Bold leap into retirement

eastcorkram

cloud_dog said:

Eight and a half months to go....just saying.

Nine months to go here. Though I haven't decided that's definitely the decision yet! I'll decide in August or September. 
Is your date definitely settled?

Smudgeismydog

FIREDreamer said:

cloud_dog said:

Eight and a half months to go....just saying.

Four and a half months to go. It’s really dragging now.

End of June for me too @FIREdreamer, and yes, mine is dragging. I think that’s why I was keen to start on the hand-overs to just keep momentum going.

It is hard as I know that mentally I’m already moving on.

Kniphofia7

26 more working days for me.  Not that I'm counting or anything

I'm so ready.  It'll be a nice 63rd birthday present.

eastcorkram

I have been thinking of doing something to mark the first non work day, after finishing. So, not necessarily the day after the last day, but the first day I don't go in when I should have done.

I'm not the sort of person who usually marks anything. 18th, 21st, 40th, 50th etc, were not marked in any way. Just normal days. But after being at work for 48 years, I feel the first day of retirement, I should spend it doing something enjoyable!

ColdIron

I handed in my notice 29th Feb 2016 so I've only been able to celebrate in once, in 2020

LHW99

ColdIron said:

I handed in my notice 29th Feb 2016 so I've only been able to celebrate in once, in 2020

A good one coming up for this year then?

FIREDreamer

ColdIron said:

I handed in my notice 29th Feb 2016 so I've only been able to celebrate in once, in 2020

I handed in six months notice on 2 January 2024 and finish on 30 June. I only had to give a month’s notice per my contract, but for a bit of extra leave provided for retirees giving six months notice, I decided to give them that. My last working day will be in the middle of June as a result.

Smudgeismydog

Handover is now well underway, and I’ve been deleting old folders and emails, which has been very therapeutic!

My manager doesn’t really want me in the office for our weekly meetings, (or much at all). I can’t say I’m sad about that, as I’ve been walking the dog for an hour in the morning instead of the commute.

A trusted colleague and friend is coming over today, she has also handed in her notice, with her first day of retirement being Independence Day, which she thought was very apt. We are going to go somewhere nice for lunch, but to also run through our figures with each other and talk about our retirement plans. We plan to then do this six monthly once in retirement, kind of checking in with each other financially. She is also a widow and in receipt of a dependents pension, slightly older than me at age 52, but also has cash and ISAs to plug the gap till she can access her SIPP.

MallyGirl

Having a 'retirement buddy' to discuss it all with, and share experiences, sounds a great idea.

handful

I've got 5 more weeks to wait after tomorrow. Work is very different now, I feel excluded from everything!!