Best and worst things about retirement

I'm not entitled to a State Pension for various complicated reasons (including long-term rogue employer not paying NI although my wage slips said otherwise) & lost what I had sorted myself (Equitable Life) but what with savings and my husband's pension we're OK. We don't run a car or anything and we both came from very frugal backgrounds (I spend less than £150 a year on clothes, often less) never have hairdos etc. Our biggest outlay is rent.
My husband said that work was slowly killing me and when his mum died the sale of her picturesque rural cottage meant we could make the leap.

What Oldandverygrey said

What Whitewavemk2 said. I miss my colleagues but have made a new life now and its great.

* there (obv)

I’ve been retired 5 years next month.

Best:
Sleeping in if I want to - staying in bed until I’m ready to get up.
Using our little Spanish apartment more than just for annual leave holidays.
More time to see friends - during the day is wonderful!

Worst:
Being a WASPI so no state pension until summer of next year.
Knowing their are less years in front of me than behind me.
Looking in the mirror. Ouch!

I live near the school I used to work in and I love being able to hear the children at playtime knowing I'm not on duty!

Best - being able to do what I want to do or, at least, what I choose to do, and when I want to do it. Time for family, hobbies, community activities, DH and myself.

Worst - remembering which day of the week it is! (Does it matter?)

Best - no longer stressed, exhausted and feeling ill. My health improved enormously.
No more alarm clocks, time for a social life.
Worst - nothing.

Been retired 10 years.....

Best - going away lots in our campervan (at Port Eynon on the Gower just now. Gardening. Cinema in the afternoons! Time to look round charity shops.

Worst - not quite enough money

Best:
going to bed when I like, getting up when I like. 2am film finish? No bother!
Eating when I like, cooking more
no more texts from absent staff
no more year end, vat returns,School holiday staff absences
Little afternoon naps
Worse: far less income, no state pension for another five years

Best
Having an income come in every month, even just the state pension, with no worries about redundancy, bankruptcy or any of the other worries that made a salary cheque good for one month only.

Just having complete control of my life - bar family demands and demands on me I choose to have.

Worst
There aren't any.

I have been retired for 13 years. I retired on the grounds of ill health but my health seem to improve when I stopped work.

I love it, naps when I want, eat when I want and just do what I want when I want. Lots of wants in the post.

Best.. No alarm clock and not being restricted to weekends for days out.

Worst.. Not being able to chat about our day and share our news as we have spent all our time together. We're not joined at the hip but spend most of our time together.

Still work 2 days a week but other days time is my own so:

Best
Living nearer children /grandchildren
Not having an alarm going off every day
Time to read
Less housework ( downsized)
Doing what I like without asking anyone else

Worst
Relocated so miss best friend who I used to see 2-3 times a week
Less money (sometimes money very tight)
Had to find my way round a new area after living somewhere else all my life

But the best is wonderful and I can live with the worst!

Retired 9 month ago - husband 6 months although he's still going in part time

Best thing not constantly checking for e-mails all day and night and responding instantly, not having to dread month end and definitely not having the wretched auditors in my house every quarter!!

Worst thing is loss of income and feeling guilty for not being busy all day, every day.

Loving being retired I can do what I want when I want,answerable to no one.
No more stupid conference calls with a dippy manager.
Reductions in bills when we go for a meal/cinemas in the afternoon.
I miss nothing about going to work full time only the people who called in on a regular basis and became friends.

Been retired for 11 years now, wish I wasn't, still miss my job, and don't like being retired at all despite doing voluntary work etc.,

I've been retired for five years now. I love it.
Best thing, not being tied to the clock. We can come and go as we please.
I don't see a down side.

Best :
Afternoon naps.
Doing stuff without one eye on the clock (time becomes elastic).
Money becomes elastic.

Worst :
People who find stuff for you to do!

Which reminds me of another best :
Not doing anything that you don't really want to do!

Wish I was retired and could report back but I'm a WASPI victim.

P.S. * londongranny* get a call blocker. Bought mine from John Lewis - haven’t had a single unwanted call for years now.

Best- everything

Worst- nothing