Retirement at last

I found that not needing to have so many clothes for going to work was a great money saver - you need far fewer once retired and initially I found I seemed to have loads!

I have reduced our electricity bill by more than half by changing suppliers.

Mischief, I don't think AnnSixty is right in saying you need to be on pension credit to qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme.

When you Google those words and the info comes up, you'll see a list of the different energy companies which are in the scheme.

I picked one at random to see what the qualifying criteria are, and there are lots of permutations. If you're neither on Guarantee Credit nor Savings Credit, the company info I looked at (first:utility) said 'If your household has an annual income of less than £16,190 and you or your partner is 60 or over'
(you'll qualify.)

Just take a look - there's a good chance you might get the warm home discount money as well as your winter fuel payment.

Retired now for 10 years. I get up by 6.30 "work" until lunch then allow myself my time for the rest of the day. This might be reading or crafty stuff or tv or in summer sitting in sun anything I fancy really. Of course this is only on days I am in of course!

I know what you mean about given yourself permission to read during the day. I have always been in the habit of reading in bed, then dropping off to sleep. It is one of the things I am looking forward to but I always feel I should be doing something during the day. I think that when the weather gets colder I'm more likely to pull a chair in front of the open fire and curl up with a good book, then I should be OK. You suggestion sounds interesting and I'll take a look. Thanks

Glad you are enjoying life Mischief
If you want something to read in the afternoons (something I still struggle to give myself permission to do, four years into retirement) can I recommend Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn, a funny/sad novel about four colleagues entering retirement. I like all Barbara Pym's novels but I think that's one of the most thought-provoking ones, and many of her observations very astute.

Thanks Trisher I intend to. One other thing I can now do is get an open return train ticket when I visit my family because I don't have to be back for work, which means I can stay and look after my GDs for longer. Great!!!!

Oh yes thermal undies definitely!
Have a good look around at all the possibilities. You might find a volunteering opportunity which really suits you. Think about what you wanted to do when you were younger but never had time then see if there is a way you can do it. Lots of organisations offer short courses in all sorts of things U3A of course. Don't commit to things at first just try them out. There are local walking groups and all sorts of other groups.
But the best thing is the waking up and knowing you only have to do things because you choose to. Enjoy!!!

Thermal undies....

Hi Charleygirl

I have done all I can to keep the bills down. I have a woodburner which I can use during the day instead of putting the heating on out of normal hours and I have changed all my light bulbs to LEDs, which use 0.016kw/hr. I can't do more than that unless I use candles.

Re gas/elect, I am on a fixed tarrif until March next year so I haven't had any rises for 2 years now. In March I shall look again and hopefully find another good deal.

I am in my small office as much as possible, it's cheaper to heat and faces South so keeps reasonably warm. I also have joined a few websites which give coupons on groceries and discount codes. It's quite a challenge and I'm enjoying rising to it at the moment. What I shall feel like if we get a bad winter - I shall have to wait and see.

Interesting thread as I officially enter full retirement today !

I could have retired two years ago on reaching State Pension age, but went down to 2 days a week when my elderly father moved to be near us. I'm also his carer/secretary/driver, etc, but he also dog sits for me in return

Still recovering from knee replacement surgery back in September, so between exercises and physio, and Dad, I'm catching up on emails and paperwork/filing/shredding/turning out ...............

For the future, who knows, as we have a few more long haul trips to make before my husband retires in 3 years and the travel insurance goes through the roof !

You will spend more on gas and electricity if you are at home more during the day so have you considered changing gas & electricity suppliers? I changed last week and will save £19 a month- as Asda says, every little helps.

I have been retired for 13 years now and found it difficult for the first 6 months- especially expecting my salary to be in the bank each month.

Some supermarkets give good discounts on food to be used by the next day. It is usually around 5pm in the evening that the offers are available. You could always freeze it, again, every little helps.

Enjoy your well earned retirement.

Well here I am, 5 days into my retirement and I'm enjoying it so far. I know it's early days.

Annsixty, you are right about the Warm Home Discount and I think I will qualify but the goverment dept is still assessing my benefits and I'm told it could take up to 12 weeks. So I'm not spending anything I don't have to, till I know what I have to live on.

At the moment I am going through all the websites I use for payments such as Ancestry, Amazon, PayPal etc and changing my passwords. I've heard so much recently about online scams and I now have the time to do this. I have made up an 8x8 matrix of numbers and letters and write all the websites down in a book using a cross reference code. It also means I can't spend money online while I'm away from the house (I'm a terrible spur-of-the-moment spender if I see something online) because all the codes are next to my laptop, but they are all in code, so even if someone can get to my book, they won't understand the codes unless they have the matrix. Quite proud of myself.

