What age did you retire?

Early retirement on health grounds at 59 years and 10 months, 6 years and 3 years ago. Have finally qualified for State Pension this year. Just. But not all of it, for some reason.

Throughly enjoyed my job. Thoroughly enjoying my retirement.

I retired at 70 having gradually reduced my hours to two days per week. My husband did the same and it was exactly the right time for both of us. Despite being in my last job for 30 years I don’t miss it at all,

59. I was self-employed and could have continued, but I had always wanted to 'beat the system's by retiring before 60. For a number of years I paid lots into private pensions so that I was able to retire in comfort.
I love being retired!

55 I took early retirement from my senior management teaching post. I have never regretted it.

I said earlier that I retired before my 60th , what I didn’t say was that I retuned to work full time at 50 ! It was supposed to be a year of Maternity cover , but she never came back , the job was advertised and I applied and got it , but by 60 I couldn’t cope , the younger colleagues were wonderful and I got on great with them , I did miss the interaction with young people when I retired

58, without pay or pension.

I had my children in my twenties, so only wortked for five years after graduation, then, as was the norm in these days , was a full time Mum, then was mostly part-time/sometimes full time worker until my late thirties.

I retrained in my forties and was very energetic and career focussed in my forties, fifties and sixties, which I think are the years when woman can do their best work, having brought up their children in their twenties and thirties..

I became self-employed in my late fifties and intended to retire at 75 but I ended up retiring at 73, just because I realised that I was slowing down and no longer had the energy I had had ten years earlier.

I was going to retire at 60, but I love my job and when they asked me to stay on, I agreed if I could reduce my hours. So that’s what I did. I love semi-retirement and I love work. Not sure when I’ll retire full time.

65. It was the right time for me. I loved my job and left on the crest of a wave. No regrets.

50. My company was desperate to lose people and were offering generous redundancy and retirement packages. I took my pension and went as I had better things to do, like go travelling. Never never regretted it. I’ve been retired for longer than I ever worked.

Retired at 60,RGN, then returned to work part time. As a partimer was expected to fill in odd hours, but then was being put on so many night shifts, body clock couldn’t cope. So left the NHS for full retirement at 62. Never a day of regret, although if I had managed to get a clinic based job would have continued working.

Mid 40s and i don't miss it at all. I know how lucky i am.

I could retire next month as I'll be 66 then, but I'm not going to. Think I'll give it another year and see how I feel.

57. Hallelujah.

I think I was one of the first to retire at 55 - 1988 - from my local govt. job - I loved my job but we were starting a major change in our
life. And the job was changing too. +++
In our new way of life I was able to find other part time jobs in a similar environment so was very happy.

Age 48 due to ill health - I have taken a huge financial hit.
I’ve found it difficult in many ways but also fantastic in other ways.
I really miss the lovely work colleagues but am thrilled not to have to deal with the difficult ones or my dreadful boss. I don’t miss having a huge workload and feeling under a lot of work stress. I don’t miss not being able to take leave when I wanted to.
I love not having to buy and wear work clothes or work in an uncomfortably cramped and hot work environment.
I love that my time is my own.

Like Revolucion - I forgot to menton the social side of work. . I still keep in touch with some of my old work colleagues.
Their support made our stressful job a lot easier.

I was 55 when i finished work. DH wanted to take early retirement and at my work (NHS) they were reorganising and it didn't seem fair to go through the process, get a management job, which I would have done, and then leave a year or so later. Was really glad to go.

We both retired at 50, converted some outbuildings to holiday lets so worked on Saturdays only for changeovers. Went off to France and did the same thing with three gites until Orlin had two major health scares and we came back to Wales at age 67, he is now fit and well , we have renovated a derelict house and are completely retired and loving every moment.

I'm waiting to retire - I've got 4 years to go yet

52 to start a new life in Pembrokeshire with my partner, covid hit and it all went wrong, tried to get work but couldn’t so now I’m doing a new qualification so that may lead to something. Have taken my work pension at 55 ?

72 and still working part time and enjoying it.

Retired from teaching at 57 because of disillusionment with senior management. Started my own teaching resources website for spellings which is still doing well. Got my state pension last year thank goodness.

I was 57 when I stopped paid work on the day my daughter was widowed, so that I could help her to cope with her grief along with her new baby. However, I still continued with my many voluntary roles.

When I was 62 I co-founded a charity working with homeless people and now I’m nearly 68 and I continue to run that alongside working with my husband in our new business.

I had a conversation a few days ago with my husband during which he told me that my plans to retire from leading the charity in my 70th year are unrealistic - because he says I can’t retire from being me and I’ll simply find myself responding to a different need. It’s given me pause for thought because although I think I really would like to retire I suspect he’s right.

53. I cashed in a private pension and we live off my husband's pension. I recently started volunteering one day a week for a charity but have no intention of ever going back to paid employment. I love my freedom way too much.