Retire or get a new job?

You are obviously a bit shell-shocked at being made redundant. Now is not a good time to make decisions about your future. Apart from that, the job market is likely to be all over the place for a while, with so many businesses closing down, or struggling.
You will be getting 80% of your wages until the end of July. Your husband will be paid until September. Presumably you will have some redundancy pay. I would relax, and stay safely at arms’ length from the general public. Get a pension forecast, and have a good think about your futures. You have until September, at the earliest, to make some decisions. Collect your thoughts, relax, talk things over, and you will be able to see things more clearly.
In any case, nothing is set in stone. You can always change your minds. Good luck.

Nanny2859 - the first question you need to ask is what plans you’re OH had made for his retirement because if he had openly or secretly planned to become active in some sport or hobby or society, you will be left behind at home while he plays out his retirement dream. So you need to have that conversation before you contemplate leaving work altogether.
Then there’s the advice of your friend who warns against you becoming too available for your grandchildren - and that comes from a judgemental position because clearly she doesn’t feel that’s something she would like but you and your OH might actually enjoy picking up some responsibility there. And the next thing is whether you find working mentally stimulating And couldn’t do without such external input to your life or whether you could take a part time paid job or volunteering role that would be adequate and satisfying. It must be terrible to receive this news right now when we’re all isolated but at least it gives you the opportunity to really talk things through with your OH.

May I recommend you take a couple of weeks off and during that time draw up a simple plan. What did you do prior to the commencement of your relationship with your other half. Did you have a hobby, interest in art , culture, visiting places of interest. In the UK where have you always wanted to go but had no time. Plan a visit. Where within a short distance say not more than an hour away are places of interest you can visit.
If you have grand children it is a good thing for you to make plans once we return to “normal”. To ask their parents if you could take them to the cinema, theatre, places of interest in your town etc.
There is so much places and things to see and they are mostly free. Save up a little money each week and you and your partner can visit places together. Share these experiences. In my own town we have a town hall built in Victorian time I never visited and 45 years later I did visit and it was an education.
What you do with your time is limited by your imagination.
Best wishes.

Hi. I semi retired at aged 52, and continued to work 2 mornings per week. We downsized to a bungalow at the same time. I didn't really enjoy working very part time and just went along with it. At 56 I went to just 1 morning per week. My family soon filled my time with childcare and school runs. I'm not now 59 and only yesterday put in my notice at work, as my mum has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She lives across the road from me and I spend much of my time caring for her needs these days. My OH still works full time. I do enjoy life at home and hobbies, interests and family to keep me busy. I feel useful and fulfilled. I hope you make the right decision for you.

I would suggest take a bit of time. And don't rush into anything. If you are financially secure. Perhaps you could do some volunteering, there's always places that need volunteers.

Take time to consider all your options 53 seems early to retire I'm ten years older and work full-time which isn't ideal but I don't think after this lockdown experience I am ready for a complete end to my working life however enjoy the choices and options you are so lucky to have you don't need to rush into any decision

I’m an occupational therapist and I would say that 53 is definitely too early to retire. You need have a purpose and structure to your life, otherwise your mental health suffers. Look for a part time job that aligns with an interest you might have, eg working in a theatre, shop, school, tennis club - the list is endless.

I would think long and hard about retiring and then looking for a new job!
Ageism is rampant amongst many employers even though it supposedly no longer exists!
I have been unemployed for 2 years after being made redundant - got lots of interviews but no job offers so far.
As you don't need to put your date of birth on your CV, the prospective employers have no idea how old you are, but the number of times I have walked into an interview when the face of the interviewer drops when he sees me and I have actually been told that I wasn't offered the job because I "most probably wouldn't be there very long" and they wanted someone to train up and plan to move up the scale! Several of those jobs were just about identical to the one I had been made redundant from!
If you do decide and can afford to retire - there is always plenty of volunteer jobs to do - not all in a charity shop!

