Retirement in September

Enjoy your retirement and live within your means. It's a joy to not be a slave to the alarm clock and with more time you can be savvy with your shopping. We have rediscovered how lovely it is to grow our own. Sharing our produce with neighbours and getting freebies from them too. That bought new friendships. If its company you miss. Lots of local groups perhaps those run by councils, churches, community halls. Do you have a dog as there are groups you can walk with. Or walking groups if its just you. Do you have a HR dept where you work as they may have contacts for retirees. Age uk also have befriending schemes so you may find it useful to explore that either as a volunteer or a user. Lots fear retirement as the end of everything but it really doesn't need to be. Try and allocate some 'fun' money don't worry about what you spend it on. If it's brings you some joy then that's priceless. Good luck.

It sounds to me as if you have already made some good plans.

If you find that the dog, garden, the choir and the church don't feel your time, you might perhaps offer to walk a dog for someone who still works, when you walk your own, or look after dogs or cats, in their own homes, when their owners are away.

hobbies, part time job,small business ,the choices are endless.I look at how little i can live on,not how much, but them we are all different.I read a quote recently. which stopped me in my tracks, eventually, i will be dead,that's all,don't waste time....

£1,600 is not a fortune but I think I could manage on that. It really depends on your everyday expenses and lifestyle.

As for what to do, I know some people are worried about retiring. I have a friend who is very work-driven and she was concerned that she would be bored. Up to now, that hasn't been an issue for her as she and her husband have spent time with their friendship group, with whom they have trips at home and abroad quite regularly. But not everyone can afford to do that, and not everyone has that sort of friendship group (we don't).

For me, I was glad to leave work as I was finding it increasingly stressful trying to keep up with the ever-changing technology/software. It depends what you like doing, but I think it is a good idea to at least try and get out every day for a walk.

I am in two choirs (that have at least 4 social events each year), an exercise class and an art class. I enjoy pottering about in the garden, reading, doing crosswords/codewords, etc, meeting up with friends, seeing my grandchildren, taking the dog out (other dog owners are usually friendly and chatty). Being able to book breaks during the week or slightly off-season can also save some money too.

Some people enjoy the Ramblers club, WI, U3A exercise classes (Pilates, Yoga, dance classes, etc.), or book clubs. You can also learn a new language online (Duolingo, etc) or do an Open University course.

I think it is important to either build on current interests or experiment with new interests/clubs/classes. If you find you don't like them, you don't have to continue.

Another friend has a full life but she puts time aside to do voluntary work - visiting an elderly person each week and helping in a club for older people. As someone else said, though, be careful not to get too embroiled at the beginning in things that you might find tiring or which prevent you from doing other activities or which you might feel obliged to continue with.

It is nice not to have to get up so early and travel to work too.

Happily retired, some days I do a lot, others not much at all. I like getting out walking, there’s usually free health walks run by the local council in most areas. As others have said U3A, WI, church groups, exercise classes….you’ll only be bored if you want to be. I live on a lot less than your amount but still manage a good holiday, eat well, etc. I don’t drink or smoke so that saves a lot.
Enjoy your retirement!

Have to add re laying in bed and not getting up- when I first retired I woke at “getting up time” but after a quick bathroom trip I could usually turn over and sleep a (lot) more hours.
I know quite a few retirees that do this, usually those who, like you, were in full time nhs, social worker or teaching type roles that were exhausting .
We think it was just our bodies re-setting to the new, more reasonable pace. In all cases the “extra” sleep tapered off somewhere between 6 months and a year in. I’d just let it happen and give yourself a break. You will have to get up at some point for the dog, so you certainly won’t be lazing in bed all day and night!

Subscription fee’s for joining groups you are interested in, mount up and are wasted if you realise that the group is not for you.
That’s why I can’t recommend the U3A too much. You pay a fee to join and then it’s up to you which group you join. They are all free. My local U3A has over 200 different groups. Ranging from Archery to Spanish dancing.

I officially become a pensioner in July. I work full time in admin.

I am a bit like the OP in that I worry that I will end up lying in bed all morning and becoming a bit of a sloth if I retire

I need to make a decision soon but I am seriously considering working part time (in my job) for another twelve months and then having a review. I am fortunate to be in good health at the moment.

This decision is also partly because I am worried about money and also because I have a feeling of impending doom thinking I am so old and need to be put out to pasture - sorry to be a bit depressing.

I am also considering joining some U3A groups. I'm not really into coffee mornings and am not a church goer. I live in a town where people come to retire. They (joking) call it 'God's waiting room'.

