Bold leap into retirement

cloud_dog

When I had my face-to-face and told my manager I was going, they enquired as to any particular reasons and I just said that it was time.  Nothing more, nothing less.  They did come back with the comment of... I didn't realise you were so wealthy, to which I just replied... You don't need to be rich, you just need enough

FIREDreamer

cloud_dog said:

When I had my face-to-face and told my manager I was going, they enquired as to any particular reasons and I just said that it was time.  Nothing more, nothing less.  They did come back with the comment of... I didn't realise you were so wealthy, to which I just replied... You don't need to be rich, you just need enough

And Amen to that. 👏👏👏👏👏

MetaPhysical

As I mentioned a few posts back, my goal is end of next tax year, so 3 April 2026.  I could go at anytime if it all got unbearable, immediately in fact.  At the moment I am ploughing a ton of money into my pension fund and supporting my fiancee (soon to be wife).    I plan to drop to four days April 2025 because that fifth day is mostly 40% tax and so dropping to 4 days doesn't actually cost a fifth of my salary - more like a tenth.  Less actually because the huge pension contributions reduce my NAI and exposure to the 62% tax trap.  If I drop to 4 days I can keep more of my own money.  It's nuts the UK tax system for higher earners.

The joker in the pack is Rachel Reeves and the upcoming budget.  If Labour does anything to disincentive work or reduce the maximum tax relief rate to 20% then I will retire immediately.

Daffodil1234

Thanks @Smudgeismydog for your update which has generated some really interesting additions to the thread.  And best wishes with your new house.

I am now retired though it sometimes still doesn't feel real !  We are currently focussing on sorting out a lot of house and garden stuff, but I'm also taking up some hobbies (or doing more of what I wasn't really doing before).  OH is likewise finding a niche for what would be enjoyable.

The biggest benefit so far is having available time to respond to concerns, such as -  elderly parents / sudden illnesses / a bereavement / an ongoing illness.   These types of things often seem to come in clusters and we've just been through a whole bunch of them.   Being able to give each item focus, and not having to beg work for time off in lieu or juggle with the remaining booked holiday entitlement, has been great.

I also have a winter bookstack which I'm planning to enjoy working through as the weather turns darker and colder!

Financially, I'm checking our spending / savings etc at the start of each month.  We intend to set a budget annually (this is what we were doing before) and to work out what may need more, or less, or the same, during the first full year of retirement.   This is what we think of as the time period of the "go go years" -  in the future we anticipate the "slow go" and the "no go" years too.

cloud_dog

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

michaels

cloud_dog said:

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

May be they are trying the drip drip approach, 3 months...and then 3 years!

Cus

cloud_dog said:

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

Would you do it for free? Do you need the pay?

barnstar2077

cloud_dog said:

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

If you don't need the money, don't do it.  You will never get the time back again!

Sarahspangles

cloud_dog said:

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

When the guilt kicks in (it’s an NHS thing) I reassure myself that there are younger people out there ready to do what I do!

Or do you really want to do the project?

Cus

barnstar2077 said:

cloud_dog said:

cloud_dog said:
Annoyingly it looks like my product will win a new contract for a national system rollout (outside the UK).  I've done three of these national implementations over the last 15 years, and it is both extremely challenging and exciting (hugely rewarding) all at the same time.  It is the sort of engagement that has me chomping at the bit.

It would likely be a two (plus) year undertaking.  Hmmm.  My employer has commented about the possibility of staying on for it.  Haven't mentioned any of this to the OH.  Hmmm.  Will sleep on it (so to speak).

Sooo, that didn't take long.  I have been asked if I would stay on!

I asked what that meant, and they came back with, 'until the end of March 2025?'.

More sleeping to be done over the weekend me thinks

If you don't need the money, don't do it.  You will never get the time back again!

You put it better than me. But just thinking more about it, there is a scenario where the extra income over a short period could make the rest of your life more comfortable and enjoyable. I guess there can be a future £value of your time left on this world.