I ‘retired’ at 58. My husband who is seven years older was finishing and I decided I didn’t want to travel,to London and do a stressful job whilst he was home full time. Think really carefully - I have adjusted over time but miss a lot of things about my job. I also missed the money and any money you think will last you can go quite quickly. I found a non stressful part time job which helped and I now do some volunteer work. I wish you luck and above all enjoyment - it is lovely to have some freedom from the 9-5.30 and all the travel stress. There is also more to life than work- be happy.

You have to do what feels right but having a break seems a good idea. I enjoyed working and the nearer I came to retirement the more I wanted to keep working. Finally retired just before becoming 68! I love retirement now but it is a big adjustment for your mind at first. Take a break and maybe consider a new work/career path to keep you interested until nearer retirement age. Best of luck.

I would think carefully about the issue of helping with your grandchildren. Until the lockdown I’ve been spending 3 days a week helping out and have never felt happier, more alive or more needed and appreciated. I still have weekends and holidays with my DH so it’s the best of both worlds. I love the close relationships I’ve built up with the children and hope they will hold on to those memories. I’m nearly 70 and can’t wait to get back to my normal life. Decide what’s best for you.

In 2003 I took early retirement, in the Civil Service at 55.
I did attempt other jobs ,but found it hard to settle into them.
Although, now 72 , My Sister who lives in Shropshire continues to work at 70 all be it part time.
It a gamble , creating a CV or if the employer has application forms , then also today you have no fixed contract , so if you are ill , or anything you loose money.
Mick

The lovely receptionist at the school where I taught for years was coming up to retirement at the same time as her husband. She had a think, and decided to keep on working for another year, so that her husband would have the space to decide how to spend his time and not be dependent on her for companionship - and lunch! A wise decision, I thought.

You mention downsizing, presumably this will release capital that is presently tied up in your property. Obviously, I don’t know where you live, but if you can move to a smaller property in a cheaper area, the amount of capital released might mean you don’t have to be too careful in retirement.

I stopped working at 50 to care for my disabled son when he left full-time education. When he went into residential care, I started doing voluntary work. This in turn led to me getting full-time work in a related area once DH stopped working. There’s more than one way to skin a cat! Have fun using this time to think creatively.

You know you must listen to your self on this one.
All the view# you get are other people’s, professional and experienced.
You are young to be Retiring but if ( like me ) you started working at a very young age you may be glad to get off the hamster wheel.
The truth is at just over 50 you could be physically able to care for yourself for another 50 years......

I retired 18 months ago aged 61 after 43 years as a nurse, I used the time to help with my first grandchild and have some work done on the house. I really enjoyed my retirement until lockdown, I m now not babysitting any more and am quite bored so am returning to a part time nursing role next week and although a bit scared am looking forward to having something to focus my mind. It’s probably only temporary for around 6 months but will hopefully pay for a bucket list holiday once we start travelling again. It’s a big step to retire fully at 53

I had to retire about 5 years ago due to legal aid being withdrawn for Family law cases (I was a lawyer). At the time I was busy renovating a house - then I got a dog and trained him - but then I realised that I had not planned what I would do with my retirement and I seem to be drifting although the latest lockdown has made me complete and finish and produce a biography of my father. I was doing Airbnb but that has stopped! Now what? I definitely think that 53 is too young to stop working altogether but if you do I recommend having a plan for what you are going to do with all that time. I wish I had!

By the way I am 70

I retired at 55 from the NHS having worked there since left school. I took the opportunity to go early for all the usual reasons including the changing nature of the job and exhaustion! My DH died at 51 and we had lots of plans for retirement which of course he would never see. I moved to the Hebrides and volunteer for everything and am involved in hobbies, church and artistic life.
I have made new friends while keeping the golden oldies!
I’ve made lots of lists about what I want from the rest of my life. I’m not ruling out employment in the future but it would be something very much on my terms. Covid 19 reminds us how swift and precious life is. My mother developed dementia in her early sixties and I brought her to live near me after my father died.
That’s a potted history, but I do enjoy reading about others lives I thought I would share.
Rest and recuperate. Then see what appeals and feels fulfilling. A pension is a cushion to fall back on, you are in a lovely position you have choice. Beun Camino!