Dizzyribs

Absolutely don’t rush into things to fill your time. Work was my life and my identity so thought that I would be really lost. I am not! I love being retired and have never missed my working life (although I and my friends really thought I would) I do meet up with former colleagues occasionally though.
I learned to be wary from a slightly older colleague. She filled her retirement days, then found it almost impossible to get out of things later on. Once folks thought I was available I was “headhunted” by loads of voluntary organisations, the local WI, various societies… everyone!! I told them I was having a belated gap-year . I did things I thought I might like but refused to sign up for anything that lasted more than a day or two (single days, not every week!). I helped clear gardens for elderly friends, helped bake for parties, decorated the community centre or sourced specific items for weddings, when friends parents passed on or moved into care homes or just moved I packed and unpacked boxes or cleaned. I went to any event I was invited to for an evening, helped with local community one off things … all sorts but nothing permanent. If it looked like being an every week thing in that first year, I left rapidly.
After a couple of years people got the message and stopped trying to persuade me to do everything, but would still mention things or ask if I was interested. I settled into a rhythm of things I really wanted to do. I’m really happy with what I do and just love being retired.

Yes, I absolutely agree with this. I always steadfastly avoid any regular commitment. If you do find that you enjoy something you can do it as often as you like, but you need to take your time and make the most of not having to get up and go out as you used to do.
And there's honestly no need to rush about in the morning. Obviously if you've got a pet you need to look after them, but there is no obligation to get up early for no good reason.

A lot depends on whether or not you like some structure. I really need some, otherwise it can be midday and I'm still not dressed and liable to have another biscuit.
For years I have managed to arrange to be somewhere somebody is expecting me by mid morning, on a Monday at least.

Please don’t fret. You’ve worked hard for most of your life - you deserve this rest and some free time. When you no longer have to set an alarm, get dressed and commute to work - rain or snow or shine - it will feel like a gift.

In time you may decide to get back out in the work-force part time (maybe not) or do some volunteer work. Stay home or socialize. Travel. You get to choose!

I retired two years ago and am still delirious about it!! 🤩
USA Gundy

I live on my pension of £700 per month …. no benefits …only council tax reduction of 25%…… I don’t ‘live ‘ per se ….but I do survive. I own my house outright but the costs of running it are enormous ( haven’t had heating on since end February!) So I think your income sounds more than sufficient .

I retired a few weeks ago, I was 66 and get full state pension and a occ pen.
I refuse to get involved or sign to do anything,I am giving myself a year to work out what I want to do.

Retirement has been an issue for me. I’m 69, work 2 days in a school, having been full time. Full time straight to retirement would’ve been too hard for me. Depends on the job

I'm assuming that you're not renting either? In which case, I think that will be fine and you'll have a little spare (and your NHS pension rises with inflation).
Don't rush into anything - look around; but I would say to look out for hobbies and pastimes that are either cheap or save you money.
Also, when you feel well enough, you might do the kind of volunteering that gets you free / reduced entry to things like your local theatre / concert venue / country park.
My very best wishes.

I retired last September aged 72. I am married and my husband retired about three years ago. Prior to retirement, and I would suggest from now, keep a spreadsheet of what you are spending- right down to the last penny! Postage stamp purchase, charity box donation, extra bottle of milk etc. This will tell you what your minimum monthly income needs are and what you have left to spend. Do this daily- it works. I also looked at what I wanted to do with my time and sought out a choir and some Age UK classes which cost £2.00 time. I have started to play bridge again with husband and we go for walks which are free. Wednesdays are a book reading day if I feel like it or coffee and chat with friends and weekends are socialising- going to local drama productions or eating with friends. Grocery shopping - when needed, gardening when needed and cleaning? Well, keep your lights low and not needed everyday unless someone expected! It may sound selfish but I didn’t want to volunteer to do something as that would be a commitment. Happy to help out if necessary however. Don’t feel guilty about doing nothing sometimes- going forward it will be your life controlled by you and not your employer- enjoy it.

Saggi

I live on my pension of £700 per month …. no benefits …only council tax reduction of 25%…… I don’t ‘live ‘ per se ….but I do survive. I own my house outright but the costs of running it are enormous ( haven’t had heating on since end February!) So I think your income sounds more than sufficient .

Don’t you qualify for Pension Credit if you don’t get the “full” state pension?

The U3A is a good thing to join
There's a knitting group, tea and chat, chess, Badminton, Bouls, stately Garden visits, archery, literature, art, Shooting targets, canoeing walking groups etc.

I never worked because we lived the Good Life. Poor but happy. I was sixty three when my husband died and I had DWP and very small works pension but I joined the WI, went to WEA classes on various topics, visited housebound people in the village and managed to do decorating, do it your self and gardening, taking coach holidays, until I was 82 when I developed arthritis.
I have managed very well on state pension credit guarantee, mobility allowance now about £270 a week.

