early retirement

[pattylou]

I am two years off retirement age. The job i am in now is poorly paid and is playing havoc with my neck and back. Should i call it a day now and live off a reduced personnal pension or struggle through to 65 and risk my health ?. mrkipling

[lady_p_gold]

Call it a day, you will muddle through financially and can enjoy each day with simple pleasures like a walking and doing your favourite things. Wouldn't it be ridiculous if you slaved away for two years and then found yourself ill and unable to enjoy your retirement. You don't need as much money as you think, clothes for work, driving to work, lunches etc.etc. Don't struggle any more ........... go for it !

[stevie21]

Is that your only options? You can't change something in work so that your job isn't a hazard to your health?
Stay with the same company but perform a different role so that your pension's unaffected?
See a chiropractor or someone like that?

If all else fails, there's nothing more important than your health so I wouldn't gamble with it in the slightest. Well done for even giving it this much thought.

[DillyGent]

pattylou, I agree with lady_p_gold, go for it. Life is too short to agonise over or suffer in pain. You will be surprised how little you can live on if you try. Use as many free things as you can in your area. For instance, don't buy newspapers or magazines go to the library every day. Make use of your charity shops for all sorts of things. Get your food from the markets, much cheaper and fresher than the big supermarkets. Plan your menu for the week and include as much healthy food as you can for as little money as you can, always a challenge! Have you got a friend or neighbour you can split the buy one get one free stuff with? I am sure other ABers will come up with other shortcuts. I love an old Chinese proverb, leap and the net will appear. Good luck.

[WendyS]

Pattylou - I suggest the first thing you do is talk to your employer about this and be honest about your dilemma. I don't know what you do for a living but might it be possible for them to reassign you to different role , or at least offer you some kind of ill health early retirement financial deal or redundancy which might provide a little more cash. If this isn't possible, then value your health above all else and retire early. It might be possible for you to then take a different type of part-time job if you want some extra cash. As somebody else has pointed out, there are all sorts of economies one can make if absolutely necessary and a lot cheap pleasures to be had once you've got time to go out and research them. Good luck.

But before making a decision, sit down and write a list of your current overheads, what could be reduced or eliminated and get an up to date pension forecast. Armed with that information you may feel a little more comfortable about still being able to live a reasonable life if you do retire early.