I had to retire with ill health at 52. I been partial paralysis, then had 2 major back operations. I had a demanding, busy job and literally stopped overnight. I'd made no plans. My dh , of 2 years, second marriage for both of us, had planned on retiring early but not that early. After some thought and financial planning we sold up in the uk and went to live in our Spanish apartment. I had a good works pension that paid straight away and lump sum. My dh had a good work pension but it was reduced as he took it early. We checked our state pensions and our idea was to spend as we pretty much wanted until they kicked in Also if you dont work there are a lot of savings...only 1 car, no NI contributions, no pension contributions etc.
Weve had holidays all over the world, both cruises and other trips.

To be honest if you are vaugly comfortable you can really enjoy not having to work. I have many crafty hobbies, read a lot, watch telly. Usually we socialize quite a bit, coffee, menu del dias and drinks out. There are lots of golf courses but neither of us play. I love to swim and do a lot of that. You just have to get over the "doing something useful every day' idea and your income is nailed on.....no redundancy. Only problem is euro exchange rate. We had both lost our parents and grandkids had not arrived. That's a big consideration. Many of our friends end up tied to grandkids as carers or just because they are close. Apart from struggling with my health I've had a fantastic 15 years so far. We pretty much spend what we get. Small savings, no debts, no intention of leaving anything except our apartment to our dc.

I would think about how much you loved your job - if it was "just a job" then this is an opportunity to retrain for something you love doing (53 is young these days). or maybe start your own business. or do that course you've always wanted to do? Think back to when you were younger - what fired you up? This Lockdown is an opportunity to think about all these things without feeling the pressure to rush out and fill the spaces (possibly with things you don't really want to do). And, yes, watch out for being too available for babysitting (a friend of mine quickly signed on for a full time college course so that she wasn't). Otherwise, you'll just be seen as free childcare!

Your definitely in shock at being made redundant. As you say you never seen it coming... You will get over that. If I was you based on the information you have given...I would think about doing part time work for now. If you have no children at home I would seriously think about downsizing your home while you are young enough. The older you get it can become more difficult to make that move to down size. You and your husband will then have no money problems. Remember life is for living...you have done the hard work...putting in all those years of full time work...Life can be short. xx

PS As for having problems motivating yourself at the moment - a lot of us are going through this; most of my friends are and they're long since retired. Good to carve out a structure for your day and stick to it (but allow yourself some "duvet days" too - we're living in anxious times).

Whether to retire now, so that you and your husband retire at the same time, depends entirely on three things:

Can you afford to retire now?

What are your plans for retirement?

What do you really want to do?

We retired early, sold our flat, bought a boat and spent two years sailing on the canals of Germany, Holland, Belgium and France.

We enjoyed it, and I am really, really glad we did it when we did. We both have health issues of the not serious, but annoying type now, that might well prevent us realising this dream now, even when and if restrictions relax and a vaccine is available.

If you and your husband have plans for your retirement then sit down and work out whether it is feasible to start realising them now.

If you haven't made plans, do so.

You cannot make a decision this big at the drop of a hat, but discuss plans, work out finances and please try to regard it as a big adventure.

It is truly marvellous not having to go to work every day!

Lots of good advice as always from fellow Gnetters. Work for most people is ‘what we know and what we do’ but you have choice that others don’t have. Not a lot in this life is guaranteed, so do what you think makes you happiest now. Are you quite resilient in keeping yourself entertained, motivated? Imagine that you have left your current job......, how does that feel? Good luck and remember there is no right and wrong answer. Xx