My first day today as officially semi retired.
Got up at 10 on a “work” day. Felt great.
My plan pre pandemic was to retire at 55, my wife retired very early 8 years ago and my plan was to retire in 2022. But our savings and my pension, like everyone elses, was hammered by pandemic/war etc. As I was working at home full time anyway, I wasn't in such a rush to retire.
We decided to buy a new house last year, we'd been in our previous one 26 years and had got bored of it, house was lovely but we needed a change. So spent around £400k cash on a brand new house. As you can imagine this blew a big hole in our savings. So my plan changed and I intended to work another 3-5 years - I'm just about to turn 58 and work 4 days a week.
But we've just been told we need to be back in the office 4 days a week, 3 for me as I'm part time. This is a bit of a pain after 5 years at home and I'm now reconsidering my options.
My wifes pension nets her £2100 a month, I pay all the bills and we're starting to build up our savings again. I think I could manage another 2 years, then drawdown £1500 a month from my pension, that and my wifes income would give us £40k a year net. Sounds a lot but council tax is £348 a month, our caravan site fees are £3000 a year and we have 2 cars, one paid for the other electric on a lease and we would ideally like to change the 8 year old focus for an electric car too. But if I retired we would probably only need 1 car.
Decisions to make over the next 2 years and seeing that people can live comfortable on the amount we should have is reassuring.
Our boys, whilst still living at home at ages 19 and 22, are both working, have their own cars and are financially independent. We may think about starting to charge them nominal dig money though 🤪
Mrs ic supportive of me doing some form of part time something as long as it fulfils me, and she is continuing to work part time for the foreseeable.
I'm also stuck in the "one more year" loop, where I am being offered ridiculous amounts to work part time, do consultancy etc
Ahh just look at it as one less year of life you could have been pootling around enjoying life 🙂
Congrats @rockhopper!
Having kids sounds ***** terrible..... Greedy little ***.
I always think of Homer Simpson.....
Lisa: "Dad, do you remember what you promised us?"
Homer: "When you're system you're out the door!"
The precious commodities here are time and health, not money.
Very much this.
Greetings from my hammock in the foothills of the Piemontese Alps.
whilst still living at home at ages 19 and 22, are both working, have their own cars and are financially independent. We may think about starting to charge them nominal dig money though
Not really very independent then if they're living rent free and on your goodwill......
I'm also stuck in the "one more year" loop
When I was looking at retirement a wise person said "You'll always be able to find a reason to keep working". I probably spent 18 months longer at work because of this or that project and having a decent handover etc and guess how much satisfaction I now get from having done the honourable thing.
None whatsoever. Once you step away from it you realise how insignificant all those work worries are, but then a couple of years into retirement you or someone you know has a life changing health issue and those extra months at work make even less sense.
TLDR - if you think you can get by financially the time you get by retiring early can never be bought back with any salary.
Not really very independent then if they're living rent free and on your goodwill......
well they are our kids and we don’t grudge any of it
whilst still living at home at ages 19 and 22, are both working, have their own cars and are financially independent. We may think about starting to charge them nominal dig money though
Not really very independent then if they're living rent free and on your goodwill......
new round here but from your 2 posts I’ve seen you seem to be trying to convince yourself that not having kids is the best thing in the world.
Our boys, whilst still living at home at ages 19 and 22, are both working, have their own cars and are financially independent. We may think about starting to charge them nominal dig money though
Got to agree with alpin's main point here. They ain't financially independent.
To be clear I'm not passing any judgement on that, just stating that the two sentences are in contradiction
Our boys, whilst still living at home at ages 19 and 22, are both working, have their own cars and are financially independent. We may think about starting to charge them nominal dig money though
Got to agree with alpin's main point here. They ain't financially independent.
To be clear I'm not passing any judgement on that, just stating that the two sentences are in contradiction
I also feel that there is a contradiction there - I paid rent to my parents but I don't think I was financially independent until I had my own place and had to pay to sort my own repairs/improvements out.
