At what age did you retire from work ..? For me it was at 59

62, I couldn’t take the pressure any longer, so lived off savings for four years. I may not have much of a pension, but having good health is more important than working yourself into an early grave. It’s so wrong my generation have to wait till 66 whereas those born a couple years earlier could get their oap pension at 60

61 from paid work and 65 from voluntary work driving patients to and from hospice day care. Been caring for my aged mother til she died 3 years ago and two grandchildren born after I retired. Now we are walking our granddogs 3/4 times a week and a few school runs. Family help never disappears.

No intention of stopping.
I tried but missed it too much.

60, after full time ( with the exception of two stints of Maternity leave ) for 45 years in local government and NHS, so I was able to retire on a good pension. I get my State Pension this September too, so can keep a decent standard of living, plus DH still works, he’s 10 years younger than me.

Awesomegranny - I don’t think that’s quite correct. There was a sliding scale for retirement, between 60 and 66, for women born in the early 1950s. I was born just after the limit (June 55), so I had to wait until I was 66. My husband also had his state pension deferred by 6 months. He was born in Feb. 54.
I actually retired at 58 on a small teacher’s pension and managed to survive on a budget until my pay rise in 2021. I’ve never enjoyed any of my paid jobs, so I was glad to go. I’ve since found Hospice volunteering to be very rewarding though. Unfortunately this had to stop in March 2020, but I’m hoping to return to it soon.

I went part time at 60, as I could claim my work pension, I'm hoping to retire next year when I'll be 65, my office is closing then and I've no intention of moving on.

Retired in the grounds of ill health at 57, now 75 and never felt better

55 from full time but I’ve worked part time since now aged 68.

Still working at 71…..my husband stopped work at 50 …..

I’m 63 and still working, I have another 2 1/2 years left. Yes I feel work is actually making me ill mentally but I have no option, I’m single and can’t afford not to work

I’m due to retire in 74 days and I can’t wait. I’m 63 years old and intended retiring at 55 but getting divorced and splitting equity put a stop to that.
Money maybe tight but it’s my time to sit back and a enjoy the day instead of sitting behind a desk

52 for me DH at 55 within two months of each other.Enjoyed 23 years of wonderful holidays before he died..Never regretted a moment.

UserNamesAreOverrated- Enjoy -not long to go!
I am stopping work when my Partner retires in 18months - I am tired all the time. Juggling working 5 days a week (till 3:30 4 days and one day to 5.15) with zooming up the m4 (hours journey each way ) twice a week to help support my dear elderly, In poor health Parents (my dear Sisters help too and my Parents have a small care package).
I work with little toddlers and am having trouble with my knee replacements and now we are looking to retire in 18months - he wants to move another 30/40mins away from my Parents - if I win the lottery I’m running away (but will look after Parents)!

I retired at 58, I had some health issues & sadly at that time my late DH was diagnosed with cancer so the time was right. No regrets at all, we made the most of our time together, went away while we could (pre-Covid) We spent quality time together & with our family & friends & just did what we fancied. I’d say if you can get by financially go for it & enjoy your retirement because you just never know what’s around so the corner, it’s never the same once you are left on your own.

I was being bullied at work, and made plans to retire and move out the area, stop work and start living. That happened a year ago when I was 60, quit my job, moved house, got a little part time job to tide me over, and I am so much happier. Lots of bit life changes but life is good.

I am 71 and I am still working part time but I do get school holidays. Intend to retire next year as we are planning to move nearer my daughter. My husband retired at the age of 65. He went down to 4 days a week the last year as he had had had enough. It does been he gets less pension as a result.

What an interesting thread! I retired at 66. This was unusual as I worked in local govt. The Director gave me permission to work on at 66 but I was in charge of a team that had the Union Coordinator in it. She told me that the Union was not happy about workers staying on as it set a precedent and I would be stopping someone from getting my job. I was not going to fight them so I retired. She emailed me after a week because I had not been replaced and they were missing me!
I really loved hearing the rain pouring down on cold mornings and cuddling into my duvet thinking I don’t have to go to work.
I was pleased in the end because my husband and I went on holidays with 4 friends from up,North. We did great Rail journeys and cruises. My husband always said we were investing in memories. Sadly that was all so true because he had melanoma and died 13 years ago now. I still miss him dreadfully and all my affection now goes to my two very old dogs who I adopted after a friend died as they had nobody to take them. I spend my time trying to get Shelter dogs good homes and mucking around with my Firesticks and trying to learn more technology. I loved reading your stories!

Retired at the end of last year, 66 and 6 months.
I absolutely love it, no getting up at the crack of Dawn . I feel totally at peace, although I help with childcare for for my grandson, I can do just as I like.
Housework No longer has to be crammed into the weekend , I do it whenever.
I do still have a houseful though. 2 AC and grandson. If it was just me and Dh, I might think differently. ?

I'm 74 and still working. Love my work.

I haven’t retired yet but it’s looking likely that I’ll have to stop working due to ill health soon. I’m 55.
11 years till my state pension and haven’t got a private pension so will definitely have to tighten my belt.

66 and I'm still working 30 hours a week I can't afford to retire, only get state pension and nothing else.

52, DH is somewhat older and we got together late so didn’t want to miss the opportunity to make memories. Things were tight at times but we managed and have had some fabulous experiences so it was well worth the struggle, if we had waited his health would have severely limited our travels.

Retired on health grounds about 2 weeks ago aged 65 and a half. I’d been struggling for the past 5/6 years with deteriorating autoimmune diseases which are very debilitating and lockdown just highlighted how much I wasn’t coping. My husband, 2nd marriage, gave up work aged 59 the minute I moved in, nearly 16 years ago. He has a good private pension, plus SP and I’ve got a smaller private pension and only a few months until my SP. Very relieved and happy to have finally given up.

59 and 8 months. I was working as a registered child minder but was diagnosed with a long term illness at 58. Decided to retire and found places for all the children then ceased trading just before Xmas.
I wanted to enjoy going out and about as much as possible while I was still mobile. Thankfully I'm still quite active 8 years later as it hasn't progressed as fast as predicted but still tire easily.
Was lucky that OH had a gd job and could support us both until pension claimed at 66.

Lucky you. I can't see ever being able to afford to