I'm intending to retire! ?

loopy pretty much the same happened to me and "propelled" me into retirement. Here's what I have learnt: you spend a lot less money when you are not out and about. I am at home day after day quite happily and sometimes my only spending is on bread and milk. Compare that to popping in to somewhere like Pret daily for lunch (in London).

After about a year of full time retirement I got a bit bored so I took a short term contract which ends in June - only accepted it because interested me. So I'm already looking forward to having the summer off again. I only work 3 days a week (from home) - and on the other days my best is settling down with my knitting to watch a movie at 10 a.m.

Now when people ask me "Are you retired?" I say "No, I'm in transition".

Good luck!

LoopyLou congratulations!!

I retired 2 years ago , 9 years off my state pension ( because they keep moving the goal post !) and went from a high salary to zero overnight !!

Luckily DH has a reasonable pension so for the first time in 40 years I'm dependent financially on him. I didn't expect to retire so although I'd done some planning not enough to improve my financial situation.

It's been fabulous!! Took a while to sort the finances out between us so I don't feel I have to ask for everything. But in terms of living it's been amazing. All those things I never had time for are now within my grasp. No ' oh god it's Sunday night - work tomorrow' feelings ! No office politics, no caring about my team , no HR issues etc etc .

We do budget more now . We don't have takeaways mostly ( all those 16 hour days meant we ate a lot of takeaways). I enjoy cooking from fresh ingredients now I have time and I'm not permanently exhausted. We shop around because we have time.

I think you're going to love it, even if finances are a bit tighter .

A good decision and I wish you lots of luck.

I love the freedom that I have to pick and choose what I do. And the breakfasts in bed are not to be sneezed at!

We never really felt the pinch when our income plummeted on retirement because we have no housing costs, as the mortgage is paid off.

You do get used to living on less, and the other compensations are so huge that you just go with the flow and live within your means.

Both DH and I often comment on how costly going to work was!

Enjoy your retirement.
X

Thank you!
Londongirl the much reduced income scares me a bit, my State pension is 3 years away, but the sudden announcement that a very successful service is not going to be funded in future has made me have a total rethink.

When I consider my car/petrol costs, too much spending on clothes, buying ready meals because I am bad at meal planning, buying sandwiches when I'm in the office, reduced stress etc are taken into account I'm definitely going to give it a good go.

It also means I can focus more on my very elderly parents and dgs (+dgs2 due May!) without feeling as if I'm either pulled in two directions or feeling guilty I can't do more.

Good luck Loopyloo. I'm looking forward to retiring in a year's time. Or rather, I've given myself a year to decide because the thought of living on a much reduced income scares me a bit.

Don't rush into anything is my advice.
Relax for a couple of months and weigh up your options. Enjoy mulling over what it is you plan to do, be that volunteering, joining a club, taking up a new hobby or something else. I suggest you leave at least a couple of days a week free where you can do 'sweet fanny adams' it's a great feeling !

It is lovely - complete freedom to do what you want, when you want.
The only problem is there is so much choice and a lot of it clashes.
You name it and you can volunteer for it but I would take stock first and decide if you really want to do it.
I would recommend the U3A and the NWR.