Not criticising what you are doing, as a parent I understand it, but I wouldn't class them as financially independent yet.
Fair enough, they cost us a lot less now than they used to I guess !
You'll know when they are financially independent when they start paying attention to the correlation between the thermostat and the gas bill!
Both my wife and I have retired, me last year at 62. I have a few pensions from various jobs, I cashed one in, taking £25k lump sum, and the rest (about £120k) drawing down monthly to last until the state pension kicks in. My wife is doing roughly the same, so monthly income is about £3k. We also have savings for capital items if needed. (We're mortgage free.)
£36k is plenty for us, we don't do holidays and rarely go out to eat, neither of us drink. Always a good idea to track spending over a few years to be sure what you need.
Am I understanding you correctly – you have a total of £120k, plus the £25k lump sum (does your wife also have her own pension), are mortgage-free, have retired at 62 and are comfortable that will see you through to state-pension and then you will be able to live on just that? Could you also downsize if you need to? Do you have any dependents?
I ask as my pot is around that, my wife has a smaller amount (but for the life of us, we can't find out how much is in her local authority pension). I'm coming up 58 and am starting to eye up early retirement if I can. We could downsize, but we have two daughters who are yet to start 6th form (start in September) so they have at least 5 years of financial dependency on us.
Am I understanding you correctly – you have a total of £120k, plus the £25k lump sum (does your wife also have her own pension), are mortgage-free, have retired at 62 and are comfortable that will see you through to state-pension and then you will be able to live on just that?
No, sorry, my post isn't very clear.
The £25k lump sum was part of the £120k pot. I have 3 other pots which are another £150-200k ish.
Wife has a pension about the same size as mine. The state pension, as it is now, will keep us in food etc. The pensions and savings will allow us to be comfortable and help our son. I fully accept that I've been lucky being able to save, buy a house when they were cheap, and work for companies that put a lot into my pension.
Ahh okay, so I am a million miles away from where you are 🙁
Some people on here are worrying about retiring on an amount that is more than I earn 😆😆😆
Some people on here are worrying about retiring on an amount that is more than I earn
LOL - so true.
I will be drumming into my kids to start to save for their retirement as soon as they can though. I wish I had parents that guided me a bit more than they did (they were lovely, and would do anything for me, but financially, they weren't too astute). Fortunately, we will have a larger than average mortgage-free home by the time I retire, so we could downsize to release some £££££s. I hate to think what will happen to people that weren't able to buy their own home and have little or no pension.
Some people on here are worrying about retiring on an amount that is more than I earn
Yep, I’ve had a giggle over some what I’d say was a good wage to actually get as a worker 🙂
The other thing you should think is where …….
I’m living the dream in Spain and it’s definitely the sort of place to retire to, there’s just no beating the Mediterranean climate.
Whats the fun in having all the time in the world but miserable weather. 🙂
I will be drumming into my kids to start to save for their retirement as soon as they can though.
This, and explain compound interest.
As I said above, I've been lucky to work for companies that paid into my pension from the age of 21. Added my contribution and it all adds up. But with the cost of everything now I know how lucky I was.
hate to think what will happen to people that weren't able to buy their own home and have little or no pension.
They'll be working till they're nigh on dead.....or they'll have inherited.
I think there's going to be a big gap in the coming years between those who have little more than a pot to piss in and those who inherited.
Much of the wealth is currently tied up in relatively few people's pockets. Those pockets are generally in the older end of society and they make it harder for the younger generations to acquire wealth.
So much property is tied up with baby boomers who live in houses much bigger than they need whilst their offspring are making do with an overpriced flat (likely bought by other boomers on a buy-to-let mortgage and using the income to find their retirement) and putting off starting a family as they can't afford it.
Tbh the best lesson I learnt from my parents was to not to be poor 🙂
you seem to be trying to convince yourself that not having kids is the best thing in the world.
No convincing needed.
Seen friends and family have kids and few of them seem happier with kids than they did before. Majority stop at one so it can't be that great...
Bikes n+1.
Doesn't seem to be the case with kids.
