General Chat

I know nobody else is interested, but I am so excited - retiring completely in March. SO happy. I only do 12 hours now, but it's 12 too much!
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Glad you're looking forward to it - start making plans!

It won't be much different in many ways, as I only do 2 6-hour shifts a week currently! But the feeling of impending doom as work approaches will be gone. I have resorted to crossing off the days in my diary, sad eh!

Hooray! I quite understand you looking forward to it :-)

Not at all. If you feel that way about work, it will be a relief to stop. ;-)

Just don't fall into the trap of 'There'll always be tomorrow' to do the domestic or what ever. Tomorrow never comes!
Plan lots of treats for yourself, and make the most of those extra couple of days.

I shall, thanks! Will miss the money a bit, but it's just so hard, and your wellbeing is more important isn't it.

Glad you are looking forward to your retirement, there is nothing worse than dreading going to work! The lower income will work itself out, make sure you claim all benefits you can, then work out your budget and see where you can cut corners. With more time you might be able to look out for bargains or do more homecooking if you previously used readymade meals etc
Don't think you will have 12 hrs extra a week, lol, it's amazing how quickly you wonder how you fitted work into your life lol

Lizx

Thanks Liz. I am fortunate enough to have an occupational pension, plus some money in the bank, so we shall manage. No state pension for another 5 years, sadly. We have been practising by saving most of my wages for the last few months.
Can't wait to hand my notice in!
Jan

Good Luck Jan and enjoy every minute :-D <3

I hummed and harred about retiring.....best decision I've ever made; that was two years ago :-D

Haven't worked since....don't miss it, in fact I wouldn't have the time to work now LOL :-D :-D

Jan, I retired several years ago and love it. I always say I wished I could have retired when I was in my twenties :-D

I packed in and drew my pension five years ago. Did think about part time....still thinking.

Enjoy.


Andy

go for it and enjoy it

I decided on a whim to retire two years before I had to and am so glad I did, as a year later my OH was diagnosed with a terminal illness giving us another year together and he was gone - had I not retired two years earlier we would have lost those two years together

I have been retired 15.5 years and OH a couple of years longer and we have really enjoyed the time.we have spent doing what we want, goodness knows how we ever found time to go to work.

I can't wait to retire...............but my husband, having decided to give himself 2 weeks off over Christmas is going stir crazy.

He could retire this year, but will probably carry on working :-)

They keep moving the goalpost for my retirement age, it is currently 6th November 1919 *sighs*

Plus my pension will be tiny as I was a stay at home Mum and have only ever worked part-time hours, the family have always come first and we went without luxuries to make sure I was always home when needed. *sighs again*

On the plus side, I will more time to get out and about locally to see the places my ancestors lived and worked.

I am very happy for you Jan :-) <3

Kitty - you will have years creditted from when you were a child carer. At one time it was 10 years, but could have changed since then.

Although it might be best to wait until after the Universal Pension comes into force in April 2016, you could ask for a pension forcast. It ought to be able to tell you how many qualifying years you've already earned, and how many more you need. It might be worth 'buying' extra years if you think you'd live long enough to gain the overall benefit.

Can your OH reduce his hours at work? Its one way of easing into retirement whilst giving someone else a job opportunity. Perhaps he isn't keen on the list of jobs you've got lined up for him ;-)