Bold leap into retirement

Smudgeismydog

Ooh, that doesn’t feel too far away
Huge congrats @michaels

QrizB

Smudgeismydog said:

Ooh, that doesn’t feel too far away
Huge congrats @michaels

Yes, congratulations!

I'm still 2-3 years away from the big R but have taken a small step in the right direction by dropping back to three days a week, effective from this month.

Sarahspangles

Twelve weeks today!

Smudgeismydog

Hurrah! Congrats 🍾

It’s so lovely to hear about all your plans. Please keep dropping in to update us
x

kinger101

cloud_dog said:

Whilst I already 'handed my notice in' back in August with a Xmas end point (and then extended to end March 25), I've never received any confirmation communication from HR, so my first job tomorrow will be to give the relevant people a nudge so as to get a definitive date.  

I'm not 100% on how they accrue annual leave, but assume it is whole days per month, which should mean I'll have 6 days A/L (2 were carried forward), so my last day might be Friday 21 March (assuming I take the time off) or Monday 31 March (assuming they pay me for the remaining leave). 

I'm guessing it will be 21 March. 🤞

Seems like a good time.  Start of spring.  And a new tax year if you're able to get by on a few years with zero tax.

BudgetSBertie

Really enjoying this thread- thank you.
I'm following with interest as I'm entering the home straight of my working life. I've just turned 54 and I'm aiming to retire in 3 years. I've enjoyed my job but am looking forward to not managing a large team. They are all lovely but it seems to takes a lot of mental load and energy to keep them happy/working well which gets more tiring every year. Finances are on track to support plans. 

Smudgeismydog

Hello @BudgetSBertie, and thanks for dropping in

I’m presuming 57 so you can access pensions? Are you comfortable sharing your finances with us?

stuart746

BudgetSBertie said:

Really enjoying this thread- thank you.
I'm following with interest as I'm entering the home straight of my working life. I've just turned 54 and I'm aiming to retire in 3 years. I've enjoyed my job but am looking forward to not managing a large team. They are all lovely but it seems to takes a lot of mental load and energy to keep them happy/working well which gets more tiring every year. Finances are on track to support plans. 

I'm in a similar place. Turning 54 this spring and starting to get my ducks in a row. I can access good DB pension and AVC funds from next spring but will most likely go part-time (0.6 or 0.8) in the lead up to retirement at approx age 58. Thinking that part-time role would help satisfied that part of myself (I do enjoy aspects of my job, just not the pressure/management roles) but leave me enough time to pursue interests and feel less anxious/stressed. Not so keen on the cliff edge of going from FT to nothing...

bjorn_toby_wilde

The money cliff edge or the occupying time cliff edge?

If it’s the latter then it depends on your interests. I’m one of those retirees who doesn’t know how they found time to work!

I went down to 4 days a week for a year before I retired fully. It was a good way to get accustomed to the change.

stuart746

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

The money cliff edge or the occupying time cliff edge?

For me, the time cliff edge... I am beginning to develop other interests and re-programme the brain a bit, but it's a process. Good advice about going 4 days a week and then maybe down to 3 before moving on... most importantly I want to retire to something and not from something