Retirement

Theoddbird When I retired 6 years ago, money was the thing that I was concerned about, as my income halved. Well..! I am amazed at how much I used to spend on petrol, filling up at least every six days (I had a 23 mile commute + travel for work) and now a tank lasts me for two/three weeks.
I feel as though I've actually got more disposable income now than I've ever had - it's surprising how the bits and bobs such as donations for presents, lunches, hot drinks etc added up..!
I started out by doing a spreadsheet of everything that I spent - just until I could see that I was keeping within my monthly budget - and once I was sure that I didn't need to make cutbacks, I relaxed and have enjoyed meeting friends for lunch (lots of special lunch offers for 'seniors' ?) volunteering, sorting out my house etc - in between a day a week of childcare for the DGC - which has been wonderful, as it's allowed me to build a real bond with them.
Enjoy your retirement - it's well-deserved..! ?

Theres a website where you can look for volunteer opportunities in your area
Do-it.org

Congratulations, I reckon it’s the best job I’ve ever had. I did find it quite difficult to adjust but after around six months I was into the swing of it. The best advice I could give is try everything, don’t be afraid to admit some of the things you choose will not be for you, but now is the time for you to have a go. You’ll likely find lots of other people in the same situation, all looking for something to replace the routine you’ve had for many years. It’s quite possibly the first time in your life that you’ve been in sole charge of what and when you do things- enjoy that freedom.

Oops ..... I was never a locus ...... locum ????

Congratulations, ?
I went from a very stressful full time job to a locus post 3 days a week , for a couple of years , as I think going from full on full time to nothing would have been very difficult, even though I didn’t enjoy my full time job in the end .
It was a good way of winding down , and I now travel , bake , read , visit friends , have lovely coffee mornings with friends I hardly ever got to see when I worked , and now have a grandson , so I help with him . I know I am blessed with ok health and an ok pension, without that , the travel would be very difficult.
I just love not getting up at 6 am ,and not having the stress ,
Enjoy your retirement, you have earned it xxx

It can take a bit of getting used to, don’t over commit to begin with! If you want to try new things and you have a U3A near you, you’ll probably find there’s a lot on offer there.

Thanks Goldenage. Yes NHS. Am thinking of doing some voluntary work. Thank you all for your great responses.

Treat the first month or so as a well-deserved rest. In the course of that time things will suggest themselves if you find time on your hands.

I was thrilled to have time to keep my house as I always had wanted to, but had been too tired to do while working. I have started making jam again, preserving apples, sewing because I happen to like doing those things.

I am sure when you have retired you will think up some things that you are really pleased to have time for again.

I am heartily sorry for those who don't enjoy retirement. There is no way I would look for a job again, unless I absolutely had to.

Maybe start with treating yourself to a good holiday - maybe one that you put off when you were working? Then I would give yourself at least another month or two, just to relax, slow down and get used to a different pace. Then, maybe revisit some long held dreams and start putting them into action (when I retired I decided to write the novel I'd always wanted to write; a friend bought a camper van, acquired a small rescue dog and now travels all over the UK and Europe; another moved to the coast). You can try different things - you may decide that you want to retrain to do something entirely different just because you enjoy it. Or you can just add piece by piece - some voluntary work; join some groups; more traveling, etc. Don't worry about what's ahead and if you're asked what you're going to do, say you're going to just enjoy yourself !

I love retirement, not having to go to work everyday and sitting in traffic jams for what seems like hours. I don’t know how I found time to go to work, there is so much to do. I catch up with my love of gardening, reading crosswords etc. I go out when I feel like it, do housework when I feel like it and do nothing at all when I feel like it. I can’t understand when people say “what are you going to do” as if your whole world revolved around your job. I have plenty to do and the word bored is not in my vocabulary. Good luck and happy retirement, nothing to be scared about imo.

Retirement is wonderful and yes having enough money helps but there are plenty of things to do that cost little or nothing. U3A has already been recommended- a wonderful organisation. If you qualify use your bus pass to explore towns and countryside nearby. Volunteer and meet others. Above all make the most of your freedom from work.

Ignore them Disneyfan! Our society is based in ‘doing’ rather than ‘being’, more’s the pity. Also I’d ignore all the doomongers -no reason why this stage of your life can’t be as good if not better than any other. I would Perhaps though, not be too frightened of finishing work and taking a deep breath for a minute or two! No need to Exeter into further commitments right at the onset...treat it as holiday and see what develops. Enjoy!

Congrats! Put your feet up (if poss.) and savour the lack of rushing round trying to meet yourself coming back - then consider your options and possibilities.

But I bet your time will quite naturally fill up - it does for women. Men, on the other hand, often seem to go into the mindset "no more work for me - and I've got the wife to wait on me hand and foot......" And then they proceed to allow themselves to sink into bottomless boredom dragging their wives down with them.

There must be generations of retired husbands who have expected their wives to provide entertainment and daily experiences because either they've let their brains go to pot with atrophy or they can't be bothered to get off their (expanding) arses.

Women will rarely be heard to utter the pitiful words "I've nothing to do......"

Enjoy!