I retire in August last year. I don’t feel guilty when I have my lie in in the morning but I tell myself to do at least 1 task every day to stop myself turning into a sloth.

At first, I was worried about being bored but I have been rather busy catching up on things that I have neglected when I was too busy working.

When I was working, I was literally doing two jobs, a fulltime job with a long commute and helping my DH with an online website in the evenings and weekends.

My house needs a lot of TLC and I have a long list of all the works needed doing which will keep me busy. Not done any volunteering work but have started Zumba classes, learning Arabic and spend time reading historical romance books.

I have 7 years to wait before I received my state pension, so I am careful how I spent my money. Rarely eat out.

My advice is don’t worry too much about it, just go with the flow and enjoy your retirement!

LaCrepuscule please consider volunteering for something - there are lots of opportunities and you meet all sorts of people. Join a group that does things you enjoy - WI (I'm biased as I'm President of ours!), Ramblers, etc. It's also good for your mental health to do something positive so be brave and give something a go!

I retired last Sept at 66. I'll tell you what I did and how things have been working out for me
First though apply for your bus pass as soon as you can do, so you have it for when you retire, even if locally there are not many buses, in other places there are and it makes a world of difference.
I discovered that there was an event happening the weekend after I retired so I booked that and hotels for that and some air bnbs for the following week. That sort of took my mind off thinking about it too much. I used my bus pass so much that week. When I got back how wonderful, I could unpack and do my washing and shopping etc and not have to worry about work. Unlike the break I had a month earlier, that was a wonderful feeling.
I jotted down a list of places I thought I'd like to go and exhibitions I'd like to go to and decided that with time limited things I would make an effort to go as soon as I could, even in retirement things come up, so I could manage to get to see them and not having to do it in the last couple of weeks which I'd found myself doing. I signed up for bus trips to places I'd like to go to with the local community bus, I'd already started going on some but couldn't do all the ones I wNted to because of being busy, even though I wasn't working full time. When it started getting cold I spent time doing some reorganization of the house, had it been warm I'd have started on getting the garden into shape. Little by little. Sorting out kitchen cupboards, sorting out clothes, sorting out books and paperwork, and some loft stuff, I got rid of an old Christmas tree and various Christmas stuff so that is slimmed down to what I really like. Not all day, every day, but when I had not much else on. I went to places locally I'd always meant to go to, and enjoyed looking after my dd's dogs without needing to worry about my laptop, so caught up on some reading and a but of knitting. This spring I started getting on top of the garden. At first I often did have lie ins just because I could, I don't any more unless I'm worn myself out doing something strenuous. There is such a lot I want to do! I pace myself. I have gone through all the craft stuff I'd put aside for when I had more time, and made decisions did I want to spend time doing that tapestry kit, as my eyesight isn't as good as it was do I want to spend my time doing that, will I ever use that material, that sort of thing. If in doubt leave it and decide later.
Ive not gone away as I'd planned as have had a bit of a health scare and have wanted to be around to open letters and be able to go for appointments at short notice. I will need an op but it's not as serious as they thought originally.
I'd actually started cutting back on some voluntary stuff that I'd been doing for a long time, and I've not taken up anything new, but like some others I've said OK to some one off things. I might change my mind, but I don't want to replace work with unpaid work. I still do the voluntary stuff I could cope with.
I've not yet joined u3a, local branch doesn't seem as vibrant as a friend's a couple of counties away, but I've not ruled it out. I've done some free future learn courses, and worked on my family tree. I may do some courses in the nearby town, they will be there next year or the year after. Some trips away will need to be put on the back burner while I recover from surgery but once I have I will catch up with exhibitions etc, and then trips away
Its working well so far, haven't been bored or lonely or anything else, like that which people fear. Eventually I'll be on top of long outstanding things to do around the house and garden, maybe. I had a lot of work done on the house so lots I won't need to do, still some outside stuff but it will get done.
Your situation might be very different to mine, if course. Everyone's financial circumstances differ but I have fewer day to day expenses, as have more time. OK I bought a heated blanket and got an oodie but I can use both next year!
I thought I'd miss work but I don't
Whatever you do, enjoy and do apply for your bus pass as soon as you can (and consider going away for a few days after you retire, September weather is often glorious

DH and I retired early on a income under the amount you will have . I also do a very small amount of work most weeks ( approx 2 to 4 hours )but still have slightly less than your projected monthly income. We dont have expensive hobbies or holidays but are generally managing very well. .