How did you feel when you committed to retirement?

LightFlare

I felt elated and as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders

15 months in and loving every minute

KintsugiWhippet

ah thank you @Yorkie1 and likewise

Vitor

As soon as I retired I joined MSE to showcase my performative frugality!

daveshep26

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82096096#Comment_82096096

@mrklaw good point, yes - I did have some thoughts whether that was a risk, someone in my close social network thought it was crazy to give anything other than statutory notice. Get your points on current performance/ context, but I didn’t think that high risk in my situation, my team are currently in the ‘good books’ having landed a big international contract ~9 months ago and there’s beginnings of discussions about expanding that. My boss quickly asked me if I could persuaded to stay 3/4 extra months - I think that scenario could be fairly likely for many

horsewithnoname

I’m not literally counting the days; my spreadsheet does that for me. 😁

george4064

I am only 35 years old (and some way off retirement age), but how enjoyable and wholesome it has been reading the comments in this thread. Thank you and well done each and everyone one of you for taking the leap of faith.

kempiejon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098364#Comment_82098364

I made my 15 year plan at about your age back in the steam age. There wasn't a friendly internet of like minded individuals with experience and suggestions to share. There wasn't a FIRE movement, what a time to be making such a plan. Good luck george.

vacheron

My plan was to retire at 55 but a fortunately timed company restructuring enabled me to do so about 6 weeks ago at 52.

Downside was that the redundancy package pulled my planned retirement date of 55 forwards by a few years and so leapfrogged my plan to slowly transition into retirement as is widely recommended, however the upside was that I didn't have to spend the next few years second guessing my decision, plus, as the business was moving location, that change gave me the little extra shove I needed.

The first few days was a slight disbelief that this could suddenly happen now. But after a week or so, things just settled in as the new normal. So many people think retirement will suddenly change who you are or what you do like a switch, but for me, in those early weeks, it was just a slight sense of liberation and freedom, along with thoughts of, "right, what do I do first"?

Note. My "Retirement" lasted about 4 weeks before the new company asked me back on 2 days per week, but at 3x my previous salary, so I am currently "semi-retired" (for the short term at least). 😅

horsewithnoname

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098922#Comment_82098922

nice one 👍😊

Phossy

Thank you for all your responses.

Today I felt something!

I got the paperwork through from mt pension provider with all the options and associated numbers. I also got a got a knot in my stomach. I guess that is reality settling in.