The other thing you should think is where …….
I’m living the dream in Spain and it’s definitely the sort of place to retire to, there’s just no beating the Mediterranean climate.
Whats the fun in having all the time in the world but miserable weather. 🙂
What can you do in blistering 38C with never ending, mind numbing, irritating sun that you can't do in a civilised 15C, overcast and a lovely refreshing moderate breeze? The only thing I can think of that's better in Spain is sitting on a beach and surely that gets boring after about two hours?
The other thing you should think is where …….
I’m living the dream in Spain and it’s definitely the sort of place to retire to, there’s just no beating the Mediterranean climate.
Whats the fun in having all the time in the world but miserable weather. 🙂
What can you do in blistering 38C with never ending, mind numbing, irritating sun that you can't do in a civilised 15C, overcast and a lovely refreshing moderate breeze? The only thing I can think of that's better in Spain is sitting on a beach and surely that gets boring after about two hours?
For me it's the food... It's almost impossible to have a bad diet unless you make a concerted effort.
Where as in the UK it's the opposite.
And yes the sun is almost unbearable this time of year on the south coast, so you just do as the Spanish do.. Most activities take place before lunch or in the evenings... It's a different way of life for sure, but a better one, IMO
I think alot depends on what you are used to earning and spending.
If you take home £3000 pcm , and at the end of the.monthalmost all of it has been used without a chunk being invested then clearly £300 a aeekis going to be a test.
If you're used to taking home £2000 month, Nd saving say a quarter of that , then surviving on £300 a week will seem easy.
Always remember that most posters on here are the e lucky ones with good income and savings. Whilst around 1/4 of people are looking down the barrel of state support as their only income in retirement.
there’s just no beating the Mediterranean climate.
In winter perhaps. But from May to October it's bloody horrendous.
Always remember that most posters on here are the e lucky ones with good income and savings.
I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I was given but it's not all luck. Some of took, sometimes difficult, decisions that have put us where we are today.
there’s just no beating the Mediterranean climate.
In winter perhaps. But from May to October it's bloody horrendous.
Nah.. july and august, I agree, the best months are march-may and september-november, IMO... nice and hot without being too mad.
Always remember that most posters on here are the e lucky ones with good income and savings.
I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I was given but it's not all luck. Some of took, sometimes difficult, decisions that have put us where we are today.
We are fortunate to have retired early. The how much question is a big one. The most useful tool I have found is the snoop app ( others are available e.g Emma) Snoop gives accurate info on your spending and how to budget.
I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I was given but it's not all luck. Some of took, sometimes difficult, decisions that have put us where we are today.
Very much this. I've taken a few big gambles with jobs and relocations, a couple paid off, a couple didn't. Yes my boomer parents moved themselves up the social/income scale but I fully expect the care sector (quite rightly) to see the benefits of that rather than me.
For me - luck or circumstance - buying property 35 years ago and maxing out what we could afford to pay and then not moving- at times it was taking a large % of our income and it felt like a real gamble at the time. Because of complex circumstance we ended up with a small flat each next door to each other in a rough area that gentrified
Working in public service with decent pension provision would be the other. The trade off is low salary but decent pensions
Decisions - not having kids was the biggest one. I would not have been able to retire at 60 had we had kids because I would have needed to buy a more expensive property and kids are expensive. Not owning a car would be second to that I guess
I never earned more than £35000 pa and our joint income never exceeded £60 000pa and usually significantly less
It’s all very well talking about Spanish climate and sitting in a hammock in the Alps… but didn’t Brexit kinda mess that dream up for those with the wrong passport?
As usual baby boomers get the blame for everything. Most of my friends (born in the 60's and 70's) are women, most did not have the luxury of a pension or well paid jobs, most will still be working into their late 60's. Luckily my savvy father told me at the age of 25 to start a pension (self employed), thank goodness for his sage advice.
I'm still working at the age of 66 (part time) and have only just received my first state pension. Obviously I'll be taxed on this, but can't see me being able to take out my own small pension for at least 4 years. Although I was lucky enough to use some of a tax free lump sum for some house maintenance.
