Early Retirement

[STEVIE B]

My financial situation has changed this year, due to the passing of my Mother, bless her. 

 

I've been working for the same company for 27 years & have decided to retire....this day is September 11th, so not far off now. I'll be nearly 60.

 

I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation. I do find it a bit daunting. It's exciting too, but the thought of it overwhelms me at times. 

[Raj]

Good luck to you.

Cant understand those who dont want to retire and enjoy life.

I'm sure you'll love it👍🏾

[The Quick Brown Fox]

Shouldn't this be in the humble brag threat? 

 

Seriously though. I dream of it. Do what you love, see the ones you love. 

 

No more alarm clocks, no more work calls, sleepless nights thinking about a mess up at work and dreading going in. Get fishing, golfing, traveling.

 

Enjoy your time. 

 

Shit the way it's come about but make the most of it. 

[Bellend Sebastian]

My Dad took early retirement from the council at 57. 57! He's 85 now and I'm pretty confident he's not been bored or regretted that at any point.

 

I think I'm like him in that I've never had trouble filling my time (I don't recall feeling bored at any point since I was a child other than occasionally at the King Power and watching The Hurt Locker) so I'd jump at the chance. 

 

I might find myself in your situation depending on how long the olds last and how much care they end up needing, so not really something I can plan for, but if the opportunity comes up I'm all over it

 

 

Edited 30 August 2025 by Bellend Sebastian

[STEVIE B]

13 minutes ago, The Quick Brown Fox said:

Shouldn't this be in the humble brag threat? 

 

Seriously though. I dream of it. Do what you love, see the ones you love. 

 

No more alarm clocks, no more work calls, sleepless nights thinking about a mess up at work and dreading going in. Get fishing, golfing, traveling.

 

Enjoy your time. 

 

Shit the way it's come about but make the most of it. 

I've also just lost a friend to cancer, only last week in fact. 

This also contributed to my decision. You never know what's around the corner. 

[jonthefox]

I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where i could if i wanted to. I'm 57 and if i did , then it wouldn't be filled with world cruises etc, but i'd be ok. Every time i hear of someone i know passing or if i have a shitty day at work, it pushes me closer to the door. 

[Zear0]

42 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

My financial situation has changed this year, due to the passing of my Mother, bless her. 

 

I've been working for the same company for 27 years & have decided to retire....this day is September 11th, so not far off now. I'll be nearly 60.

 

I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation. I do find it a bit daunting. It's exciting too, but the thought of it overwhelms me at times. 

I don't know a single person who's retired (early or planned) and regretted it.

 

Enjoy life whilst you've got it.

[STEVIE B]

3 minutes ago, jonthefox said:

I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where i could if i wanted to. I'm 57 and if i did , then it wouldn't be filled with world cruises etc, but i'd be ok. Every time i hear of someone i know passing or if i have a shitty day at work, it pushes me closer to the door. 

Definitely. My job has become less enjoyable too. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, enjoy travelling when l can. Obviously as we get older we slow down. 

[Zear0]

8 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Definitely. My job has become less enjoyable too. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, enjoy travelling when l can. Obviously as we get older we slow down. 

Just stay the hell away from supermarkets and post offices outside of working hours...

[Nick]

Phillip Larkin wrote a poem called Toads about working life and his detest for it...

 

Later once retired, he wrote Toads re-visited which was about his affection for work (the toad) and the things he missed.

 

My advice for retirement - have a plan, keep busy, don't sit and squat! Both poems in toad language below!

 

 

Toads

 

Why should I let the toad work
Squat on my life?
Can't I use my wit as a pitchfork
And drive the brute off?

Six days of the week it soils
With its sickening poison -
Just for paying a few bills!
That's out of proportion.

Lots of folk live on their wits:
Lecturers, lispers,
Losers, loblolly-men, louts-
They don't end as paupers;

Lots of folk live up lanes
With fires in a bucket,
Eat windfalls and tinned sardines-
They seem to like it.

