Getting out ... (whilst you're still alive)
Discussion
PositronicRay said:
I took early retirement @ 53. for me about the right time, fed up as a wage slave. Although I'd always dreamt of a simple life, meagre income, liveaboard boat or a cottage with a few chickens, I'm just not wired to be a free a spirit!
So while I'm always prepared to earn a few shekels, currently not really necessary. Something we didn't do is downsize, when you're spending more time in your home you need more space, not less! So moved out of town, friendly pleasant village, couple of pubs, shop and all importantly space.
I still rise early, as always, but now strong coffee, and the sunrise, is more important than man shackles. Rather than suffer colleagues (hardly missed any of them) I've time for friends, family and enjoying the day.
I've considered doing some voluntary work, but (selfishly) think I'd resent the intrusion! While I couldn't describe myself as busy, 5 yrs on I'm far from bored, taking advantage of decent weather (despite rumors, the UK has finer weather than people give it credit for), and hunkering down on any stormy wet days.
So my opinion is get out as early as you can, although I can't imagine my self as a 30 y/o bohemian.
4yrs time ( and counting ) I'm with you my friend ! So while I'm always prepared to earn a few shekels, currently not really necessary. Something we didn't do is downsize, when you're spending more time in your home you need more space, not less! So moved out of town, friendly pleasant village, couple of pubs, shop and all importantly space.
I still rise early, as always, but now strong coffee, and the sunrise, is more important than man shackles. Rather than suffer colleagues (hardly missed any of them) I've time for friends, family and enjoying the day.
I've considered doing some voluntary work, but (selfishly) think I'd resent the intrusion! While I couldn't describe myself as busy, 5 yrs on I'm far from bored, taking advantage of decent weather (despite rumors, the UK has finer weather than people give it credit for), and hunkering down on any stormy wet days.
So my opinion is get out as early as you can, although I can't imagine my self as a 30 y/o bohemian.
Edited by PositronicRay on Sunday 24th September 07:50
I did it the other way.
I saw a joke, where the personal manager told a youth the retirement policy.
You retired from 30 to 40, then came back & worked until you died. This sounded great to me.
After a divorce I sold off what was left, bought a cheap yacht, & went off sailing around the Pacific islands. There was so much work on offer I had no trouble with finances.
Came back after 8 years, & got involved with the tourist boat industry in the Great Barrier Reef.
Been playing games & getting paid for it until I retired again, permanently.
I saw a joke, where the personal manager told a youth the retirement policy.
You retired from 30 to 40, then came back & worked until you died. This sounded great to me.
After a divorce I sold off what was left, bought a cheap yacht, & went off sailing around the Pacific islands. There was so much work on offer I had no trouble with finances.
Came back after 8 years, & got involved with the tourist boat industry in the Great Barrier Reef.
Been playing games & getting paid for it until I retired again, permanently.
Hasbeen said:
I did it the other way.
I saw a joke, where the personal manager told a youth the retirement policy.
You retired from 30 to 40, then came back & worked until you died. This sounded great to me.
After a divorce I sold off what was left, bought a cheap yacht, & went off sailing around the Pacific islands. There was so much work on offer I had no trouble with finances.
Came back after 8 years, & got involved with the tourist boat industry in the Great Barrier Reef.
Been playing games & getting paid for it until I retired again, permanently.
Sounds like a perfect life.I saw a joke, where the personal manager told a youth the retirement policy.
You retired from 30 to 40, then came back & worked until you died. This sounded great to me.
After a divorce I sold off what was left, bought a cheap yacht, & went off sailing around the Pacific islands. There was so much work on offer I had no trouble with finances.
Came back after 8 years, & got involved with the tourist boat industry in the Great Barrier Reef.
Been playing games & getting paid for it until I retired again, permanently.
I supposed the desire to 'get out' depends on how far you were 'in' to start with.
I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
bloomen said:
I supposed the desire to 'get out' depends on how far you were 'in' to start with.