And just be careful about relying on inheritance for the future. It may be gobbled up by care fees or as time passes you may be disinherited by a family fall out. As a friend once said you can't miss what you never had in the first place.
You'll know when they are financially independent when they start paying attention to the correlation between the thermostat and the gas bill!
Son2 is financially independent - except he pays me monthly a huge amount for a Type Rating loan (when he can, there is no rush for him). But his attention to the electricity bill in his rented flat was remarkable! Son1 is not really independent on a modest PhD stipend, with a large student loan. But he will have a flat deposit coming to balance Son2's past expenses!
I'm lucky as I enjoy what I do, feel lucky and would miss the science immensely. That I am well rewarded is an added bonus. I took some hard decisions on pension savings over 20 years ago, and probably over-payed into AVCs at the expense of other niceties. Now in a DC pension, I am doing the same and doubling down (34% of salary for tax effciency) for the home stretch. Ten years from state pension, I expect it will be means tested at some point so have planned not to need it or Mrs Tired's. Retirement at 60 and something else like uni teaching looks an attractive option.
Bikes n+1.
Doesn't seem to be the case with kids.
You can take your bike to the pub, but it's not going to buy you a drink. Eventually your kids might 😉
It’s all very well talking about Spanish climate and sitting in a hammock in the Alps… but didn’t Brexit kinda mess that dream up for those with the wrong passport?
Nah, it messed it for a couples who can’t show they have a yearly income of €36k. (Or a big pile of money)
The only issue is you wouldn’t be able to take that part time delivery job to top up your pension 🙂 (non-lucrative visa)
Always remember that most posters on here are the e lucky ones with good income and savings.
Sounds a bit trite but sometimes I think you have to make your own luck but it’s a fair enough comment.
What can you do in blistering 38C with never ending, mind numbing, irritating sun that you can't do in a civilised 15C,
TBH it’s not that all year round, the roads and the amount of gravel trails that can be on your doorstep is amazing, they are also more used to cyclists and usually more courteous in the car towards you.
Looks like you're going to need a bigger pension pot.
Luck has certainly played a part in the relative positions on the housing ladder that my 3 sons have ended up (purely down to the wealth of their partners parents) and as a result will determine how much they can put into any pensions for their futures. Knock on effects of financial benefits are an easy thing to overlook as are the added expenses of being poor.
Sounds a bit trite but sometimes I think you have to make your own luck
Given that the biggest driver of how affordable your house is likely to be, and the likelihood of having t'awsumz pension policy are your year of birth, could you advise please on the best way to make this luck....
Knock on effects of financial benefits are an easy thing to overlook
Very much this.
The whole idea that we as a society all have the same chances it absolute bollocks.
Generational wealth is going to be one of the bigger influences on if/when someone gets to own a house or retire in the future more so than it currently contributes.
for me its both a combination of luck ( and my age) and decisions I have made as detailed above
I do feel very sorry tho for folk wanting to buy a house now tho. Its basically unaffordable for public servants in most of the UK. My flat was 2.5 times my salary, now its worth ten times the salary for that same job
Bad luck is my parents are still alive - im 64 they are 90. No generational wealth has come my way yet 🙂
I'm a long way short of this magical £500k figure (less than half) but I think I'll be fine, mortgage free with no dependants.
I'm 60 next year & dropping to 4 day 0800 to 1500hrs working times for two years max. then retiring fully.
To bridge the 5 years from 62 to state pension I'll buy an annuity with the largest of my 3 private pensions, this should give me an income of just over £900 a month which will cover all my bills & living expenses including £50 to run a car & £50 socialising money a week.
I'm going to leave the other pensions to grow for a year or two.
The whole idea that we as a society all have the same chances it absolute bollocks.
correct. We are a more unequal and less socially mobile country than we were
I do feel very sorry tho for folk wanting to buy a house now tho. It’s basically unaffordable for public servants in most of the UK. My flat was 2.5 times my salary, now its worth ten times the salary for that same job
like him or not, but that is exactly Gary’s Economics’ point. And will get worse not better.