Their nippers have got bare feet,
Their unspeakable wives
Are skinny as whippets - and yet
No one actually _starves_.

Ah, were I courageous enough
To shout, Stuff your pension!
But I know, all too well, that's the stuff
That dreams are made on:

For something sufficiently toad-like
Squats in me, too;
Its hunkers are heavy as hard luck,
And cold as snow,

And will never allow me to blarney
My way of getting
The fame and the girl and the money
All at one sitting.

I don't say, one bodies the other
One's spiritual truth;
But I do say it's hard to lose either,
When you have both.

 

..................................................................

 

Toads Revisited

 

Walking around in the park
Should feel better than work:
The lake, the sunshine,
The grass to lie on,

Blurred playground noises
Beyond black-stockinged nurses -
Not a bad place to be.
Yet it doesn't suit me.

Being one of the men
You meet of an afternoon:
Palsied old step-takers,
Hare-eyed clerks with the jitters,

Waxed-fleshed out-patients
Still vague from accidents,
And characters in long coats
Deep in the litter-baskets -

All dodging the toad work
By being stupid or weak.
Think of being them!
Hearing the hours chime,

Watching the bread delivered,
The sun by clouds covered,
The children going home;
Think of being them,

Turning over their failures
By some bed of lobelias,
Nowhere to go but indoors,
Nor friends but empty chairs -

No, give me my in-tray,
My loaf-haired secretary,
My shall-I-keep-the-call-in-Sir:
What else can I answer,

When the lights come on at four
At the end of another year?
Give me your arm, old toad;
Help me down Cemetery Road.

 

[Grebfromgrebland]

I help people retire every week and I've not had anyone regret it yet. Just go for it.

[MaidstoneFox]

1 hour ago, STEVIE B said:

Definitely. My job has become less enjoyable too. I don't have a lavish lifestyle, enjoy travelling when l can. Obviously as we get older we slow down. 

Enjoy the freedom, take control of your life, prioritise what's important to you and take some time out to reflect on what you want to do next. Also don't feel guilty about not working, you've earned it and deserve this time.

 

I've lost both parents, a sister and friends in the last few years and the temptation is to just keep working but I decided to take semi-retirement this year at 56, for self-care as much as anything else. Part of it is recognising that I'm not that 20 or 30 year old anymore and I have to adapt.

[onekeithweller]

I retired aged 57, City were in the Championship, two years later we won the Premier League. Go for it!

[jonthefox]

2 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Just stay the hell away from supermarkets and post offices outside of working hours...

Or don't drive between 8.30 and 9 am 

[PAULCFC]

Did pretty much the same last year after both of my parents passed away.I was 55 and allways said i wasn't going to work past 60 if i could help it.We sold my parents house,paid our mortgage off and moved to Northumberland as their was nothing really keeping us in Leicester.Mrs works from home to keep us ticking over and i do bits round the house!Don't regret anything!

[Jattdogg]

50 minutes ago, jonthefox said:

Or don't drive between 8.30 and 9 am 

Basically, only drive between 930am and be home by 1130am latest.

[boots60]

I am experiencing opposite emotions to most of the above posts.

For the vast majority of my working life I have hated going to work, have had a string of shit jobs & some of my gaffers have been total c***s. A few years ago, I couldn't wait to retire.

However, for the past 4 years, I have been in a job that I enjoy immensely, have decent people around me at work & my managers are decent human beings. I feel valued & no longer dread going to work every day like I used to.

I turn 66 in January & have the option to retire but have reached an agreement with my company to carry on working a 3 day week & could not be happier.  

[sdb]

Retiring at 60 really shouldn't be considered early in my mind!

 

I'm 39 and would do it now if I could 🤣 Not that i should wish time away, but i know I'd be happier! 

