Enjoying Retirement

Enjoying Retirement

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Discussion

98elise

27,019 posts

163 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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UrbanAchiever said:
Bravefart said:
although I enjoyed my job I'm a lazy person and much prefer not working.
Love this, and so rare to hear anyone admit it. I'm the same and look forward to my planned retirement at 55. 7 years to go.

However when I do work I'm hugely conscientious, which means I think I suffer from more stress than someone else doing a similar job. Doesn't matter what job I do, I want to do the very best I can and I put myself under more pressure than any manager has. Latterly I have a significant number of responsibilities at work, which only creates more pressure and stress. And I certainly won't miss managing a team. Many businesses say people are their greatest asset, which is true....but they are also their greatest liability! I reckon my job would be 50% less stressful if I didn't manage anyone.

When I retire I know I'll drop the lot and enjoy doing so much less with a corresponding reduction in stress. Can't wait to live out my lazy ways!
You could be me. I was also somone who put a lot of effort into my work and got results. I did enjoy it but not more than doing nothing at all.

I've been retired nearly 2 years and even I'm shocked how little I have done. I have the choice and I choose to be lazy smile

plenty

4,767 posts

188 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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Being a postman is just about the last thing I'd want to do. No disrespect to all the lovely posties out there.

Horses for courses etc. It's pretty clear from this thread alone that the world is divided into people who want the easiest life possible vs. those who crave achievement and mental/social stimulation.

Drumroll

3,795 posts

122 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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Just as what motivates us to work is different for everyone. The same is true in retirement. I enjoyed my actual job and could have carried on in that role for more years than I did (retired at 55) it was all the cr@p that came with it that I am sure would have killed me.

Am loving retirement and whilst, unlike some on here, I am not drawing anything like £3000+ a month, I can do nearly all that I want to.

Today I am doing risk assessments etc for a local community event I am involved with. My choice, and will be done by the deadline (next week) but when I get bored or want to do something else (like being on here) I can do that. Unlike at work where I would be also getting phone calls asking for advice or sorting out problems, or staff whinging they been asked to do something they don't feel is their job, etc.

Somebody

1,229 posts

85 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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Stating the obvious, folk can only give up work and take early retirement when mortgage free?

I promised SWMBO she could give up work once all our kids graduated from uni. The youngest finished last summer so she left work, and it suited her to do 2 days a week with the same employer on an agency basis for a few month to help with handover etc. To be fair she did pay for all 3 kid's rent/accommodation from their second year onwards.

On students getting jobs to support themselves at uni - I would suggest looking at tutoring GCSEs/A level students - they'll be surprised at how relatively well paid it is.

loafer123

15,501 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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I do wonder if the move to retirement which has seen a huge volume of workers to take themselves out of the workforce during Covid is to a degree a reflection of the steepening Laffer Curve in that higher earners work out that retirement doesn’t result in nearly as big a drop in net disposable as they thought?

98elise

27,019 posts

163 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
quotequote all
Somebody said:
Stating the obvious, folk can only give up work and take early retirement when mortgage free?

I promised SWMBO she could give up work once all our kids graduated from uni. The youngest finished last summer so she left work, and it suited her to do 2 days a week with the same employer on an agency basis for a few month to help with handover etc. To be fair she did pay for all 3 kid's rent/accommodation from their second year onwards.

On students getting jobs to support themselves at uni - I would suggest looking at tutoring GCSEs/A level students - they'll be surprised at how relatively well paid it is.
Nothing stopping you retiring if you can continue to pay your existing mortgage. If you have sufficient income (pension and investments) you can get new mortgages, or renegotiate existing ones.


GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
I do wonder if the move to retirement which has seen a huge volume of workers to take themselves out of the workforce during Covid is to a degree a reflection of the steepening Laffer Curve in that higher earners work out that retirement doesn’t result in nearly as big a drop in net disposable as they thought?
I’d say so yes .

Some form of tax saving using combination of pension , cash & isa’s plus no travel costs , work evenings out , clothes etc
All adds up

Bannock

5,180 posts

32 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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98elise said:
Somebody said:
Stating the obvious, folk can only give up work and take early retirement when mortgage free?

I promised SWMBO she could give up work once all our kids graduated from uni. The youngest finished last summer so she left work, and it suited her to do 2 days a week with the same employer on an agency basis for a few month to help with handover etc. To be fair she did pay for all 3 kid's rent/accommodation from their second year onwards.

On students getting jobs to support themselves at uni - I would suggest looking at tutoring GCSEs/A level students - they'll be surprised at how relatively well paid it is.
Nothing stopping you retiring if you can continue to pay your existing mortgage. If you have sufficient income (pension and investments) you can get new mortgages, or renegotiate existing ones.
You can also sell up, pay off the mortgage and downsize to a different home using the equity from your current mortgaged one, if you've been fortunate enough to benefit from house price inflation. I'm fortunate enough to say that I have, over the last 25 years. That's my plan for 5 years time (I'm 52)...there will be a few years left on the mortgage but I'll have enough equity to buy a nice enough home and live off the rest of the proceeds of the sale until my pensions pay out.