Given that the biggest driver of how affordable your house is likely to be, and the likelihood of having t'awsumz pension policy are your year of birth, could you advise please on the best way to make this luck....
No 🙂
Game of life first rule, you have to work it out yourself 🙂
like him or not, but that is exactly Gary’s Economics’ point. And will get worse not better.
Yep,he’s very marmite but worth listening to.
I do feel very sorry tho for folk wanting to buy a house now tho. Its basically unaffordable for public servants in most of the UK. My flat was 2.5 times my salary, now its worth ten times the salary for that same job
I’m expecting that holds true for most people (on this thread and still working) that you wouldn’t be able to afford your house with your current salary if you were buying at todays prices.
I’m expecting that holds true for most people (on this thread and still working) that you wouldn’t be able to afford your house with your current salary if you were buying at todays prices.
I couldn't afford the cheapest property in our village on my salary. The numbers my lad and his girlfriend are looking at for their first house blow my mind, despite the fact that at 22 their combined income is greater than ours.
I'm 12 years away from 67. Just taken some tax free cash from some old spare pensions. My main pension would give me a reasonable amount now, and a very decent amount by 67. That's excluding the other three pensions. I'd like to retire in maybe 6 years - the figures add up if, and it's a big if, my adult kids leave home. Son is 25 and has ADHD and, whilst working, it's not full time. He's on the path to become a HGV driver, theory passed, but with his condition is a shocking time keeper and has lost most of his other jobs in IT because of this. He is a genius with fixing cars though.
Daughter is 22 and about to do her masters. Unfortunately, her boyfriend has some disability issues (adhd/autistic) and is unlikely to be in a position of getting a job - he just 'games' all day - tried Uni 3 times and packed it in after a month, then went back to gaming all day. Unless either of them have 'left home', I'm not retiring and being at home where I'd be tempted with 'murder'.
Son does nothing around the home, hasn't even helped out following my recent broken pelvis or torn rotator cuff.
I don't want to be working till 67 as I can feel the broken spine issues starting to catch up, and add on a recent fractured hip socket and pelvis, I'm going to be struggling even riding in 12 years.
Mine isn't coming down to the money aspect as i've been very fortunate with the company pension. But more down to 'what will i do all day every day' I simply can't think of what i'd honestly do. I can't go MTBing every day, i don't have the energy for that. I can't fettle bikes all day, there's only so much work needed.
I think in summers like this it would be easier to deal with nothing all day, but over winter when it's raining most days, i have no clue at all what i'd do to pass the days.
I'm not retiring and being at home where I'd be tempted with 'murder'.
I feel your pain, one immovable rule I have is stepdaughter & boyfriend have to move out before I reach retirement age (6yrs & counting) although I am planning working to 70, I'm already on 4 days, so 20% retired anyway....
Mine isn't coming down to the money aspect as i've been very fortunate with the company pension. But more down to 'what will i do all day every day' I simply can't think of what i'd honestly do. I can't go MTBing every day, i don't have the energy for that. I can't fettle bikes all day, there's only so much work needed.
I think in summers like this it would be easier to deal with nothing all day, but over winter when it's raining most days, i have no clue at all what i'd do to pass the days.
Exactly this for me too (without the generous pension of course as i've only been a high earner in the last few years).
I had a period of 10 months, about 10 years ago after finishing a lucrative contract when after the travel etc i got very bored, especially in the winter months. I plan to move to Spain/Portugal anyway so may be not an issue on retirement.
I think you would be surprised at how easy it is to fill your time. Naps. there is always time for a nap 🙂
In all seriousness its not something I have found an issue partly because I have spent 1/3 of the last 3 years away from home travelling and have plenty of stuff to do around the house
"what would I do all day" is definitely a problem I would like to have because I know the answer is not "I'd like to go to work."
I simply can't think of what i'd honestly do
cor.
