Partial Retirement

I was forced to retire early on ill-health grounds and as an academic found my brain going to mush after 3 months, especially as I felt I could still work but not at the pace I was doing. I began working from home, doing work associated with what I had done all my life, but not under the stressful deadlines imposed by the faceless organisation. Without that outlet I would have gone mad - so my advice to you is much like that of other contributors - take the incremental route to retirement, get a proper work/life balance back again, but keep an open mind. It may be that when you do retire completely, you still want a little something in your life and you may even consider taking up a new and different paid job a couple of days a week, or doing some voluntary work.

There is a lot more to life than work (and kids.) Now you have a chance to live it. Nothing to be scared about and don't give too much to the kids as you will need it to enjoy your deserved retirement. If you want to help them pay for them to do things with you, which will give you all enjoyment and good memories.

I can't understand why pensions and Retirement can't be phased in gently for everyone .
Working a day less each week from age 60 and operating like a job share with someone starting working life. They earn a wage for that day and you get the equivalent of benefit .It would ease everybody in and out of work gently ,and act as a great reference for job seekers

My advice as someone who did what you are doing a couple if years ago (what I'd tell my slightly younger self) is put the part-time wage in a savings account.
And use those couple of days a week to find/practise/develop hobbies (art least I did this bit)
Enjoy

Moving to three days a week is a good way to move towards retirement. That's what I wanted to do but where I work had become very inflexible so I couldn't. However, when I did stop I didn't miss work at all, it was just a great relief.

I did just what you are doing and it was right for me then.It helped to adjust financially. After 20 months I then retired fully and I've never regretted it once.
An older lady once said to me, you will know when the times right for you to retire,it will feel right, and that was so true for me.Good luck and enjoy!

It all depends on what you are going to do with the extra time off. Maybe it’s now the right time to give some of the extra time off to you. There’s a big difference between finishing work altogether and going part-time. With the first, everything stops and changes, whereas with the second, you’re still in on all of the action but for less hours. And helping your kids with buying their first homes is a fantastic reason to go part-time. After a short while, you’ll know you made the right decision.

You will love it and benefit from the extra time. Word of warning passed on to me when I retired. It takes a good year to get used to the smaller income so be prepared for that.

I was made redundant at 55 in 2013. Hubby worked a couple of part time jobs evenings.

I've so much to do during the day I wonder how I managed to fit in full time work, running a home and what else I do. I could go back to work, even just part time but hubby says why bother if we are managing now he gets state and works pension.

He had bowel cancer in 2008, I had what I thought was conjunctivitis in 2010. Turned out to be a very serious life threatening infection. So to be home retired at an earlier age than I should (2023) is great.

Something like both of us having life taking conditions and surviving makes us realise how much time not working and doing things together means.

I'm sure you wont have any regrets seasider. This year Mr. S. has been taking 2 days off a week, providing no one else is off, and is really enjoying it.

As others have said, it's a good way to ease yourself into full retirement. Good luck and enjoy.

I took Early Retirement at 50 (Civil Service) as my DH had Retired (at 65) & his health wasn't great. So glad I did as I was widowed at 57. My own health isn't brilliant & I'm classed as limited work capablity. I don't receive my State Pension for another 4 years so am reliant on Benefits.

I had 7 good years with DH & my life now is busy I couldn't fit work in. I also moved 2 years ago to be nearer DD & DGSs. I'm so much happier than in my working life, I loved working for the Civil Service for 11 years & then moved offices, that was a big mistake, 6 fairly unhappy years so retirement was a great option.

It's an individual choice, perhaps go back with an open mind, if you're not happy you can "wave goodbye" without a backwards glance. If you don't try you'll never know.

loulou21 I've seen a lot of threads in which she has been reported and her post removed; she's either stirring deliberately or affected by dementia??

No i wasn't scared of retirement and i love being retired. I had a great job, well paid, interesting, meeting the public and non office environment...loved every minute of it but when 60 was on the horizon i couldn't wait. I paint, garden, read, walk ,visit galleries,go on holidays...the list is endless.i took the advice of an old colleague 'Never Go Back'. ..and i never have...nit for a visit or a reunion or a dinner.

I reduced my working week to 2 days when I wS 60. Knowing that I was working on my own terms and could walk if things became stressful was empowering. I found I could put up with anything for 2 days. In fact I did this for 6 years and finally retired when my working days were encroaching on my social life.

A colleague had a good idea. For the last year of her working life she and her husband implemented all the changes they planned, financially, and lived on what they would be receiving after retirement.

Anither double report!

Can Jessica881 please stop posting this nonsense at the end of each string, it's pathetic, annoying and boring.

Hi, I went part time for two years before I retired and loved it. Wished I had worked part time over the previous ten or twenty years, would have had a much better life/work balence!

Didn't seem to make a great deal of difference in salary as paying less tax, NI etc. I kept up pension payments.

Have done some hourly paid ad hoc work since retiring but gradually weaning myself off that!

Go for it! ?

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I retired end of May (age 63 and 8 months!)Will not get my State Pension until March next year, but as W11girl says, no way was I going to wait until then, so saved loads over last few years. Loving my freedom so far!

Quite agree crafty cat! I retired very slowly and was doing one day a week until 70. My D.H. had to take early retirement after a heart attack and found it very difficult to adapt.

Good idea. I went from 5 days to 3 & finally to just one! It worked very well & for the record I LOVE being retired- should have gone before- I worked 3 years after I could have taken pension.
DH has a long time to work yet & it may be different when he is home all day TBH. I married him for love but not for lunch!!

Good luck Seasider but don't give all your lump sum to your children, you never know when you might need a rainy day fund yourself, especially once you're fully retired.

Yes. I "retired" at 60..although my officil pension age had been shifted to 62 and three quarters(!). There was no way I was going to wait until then, so I saved as much of my salary as I could and got out at 60...I was anxious at first, but somehow you adjust to your circumstances. I have never looked back.

Thank you everybody. I am looking forward to having more time off and I know I am lucky to have a decent pension scheme. It's just a big step. I wanted to help my children so I could see them enjoy it! The only way I could release my lump sum was to reduce my hours

Humbertbear DH and I are five years away from first pensions coming in at 60, but we hope at that point to 'review' and should have the option to go part-time. If we are both fit and well and enjoying life we might continue full-time, but it is reassuring to me to have an option out there and I would really like to be able to drop a day at work and be able to help more with GC if the opportunity is there.

I think, if people are able to do it, cutting down a little while in advance of full retirement seems a sensible and balanced option. And how lovely that you will be able to help your children out too. I won't say 'I wish I were in your shoes' because I know I should value each day along the way, but I can see the mark on the horizon now and I think I will be ready and grateful to shift down a gear when the time comes.

Good luck in all your new ventures.