The G Kid

679 posts

125 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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swisstoni said:
I gave up work to look after my new son in my mid 40s and never went back. hehe

Never regretted a second and consider myself to have been incredibly fortunate.
Although clearly your retirement was a huge loss to the 2nd hand car dealership world.....

98elise

27,019 posts

163 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
I do wonder if the move to retirement which has seen a huge volume of workers to take themselves out of the workforce during Covid is to a degree a reflection of the steepening Laffer Curve in that higher earners work out that retirement doesn’t result in nearly as big a drop in net disposable as they thought?
Mine was in part the other way.

Increased taxation and interference (IR35 and BTL), plus the possibility of a Marxist Labour government rifling through my savings made me realise working hard and saving for a better future was increasing risky and pointless.

I have a way better life now, just with less money. The big loser is the tax man though, not me smile



Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 23 March 22:03

DT1975

518 posts

30 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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Hard day in early retirement land. The biggest decision of the day was to turn left or right when walking the dog.

Lovely day, spent most of it pottering around the garden. Sunday was spent bottling a home brew, Monday was a game of golf with my brother and tomorrow we travel to Lyme Regis to meet my son and have a pub lunch. I'm sure I've missed a day out, yes Tuesday ! I took my elderly mum for a blood test then afternoon tea in the country.

Best wishes to those fellow folk in retirement land, its so much better when the suns shining as well !

GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
quotequote all
DT1975 said:
Hard day in early retirement land. The biggest decision of the day was to turn left or right when walking the dog.

Lovely day, spent most of it pottering around the garden. Sunday was spent bottling a home brew, Monday was a game of golf with my brother and tomorrow we travel to Lyme Regis to meet my son and have a pub lunch. I'm sure I've missed a day out, yes Tuesday ! I took my elderly mum for a blood test then afternoon tea in the country.

Best wishes to those fellow folk in retirement land, its so much better when the suns shining as well !
Love these posts as to me it highlights that retirement doesn’t have to cost the earth

jules_s

4,361 posts

235 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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Such great posts

I always worried about losing my job (still have it) but I'm now more relaxed about it now I can see 'the end'

I'd really hope to be like the posters above - relaxed etc. But I will definitely need to fill my time as I fear I may get depressed with all the down time tbh

GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
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jules_s said:
Such great posts

I always worried about losing my job (still have it) but I'm now more relaxed about it now I can see 'the end'

I'd really hope to be like the posters above - relaxed etc. But I will definitely need to fill my time as I fear I may get depressed with all the down time tbh
I’m not sure everyone fully relaxes as there are always ongoing considerations with regards costs of living and like now raging inflation.

That said if you can find a good balance of what’s actually important with regards spending then you’ve nailed it .

My biggest concern now is how my kids will manage with getting on the property ladder so we are looking at how we structure this .

So always ongoing issues

bennno

11,892 posts

271 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
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GT3Manthey said:
I’m not sure everyone fully relaxes as there are always ongoing considerations with regards costs of living and like now raging inflation.

That said if you can find a good balance of what’s actually important with regards spending then you’ve nailed it .

My biggest concern now is how my kids will manage with getting on the property ladder so we are looking at how we structure this .

So always ongoing issues
It’s odd how we all are thinking similarity about helping our kids getting on property ladder, I don’t think it ever crossed my parents minds.

GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
quotequote all
bennno said:
It’s odd how we all are thinking similarity about helping our kids getting on property ladder, I don’t think it ever crossed my parents minds.
My parents didn’t help me one jot but then that was a totally different era.

My eventual inheritance will end up going straight to my kids to help them get their own home and I’ll help in the meantime .


ARHarh

3,866 posts

109 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
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GT3Manthey said:
DT1975 said:
Hard day in early retirement land. The biggest decision of the day was to turn left or right when walking the dog.

Lovely day, spent most of it pottering around the garden. Sunday was spent bottling a home brew, Monday was a game of golf with my brother and tomorrow we travel to Lyme Regis to meet my son and have a pub lunch. I'm sure I've missed a day out, yes Tuesday ! I took my elderly mum for a blood test then afternoon tea in the country.

Best wishes to those fellow folk in retirement land, its so much better when the suns shining as well !
Love these posts as to me it highlights that retirement doesn’t have to cost the earth
My day yesterday was a little more costly. Drove across some of the finest roads in North Wales, took a walk along the beach in Harlech. Stopped for a quick picnic at the end of the beach. then back home via a stop in Ffestiniog for an ice cream. Beach was almost deserted and the roads were empty.

GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
quotequote all
ARHarh said:
My day yesterday was a little more costly. Drove across some of the finest roads in North Wales, took a walk along the beach in Harlech. Stopped for a quick picnic at the end of the beach. then back home via a stop in Ffestiniog for an ice cream. Beach was almost deserted and the roads were empty.
Doesn’t sound v expensive to me .
More thoroughly enjoyable than expensive!

Carbon Sasquatch

4,736 posts

66 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
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GT3Manthey said:
Doesn’t sound v expensive to me .
More thoroughly enjoyable than expensive!
Have you filled your car up recently ? smile

GT3Manthey

Original Poster:

4,583 posts

51 months

Thursday 24th March 2022
quotequote all
Carbon Sasquatch said:
Have you filled your car up recently ? smile
Ah good point my bad !