I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
Edited by jdw100 on Monday 25th September 03:21
Prizam said:
I want to do this in the UK. Sell house in SE of England, buy something oop't north / Wales / Devon with some land. Buy a flat / small house in SE with leftover cash to rent out. Live the life in a big property, bit of farming. If things get tight, do some air BnB stuff.
Children and the wife's friends living locally is the stopper at the moment.
My mum did this when I was young. Sold in Southampton and moved to Wales. Having a bigger house and the Brecons at your backdoor was awesome. Having the locals cross the road to walk past the house because we were English wasnt as good. Children and the wife's friends living locally is the stopper at the moment.
Even 30 years later I think all welsh are female genitalia.
To be fair though, we lived in Pant in Merthyr. So the area name should have given it away.
jdw100 said:
bloomen said:
I supposed the desire to 'get out' depends on how far you were 'in' to start with.
I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." I saw enough people fully financed and nested to know that I never, ever wanted that for a second.
I've never wanted to married, never wanted kids, trained myself out of the desire for any possessions at an early age and never really cared about my living situation. I've been free as a bird for most of my life.
Now I'm in a position to saddle myself with all the crap in the world but it seems so pointless that I think I'll turn up the freedom a few more notches.
Edited by jdw100 on Monday 25th September 03:21
FocusRS3 said:
I just googled jobs at Tesla and seemingly you need a bachelors degree to sell their cars.
I get that thier product is technology and very "smart" so maybe they can be very choosey
That’s the American norm for pretty much any role that isn’t almost entirely tips based (ie service and hospitality) I get that thier product is technology and very "smart" so maybe they can be very choosey
alorotom said:
That’s the American norm for pretty much any role that isn’t almost entirely tips based (ie service and hospitality)
Ahh tks i see.Also selling cars these days for a main dealer includes working weekends and i have a particular aversion to working on Sundays. Not that I'm particularly religious !
I'm sticking to my plan, all being well, and have told the missus at NO later than 55 I'm out the city that's assuming it actually lasts that long.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
JPJPJP said:
I know of a few people that have London houses with £1.2m - £1.5m equity in them and that earn, between them, £80k - £165k
Now that equates to take home pay of, say, £60k - £120k per year
Or that they have 10 to 20 years of today's net pay that they could realise as a tax free lump sum sometime quite quickly
Some of them constantly moan about how crap their jobs are, how much they hate their colleagues, their boss, the commute, etc. etc.
I find it hard to understand why they don't take the exit
See my earlier post. There's your answer. Now that equates to take home pay of, say, £60k - £120k per year
Or that they have 10 to 20 years of today's net pay that they could realise as a tax free lump sum sometime quite quickly
Some of them constantly moan about how crap their jobs are, how much they hate their colleagues, their boss, the commute, etc. etc.
I find it hard to understand why they don't take the exit
This type of question inevitably has a different answer for different people, which can and will change over time.
We tried a toe dip into early retirement by getting an apartment somewhere warm and close to 'winter' F1 testing - summer back at base and winter in the warm. Technically it was winter testing but the temperature in the first week of Feb could hit 30 deg C as we sat in the sun enjoying the sights and sounds of F1 cars with the right sort of engine...for 5 euros each. The general lifestyle was a major change and very relaxing 'dos tostadas con mantequilla y mermelada por favor' but being online there was an opportunity to do a bit of work when asked and the beach / cars / walks had finished.
The only thing was, all that relaxation became stressful (!) for me and Mrs TB too, each for our own reasons. It turned out to be too soon for both of us so the toe dip had saved us from ourselves had we been fully committed. The apartment went, and so did we, better informed for when the time - eventually - is right.
I worked in IT for twenty years until redundancy forced me to rethink my priorities...
I then decided that I was sick of the corporate life and started a garden design business.
Unfortunately, I soon found out that where I live (North Wales coast), there isn't enough demand (or wealth) to sustain such a business so ended up doing mainly garden maintenance with a few occasional bigger redesigns. This is highly seasonal and weather-dependent and after struggling at it for the last seven years, decided to do something else instead.
