Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

Seasidegal58

Hi there!😀

Having finally retired from work last Friday as my State Pension kicked in, I have decided to start a new diary as I begin the next stage in my life. 

I began my first diary on these boards in 2014 when I was 58 and in £31,000's worth of debt!😱  I realised time was fast approaching to retirement and that I needed to take remedial action straight away.  I managed to clear the debt and then started my second diary as a record of my journey up to retirement and realising a good emergency fund. 

So here I am now ready to begin again - I've been working since I was 16, mostly in the City for investment firms, with over an hour's commute time each journey, although I have been working from home since the first lockdown. I think this really brought home to me that (a) I didnt want to go back to commuting, and (b) I didn't like working from home much either, so retirement has come at the right time. 

I am lucky in that I have a final salary pension from a previous employer that forms the bedrock of my income now, plus my State Pension. In addition, I have a workplace pension from my last employer and luckily do not need to draw down on this as yet so this is an excellent back up for me finance wise. 

My mortgage is paid off on my one-bed flat, but I would like to upsize slightly to a two-bed in order that I can have a little more room in retirement for guests and also a study. I have taken out some tax free cash from my pension to help fund the new flat and this will be one of my tasks later on in the year to sell up and find a new place - in the same area as I am now as I live by the seaside and love my town. 🥰

I'm looking forward to spending more time now with family and friends and also planning days out and hopefully a few holidays once things are back to normal in our world - all the time of course keeping an eye on finances as there's no way I ever want to get into debt again!😱 

I hope my MSE friends will be following me on my new diary and will continue to read my ramblings!  Life will be different now but I hope will be interesting with new adventures!😀

Sunshine_girl2

I've subscribed, looking forward to hearing about your new adventures.

Seasidegal58

Good to see you!😀👍

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary.
Gets settled in 

enthusiasticsaver

I look forward to reading about your new adventures.  I love retirement.  Time to take up new hobbies or have time to do the ones you already have.  People have all sorts of approaches to  retirement.  I like to have something planned every day,  some are a bit more laissez faire.  It is lovely to wake up in the morning though and know that the time available is for you to choose what to do with it.   Enjoy. 

Seasidegal58

Thanks @beanielou and @enthusiasticsaver!😀
And I think you hit the nail right on the head ES!  Your post is exactly how I feel and what I have in mind!👍

savingmore

exciting, a shiny new retirement diary.   am watching your journey carefully, two years behind you.   best of british as you navigate this new stage of life, and may exciting new vistas  and doors open up for you 😀😀😀🏝

Sun_Addict

Subscribed, looking forward to reading your new adventures 😊 6 years to go for me.

Debt_Me_Out_Of_Here

Happy retirement! I used to follow your old diary under a different username and look forward to following along again.  
31 years until retirement for me - my state pension age is 68, but I'm sure it'll go up before I get there - I'll be lucky if state pension still exists by then haha!

Debsnewbudget

Great new diary and looking forward to continuing following your journey

BalanceBy50

Following you! Loved your old diary and your zest for life. 19 years to retirement for me.. I think!  You and other diary writers have inspired me to clear my debts and look at my pension provision - I do not want to be working until I am 68 or longer.
I hope you have a fabulous retirement - should be more enjoyable now retirement is easing. xx