Countdown to Retirement

Sarahspangles

Albermarle said:

Lifematters said:

Greengirl24 said:

It is important to have a daily  structure to avoid the daytime TV in pyjamas lifestyle . Local charities always need volunteers. But avoid getting roped into admin or committees!

Such an underrated activity.

For some people working from home, retirement could just mean going from sitting in their pyjamas watching one screen, to watching another screen. A seamless change from work to retirement !

I’ll have you know these aren’t PJs I’m working in, it’s a fleece and leggings combo!

It’s grim working from home in winter, because if I turn my head I can see things flowering in the garden, but by the time I shut my laptop it’s dark.

handful

Be prepared for the year to drag on! I'm finishing 3 weeks today after giving 3 months notice and that seems like a lifetime ago! I obviously concur wit the "retire in Spring" advice!

blindman

Sarahspangles said:

I’m thinking more about non-financial actions, a

Trying to motivate myself through the next 56 weeks!

Steal all the paperclips\pens and printer paper!

Spring is good , not nice being at home during the cold bleak winter to start retirement, also cheaper on fuel costs to be at work all day rather than being at home.

Financially would make sense. Please don't tell me you still have a mortgage.

Bucket list:-
As has been said, make one and go for it asap as health can upset things later in life and insurance can get more expensive\inhibitive past 70's 

To do:
I hope you have short list of what to do by now, 
Hobbies you have now can become more fulfilling.


Exercise.
Not sure what your day job is but if it is not sedentary then replace the working day walking\moving with some daily routine. Do not become a couch potato No need to go to the gym.

Travel
Don forget your Senior citizen bus pass if that's relevant

.

kimwp

I guess if there's any hobby you want to start, you could prep for it. The only thing I can think of is gardening - if you wanted to start growing more, you might want to prep beds or research what time of year to do things so you don't miss the right time. Or if you want to ramp up the time you spend on a sport or any activity, do functional exercises Or book holidays for when you will be retired. Plan a few things to do in those first months?

Peterrr

Start a list of things you want or should do: mine include searching for a lower cost pension provider (than my employer's) to which I will transfer the whole lot straight after my final paycheck, sorting my wardrobe and slinging out work clothes, dismantle the home-working desk, join a library and/or book club, list all the destinations I want to visit, list sporting and cultural events I want to attend, explore volunteering opportunities, declutter the garage/house, sort out photos into organised albums, and plan a health/activity regime now that the excuse of work will no longer apply!

eastcorkram

Personally, I'm not bothered about the time of year. I'm thinking about finishing at Christmas. Mainly because it's sort of a natural break from work. I'm in an industrial job that shuts down around 21st Dec, and goes back on the 2nd January. So we'll all finish, and I just won't be back in January. 

I do need to work on a bucket list, however minor the things are. As at the moment it's blank! 

bjorn_toby_wilde

Greengirl24 said:

If you are able to pay off your mortgage don't pay off all of it immediately . Check best time with mortgage lender, and leave a few £k in mortgage if it's  a building society.

Why would you do that?

zagubov

Find a course so you can learn something new, like a language or a skill maybe.
https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/
or https://www.u3a.org.uk/
or even the Open University where you can get funding for a second degree (if it's a STEM subject).
Better if it's one you can attend in person as it's usually more motivating when you learn with others.

Albermarle

Steal all the paperclips\pens and printer paper!

Plus order some new ink cartridges and hope they let you keep the printer. It worked for me !

pensionpawn

End of May. 4 Bank Holidays in quick succession that you're paid for and then use up your holiday entitlement working back from 31st May. Roughly 2 days a month so this year you could quit on Fri 24th May. Also, two extra months of NI payments for SP and you could max out SS to min wage as you'll be withdrawing it from your pension the following month, potentially tax free. You then have the summer months to enjoy your new found freedom!