Two weeks ago I started doing a full-time degree in "3D Animation and Games Development". As attendance is only two days a week (plus another twenty-four hours 'study time), I am still able to do some garden work to bring in some earnings. Along with the Student grants/loans available, this should be just enough to keep me afloat. Notwithstanding the financial situation, the main benefit is that I am now doing something that really interests me and I look forward to my days in college.
Hopefully at the end of my course I will be able to earn a reasonable living in either the games industry or creating visualisation/simulation tools for business. If not then I will take my old company pensions early and get a stress-free part-time job.
P.s. I'm Fifty-One years old and the majority of my fellow students are under twenty years of age. It's never too late to make a change !
I then decided that I was sick of the corporate life and started a garden design business.
Unfortunately, I soon found out that where I live (North Wales coast), there isn't enough demand (or wealth) to sustain such a business so ended up doing mainly garden maintenance with a few occasional bigger redesigns. This is highly seasonal and weather-dependent and after struggling at it for the last seven years, decided to do something else instead.
Two weeks ago I started doing a full-time degree in "3D Animation and Games Development". As attendance is only two days a week (plus another twenty-four hours 'study time), I am still able to do some garden work to bring in some earnings. Along with the Student grants/loans available, this should be just enough to keep me afloat. Notwithstanding the financial situation, the main benefit is that I am now doing something that really interests me and I look forward to my days in college.
Hopefully at the end of my course I will be able to earn a reasonable living in either the games industry or creating visualisation/simulation tools for business. If not then I will take my old company pensions early and get a stress-free part-time job.
P.s. I'm Fifty-One years old and the majority of my fellow students are under twenty years of age. It's never too late to make a change !
The Mad Monk said:
Do it through a reputable professional agency. References checked, full deposit taken.
Not - 'Oh, I know a friend of a friend who is looking for a flat'.
Good advice although doesn't always prevent the unimaginable tenant that wont pay, you need a court summons to get them out then they trash your place and move onto the next one.Not - 'Oh, I know a friend of a friend who is looking for a flat'.
Sad but it does happen but far better off renting flats, not that i have any!
That's one way to look at it and probably best if you're moving abroad and keeping property here.
We have a rental flat close to home and find it easier and better to look after it ourselves. These properties generally let at £500pcm and usually have a high turnover of tenancy; 6-12 months being about average. We let ours at £450 and are on our second tenant in four years as the price means we get a lot of interest and can be picky with who we put in there. by the time you take out the agency fees we're probably earning the same sort of money with much more peace of mind.
We have a rental flat close to home and find it easier and better to look after it ourselves. These properties generally let at £500pcm and usually have a high turnover of tenancy; 6-12 months being about average. We let ours at £450 and are on our second tenant in four years as the price means we get a lot of interest and can be picky with who we put in there. by the time you take out the agency fees we're probably earning the same sort of money with much more peace of mind.
turbobloke said:
I can understand your point entirely.
This type of question inevitably has a different answer for different people, which can and will change over time.
We tried a toe dip into early retirement by getting an apartment somewhere warm and close to 'winter' F1 testing - summer back at base and winter in the warm. Technically it was winter testing but the temperature in the first week of Feb could hit 30 deg C as we sat in the sun enjoying the sights and sounds of F1 cars with the right sort of engine...for 5 euros each. The general lifestyle was a major change and very relaxing 'dos tostadas con mantequilla y mermelada por favor' but being online there was an opportunity to do a bit of work when asked and the beach / cars / walks had finished.
The only thing was, all that relaxation became stressful (!) for me and Mrs TB too, each for our own reasons. It turned out to be too soon for both of us so the toe dip had saved us from ourselves had we been fully committed. The apartment went, and so did we, better informed for when the time - eventually - is right.
Sounds very much a mirror of my own plan. I'd be interested to hear what caused additional stress from the situation and the problem areas that arose (and ultimately lead to you aborting the plan). Could be money well saved....This type of question inevitably has a different answer for different people, which can and will change over time.
