Taking chance to retire early

[cyberknight]

My Dad decided to do a day or two a week working for the small business association, when he was approaching retirement, and he kept that going afterwards when he officially retired to give him something to do as well as golf and his allotment.

FIL is retired and volunteers doing car park/odd jobs at the Alrewas national memorial arboretum where all the remembrance stuff is for the armed forces as he was in the army when he was young and only left due to losing a lung from pneumonia and his knees were fecked from skiing .

 

[JPLL]

Just enjoy it - plan a week away, then 2 weeks, then a month My problem comes from friends that have the misfortune to be still working who are miffed by me being constantly away from Easter - September. Just remember not to gloat too much.

 

[screenman]

I hope you take it and enjoy it, there just seems something wrong to me that a charity lets people retire early. I suppose as they are not contributing over and above to your pension payments I have not got a problem, but I would hate for any donations I make go towards people who retire so early.

Smacks of the charity looking after themselves before the good of the needy, I hope I am wrong but from past experience of others I know of who have been in similar positions unlikely.

 

[mark c]

Just do it, my Parents spend 6 months of the year touring abroad in a caravan their only regret was not going sooner, as they have met people abroad who like you took early retirement and are enjoying a new life.

 

[Sharky]

I hope you take it and enjoy it, there just seems something wrong to me that a charity lets people retire early. I suppose as they are not contributing over and above to your pension payments I have not got a problem, but I would hate for any donations I make go towards people who retire so early.

Smacks of the charity looking after themselves before the good of the needy, I hope I am wrong but from past experience of others I know of who have been in similar positions unlikely.

Apologies, my earlier post may have confused. I'm not the OP. I'm the one working for a charity, coming up to 65 and not retiring early. My thoughts are whether I should keep working beyond. My own children are now expected to work beyond, up to about 67?, so would it be that much of a burden for me to carry on?

Keith

 

[shouldbeinbed]

without any more of lifes little setbacks, I aim to be mortgage & debt free by 55, the kids will all be into their 20's & it is my aim to drop my hours significantly or find a part time job I can live on & start to spend more of my days doing what I want not what I have to.

If you said no and regretted it, you're a long time stuck.

If you say yes and cant fill enough time then there's a world of opportunities out there to volunteer or go part time in.

 

[Monsieur]

52 next month, can take a smaller pension from work at 55 but full pension at 60.
I'd go now if it was offered at full pension - no question!

 

[arch684]

Hi I retired at 62, 15 months ago.I cycle 5 days a week sometimes twice a day .i spend a lot of time working on my bikes or gardening or just pottering about the shed and as i live alone shopping and housework.sometimes there,s not enough hours in the day.I would not go back to work even part time

 

[Stockie]

Hi all thanks for all the advice. I have made decision to go now. Lucky in that I can go with a couple of years salary as redundancy so do not need to touch pension until 60. Would regret not taking chance I think so taken the plunge.
Other half will find plenty to fill my time lol. But with riding, fishing and a bit of volunteering hopefully not to much left for her to fill.
Quite like the idea of helping out at an old folks home as they always seem lonely and a bit of company I think would be appreciated.

 

[snorri]

I have made decision to go now.

Good luck Stockie, I'm sure you have made the right decision and will soon be wondering how you ever found time for full time employment.

 

[oldfatfool]

Lucky in that I can go with a couple of years salary as redundancy so do not need to touch pension until 60. .

Royal Mail manager per chance?

 

[screenman]

Nice to know where charitable donations end up. So wrong.

 

[400bhp]

This is an interesting thread. My case, I am 64 and approaching the age when people expect you to retire, but there is no longer any compulsion to do so. I still don't feel old, mentally any way, and I can ride to work. So my dilemma, should I stop working or carry on for another year. I know once you stop, the leisure time is great, but funding those N+1's will get harder and harder and if I wanted to get back into the workplace later, no doubt it would be difficult and for a lot less £.

Be interested to hear from others who have retired, is life all you imagined, cycling every day or do you regret giving up work so young?

Thanks
Keith

Could you work PT and take your pension?

This is what I see many people doing in year's to come.

 

[fossyant]

My aim is to retire at 55 but not sure it's possible. My mortgage will be paid off by my early 50's. I won't get an early retirement offer that's for sure.s

To the OP, take it. You will soon fill your time, and if you have children and and could be a grand parent, then you may be very busy (although my parents very rarely have ever looked after my kids).

Time for cycling and doing those jobs you put off. Enjoy... Keep busy though.

 

[Stockie]

Screenman sorry I think u are getting me mixed up with sharkey from an earlier post. I have nothing to do with working for a charity.