed out on the 'two years to go' etc. I think a lot of family and friends think I inherited far more than I did. My spreadsheets indicate that the inheritance isn't needed but it would have been too scary to retire without it. Do people tell everyone about their finances or keep it private?