We tried a toe dip into early retirement by getting an apartment somewhere warm and close to 'winter' F1 testing - summer back at base and winter in the warm. Technically it was winter testing but the temperature in the first week of Feb could hit 30 deg C as we sat in the sun enjoying the sights and sounds of F1 cars with the right sort of engine...for 5 euros each. The general lifestyle was a major change and very relaxing 'dos tostadas con mantequilla y mermelada por favor' but being online there was an opportunity to do a bit of work when asked and the beach / cars / walks had finished.
The only thing was, all that relaxation became stressful (!) for me and Mrs TB too, each for our own reasons. It turned out to be too soon for both of us so the toe dip had saved us from ourselves had we been fully committed. The apartment went, and so did we, better informed for when the time - eventually - is right.
For the time being I am heading monthly down to Spain over winter but hotel living isn't the same in terms of a feeling of (semi) permanence and I still pour over the property sites with this romantic notion of my own place, clothes in the wardrobe, big garage downstairs with a rebuild on the go, sun terrace upstairs with a beer fridge...etc. Flying back and forward in 3 hours and splitting my time between the two gaffs.
I have no doubt been caught up in a degree of romantic notion with the idea but would be interested to hear of the real downsides (that I no doubt drown out at the moment with rose tinted specs on).
Shnozz said:
turbobloke said:
I can understand your point entirely.
This type of question inevitably has a different answer for different people, which can and will change over time.
We tried a toe dip into early retirement by getting an apartment somewhere warm and close to 'winter' F1 testing - summer back at base and winter in the warm. Technically it was winter testing but the temperature in the first week of Feb could hit 30 deg C as we sat in the sun enjoying the sights and sounds of F1 cars with the right sort of engine...for 5 euros each. The general lifestyle was a major change and very relaxing 'dos tostadas con mantequilla y mermelada por favor' but being online there was an opportunity to do a bit of work when asked and the beach / cars / walks had finished.
The only thing was, all that relaxation became stressful (!) for me and Mrs TB too, each for our own reasons. It turned out to be too soon for both of us so the toe dip had saved us from ourselves had we been fully committed. The apartment went, and so did we, better informed for when the time - eventually - is right.
Sounds very much a mirror of my own plan. I'd be interested to hear what caused additional stress from the situation and the problem areas that arose (and ultimately lead to you aborting the plan). Could be money well saved....This type of question inevitably has a different answer for different people, which can and will change over time.
We tried a toe dip into early retirement by getting an apartment somewhere warm and close to 'winter' F1 testing - summer back at base and winter in the warm. Technically it was winter testing but the temperature in the first week of Feb could hit 30 deg C as we sat in the sun enjoying the sights and sounds of F1 cars with the right sort of engine...for 5 euros each. The general lifestyle was a major change and very relaxing 'dos tostadas con mantequilla y mermelada por favor' but being online there was an opportunity to do a bit of work when asked and the beach / cars / walks had finished.
The only thing was, all that relaxation became stressful (!) for me and Mrs TB too, each for our own reasons. It turned out to be too soon for both of us so the toe dip had saved us from ourselves had we been fully committed. The apartment went, and so did we, better informed for when the time - eventually - is right.
For the time being I am heading monthly down to Spain over winter but hotel living isn't the same in terms of a feeling of (semi) permanence and I still pour over the property sites with this romantic notion of my own place, clothes in the wardrobe, big garage downstairs with a rebuild on the go, sun terrace upstairs with a beer fridge...etc. Flying back and forward in 3 hours and splitting my time between the two gaffs.
I have no doubt been caught up in a degree of romantic notion with the idea but would be interested to hear of the real downsides (that I no doubt drown out at the moment with rose tinted specs on).
That said, I'm not going to speak for Mrs TB. For me, while the summer driving opps and track days and increased social life, then over to winter testing and blue skies and beach walks etc were fine, it turned out I needed to do more work to get the balance I needed. Was it then worth it to not be there for long periods of time...I just wasn't ready and couldn't have known or expected it without the try-out. Fortunately we both had the same view for our own reasons and have decided to wait awhile given that we're happy enough as we are.
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