What age did you retire ..did you retire early ..

I retired when I was 60. I was planning on working till age 62, but the company was downsizing and they offered 18 months pay to retire early. I didn't take me long to sign up, instead of working for nearly free for the remaining 2 years. It took me a few weeks to get used to living without having to get up at 6AM....but I wouldn't want to go back to work for twice what I was making.
 

I chose to retire 8 years ago, at 58, because my back just couldn't take it anymore. After a successful major surgery in 2016, and about a year of physical therapy, I felt good enough to go back to work, so I took a few jobs building decks with a buddy of mine to sort of feel it out.

That didn't go well at all, so I went and got a foster parent license through Child Protective Services. I've had only 2 foster children since then, mainly because my apartment only has one bedroom and the first child lived with me for almost 3 years. I only get paid while I have a foster child, but that's fine.
 
Georgiagranny said:
@Don M. that was me, too, except I was 50. Company made me an offer I couldn't refuseđź’°. So I didn't :D .
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The company did much the same for me. I had moved south taking up a job with a large conglomerate, two years on that same conglomerate sold off the division that I worked in to the American company UPS. They assumed that my then age of 52 was akin to, one foot in the grave, I was dispensable, they were rich. Much filthy lucre changed hands and I was history.

You might think that with the decent bribe I would call it a day, yeah right! I used the cash to start up on my own. A year later my brother, who had fallen out with his business partner, joined me. We grew the business over the next twelve years and sold it at a healthy profit. Nowadays my brother spends his time bringing down his golf handicap. I spend my time working for one of our former clients. I shall probably continue to do so whilst my health holds out. It's not the money, although I readily agree that does make life extremely comfortable, it's the stimulus, it makes getting up in the morning worthwhile. Some might find that sad, well so be it, but it's my life and I feel anything but sad.
 
I was older, but a lot happened. My late wife was brain injured, and I worked to keep our health plan for her. She died in 2005, when I was 67.
I had nothing better to do, so I kept working to fill the days.
Sometime later, I met a wonderful lady who was also widowed. We married, and I waited until the next January, to get my profit sharing, then retired.
 
horseless carriage said:
The company did much the same for me. I had moved south taking up a job with a large conglomerate, two years on that same conglomerate sold off the division that I worked in to the American company UPS. They assumed that my then age of 52 was akin to, one foot in the grave, I was dispensable, they were rich. Much filthy lucre changed hands and I was history.

You might think that with the decent bribe I would call it a day, yeah right! I used the cash to start up on my own. A year later my brother, who had fallen out with his business partner, joined me. We grew the business over the next twelve years and sold it at a healthy profit. Nowadays my brother spends his time bringing down his golf handicap. I spend my time working for one of our former clients. I shall probably continue to do so whilst my health holds out. It's not the money, although I readily agree that does make life extremely comfortable, it's the stimulus, it makes getting up in the morning worthwhile. Some might find that sad, well so be it, but it's my life and I feel anything but sad.
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It's not sad to me but it would be sad if it were me. 🤓 I couldn't wait to retire. Some people are not happy being retired because they love working for the reasons you stated. My husband was one of those. He owned a small business and wouldn't have dreamed of being fully retired.
 
I retired in 02. Came through prostate cancer at 52, sold my last of three consecutive businesses, and was thinking of starting a fourth, when my wife said I should retire, as I still had four rentals to manage, and do all of the maintenance. Been scaling back since then, with the eventual goal of just having my own home to take care of. Getting close.
 
I resigned from my teaching position at 55 but dabbled in some casual employment after that. I had three old ladies who needed my assistance - Mother, Mother in Law and a maiden aunt. The casual work was very flexible but when that dried up I decided to access my superannuation savings. At 62 I was eligible to apply for the Commonwealth aged pension and I haven't had a paid position since then. I was involved in several voluntary activities until very recently. I turn 80 early next year and my one job now is to care for my husband.
 
horseless carriage said:
You might think that with the decent bribe I would call it a day, yeah right! I used the cash to start up on my own. A year later my brother, who had fallen out with his business partner, joined me. We grew the business over the next twelve years and sold it at a healthy profit. Nowadays my brother spends his time bringing down his golf handicap. I spend my time working for one of our former clients. I shall probably continue to do so whilst my health holds out. It's not the money, although I readily agree that does make life extremely comfortable, it's the stimulus, it makes getting up in the morning worthwhile. Some might find that sad, well so be it, but it's my life and I feel anything but sad.
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Stimulus is definitely what's lacking in my retirement and it's making me think of some part time work somewhere just to go out and do something.....anything.
 
Forced to retire at 61 1/2 due to covid. Good thing I'd gone nuts on 401K by shifting it from 6% to 10% had $8,000 after taxes and survived on that till August.

I'd have worked till June had it not happened. But that was then.
 
I retired at age 65.

At first, the government told me (by phone) I wouldn't get my pension, because I couldn't provide some documentation from 30 years before. I kept bugging them to say so in writing.

Two weeks before my birthday they decided to give me the pension after all. I had to shut down my business in a hurry and leave my clients in the lurch.

But they screwed up the other part of my pension, so I lived for more than a year on CAD 800 per month. A very stressful time.
 
Forced to retire at 63 due to Covid affecting my company. I knew I was mentally ready but wasn't sure about finances. I took Social Security immediately and my hubby went back to work so we would have reasonable health insurance. Now I have no desire to rejoin the rat race!
 
I retired at 63 and really enjoy it, no strict routine, each day is a blank canvass

Meeting up with friends for coffee or lunch most days, a day out each week with my daughter, doing household chores whenever it suits me, cooking or eating out, nobody to answer to

I do a few hours voluntary work each week but again, whatever suits me, there’s plenty of time for hobbies, reading, walking, painting, this is the life ! :giggle:
 

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