I love the fact that I have a bus pass and rail card which makes it cheaper to visit family. The cinema and theatre are cheaper if they provide for seniors but I wasn't aware of the M&S & John Lewis schemes, I will enquire about those. Thank you.

Sorry I'm going on a bit but I think the things that have struck me most are the facts that I'm not doing things by the clock, (making sure I'm out of the house at the same time each day,) which is wonderful, and having switched the alarm off and waking up according to my body clock is so liberating. I put off retiring for 7 years because I was terrified of the thought of it, but I knew it was right this year. So far I'm loving it but I suppose my brain could just be thinking I'm on holiday at the moment. Hope I feel the same in a month's time.

Oh and I've re-discovered Woman's Hour on Radio 4!!!!!

Thanks for all the good wishes and advice.

Enjoy! I am semi retired and only work to cover holidays or sickness and so enjoy the amount of time I have now. I have worked since sixteen and through two pregnancies. Having our own business meant I could put the carrycot behind the counter! Good and bad!!! My boys are now nearly 40 and my grandchildren 8 and 12 and now it is me time. We have been away on lots of short breaks and it is so lovely not to have to be anywhere at any time.
The best bit is waking up in the morning and thinking what do I have to do today and the answer generally is whatever you like!!

Congratulations. I retired in April my DD has been on maternity leave and just returned to work , so my first 6 months were mainly spent enjoying time with her and the baby. So I am now adjusting , I am going to see how things go before I commit to much as I am helping 2 days a week with DGC. It is strange not rushing all the time.

Congratulations Mischief. I have been retired now for 15 years from the main job and 8 years from the part time job I took on. I often wonder how I ever had time to work. Youthful energy I suppose. The best advice I was given by a lady who retired before me was that financially the first year was the worst. You still have that expectation of the full salary hitting the Bank every month and it does take a bit of adjustment. But....the rewards are worth it once you get your routine going and you can change that routine as often as you like. Enjoy to the full.

I have just googled this info. I think you need to be on pension credit.

A widowed friend was told of a scheme from her energy suppliers British Gas that if your income is below a certain level (don't know what that is) you can get a rebate of £140. She did it online and has got it. I had not heard of this before.

Also check out offers such as the John Lewis scheme that gives you vouchers for a cup of coffee and a cake every so often [combined with Waitrose I think but we don't have Waitrose round here].M&S have cards that you get stamped and when they're full you get a free coffee [also National Trust properties do the same in the larger ones but don't seem to publicise it very well]. I'm currently trying to cut back on energy use [the house not me personally] due to my bills going up...I am very bad at leaving things on standby and turning the heat up when I could put on another jumper. I've saved a lot by having a water meter and save bath water etc to flush the loo; I know it sounds petty but it does all mount up. Have a shower at the gym which covers the cost of petrol getting there. There are a couple of walking clubs there as well which I haven't yet joined.

If your retiring just on the state pension don not forget to check your entitlement to benefits. You may be entitled to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Go down to your nearest Age UK and see if they will do a benefit check or direct you to where you can get one done.

A lot of businesses offer special benefits to pensioners on certain days of the week; not just hair dressers, but B&Q give older people 10% off all purchases on Wednesdays. Some restaurant chains do special offers on 'pensioner meals' at lunch time. Likewise theatres, museums and art galleries. It is amazing what you can do and where you can go at relatlively little cost if you are over 60.

I did my family tree. It was incredibly absorbing and I was able to use organisational and problem-solving skills a lot.
I found the first months hard though; it is a big adjustment to make after years of paid employment.

I've thought about U3A, my cousin is a big member in the Oxford area, but I'm not a joiner. Having said that, I have joined the local Rock Choir and I'm really enjoying it, so I might have a look.

This is the last Sunday when I'll be thinking about what I'm taking to work tomorrow. The count down is really on now. Aahhhhhh!!

Enjoy retirement Mischief. I finally retired on Thursday of last week. Granted I was semi retired for 9 years but have been working for 2 days a week during my semi-retirement. It feels weird for me. I am on 'half-term' in my head but will have to accept reality when schools reopen. You appear to be a lot more prepared than I am so I am sure it will all work out well for you. There is a new grandchild due shortly, so hopefully that will keep me occupied for a month or so!

Congratualtions Mischief on going for it - sounds like you have prepared well, and most people seem to manage fine, must take some getting used to, but sounds like you're ready mentally too.

I am in a similar position, thinking of retiring but only have the basic state pension, so worried if I can cope financially. I work 3 days and have asked to go down to 2, which they are considering. It is quite a daunting idea for me.

Have a lovely new life

I retired 18 months ago ( aged 56) and I love it. My hubbie retired 6 months ago and we moved house because we were in a tied house. We have joined the U3 A and do all sorts of interesting things with them. I love being able to walk, read, cycle, go to the cinema and theatre when we wish. Have a great time mischief!