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I think it is fantastic that you updated this thread. Thank you for that! You need to tell us, if now, almost 2.5 years later, you’re thinking it was worth it.
Oh, yes, please...tell us more about your thought process over the last two years....are you glad you waited? What finally was the impetus for retiring? Strictly financial and reaching a certain "number" you wanted to hit?....or....something else?
You think you feel good now, just getting the date and knowing for sure "you're done and out." Just wait until you can sleep late any day you want, when you don't have to be somewhere on someone else's time constraints...and when there's snow on the ground, it's storming -- or you know snow is coming -- and you can say, "Oh that's right. I don't have to go work work in all that. I can roll over and go back to sleep." You may even have to follow the forecast at all! It feels great!
I decided that I would take an early retirement as soon as I became eligible and began living on my projected pension and maximizing my savings a few years ago. I determined that the lure of a higher pension and working another 5 years is just not worth the money to me. I have a part-time job that I enjoy doing that more than makes up the difference and it gives me much more flexibility and less stress. Additionally, the political pressures to make changes to our pensions have been strong and we already realized contribution increases. It is likely that significant changes for future retirees will be taking place before I reached regular retirement age. I filed my papers and know what my pension benefit will be and it works with my budget. We downsized to a smaller home in a walkable area nearby. This significantly reduced our living expenses without having to relocate to another state. Another benefit is that we are much closer to everything and do a lot more walking and less driving! In the spring my wife plans to start taking the bus to work as well.
We have many plans as my job has always precluded us from taking trips during the times we wanted to travel. A trip to Ireland and the Florida Keys are high on the list!
I decided that I would take an early retirement as soon as I became eligible and began living on my projected pension and maximizing my savings a few years ago. I determined that the lure of a higher pension and working another 5 years is just not worth the money to me.
I'm retiring this year at 59. Not exactly early (or young), and I was having some trepidation, but "luckily" my job and workplace have recently gone downhill, so that should make it easier when the time comes! I think a part-time job is essential for a smooth transition for me; maybe in a gym so I also get a free membership and can finally get in shape.
There's some truth to the saying, "retire early, and retire often!"
lol, but I would also add "retire Happy".
So I'm jumping at 58 not 55. don't care how much more I would get by sticking it out.
I'm simply tired of working. I'm done with stressing about whether or not I may or maynot have a million dollars. I'm done worrying about what may or maynot happen when I'm 80 something.
I'm sick of getting up at 5 am in the freezing cold weather trying to drive carefully to avoid an accident. I'm sick of trying to squeeze the rest of my life into 2 lousy days on the weekend. I'm sick of watching the news on Sunday to figure out how the weather and traffic are going to be on Monday morning.
What I have, I have. what I don't have, well as the song goes "c'est la vie".
Cannot wait. September 1 2019 is my jump date
Last edited by eliza61nyc; 01-22-2018 at 07:03 AM..
So I'm jumping at 58 not 55. don't care how much more I would get by sticking it out.
I'm simply tired of working. I'm done with stressing about whether or not I may or maynot have a million dollars. I'm done worrying about what may or maynot happen when I'm 80 something.
I'm sick of getting up at 5 am in the freezing cold weather trying to drive carefully to avoid an accident. I'm sick of trying to squeeze the rest of my life into 2 lousy days on the weekend. I'm sick of watching the news on Sunday to figure out how the weather and traffic are going to be on Monday morning.
What I have, I have. what I don't have, well as the song goes "c'est la vie".
Cannot wait. September 1 2019 is my jump date
Congrats! Just wondering about health ins. for people that retire at your age. Hubby wants to retire at 64 and private pay ins for a year
Congrats! Just wondering about health ins. for people that retire at your age. Hubby wants to retire at 64 and private pay ins for a year
I'm lucky in that my employer up until 2012 was one of the last that offered retiree pensions and retiree health care. I'm grandfathered in. It's not cheap but at least I can get decent care.
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