Bold leap into retirement

Smudgeismydog

Huge congratulations eastcorkram, there is absolutely no rush. Breathe, rest and be more present, and you will figure it out.

Merry Christmas 

x

HedgehogRulez

Grief, imagine working for 48 years!

eastcorkram

HedgehogRulez said:

Grief, imagine working for 48 years!

I don't need to. I've just done it. Still finishing 12 months before state pension age. So could have been longer. I'm only stopping really, because physically and mentally, it's become a struggle. 

cfw1994

Hopefully a relaxing Christmas break will re-energise you: congrats, & all the best for a happy & healthy 2025 😎

On the 48 years….technically I had my first paid job aged 10 at Pontins holiday camp (child labour!)…..so I managed a “working life” that spanned a similar time 🤪
You’ve earned some “you” time.  Maybe some old or even new hobbies will help fill your time 👍

SouthCoastBoy

cfw1994 said:

Hopefully a relaxing Christmas break will re-energise you: congrats, & all the best for a happy & healthy 2025 😎

On the 48 years….technically I had my first paid job aged 10 at Pontins holiday camp (child labour!)…..so I managed a “working life” that spanned a similar time 🤪
You’ve earned some “you” time.  Maybe some old or even new hobbies will help fill your time 👍

Is that legal working as a 10 year old? When I started a paper round the minimum age was 13

Sarahspangles

SouthCoastBoy said:

cfw1994 said:

Hopefully a relaxing Christmas break will re-energise you: congrats, & all the best for a happy & healthy 2025 😎

On the 48 years….technically I had my first paid job aged 10 at Pontins holiday camp (child labour!)…..so I managed a “working life” that spanned a similar time 🤪
You’ve earned some “you” time.  Maybe some old or even new hobbies will help fill your time 👍

Is that legal working as a 10 year old? When I started a paper round the minimum age was 13

Children can be paid performers at a younger age.

Sarahspangles

I wish I’d made a note of my first working day as I’d like to know when the anniversary was! It was a Saturday job on a till and my memory says it was a week after my last O level exam. The earliest NI contributions I can see in the HMRC app are £19.91 in the year I turned 19.

Nebulous2

I'm from a coastal community and remember picking whelks to sell with my family  before I was school age. I started fishing on a boat in school holidays at 14, with 5am starts. 

It gave me a strong work ethic, I certainly don't feel I was exploited. I saved enough to buy and run a car while still at school. 

Thinking about it now though - it possibly goes part way to explain why I've struggled to adapt to retirement. 

Sarahspangles

SouthCoastBoy said:

When I started a paper round the minimum age was 13

Was it a tough one? If so we’ll add it to the reasons to nag SouthCoastBoy. My younger brother resigned when they brought in colour supplements on a Sunday.

SouthCoastBoy

Sarahspangles said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

When I started a paper round the minimum age was 13

Was it a tough one? If so we’ll add it to the reasons to nag SouthCoastBoy. My younger brother resigned when they brought in colour supplements on a Sunday.

Actually I really enjoyed it, best job I've ever had 😀.  I ended up staying until I was 18. Eventually did morning, evening and Sunday rounds! Initially I started on just mornings, 6 :30 start. I also did marking up (putting numbers on the papers) and covered if people were off sick or on holiday.