I LOVE being retired. I can do what I want when I want & I am out quite a bit. Luckily DH has a way to go yet- it may get more difficult when he retires.
I married him for life but NOT for lunch!!!

You mention ‘we’, so it sounds as though you have someone living with you. Are they retired too? If so, you will perhaps find that you can do lots of pottering about together. Feeding the ducks by yourself can be a lonely process, but great fun when you have company!

We are both retired from the NHS and we joined the Rock Choir absolutely love it. There is no audition and you don’t have to do solos. We have made lots of very genuine friends.
There is over 30,000 members throughout the UK. We all learn the same songs each week. Go along to your local one for a taster to see what you think.

Mapleleaf I have just looked at futurelearn - did not know it existed! Thank you so much. I have been retired for ages and love it although always up for a new challenge. The courses look so interesting.

EllenVannin - I too used to work in teaching, and I volunteer, unpaid, at a local charity supporting a student who teaches English as an additional language to refugees and asylum seekers. It's very rewarding, good fun and a change from exercise classes and looking after grandchildren! I support those with the least English, just for one session two hours a week. There might be something similar in your area. Good luck.

That's just how I was absolutely nothing planned. Nine months on I absolutely love it. I think I slept for three months I was so exhausted! I have taken time to put my activities in place been along to meeting to see if they were for me - this will be the first Christmas in years I will be able to join in. So go for it Disneyfan - you will love it - Happy Retirement.

You'll probably enjoy not having to work for the first few months - enjoy! After that, you'll probably miss all the interactions and sense of purpose, and want to start volunteering. A word of warning - as time goes by, you need to learn to say NO! Once you've volunteered for a couple of things, and people realise that you're useful, you'll be asked to get involved in more and more, and will start thinking that you need to retire! It's hard to get the balance right, and difficult to step back from things once you've committed, so make sure you still have some time to relax.

Try to have an active hobby - walking, swimming or whatever, a creative hobby -sewing, crochet, and something to keep your brain active - learn a language or a new skill. This advice was given to me when I retired and it was useful until I got into the swing of my new life. Now I have so many interests there's never enough time for everything!

Disneyfan - you don't say what you have been doing in your lifetime - 12 hour shifts - are these in the NHS or some other organisation that might naturally lead on to volunteering for a good cause? As a bereavement counsellor volunteering at a local hospice, I know several nurses who have decided to volunteer in one capacity or another at the hospice and whose life retains much meaning for them. It's worth a try. Another option is to pick and choose from one of the large retail companies that offer part-time work, maybe not so stimulating, but that would give you some additional cash to fund other activities on the days not being worked. Or start something for yourself, like a book group among like-minded neighbours (if you enjoy reading), or a board games group - keep it small and alternate between houses as a venue (each person bringing a little for the table and turning it into a social occasion). The possibilities are endless - I have insufficient time in my life to do everything I want. Good luck.

I admit to getting frustrated at times as I still feel as though I have a lot to give in different aspects of life and learning and if I wasn't as old as I am I'd take on a teaching assistant's job. I'd do it voluntarily and help out with reading and English/Spelling.

Hi Disneyfan. Yes it is a daunting thought - especially so if you have worked for the majority of your life. I retired in March from a job I loved however felt I needed to make the break - and boy I have never, ever regretted it - there is so much to do out there that you will soon be thinking "how did I have time to work"? There are clubs and societies to join, most of them nominal fees, evening classes in the winter, meeting up with friends for coffee & cake, not to mention the luxury of visiting places mid week when there aren't so many crowds.........the biggest luxury I feel is having time - time to sit down and read a book if I want, time to spend in the house and garden, not thinking I need to get this done before I go back to work, time just to sit and (frankly) do nothing.......watch TV, soak in the bath, garden, hobbies, etc. Volunteering can be so rewarding and there is so much choice out there - from National Trust room guiding, Citizens Advice Bureau, driving people to hospital appointments, listening to children in your local primary school reading, taking dogs for walks at a local rescue. I picked volunteering posts that echoed my interests and it has been great. I have also revisited hobbies I had in my childhood & teens, before work and motherhood took over! The internet and your local library will be a source of inspiration......my only advice would be not to take too much on too soon, take some space and work out what you want to do before diving in head first!! As someone has already mentioned the U3A is a great starting point for making new friends and continual learning. Enjoy x

Take your time, adjust, do what makes you happy. My DH volunteered me (without asking me first) to join a ladies only group via a neighbour who told him they were always looking for new members, I was really put on the spot & he nagged me to join so I could make friends in the area. We had just moved here. I made a big effort to fit in, mucked in with projects and fundraising. Had to pay high annual sub plus very regular 'donations', it was a constant drain on my purse. The town is very small, the group knew each other from childhood and they would meet up for coffee but I wasn't invited. There were very definite factions within the group and I found that aspect difficult, stuck it for a year then left, several women came and went during that time. So, take your time to decide exactly what YOU want to do! If you're a keen gardener some schools have planted gardens and they usually need retired volunteers to guide the pupils although they will have to pay to have a CRB check on you (it's just routine).