Bold leap into retirement

cloud_dog

Travel for us; some long haul, some long(ish) durations travelling areas of Europe, and in between all the loverly places in the UK.

michaels

I don't really believe in flying for environmental reasons - which makes Marrakech, Cape town and Turin since the start of February a little awkward...still nothing planned now until a 5 leg trip to the US in June....

cfw1994

katejo said:

HillsideRetired said:

arthur_fowler said:

I too finished yesterday! Cracking farewell last night. Off on holiday on Monday and I guess it will really sink in when we get back and the new normal starts.

one of the simple feel good factors of retirement , is siting on a plane , car , train on the return journey from that first holiday after retirement  , realising that you dont have to return to work on your return . its priceless 

I recently read a comment from someone already retired for a while. They said that the lost all motivation to travel once they had stopped work completely. I really hope I don't feel that way! 

I lost all desire to travel at peak times 😜
Picking & choosing cheaper and quieter times is a massive bonus to not having work commitments.

arthur_fowler

Travel is certainly a big part of our plans and have allowed for a decent amount in financial plans. But we will be looking after our 1 year old granddaughter two days a week and Mrs F isn't hugely keen on long haul so we will probably explore the UK quite a lot as well as shorter European breaks.

Maahes

I find myself in about six or seven minds over retirement. The family came into some money (low six figures) this year and it was agreed I could use some of this to fund early (4 years) retirement for me. Once I get to retirement age I'll have a similar income to now.

My wife is already retired and her brother, who lives with us, retired in January. Financially I can afford it and I'm done with working - next year will be 50 years since I started in Tesco part-time aged 14. But as much as I dislike my job its so easy - work from home for 4 days a week, literally spend most of the day doing anything other than work and they pay thousands of pounds into my bank account every month!.

My mother's advice, based on experience, was retire as soon as your can and enjoy not working, my closest friend is keep working, take the money, pay something off your mortgage (mortgage runs until I'm 79). I change my mind every week. Two close friends have suffered medical issues recently - one diagnosed with prostrate cancer and one had a heart attack and I'm thinking life's too short to work until I'm nearly 70.

Getting a quote for a new kitchen today, that might be the decider

katejo

Maahes said:

I find myself in about six or seven minds over retirement. The family came into some money (low six figures) this year and it was agreed I could use some of this to fund early (4 years) retirement for me. Once I get to retirement age I'll have a similar income to now.

My wife is already retired and her brother, who lives with us, retired in January. Financially I can afford it and I'm done with working - next year will be 50 years since I started in Tesco part-time aged 14. But as much as I dislike my job its so easy - work from home for 4 days a week, literally spend most of the day doing anything other than work and they pay thousands of pounds into my bank account every month!.

My mother's advice, based on experience, was retire as soon as your can and enjoy not working, my closest friend is keep working, take the money, pay something off your mortgage (mortgage runs until I'm 79). I change my mind every week. Two close friends have suffered medical issues recently - one diagnosed with prostrate cancer and one had a heart attack and I'm thinking life's too short to work until I'm nearly 70.

Getting a quote for a new kitchen today, that might be the decider

How do you get away with not doing much work on your WFH days? I have to give indication of work done and have a pretty active conscience! I can't skive.

MayDogsandCoffee

Last day of leave, back in tomorrow but hopefully only 15 more months - hopefully can go earlier.  With regards to some earlier comments:  after travelling for work I don't feel the need (at the moment), no long hauls for me, in fact hate the faff of airports completely, will be doing more of the UK.  I always had to be out and about doing stuff but COVID taught me that I could survive without leaving the house so more than happy to potter these days.  So long as I have my dog, my hobbies, car and coffee I can mange quite well.  Going to book the retirement course on Wed, think it would look bad to do so first thing on Monday

SarahB16

MayDogsandCoffee said:

Last day of leave, back in tomorrow but hopefully only 15 more months - hopefully can go earlier.  With regards to some earlier comments:  after travelling for work I don't feel the need (at the moment), no long hauls for me, in fact hate the faff of airports completely, will be doing more of the UK.  I always had to be out and about doing stuff but COVID taught me that I could survive without leaving the house so more than happy to potter these days.  So long as I have my dog, my hobbies, car and coffee I can mange quite well.  Going to book the retirement course on Wed, think it would look bad to do so first thing on Monday

@MayDogsandCoffee Do please share with us what they cover on your retirement course and how wonderful only be c.15 months away from retirement.   

I went on a retirement course at my workplace even though I'm c.10 years away from retiring.  My logic being if they suggest something that I hadn't thought of it didn't give me much time to implement their recommendation.  I thoroughly enjoyed the course (financial planning and how to fill your time) but as it was a few years after I had joined this wonderful forum it didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned from being on this forum.  It was really eye opening for some people so it does show the benefit of attending these courses.     

MayDogsandCoffee

@SarahB16 agree they should be available much earlier.

katejo

SarahB16 said:

MayDogsandCoffee said:

Last day of leave, back in tomorrow but hopefully only 15 more months - hopefully can go earlier.  With regards to some earlier comments:  after travelling for work I don't feel the need (at the moment), no long hauls for me, in fact hate the faff of airports completely, will be doing more of the UK.  I always had to be out and about doing stuff but COVID taught me that I could survive without leaving the house so more than happy to potter these days.  So long as I have my dog, my hobbies, car and coffee I can mange quite well.  Going to book the retirement course on Wed, think it would look bad to do so first thing on Monday

@MayDogsandCoffee Do please share with us what they cover on your retirement course and how wonderful only be c.15 months away from retirement.   

I went on a retirement course at my workplace even though I'm c.10 years away from retiring.  My logic being if they suggest something that I hadn't thought of it didn't give me much time to implement their recommendation.  I thoroughly enjoyed the course (financial planning and how to fill your time) but as it was a few years after I had joined this wonderful forum it didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned from being on this forum.  It was really eye opening for some people so it does show the benefit of attending these courses.     

I did a retirement planning course (only a 1 day event) several years ago but it was pretty basic. Things like clearing cc debts, paying off loans and checking your state pension.