Best and worst things about retirement

189 days until I have decided to retire. I could keep working but won't. The downside will be that income will be less than half what I have. But I will have time to cook and freeze and petrol costs will be much much less. I will have time to paint my boat...inside and out. I will have time to sew and craft. May be sell my things. Oh and I will be able to take my home out onto the river and cruise. One thing I don't understand in many of the comments is 'naps. I am heading for 69 and have never had an afternoon nap and don't intend to. Every day is precious....why waste it by sleeping in the afternoon?

Another pensionless pensioner ? however my free time (!!!) is practically none existent if I’m not helping with grandbabies, knitting, sewing or in the garden I’m fighting for my dues with #BackTo60. I have become knowledgeable about politics, twitter and Facebook. When we win (Judicial Review) - then my retirement will really really begin ?

Teddy - no worries. It sounds as if your retirement really has been blighted. I am so sorry. You have a lot on your plate. If you post your predicament on the Health forum, or even Relationships, you'll receive lots of advice, help and support from posters who have had or are having a very difficult time emotionally with a terminally ill partner.

For you

Best - get up when I want, nap in afternoon if I need to, doing want I want when I want not having to spend my weekends frantically cleaning and shopping etc because I was too tired after work!
Worse - I'm too young for state pension (thanks to gov) but manage thanks to downsizing etc I retired early due to ill health btw

Teddy111 I'm glad you did, you are having a really tough time as a carer, and people on here do care about others. If DH isn't coming out till Monday, can you at least get out in the sunshine today, one day at a time and all that?

For me, best bits as others have said are no deadlines, no pandering to bosses, ability to go and do what we want when we want.

Downsides I would say are adjusting to a huge drop in income, and the knowledge that it really is downhill now, we are fine at the moment and really making the most of it, but time is limited, as is the length of time we have left without serious health conditions which will inevitably come at some point.

I'm not retired, but my bloke is. AND I'm learning from him what NOT to do.

Best
No alarm clock.
Free to do what he wants.
HIM - still has a good income since he has a good teachers pension AND retired at 58 (none of which I'll have/be able to do).

Worst
Bored a lot of the time.
Lonely.
Will be my financial situation: no pension until 67. So will have to work to support myself until then. Just hopefully NOT as a full-time teacher.

I plan to continue to work from home once I retire; tutoring and exam marking. Maybe volunteer in a local school so I can choose when I want to work.

Best:
No alarm clock
No accountability
Do what I want to, when I want to - this can include doing nothing all day
Time for hobbies, friends, trips out etc.
I can wear the same outfit two days running

Worst
Erm, er..... can't think of any apart from the fact that I'm old and getting older


I retired ten years ago at 50yrs.
Best
My bus pass - I love being able to jump on a bus and go wherever, whenever I feel like it.

Magpie how have you managed to get a bus pass already? I had to wait till I reached state retirement age before I was eligible

Not having to be up at six five days a week and ready to teach 6 or 7 different classes of children every day of term time.

Having time to do housework properly, make jam, pickles etc.

The down side is seeing DH growing old earlier than I really think he should be, due in part to him being one of those who can't get the pension he has paid since he was 16 until he is 67 in four years time. Sometimes I fear he won't ever see that day.

Get a Call Guardian phone - our nuisance calls dropped dramatically

I retired last year. And I miss it dreadfully. I never thought I would

Retired for 12 years. Lucky as far as Pensions go (I have State Pension plus three quite small pensions).

Best : lots of time to spend with people I love. Plenty of choice with regard to how I spend that time.
Worst : isolation. Relatives are some distance away. Friends were all work related.

I took early retirement at 50 due to ill health, that was 15 years ago and the thing that caused me so much grief that I could no longer work is no longer an issue. That said I do have major mobility issues thanks to my auto immune condition so rely heavily on others to get about. Financially I'm ok even though no state pension for another year. I have two private pensions and enhanced mobility for Pip. I don't feel lonely or bored, I have an active mind and live quite well.
Worst for me is PAIN but I'd have that retired or not.
Best has been finding out how great my Sons have both been, helping me out on an almost daily basis. I'm really proud of them.

I like to be able to do voluntary work twice a week,doing something I enjoy.I like having a bus pass .
I don't like being a single pensioner,though I manage,I'm a bit of a Second Hand Rose too,London Granny

Best. Not having to go to the office and have all the pressure and stress from the minute I arrived.

Worst. Nothing really except that I still don’t have my life back as I have been looking after elderly parents since I retired. Not complaining at all, I now only have M and she is going into a care home at the age of 97. At least I will know that she is safe and being looked after. U3A here I come!!!

Another waspi here. 4 more long years to go ?

If you call BT 1572 you can blocked the last caller.

Best: Not having to commute.
Worst: Lack of money. Retirement must be OK if you have the money to enjoy it.

Nice not having the stress of horrible bosses, difficult colleagues. I left work early. WASPI so waiting extra 6 years for pension. Relying on my husband's income. He took early retirement last year. Had 7 years till state pension kicks in. We will be much better off when they kick in!
No downside for me. Husband missing his work mates. Like a fish out of water. Needs some hobbies. Trying to sell up and move. Life in limbo till then.

Tatt - I have the money to enjoy retirement, so its not really ok, would go back to work tomorrow if I had the opportunity to do so.

The Best would be actually being able to retire. I am nearly 4 years through my extra 6 and finding it really hard going.

Retired two years ago due to ill health. Now not ill anymore. Job was making me sick. DH was unemployed for five years before that. I’m 60 next month, also WASPI so no state pension until 66.

Cashed in Final Salary Pension and other pensions and now on drawdown. Earning more now than when working. Loving my retirement. Took a writing course and am now writing a book. Just volunteered for Cats Protection and have also joined a gym. Go to fairs and car boots hunting down bargains. Selling stuff collected over the years on eBay. Decorating house and a bit of gardening. Keeping very busy but very, very happy and so stress free!

Downside: Nothing whatsoever.

Every day I am so grateful to be in the position I am in!

I went back to work at 50 ! Now retired and am glad of the wee bit of extra pension
I have been retired for 20 years and agree that it is great when one has full health , still can’t understand anyone wasting time napping !

Best everything. Do not miss my very demanding job one bit. No down side really,we downsized and this left us with money to do more or less what we please.

I can't wait to retire, another WASPI lady, being born in 1954 I can't get my State Pension until next Sept. Really struggling to carry on at work feeling totally worn out.

Retired nearly 7 years ago at 60. Able to receive my bank pension then, state pension at nearly 63. Could have kept working but just had had enough.

Best.
Not having to go to work.
Able to go swimming, aquacise, walking, no time when at work.
Able to spend more time sourcing and cooking healthy, more economical meals.
More time to browse and get bargains when food shopping etc.
Able to collect grandchildren from school and give them their tea two days a week when DIL at work.

Worst.
Just being aware how quickly the time goes, we are getting older, health ok but just hope we keep being able to keep enjoying our much longed for and well earned retirement.