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My perfect retirement !

I retired from the retail sector 9 years ago at 55. I had done 30 years with the same company, and had a new Grandchild, so took my generous non-contributory pension. My hobby is genealogy, so I got cracking on getting online subscriptions for it , looked after my Grandson twice a week ( that's the only 2 days that I wanted to commit to) . I had done recruitment and training in my job before retirement. 5 weeks later, the company asked me to just come back to recruit their Xmas staff, so back I went for 3 weeks ! I really enjoyed doing that as I knew that I would then be retired again ! AND ITS CONTINUED EVER SINCE , each year they ask me back for anything from 3-8weeks ! Pocket money for my holidays ! After a year, I became a University invigilator, now THAT I ENJOY ! I do that several times a year too and again know that after a fortnight or so, I CAN RETIRE AGAIN ! I walk to work (3 miles) so I know that I am very fortunate to have a good marriage, and financial lifestyle ! Long may it continue !


Created By on 17/09/2015

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Trampas1955
17th Sep 2015 20:12:12
2
Thanks for voting!
I work in care. I'm 60 and can't afford to retire. I hate the work and don't like where I work. That Cameron had now put it up to 66. I hate getting up at 6am for the early shift.
Response from Ang35 Original Poster made on 18th Sep 2015 08:44:05
I know Trampas1955, I don't think it was right that everyone's goalpost was moved ! 2 of my friends have had theirs moved twice ! It's the only time that I am GLAD THAT I'M THIS AGE ! I couldn't do what you do and so I so admire you for that job ! One of the shifts years ago I had was 7.30am 6pm ! So, I too had to get up early !
Response from Angel48 made on 25th Sep 2015 19:36:59
I was lucky, I had the opportunity to retire at the original age of 60, although I worked on for another nine months, in the NHS. I feel that the idea of making men and women retire later and later is dreadful. (A) The government seem to want to work people into the ground and possibly hope that many people will not live long enough to receive their state pension. I know many people who never reached their pensionable age anyway. (B) The young people cannot get jobs because the older people are still being employed, and employers may have no scope to employ more than so many people at any one time. The whole structure has been unbalanced. Everyone should have the ability to retire at 60 to enjoy some quality retirement years.
Response from Ang35 Original Poster made on 25th Sep 2015 20:46:13
Absolutely agree with all your comments, but some people have different circumstances I.e, divorce, second marriages with another mortgage maybe taken out in later life so they can't afford to retire. My lovely Dad died aged only 51 when I was aged 11, and father in law aged 61, so I consider that I'm very fortunate in being healthy. But also I hear other people say that they don't have any intention of retiring ! What suits one person won't suit another. I'm lucky in that I've had a very happy marriage for nearly 47 years, paid off mortgage earlier in life, never moved from place where son was born , he's now 43, so I was able to retire ( even though I only paid the married woman's stamp as my husband is the right age ( 5 years older) so when I was 60, he was 65 so I got a small pension on his contributions. But, yes agree that they shouldn't have changed the goalposts ! They argue that people are living longer, and I think that fortunately we are , but its still no consolation to people that have had the pension moved ! Well, now we've put the world to rights ! .........x
Response from Wilf made on 25th Sep 2015 23:38:46
That does sound tough. I commuted for years both by train and car and especially by car had to leave for work early about 6.15 just to get to work on time as the traffic was always a nightmare
Response from Mo5 made on 2nd Nov 2015 10:59:09
I feel your pain Trampas55! I am 61 and work as a Civil Servant, full time. Couldn't afford to retire on my work pension alone so have another 58 months to go! (I am so sad I have a made a chart to mark off the months)!
Wilf
25th Sep 2015 23:39:41
1
Thanks for voting!
Sounds like you have a very good quality of life and have struck the right balance!
Wilf
25th Sep 2015 23:37:28
1
Thanks for voting!
My father is now 85 and he retired 30 years ago when he was made redundant from the railways. he worked as a painter and in a restaurant for another 20 years and finally stopped work at 75. It kept him going and I think its a good thing to have a change about 50-60 in life even if its for another job
windyweather
18th Sep 2015 16:29:24
2
Thanks for voting!
Sounds like you have achieved a perfect balance! x

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