Personally I'd sleep in, cuddle the wife, head to the local bakery, read a book, fire up my synths and have a tinker (this bit may take up anywhere from 1 hour to the entire rest of the week), practise the drums, go for a bike ride, go for a hike, tidy the garden, do jobs around the house, cook something fancy for dinner, watch a film, drink a nice glass of red, listen to a great album, catch up with friends or family for lunch/coffee, stare out of the window, yak yak
i am really looking forward to it. Only, uh, about 16 years to go
"what would I do all day" is definitely a problem I would like to have because I know the answer is not "I'd like to go to work."
Well no, i think most people would rather not... but i still don't see how i'd fill a week.
Lets assume the weather is nice enough and trails are dry, so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am, breakfast etc, so i'm done by 7...
I hit the trails for a few hours and i'm done by 10am.... then a coffee/cake and it's 11am. By the time i'm home it's 11.30.....
So the afternoon.... what am i doing then ? The bike isn't dirty, the garage is clean and the wife has done the online Tesco shop...
If i get stuff done in the afternoon, what does that mean for the evening !!!
Tuesday, lets replace the MTB ride with a swim.... but still what's the rest of the day and evening...
I don't see it at all... i can't see what i'd do other than killing time waiting for the next day.
so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am
Well you can knock this madness on the head for a start
so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am
Well you can knock this madness on the head for a start
That's not bad for me in honesty... I'll take 6.30 and was being optimistic... If i get up later then it just means i'm up till midnight instead... So i'm bored at night in the dark instead of the daytime lol.
You surprise me weeksy,I would have had you down for a time full of track days on custom builds ,then touring around on motorbikes with Mrs weeksy and your lad if he gets in to them. The dark rainy days hold no fear if you have a big list of projects and planning to enjoy at your leisure.I am lucky that being bored is (and never has been) a problem I have ever had to worry about. 😉 🤣
I do feel very sorry tho for folk wanting to buy a house now tho. It’s basically unaffordable for public servants in most of the UK. My flat was 2.5 times my salary, now its worth ten times the salary for that same job
like him or not, but that is exactly Gary’s Economics’ point. And will get worse not better.
Some of his videos are great - he is certainly very blunt and 'matter of fact', and can come across as quite flippant, but when you are good at that kind of job I guess it kind of comes with the territory.
This vid, not from his channel, is great and really eye opening to how the trade industry works..
You surprise me weeksy,I would have had you down for a time full of track days on custom builds ,then touring around on motorbikes with Mrs weeksy and your lad if he gets in to them. The dark rainy days hold no fear if you have a big list of projects and planning to enjoy at your leisure.I am lucky that being bored is (and never has been) a problem I have ever had to worry about. 😉 🤣
Not ridden a motorbike in 3 years mate, holds very little in the way of interest to me. I honestly don't have the skills to build customs, certainly nothing that anyone would like. I don't have the imagination either. I could arguably get enough interest out of it over a few summer days, but winter, mmmm.
I can see myself doing 'something' in MTB/DH stuff, but what that could be, i'm currently unsure. Things like suspension telemetry stuff really interests me, but i'm pretty lacking in the knowledge at this stage.
I could see myself driving the uplift van at FoD and chatting shit with MTBers just to give me something to do 😀
The what to do all day is an interesting one. If you, your partner and a few mates are all retired with plenty of cash then it's great. Holidays, hobbies, days out, pub lunches etc. A bit different if you are billy no mates and/or skint.
so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am,
Well no, i think most people would rather not... but i still don't see how i'd fill a week.
Lets assume the weather is nice enough and trails are dry, so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am, breakfast etc, so i'm done by 7...
I hit the trails for a few hours and i'm done by 10am.... then a coffee/cake and it's 11am. By the time i'm home it's 11.30.....
So the afternoon.... what am i doing then ? The bike isn't dirty, the garage is clean and the wife has done the online Tesco shop...
If i get stuff done in the afternoon, what does that mean for the evening !!!
Tuesday, lets replace the MTB ride with a swim.... but still what's the rest of the day and evening...
