It's official, I'm a pensioner

Kiwi Paul said:
My wife and I are retiring tomorrow at the right old age of 58 and 59, both worked hard all our lives and are in a position to give retirement a try.
She is a bit apprehensive but I can't wait. We'll see how things go and may look for part time work if we get bored or want to supplement our retirement income but for the moment we are just going to enjoy ourselves.:banana:
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Good idea to enjoy yourselves while you can. Once you get to 70 or so, you may no longer have the energy or good health to do all the things you are now planning.

With bus passes, do remember that you can use these passes throughout the country. I have used my local pass in London and York. A friend of mine decided to to travel 90 miles to London using his bus pass on local services. It probably requires some planning. I think he only did this to prove he could as he could have afforded to go by train.

Dave
 
Whereas ironically (at 65) I've just been offered a new work contract for 6 months potentially extendable to 2 years, but realistically I no-way want to work that long. At the moment I find the work interesting still, and stimulating, but there are other things I want to do with my time too...
 
When I retired (at 60), I also signed a contract for some technical auditing work though it would not arise very often. I did get called in a couple of times in the first year and the very first session paid me enough to buy a Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L IS. I did not continue beyond this because the rules were changed to make the technical audit reviews unnecessary. If you can get the right work, the extra money might be useful to pay for an item you would not otherwise buy.

Dave
 
Same here Dave, I retired at 63 but managed to get some consulting work for three months of the year. Still doing that each year, and some inputting work for a tax accountant, but it is enough for sure.
 
The oddest thing, from my point of view, is that our income has dropped to less than a quarter of what we were making before retirement, yet we have more money at the end of each month!

I wonder if not paying two mortgages has anything to do with it? :thinking:

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I stopped work at 54. As part of the deal I got my occupational pension straight away and I had an old endownment mature which paid off the mortgage.
Without expenses such as commuting, NI, pension contribution, work clothes and food etc the reduction in actual spending money was minimal although household expenses did go up and we have more holidays now.
I have thought about getting a consultancy job but after 19 years of retirement I may not bother :)
 
Suvv said:
I have thought about getting a consultancy job but after 19 years of retirement I may not bother :)
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Curiously there was a FB advert for a company I left around 8 years ago, looking for experienced and qualified pesties.
The salary is much about the same as when I left. (!)
Since retiring, I'm enjoying it too much, I wouldn't go back eve if they offered me twice the salary.
 
I've a few years off yet, but going to use my bus pass like my grandma did.
Bus into main station, then no matter where it's going get the first bus out and just have a day out at some random place, you'd be surprised at all the local places you miss driving a car :LOL:
 
I was made redundant September 2020 after 6 months furlough , I was 60, With that payment and my savings decided to stop working. Not claiming my occupational or personal pensions yet.

Due to the pandemic I've not got a true handle on how much I'll spend, but so far electricity up, as excepted, (all the brews at home) but the savings on work travel and lunches seem to be a fair bit, so far I'm spending quite a bit less than I'd budgeted , but as said the pandemic has stopped me spending on days and night out.

I did think I'd just get a part time job, but the longer I don't work the less I want to :LOL:
 
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I left my job in London about 4 years ago. The plan was to sell the house in London, pay off the car (mortgage was already paid off) and move to somewhere closer to son in Bristol. I spent 6 months doing the house up, but got let down twice by buyers. In the end I sold it to my lads best mate, whose parents live across the road. But then they had an issue and we didn't move down here to the West country antil 2 1/2 years ago. The plan was, take 6 months off to get to know the area etc and then find a job.

Unfortunately, Covid hit, then I was diagnosed with both a cardiac and a kidney problem.... I'll be 60 on Christmas day, and while the wife is now working full time, I've been doing a few self employed jobs, and also selling a bit of photography/prints. I normally do 3 mornings a week, but can't claim my government pension until I'm 67. I have some private pensions but I'm trying to hold out on those as long as possible. I still get up at 6.30 with my Mrs, and I enjoy doing the cooking too. As for bus passes, we only get 2 busses a day in the village!
 
Jelster said:
I left my job in London about 4 years ago. The plan was to sell the house in London, pay off the car (mortgage was already paid off) and move to somewhere closer to son in Bristol. I spent 6 months doing the house up, but got let down twice by buyers. In the end I sold it to my lads best mate, whose parents live across the road. But then they had an issue and we didn't move down here to the West country antil 2 1/2 years ago. The plan was, take 6 months off to get to know the area etc and then find a job.

Unfortunately, Covid hit, then I was diagnosed with both a cardiac and a kidney problem.... I'll be 60 on Christmas day, and while the wife is now working full time, I've been doing a few self employed jobs, and also selling a bit of photography/prints. I normally do 3 mornings a week, but can't claim my government pension until I'm 67. I have some private pensions but I'm trying to hold out on those as long as possible. I still get up at 6.30 with my Mrs, and I enjoy doing the cooking too. As for bus passes, we only get 2 busses a day in the village!
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That's a sad read, Steve. Goodness knows why..maybe the football thread, I thought you were a young man. Quite an eye-opener, as are some other similar posts which, for me, is why it's one reason why it's important to be respectful to each other or at least not rude or abrasive. I'll now be extra nice about Arsenal despite being a Spurs fan..lol. I see you're doing very well, now.
 
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