A Couple of Questions for the Forum Retiree's ...

OldMusicGuy

1 Yes, but wish I had invested better so I could have retired earlier (I retired at 60, I think 55 is a good age to retire).
2 Yes. Ignored understanding pensions and investing when in my 40s and 50s, invested too conservatively. 
3 Read MSE in my 40s instead of leaving it until I was 55........ There is so much helpful information here I wish I had invested the effort to find it earlier. I would have then made better investment decisions and been able to retire earlier.

newatc

Retired at 53 as part of redundancy package.. Answers to questions:

Yes but wish it had happened a year or two earlier
No
No

[Deleted User]

1.  Would you still retire when you did?    Yes - was very grateful to be allowed to retire  early on health grounds.  It took a long time but I did get better.

2.  Did you make any major mistakes?  Yes.  I gave  a relative more than £15,000 (as a gift)  from  my lump sum to enable a house purchase.  The £15000+  was promptly  squandered and they had no house deposit.  Later,  they had the nerve to come looking for more money.  Lesson learned, not bitter, a bit wiser now and I didn't 'give in' the  second time. 

3.  What would you do differently?  I would think more carefully about  longer term        financial needs.

sgx2000

Thanks to all for the answers....

I (probably like many others) am 63 and struggling with the decission when to retire...
My pension incomes will cover my current expenses with a couple of hundred spare each month....

But i think the current economy is just totally unpredictable.....

scobie

sgx2000 said:

Thanks to all for the answers....

I (probably like many others) am 63 and struggling with the decission when to retire...
My pension incomes will cover my current expenses with a couple of hundred spare each month....

But i think the current economy is just totally unpredictable.....

I hear you.  

I’m 59 in August and ponder this all the time. I plan to retire in Thailand where I lived for many years and already have my retirement home by the beach. A couple of other properties - my U.K. house and an apartment in Bangkok would easily generate £2400 a month income - and other savings / pensions amount to £700-750k.  And I’ll get a full state pension in 2031. 

And yet. And yet . . . I just can’t pull the trigger.  I still enjoy my work; I’m almost hoping they tire of me and put me out ti pasture so I don’t have to make the decision myself. 

sgx2000

scobie said:

sgx2000 said:

Thanks to all for the answers....

I (probably like many others) am 63 and struggling with the decission when to retire...
My pension incomes will cover my current expenses with a couple of hundred spare each month....

But i think the current economy is just totally unpredictable.....

I hear you.  

I’m 59 in August and ponder this all the time. I plan to retire in Thailand where I lived for many years and already have my retirement home by the beach. A couple of other properties - my U.K. house and an apartment in Bangkok would easily generate £2400 a month income - and other savings / pensions amount to £700-750k.  And I’ll get a full state pension in 2031. 

And yet. And yet . . . I just can’t pull the trigger.  I still enjoy my work; I’m almost hoping they tire of me and put me out ti pasture so I don’t have to make the decision myself. 

You fortunately appear to have a very nice steady income....

If my pensions where a little higher..........

Also, I doesn't help that my current income exceeds my expenditure by £1500 a month
So every month adds to my cash pot...

Hopefully, at some point, it will become an easier decision ....

shortseller09

scobie said:

I hear you.  

I’m 59 in August and ponder this all the time. I plan to retire in Thailand where I lived for many years and already have my retirement home by the beach. A couple of other properties - my U.K. house and an apartment in Bangkok would easily generate £2400 a month income - and other savings / pensions amount to £700-750k.  And I’ll get a full state pension in 2031. 

And yet. And yet . . . I just can’t pull the trigger.  I still enjoy my work; I’m almost hoping they tire of me and put me out ti pasture so I don’t have to make the decision myself. 

Are you insane? (in the nicest possible way)

SouthCoastBoy

Totally empathise with comments above, got between 1.4m and 1.5m no db so no secure income, and don't have the confidence to retire. Currently 58 and just changed jobs, planning to work for a few years yet.

sgx2000

Scobie and Southcoastboy

Shortseller09  has it right
"Are you Insane"  roflol

sgx2000

Us Paupers will probably be living on nearer £20K..

The most insightful comment I have seen is....
"If you retire at 65, you can expect 10 years of relatively good health, followed by 10 years of declining health"

So if you have more than you need to live comfortably...
Why are you wasting the good years??