Bold leap into retirement

Albermarle

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 😉

Yes you can think that every bottle of champagne comes with a 40% discount !

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82087708#Comment_82087708

All my family holidays were UK only except just the last one in 1981 when we went to France. I was once taken to France and Spain in 1974 by an aunt and uncle to be company for their daughter.

DadAlone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088194#Comment_82088194

Love that, giving with warm hands not cold. What a great way to think about spending on your nearest and dearest. I paid for the curry last night for 5 of my dearest and longest held friends so I like to think I am following your ethos following the commencement of my retirement last Friday.

I would much rather give to my loved ones than the Chancellor once my hands are cold!

cfw1994

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088955#Comment_82088955

Excellent 🙏

Congrats on your new-found freedom 🎉

ex-pat_scot

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088347#Comment_82088347

Champagne now, or Prosecco later!

InvesterJones

I've sort of stumbled into early retirement ;)

Still applying for jobs which I like the look of, but not fussed if I don't get them. Life circumstances also changed, and several of the big ticket items I was saving up for aren't needed any more, so I remodelled on my relatively simple lifestyle and things looked OK - if the markets do well then I can even splash out occasionally.

Smudgeismydog

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82092206#Comment_82092206

welcome to the club!

YellowCarBlueCar

This is my first time back on the forum since my last working day on 3rd July, which speaks volumes for how misplaced my fears of boredom might have been…

Congrats to the other contributors who have also made the leap in that time.

Thanks to Smudge as well for starting this thread which I've been following for a good while, and where I 'went public' on my plans a year before leaving. It was my way to make myself accountable for the 'one more year' really being just that rather than a rolling extra year!

I'm still finding structure to my new life. I have one regular volunteering commitment lined-up doing something for a conservation charity which is very much 'up my street'. I've joined a couple of local clubs, and spent a lot of time on the local bird reserves, which provides a good long walk combined with a workout for the brain.

I may feel a bit different in the winter months, but so far I'm in the "I don't know how I had time to work" camp :)

bjorn_toby_wilde

Your experience sounds similar to mine, except I’m now 3 1/2 years down the line. I also volunteer for a wildlife trust and find that immensely rewarding.

I love walking and one of the best things about retirement is the ability to just head for the hills when the weather’s right, rather than always waiting for the weekends.

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82092804#Comment_82092804

I am just over 3 months into retirement. I am still adjusting and haven't quite reached the "How on earth did I find time to work?" but I am getting there. In the past couple of days I have booked to do a beginners' Portuguese course in September, browsed holidays and booked 2 theatre trips for the autumn. I have been out for the day with 1 ex colleague and I am meeting up with a friend (also retired) next Friday. I have also started a regular Pilates class and have a trip to Sweden/Finland booked for mid September. Once the days get shorter, I will look at voluntary work options.