[Foxdiamond]

I retired at 65 which is four years ago. The job wasn't exactly brain surgery but had quite a few pressures. Not missed it at all although did miss the friendly people I worked with. Spend a lot of time looking after the grandchildren which is lovely though probably harder than work ever was lol. Nice not to be answerable to bosses and awkward customers. After working nearly 50 years happy to step aside. The garden certainly gets more attention these days 

[MaidstoneFox]

1 hour ago, boots60 said:

I am experiencing opposite emotions to most of the above posts.

For the vast majority of my working life I have hated going to work, have had a string of shit jobs & some of my gaffers have been total c***s. A few years ago, I couldn't wait to retire.

However, for the past 4 years, I have been in a job that I enjoy immensely, have decent people around me at work & my managers are decent human beings. I feel valued & no longer dread going to work every day like I used to.

I turn 66 in January & have the option to retire but have reached an agreement with my company to carry on working a 3 day week & could not be happier.  

You're still doing what you want to do on your terms though, which makes you happy. Retirement doesn't mean being 'inactive', it's about taking more control over what you do and when and not feeling chained to a '9-5'.

[PAULCFC]

2 hours ago, boots60 said:

I am experiencing opposite emotions to most of the above posts.

For the vast majority of my working life I have hated going to work, have had a string of shit jobs & some of my gaffers have been total c***s. A few years ago, I couldn't wait to retire.

However, for the past 4 years, I have been in a job that I enjoy immensely, have decent people around me at work & my managers are decent human beings. I feel valued & no longer dread going to work every day like I used to.

I turn 66 in January & have the option to retire but have reached an agreement with my company to carry on working a 3 day week & could not be happier.  

That's the thing.....if you are happy in your job keep going! I hated my job (factory...doing shifts at all hours),but the Mrs loves hers(Pharmacist,used to commute everday to cov but now works from home and likes it even more!)I took a few quid out of my pensions at 55 before the Govt get their hands on it and still get a few quid a month from whats left which tides me over until the state pension.We don't go on big hollidays but dont need to as there is a beach about 10 minutes away and the kids love it.I suppose it's what suits you.....i sometimes miss the piss taking at work.......but i wouldn't go back!

[PAULCFC]

2 hours ago, Foxdiamond said:

I retired at 65 which is four years ago. The job wasn't exactly brain surgery but had quite a few pressures. Not missed it at all although did miss the friendly people I worked with. Spend a lot of time looking after the grandchildren which is lovely though probably harder than work ever was lol. Nice not to be answerable to bosses and awkward customers. After working nearly 50 years happy to step aside. The garden certainly gets more attention these days 

I know what you mean about Gardens......never really interested me before retirement,now i'm an expert on why our lawn is not growing! Bores the wife and kids to death!.....off to do another reseed tommorow while we have the rain!

[Foxdiamond]

4 minutes ago, PAULCFC said:

I know what you mean about Gardens......never really interested me before retirement,now i'm an expert on why our lawn is not growing! Bores the wife and kids to death!.....off to do another reseed tommorow while we have the rain!

In a gentle good for your physical and mental health sort of way the garden can be addictive. Love seeing birds and pollinators. In a tiny way nice to help the environment in our patch.

[Tommy G]

I think retiring early should be the aim of everyone - you can get the buzz of work elsewhere. 
 

I’m a workaholic and have been in full time employment since I was 18, 37 now and been in a c-suite role since 32, luckily I’m planning for retirement now as hoping to finish at 55 with a decent SIPP and other bits along the way. Trying to work hard young so I’m not working hard old. 
 

Perspective on life and what’s important has swung in the past few years.

[FoxesDeb]

10 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I think retiring early should be the aim of everyone - you can get the buzz of work elsewhere. 
 

I’m a workaholic and have been in full time employment since I was 18, 37 now and been in a c-suite role since 32, luckily I’m planning for retirement now as hoping to finish at 55 with a decent SIPP and other bits along the way. Trying to work hard young so I’m not working hard old. 
 

Perspective on life and what’s important has swung in the past few years.

The early retirement age to access private pensions is increasing to 57 from 2028, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it go up again in future years.