Bold leap into retirement

badmemory

I can confirm that it can be quite hard to go from saving for retirement to actually spending those savings to pay for things you want to do.  I have been retired for over 10 years now.  I've taken out of savings for a car & a bathroom & hope to do the same for all downstairs this year.  That took some serious thought but made easy sense.  However this year it will not just be for what needs or what I would like to get done but for normal costs & that is becoming a struggle with myself.  I know I will have to do it but I really do not like it, but that is what they are for.  See what I mean.

MallyGirl

Smudgeismydog said:

Congrats @cloud_dog, I know I will also miss clients, and that’s been hard for me to get my head round. Like you, I have also kept a tight rein on my finances for a long time, and I’m not sure I can just let go, but I feel we will probably change to a different kind of monitoring.

I have said to my manager if there are meetings where they feel my input would be useful, then of course I will help, but I have just started to delete stupid, pointless meetings out of my diary 🤣

I’m really starting to feel like I’m in the run down to retirement, and it’s great!

For me it is my colleagues that I will miss - it is the clients that make me wish I was retired already, or that someone would put me out of my misery and make me redundant. 
We do earn quite a bit but have each been putting £40k in the pensions for the last few years, plus £20k each in ISAs, so what we actually operate from is a lot less. I do keep pointing that out but he isn't ready to let go yet.

Smudgeismydog

The last few days in work have been quite challenging. I’m trying to keep breathing and remind myself that I’m on the homeward stretch, but it’s testing, and I suppose it really serves to remind me why I’m doing this.

So, start of a new month, and now just 5 months till I retire!

My plan remains to use cash and ISA, along with my dependents pension, to fund me until 57 when I can access my SIPP.

I’m now only funding my pension regularly. I’m utilising salary sacrifice to keep me at basic rate income tax, after factoring in my dependents pension. 

Due to a financial commitment I don’t have any spare income to send any new contributions to cash or ISA, but I am recirculating money from a matured regular saver back into the Yorkshire Building Society Christmas saver as that rate was quite attractive.

Hope everyone is well

bluenose1

Smudgeismydog said:

The last few days in work have been quite challenging. I’m trying to keep breathing and remind myself that I’m on the homeward stretch, but it’s testing, and I suppose it really serves to remind me why I’m doing this.

So, start of a new month, and now just 5 months till I retire!

My plan remains to use cash and ISA, along with my dependents pension, to fund me until 57 when I can access my SIPP.

I’m now only funding my pension regularly. I’m utilising salary sacrifice to keep me at basic rate income tax, after factoring in my dependents pension. 

Due to a financial commitment I don’t have any spare income to send any new contributions to cash or ISA, but I am recirculating money from a matured regular saver back into the Yorkshire Building Society Christmas saver as that rate was quite attractive.

Hope everyone is well

Not long for you to go now, another month chalked off.  I have been retired a month now and still can’t believe that how less stressed I am. Today I have been to Aldi which at 8am is nice and empty, came back and  and cleaned the car in a rare moment of sunshine. Now having a coffee and browsing t’internet before doing lunch and trying a new recipe for tea. 
My only complaint is how quick the days go

handful

I posted a few weeks ago, I'm in a similar position but finishing currently at the end of March after having my request to work a shorter week were rejected. I am finding it increasingly difficult being in a position where I am no longer involved as much as I was, being excluded from emails and news that I would normally have been the first one to be involved. 

Every time something that I don't enjoy happens I have to keep reminding myself that it won't be for long. I also have a tribunal to attend (if it isn't resolved before) after I have technically retired and I was happy to offer to deal with that until it's conclusion but the way I'm feeling currently with the change in the relationship I'm much less inclined to now and can't wait for the day I leave! My first day of retirement is Good Friday!!

I'm like others though, I still have a sense of duty and loyalty that I have had since I first started work. I just don't go looking for new things to do any more because there doesn't seem much point!  

Smudgeismydog

Thanks both, 

It’s strange @handful, like you decisions are being made about things I would normally be involved with, which is making me feel excluded, but then I do also understand the world has to move on. Perhaps it’s still surprising to see how replaceable we are deemed to be, even when you know you’ve given it your all for so long.
I don’t want to wish away the next 5 months, but have to be honest, it can’t happen quick enough!

Good Friday is a very symbolic day for the first day of your next chapter. Please keep posting and share details of your bold leap.

ColdIron

As you approach the end an increasing number of things become an SEP. Someone else's problem. It was wonderful

tooldle

Hi Smudgeismydog, I’m at the end of my first month of retirement. Today is a big day as my OH puts in his notice, to finish at end of April. He has leave to use and intends to finish in early March. He is a little older than me, and at 59 has worked for the same employer for just over 40 years.
So far so good for me. I am still pottering in the house and garden, swimming and running. I’ve met a couple of friends for lunch / coffee and walked the dog lots. My old boss has been in touch to invite me to a conference (postgraduate student presenters). I will likely go along for the talks but will give the conference dinner a swerve. 

I’ve lined up a few ‘spends’ including some roof work and a new front door.
In myself I feel much calmer and less stressed. The later half of last year was very tough (parent with dementia reaching the end of life).
In the past ten days, I’ve read three books and listened to lots of radio.
I’ve been busy this morning with housework and baking bread and now, dog and I are off out to enjoy the sunshine. 

So empowering to be deleting diary commitments. In the days before I finished, I deleted the entire contents of my mailbox and all the files in my one drive. Cathartic. It is fair to say that I am not missing work. I’m expecting to feel a little bored at some point as that is surely part of adjusting to a new life. 

Keep ticking off those weeks.

Sea_Shell

I can't say I've missed work in the slightest.

4.5 years down the road.

I didn't let it stress me out, towards the end, and I think my bosses knew not to stress me either.  But working just became inconvenient.

So here I am, sitting in a sunny conservatory, with a glass of wine. 

Daffodil1234

Similar here, @Smudgeismydog -  on the path towards the agreed end date for me (end May).   While still wanting to do my best at work, there are now starting to be items discussed in meetings, for example, which can't apply to me - for example travel to a conference happening after I'll have left.  There are moments when it does all still feel rather odd and stressful - even though I know I'm going.

I like the idea of the removal of all emails / files in the last few days of being employed, I can see that would definitely be cathartic !