Bold leap into retirement

Smudgeismydog

NormalNorman said:

Reading this thread is tough mentally.

The day job is... well I'm just not interested anymore but on the other hand it's permanent [who knows just how permanent] WFH which allows a local evening job, which I enjoy, to max savings/pension/more disposable income. Wife feels the same, bored out her tree with the 9-5. It feels like a slow motion march in a straight jacket to the finish line.

Still got a couple of years getting daughter through uni in Scotland. We pay rent and utilities etc which is still a fair chunk but at least no student debt is being built up. She also earns a good PT wage.

The car is only a couple of years old and owned outright, no mortgage on the house and zero debt of any kind.

Should feel happier eh? But I don't...

Need something new in life like some sort of challenge or another snorkelling holiday. Something more than just the motions of everyday stuff and hobbies. I already volunteer and is great but only a couple of times a month. Already have nothing in the loft, paperwork filed immaculately, wills prepared etc

Part of me thinks I should make a target to remove myself from the 21% tax rate until I quite work in a few years? Already got myself out the 40% tax rate. Max out on sal sac whilst it's still here? Bonus will go into pension too.

We'd like to go to the Maldives again as not been there since 2024 but costs about £6k plus £1k just to get out the country. Cattery, travel insurance, car parking, transit hotel in Dubai etc. However, mum is terminally ill and have to help dad weekly so can't risk being far from home.

Anyway, I suppose this post isn't about money, more about the mental anguish with the endless noise of what ifs going on in my brain resulting in paralysis to make any decisions...

Until I sort myself out it's great to read everyone's posts here. Cheers!

Oh no, this isn’t supposed to be a mentally tough read!

Have you gone through all your figures? What is your likely timescale for leaving the day job? Could you manage on just the evening job? What position is your wife in? 

Sounds like you’ve got some gorgeous ideas for holidays.

We are referred to as the ‘sand which generation’ as we’ve still got responsibility for our children, but are also being called upon to help parents. 

Could you manage a mid-week break for 2 or 3 nights? A change of scenery can do the world of good

NormalNorman

Sorry for being negative. The daily grind seems never ending but on the upside numbers fine for quitting in a few years. 

Chatted to wife and will plan for a tropical trip next year. Brings a little more security such as daughter will be almost through uni, we will be a year closer to packing it in, another year of saving, hopefully the day job still exists etc. 

Today I tightened the thumbscrews further. Got confirmation from HR increasing sal sac again and setup roundups on my moneybox account so this and all my free money harvesting schemes will pay for the holiday costs to get out the country.

Cheers

CaptainSkeptical

NormalNorman said:

Reading this thread is tough mentally.

The day job is... well I'm just not interested anymore but on the other hand it's permanent [who knows just how permanent] WFH which allows a local evening job, which I enjoy, to max savings/pension/more disposable income. Wife feels the same, bored out her tree with the 9-5. It feels like a slow motion march in a straight jacket to the finish line.

Still got a couple of years getting daughter through uni in Scotland. We pay rent and utilities etc which is still a fair chunk but at least no student debt is being built up. She also earns a good PT wage.

The car is only a couple of years old and owned outright, no mortgage on the house and zero debt of any kind.

Should feel happier eh? But I don't...

Need something new in life like some sort of challenge or another snorkelling holiday. Something more than just the motions of everyday stuff and hobbies. I already volunteer and is great but only a couple of times a month. Already have nothing in the loft, paperwork filed immaculately, wills prepared etc

Part of me thinks I should make a target to remove myself from the 21% tax rate until I quite work in a few years? Already got myself out the 40% tax rate. Max out on sal sac whilst it's still here? Bonus will go into pension too.

We'd like to go to the Maldives again as not been there since 2024 but costs about £6k plus £1k just to get out the country. Cattery, travel insurance, car parking, transit hotel in Dubai etc. However, mum is terminally ill and have to help dad weekly so can't risk being far from home.

Anyway, I suppose this post isn't about money, more about the mental anguish with the endless noise of what ifs going on in my brain resulting in paralysis to make any decisions...

Until I sort myself out it's great to read everyone's posts here. Cheers!

Hi - it sounds like you may be looking for a bit more purpose ? If so, you might want to listen to Jordan Grumet who has his own website regarding finances and purpose, and talks about his life on a Rebel Finance School video on YouTube called 'Money isn't the goal'. It might give you some ideas. 

NormalNorman

CaptainSkeptical said:

NormalNorman said:

Reading this thread is tough mentally.

The day job is... well I'm just not interested anymore but on the other hand it's permanent [who knows just how permanent] WFH which allows a local evening job, which I enjoy, to max savings/pension/more disposable income. Wife feels the same, bored out her tree with the 9-5. It feels like a slow motion march in a straight jacket to the finish line.

Still got a couple of years getting daughter through uni in Scotland. We pay rent and utilities etc which is still a fair chunk but at least no student debt is being built up. She also earns a good PT wage.

The car is only a couple of years old and owned outright, no mortgage on the house and zero debt of any kind.

Should feel happier eh? But I don't...

Need something new in life like some sort of challenge or another snorkelling holiday. Something more than just the motions of everyday stuff and hobbies. I already volunteer and is great but only a couple of times a month. Already have nothing in the loft, paperwork filed immaculately, wills prepared etc

Part of me thinks I should make a target to remove myself from the 21% tax rate until I quite work in a few years? Already got myself out the 40% tax rate. Max out on sal sac whilst it's still here? Bonus will go into pension too.

We'd like to go to the Maldives again as not been there since 2024 but costs about £6k plus £1k just to get out the country. Cattery, travel insurance, car parking, transit hotel in Dubai etc. However, mum is terminally ill and have to help dad weekly so can't risk being far from home.

Anyway, I suppose this post isn't about money, more about the mental anguish with the endless noise of what ifs going on in my brain resulting in paralysis to make any decisions...

Until I sort myself out it's great to read everyone's posts here. Cheers!

Hi - it sounds like you may be looking for a bit more purpose ? If so, you might want to listen to Jordan Grumet who has his own website regarding finances and purpose, and talks about his life on a Rebel Finance School video on YouTube called 'Money isn't the goal'. It might give you some ideas. 

Good shout! Cheers