I don't see it at all... i can't see what i'd do other than killing time waiting for the next day.
It would seem to me that you have a serious lack of imagination.
Just a few suggestions (all things I currently do but not often enough due to work getting in the way;
Volunteering, Board memberships, visiting family, reading, cooking, studying, museum visiting, wildlife watching, golfing, lunching with wife / friends, learning instrument, planning trips, organising life admin, language learning, writing.......
Surely the list of non work things is endless?
golfing
I'd rather go to work... 😉
I'm with Weeksy on this as someone who's pension pot is barely damp, never mind overflowing, I'm not going to be able keep myself occupied every day unless it's free or very low cost.
What to do all day?
You just take longer doing things, because there's no rush. Spend all day reading a book? Why not. Listen to some podcasts? Sure, take all day over it. Cut the grass? Do it tomorrow.
You'd be surprised how easy it is to fill your days.
so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am,
Well no, i think most people would rather not... but i still don't see how i'd fill a week.
Lets assume the weather is nice enough and trails are dry, so i'm getting up Monday at 6.30am, breakfast etc, so i'm done by 7...
I hit the trails for a few hours and i'm done by 10am.... then a coffee/cake and it's 11am. By the time i'm home it's 11.30.....
So the afternoon.... what am i doing then ? The bike isn't dirty, the garage is clean and the wife has done the online Tesco shop...
If i get stuff done in the afternoon, what does that mean for the evening !!!
Tuesday, lets replace the MTB ride with a swim.... but still what's the rest of the day and evening...
I don't see it at all... i can't see what i'd do other than killing time waiting for the next day.
It would seem to me that you have a serious lack of imagination.
Just a few suggestions (all things I currently do but not often enough due to work getting in the way;
Volunteering, Board memberships, visiting family, reading, cooking, studying, museum visiting, wildlife watching, golfing, lunching with wife / friends, learning instrument, planning trips, organising life admin, language learning, writing.......
Surely the list of non work things is endless?
I could easily see me getting back to a bit of golf, i was a semi-pro back in the day and can still swing a bat reasonably well, so yeah that would work a bit.
None of the rest of the list has any interest at all to me.
Not ridden a motorbike in 3 years mate
I have no words 😢 😕.
Just when you think you know someone 😉 🤣 🤣 🤣
golfing
I suppose the only issue with that is that you need to have enough money for the yearly green fees.
Its one of the other rulez of life - Time or Money.
(You have the time but not the money or you have the money but no time.)
Tied in with the other rule of you can’t buy time.
I suppose you can factor this in to not retiring early but when you do you might be on a waiting list for a hip jobbie so last thing on your mind would be a nice game of golf 🙂
You just take longer doing things, because there's no rush.
One short step from becoming a doddery old chap clogging up the supermarket aisle....
The "free time" issue only comes up if you enjoy your current job. If you don't then there's plenty of opportunity to go and do something that might not pay much but is more fulfilling/relaxing/enjoyable. That's how I ended up working in a bike shop, then doing bike hire and cyclist transport, becoming a qualified bike mechanic and a licensed taxi driver. I didn't see any of that coming iny retirement thoughts 😆
Nowadays I do some volunteering but I also run, walk, swim, gym, camp and so on. Having said that, I always regarded cycling as just one of my hobbies. I never had it as a lifestyle thing. I can see how it could be different for others, especially if they'd focussed on a narrow niche of cycling.
Along with lots of other people I had a dummy run at this during covid. I had no bother filling my time with DIY, litterpicking, trailbuilding and keeping fit despite being an early riser. Then around 4pm I'd down tools and open a can of IPA, my weekly units were 85-95! I think I'm going to need a part time job...
I'm not here to sell golf but, my local club is currently £295 per year for membership, so if you play once per week it's costing you just over £5 per round. So it doesn't have to be a spendy hobby. I don't really play but I see the health and social benefits my parents get from doing so.
During lockdown we spent half the week making a mess and the other half tidying it up.
I fear retirement will be the same.
