Bold leap into retirement

SouthCoastBoy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085130#Comment_82085130

Currently just enjoying the great weather, playing golf, running and cycling. It's just lovely having no time limitations, the freedom feels great. It's like being young again, doing what I want when I want.

I am planning a trip to Australia some time later in the year.

cfw1994

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085283#Comment_82085283

That sounds great: it is like being a teenager again, but with money and transport 🤣

We have a 10-week trip lined up from early Oct to Christmas Down Under. The planning is nicely under way (all done ourselves)….main RTW flights booked (splashed out on flat-bed for the long ones - we haven’t flown in years, so might as well use up some of that kids inheritance 🤪), accom & activities well under way now….some family & friends to visit along the way 🎉

Back from an amazing weekend at Latitude & ready to keep on with the plotting and planning over the coming weeks 😎

On the topic of being asked to take on more work: you are now seeing how the freedom feels: that should make saying “no” very easy.
Stay strong, you’re a keen player in Team Unemployable now 💪

Crack on!

michaels

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085202#Comment_82085202

We did a family month in the US West coast starting end of June after GCSE and a levels last year after I stopped in April. This year only odd bits and pieces short haul then next summer after final a levels it will be a month in Australia plus some stopovers in the gulf (assuming things are back to normal) and Malaysia. Then the following Feb March DS and I might do several weeks snowboarding the Rockies if he has a gap year.

Am hoping at some point the DKs will decide their own lives and relationships are preferable to cadging a free holiday with their boring old parents….

SouthCoastBoy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085469#Comment_82085469

your trip sounds great, hope you have a great time. Flat beds a bit too extravagant for me, but im sure you will enjoy it, they do make a big difference

Purplelady65

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085489#Comment_82085489

My kids are 29 and 27 and have never said no to a free holiday with their boring old parents so I wouldn’t bet on it!

MallyGirl

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82086707#Comment_82086707

mine hasn't even started her job yet but has already asked that we keep inviting her 😆

mrklaw

looking back its noticable when the kids started hitting university - we stopped doing the en masse family holidays as their term times didn’t line up with school and they were often off doing their own thing.

I think we would be happy to switch to an occasional family trip once they’re through uni and a little more settled - even if its just bank of mum and dad paying for flights and free food it’ll be nice to be together sometimes.

katejo

The last whole family holiday which I did was in 1981! After that I did my own thing. There was 1 short trip to Dublin with my Dad, his 2nd wife and my brothers in the mid 90s. I don't remember who paid for that.

Storcko14

My last family holiday was aged 18 the year i left school and I realised that I had completely different ideas from my parents who wanted to go to France every time. I wanted to see a bit of the world and ended spending a fair chunk of my 20s and early 30s doing just that. The rub of course is that our 24 y/old financially independent offspring now hears about a trip to Puerto Rico or Chile or wherever and eyes light up….

cfw1994

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085553#Comment_82085553

If you wanted flat bed travel all the time, several times a year, I would firmly agree: we are always after ‘value for money’….
But…..my better half hates flying, and this is our first flying travel since I stopped over 5 years ago….so this was a very agreeable compromise on this ‘once in a lifetime blowout trip’ 😎

Given the numbers you posted, I would respectfully suggest you need a slight mindset adjustment…..you absolutely could afford the luxury from time to time 🤷‍♂️

Our flight cost for the 3 x 13hr+ flights was around £10k. Economy would still have been several £k…..so yes, a big cost, but we are away 10 weeks, the will make a massive difference to our trip (& Christmas when we return!) 🙏

Once you start to recognise how much your offspring might spend in IHT, you will start to realise how it might just be worth spending some on yourself now 😉

On the topic of ‘kids’ & holidays: ours are now 28 & 30, & we love them joining us for a week during our ski month, or hopping down to stay somewhere with us. They are entertaining, with great partners: fun to be with: long may it continue. & yes, it costs us, but we see it as a way to pass on that inheritance early - “giving with warm hands, not cold” 😇