Bold leap into retirement

katejo

Sarahspangles said:

pterri said:

It’s 2025, all of a sudden it’s THIS YEAR (July). I really want to leave completely, my current project isn’t the type that could work with part time and I don’t really fancy starting something new. My sums say I can go but 57 feels mad. I’ve stated elsewhere, I’ve got a good DB and AVC at 60 and plenty to bridge  between 57-60, it’s a psychological thing. Plenty of decorating and cycling trips planned, I may look for some other random work or some recreational studying. It’s a bit fuzzy but working in a ‘professional’ role? Nope, I’m done with that 

If 57 is mad, welcome to the madhouse! I’m moving in at the end of March. I’ve had a year of non-working Mondays, yesterday’s job (after gym) was sorting out my wardrobe, and the last of my suits went in the charity bag. I’ve got a couple of face to face meetings before I retire, I shall go smart casual.

I have had just over a year of non working Tuesdays. I am looking towards reducing to 3 days. I have quite a few home tidying jobs to do but I keep making excuses and sitting.in cafes browsing online. 

bjorn_toby_wilde

trevjl said:

pterri said:

It’s 2025, all of a sudden it’s THIS YEAR (July). I really want to leave completely, my current project isn’t the type that could work with part time and I don’t really fancy starting something new. My sums say I can go but 57 feels mad. I’ve stated elsewhere, I’ve got a good DB and AVC at 60 and plenty to bridge  between 57-60, it’s a psychological thing. Plenty of decorating and cycling trips planned, I may look for some other random work or some recreational studying. It’s a bit fuzzy but working in a ‘professional’ role? Nope, I’m done with that 

Most definitely. I had that very much but having a medical issue and going down to 3 days for a year, along with idiot company BS pushed me over the edge last year. Now I find the psychological thing rearing it's head again as I now this month find myself dipping into the ££ I built up over all those years. very disconcerting !!

Definitely disconcerting. It’s that move from accumulation to decumulation that takes some getting used to.

FIREDreamer

Sarahspangles said:

pterri said:

It’s 2025, all of a sudden it’s THIS YEAR (July). I really want to leave completely, my current project isn’t the type that could work with part time and I don’t really fancy starting something new. My sums say I can go but 57 feels mad. I’ve stated elsewhere, I’ve got a good DB and AVC at 60 and plenty to bridge  between 57-60, it’s a psychological thing. Plenty of decorating and cycling trips planned, I may look for some other random work or some recreational studying. It’s a bit fuzzy but working in a ‘professional’ role? Nope, I’m done with that 

If 57 is mad, welcome to the madhouse! I’m moving in at the end of March. I’ve had a year of non-working Mondays, yesterday’s job (after gym) was sorting out my wardrobe, and the last of my suits went in the charity bag. I’ve got a couple of face to face meetings before I retire, I shall go smart casual.

Don’t bin the suits, you might need them. Funerals, weddings etc.

jackieblack

I reduced to 4 days a couple of years ago, but I provide 24 hours of childcare for my gorgeous granddaughter that day so it's not exactly restful!
I'm weighing up whether reducing to 3 days and working a little longer is a practical alternative to going completely in 18 months time - I really want to move closer to my daughter/granddaughter/SIL and it's too far to commute from, but job changes may be in the pipeline for them too, and the beautiful small market town where they live is due to be devastated by an enormous onshore wind project, so not a good time to buy and too many variables to make firm plans/decisions right now.
Potential changes at my workplace might also be a contributory factor to my decision so, while I don't feel as in control of my ability to plan as I would like, I'm just squirrelling away what I can to put myself in the best possible position when the dust settles.

Smudgeismydog

It is a huge change in mindset moving from accumulation to decumulation, but I keep telling myself that is what I saved for, and I would like to have a go at spending it before the kids get a chance to!!

katejo

jackieblack said:

I reduced to 4 days a couple of years ago, but I provide 24 hours of childcare for my gorgeous granddaughter that day so it's not exactly restful!
I'm weighing up whether reducing to 3 days and working a little longer is a practical alternative to going completely in 18 months time - I really want to move closer to my daughter/granddaughter/SIL and it's too far to commute from, but job changes may be in the pipeline for them too, and the beautiful small market town where they live is due to be devastated by an enormous onshore wind project, so not a good time to buy and too many variables to make firm plans/decisions right now.
Potential changes at my workplace might also be a contributory factor to my decision so, while I don't feel as in control of my ability to plan as I would like, I'm just squirrelling away what I can to put myself in the best possible position when the dust settles.

The problem with reducing to 4 days means that I feel morally obliged to use that 1 day to fulfil routine appointments rather than going out for the day. I spent this morning finalising my Will and Power of attorney documents. I need to reduce to 3 days before I can think of committing to a regular activity such as voluntary work or a daytime course. I have been on a 4 day week for just over a year. 

Sarahspangles

FIREDreamer said:

Sarahspangles said: and the last of my suits went in the charity bag. I’ve got a couple of face to face meetings before I retire, I shall go smart casual.

Don’t bin the suits, you might need them. Funerals, weddings etc.

Oh I have a funeral outfit, sadly. More sombre than grey pinstripe.

Simon11

katejo said:

The problem with reducing to 4 days means that I feel morally obliged to use that 1 day to fulfil routine appointments rather than going out for the day. I spent this morning finalising my Will and Power of attorney documents. I need to reduce to 3 days before I can think of committing to a regular activity such as voluntary work or a daytime course. I have been on a 4 day week for just over a year. 

I also agree with you.

At the moment, I work five days a week and spend 2-3 days in the office. The reality is that on average, one of the days working from home would be used for errands or spending time with my family. e.g. today I took my son for a hair cut, a nice walk and went swimming during the morning. So prob working 'hard' 75% of the week.

Thus having considered going to 4 days a week to get a better a life-balance with a young family, it doesn't seem worth it apart from knowing that you are not on call. Also, depending on your role, with 4 days, you are likely to still have the same workload but it just takes slightly longer to complete it!

Thus it makes sense for now to stick at 5 days a week, stuff the pension, take advantage of quiet periods at work and retire earlier.

Three days however maybe a game changer if finances permit at a later stage to get proper rest and to ensure that your workload does actually decrease! 

Sarahspangles

katejo said:

The problem with reducing to 4 days means that I feel morally obliged to use that 1 day to fulfil routine appointments rather than going out for the day. I spent this morning finalising my Will and Power of attorney documents. I need to reduce to 3 days before I can think of committing to a regular activity such as voluntary work or a daytime course. I have been on a 4 day week for just over a year. 

I’ve mostly found that a three day weekend is needed to recover from work… After being wiped out by lurghy twice (June and December) I’ve learned I need to recharge my batteries in a way I didn’t when I was younger. Gym/swim is part of that, but also rest.

MayDogsandCoffee

Delurking, I have been following this page from the start but have only just joined up.  I am hoping to be onto my last full year,  pulling the plug when I am 60 next year.  I have my chuff chart that I have been filling in since my last (toxic) line manager in 2022, have a new manager but the corporate stuff just leaves me demotivated and bored.  I have been saving for a number of years and at the minute I live on half salary.  I don't plan on long haul holidays but do have a fairly expensive hobby (well not that expensive but I am supertight). My main fear is being destitute although I know I shouldn't be with 35 yrs in civil service.  The comments and experiences of other posters make for interesting reading.