|
|
Post by Slinger on Oct 12, 2023 18:57:42 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 12, 2023 19:06:12 GMT
I'll give it a month before they're on the phone asking if you'd like to "consult" on something at the school. Say yes, ask for a rate equivalent to three times your final salary, name your own hours, including remote working, and charge separately for travel if you need to go into the office. Oh, and tell them cash only for a 5% discount, all payable as a lump sum when the consultation is complete.   I do have a concern as I am fulfilling one of my mandates by conducting succession planning in coaching my infrastructure manager to replace me. However, my boss may go external and be wowed by someone with flashy credentials who knows little about school IT. He did that with my predecessor and by all accounts that guy was an absolute clusterf*ck. I'd hate all my hard work restoring the reputation of IT to go to waste and send it all crashing down again. My answer to your prediction, Slinger would be a firm "no", especially if my planned successor is not given the post. |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 12, 2023 19:53:41 GMT
T-minus 323 days to retirement (so it says on my countdown app). I get my big lump sum from Xerox later this month and monthly income from them, too. I've instructed the payroll department to compensate by dumping much more salary into my current pension for the final 10 months. That will build up the pot for transfer to AJ Bell. I can also pay off the car, thank goodness. Leaving the money aside, I'm finding myself thinking "that's the last time I do that" about many unpleasant work tasks. I especially will not miss another start of academic year. It's generally hated by IT staff in all schools and colleges across the land. It's too soon to be demob happy but I'm starting to feel more relaxed when the pressure is on, with that tiny clock in my mind going "tick tock". Does this ring true for those who are already retired? Utterly different for me I honestly thought I would work a lot longer for the US company that bought mine Really looked forward to all the wonderful things they said would transpire Not so I lasted less than a year as an employee Wondered how on earth I would cope, pondered consultancy or part time Retirement turned out to be much better than I could have imagined |
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Oct 12, 2023 21:22:17 GMT
I was thoroughly disillusioned with what had become of my industry.
Had never liked sitting in an office, even a big one all to myself.
Having quit, I did think about all the things I would not have to waste my time doing, ever again!
That was 10.5 years ago!
I remember the joy of being able to go out in to the sunshine and play tennis when ever I wanted to, instead of being stuck, commuting, in an office, at airport, on planes, in meetings etc etc.
Being young enough to enjoy it - that was the key for me.
I still do my own 'hobby' work, but it's on my terms and not necessary for a living. Not sure when I'll stop doing that.
Marie started a flower growing and bouquet selling business over a year ago. I support with ground work, raisedbed, poly tunnel creation etc.
She's finding that very rewarding.
They say the successful early retiree finds something to challenge / fulfill themselves without the same stress of doing what they quit from.
How many of us truly love our jobs so much we can't ever leave?
There are some though.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2023 8:58:19 GMT
One of my neighbours looked at life expectancy of Project Managers after retirement at 65
From memory it was 5years
He retired in his 50s
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 13, 2023 11:04:07 GMT
Yes, I'm aware of the effects of work stress on my wellbeing and my body, especially with all that commuting.
I really can't wait to stop all that early morning fighting with traffic, nor the long drive home when I'm already tired.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2023 12:47:20 GMT
We're (only) having the kitchen diner redone at the moment
It is getting madam and me down
Just that one thing, going on for far longer than the 2 weeks we were told
Was a longer journey time cycling to work and back rather than the car. 35 minutes by bike, 20 minutes by car but if the traffic was bad the bike journey time was the same, could be an hour or more in the car. Woke me up nicely in the morning, calmed me down nicely in the evening.
Bit difficult for your journey though !
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 13, 2023 13:48:30 GMT
I will dust off my bicycle and start cycling locally. It's going to need some TLC after all this time.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2023 14:24:06 GMT
So will your bum !  Small distances to start, build up regularly and gradually Check your saddle and bar height, plenty of YouTube clips around Helmet, rear lights even in daylight, some use front too Lycra not essential but much more pleasant when you increase distance. Lycra shorts will also have padding I find Funkier shorts the best I have ever had Locate a good local bike shop |
|
|
|
Post by stanleyb on Oct 16, 2023 8:15:04 GMT
One of my neighbours looked at life expectancy of Project Managers after retirement at 65 From memory it was 5years He retired in his 50s That's still a long way off from jandl100, who retired at 45 is I remember correctly. |
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Oct 16, 2023 8:26:29 GMT
OMIL!
Will have new meaning soon - Old Martin In Lycra 😂
The more insect like and inhumanly a cyclist dresses, the less respect they get from motorists?
So said a pan euro survey.
Try Speedos and flipflops 😂. They will give you a wide birth..
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 16, 2023 8:41:11 GMT
I'm a PIL
Pensioner in lycra
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 16, 2023 9:43:45 GMT
Yeah, no! I'm not going to look like a reborn cyclist.
My bike is a Gary Fisher Capitola, too, which looks nothing like a racing bike!
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Oct 16, 2023 10:42:00 GMT
Took me a few years to try Lycra
Perfect if you do a few miles
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Nov 3, 2023 7:39:25 GMT
Got one of my lump sums through and just paid off the car. Great feeling!
Put the rest into a high-interest account. Not impressed with the markets where my other pension money is, my adviser said that they are mostly bad at the moment but will recover. One good one is Fidelity Index Japan, reinforcing my previous actions to invest in Far East funds.
I'm now bunging an additional amount from my salary into my L&G work pension (my last remaining active one), using salary sacrifice to decrease my tax load. That one is invested in Far East, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Nov 3, 2023 9:57:38 GMT
Sounds like good moves
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Feb 21, 2024 6:51:41 GMT
I'll give it a month before they're on the phone asking if you'd like to "consult" on something at the school. Funnily enough, my previous school got wind of my retirement via Ruth and asked whether I'd be prepared to do some consultancy work for them. How do I say "never in a million years" politely? |
|
|
|
Post by Slinger on Feb 21, 2024 13:08:05 GMT
Find out precisely what it would entail, set a time limit, and triple your current hourly rate. They sort your tax, NI, etc. If they're still listening, it might be worth
3-6 months being your own boss, as a consultant.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2024 7:26:11 GMT
It's interesting the effect knowing that I'm going to retire in August is having on me.
On the one hand, I'm doing exciting small things like setting a reminder to submit my resignation on 1 May (3 months' notice plus one courtesy month), monitoring my pension funds and updating my spreadsheet. Seeing what I have to do to claim state pension (needlessly manual job). I've already paid off my car and keep tinkering with it. I've spent a bit of excess money on upgrading my hi-fi system. I'm already planning on clearing out so much rubbish that isn't going to move with us.
On the other hand, the days are grinding, I'm more aware of the effects of work stress on my body - and, comparing notes with other senior managers, I'm not alone. The commute drive becomes gradually more awful, and I'm still spending around £500/mo on fuel. A senior manager in charge of strategy is leaving (at the same time as me), which is destabilising the school and causing more work.
And then there are the circumstances of life, primarily that Ruth and I both have elderly mothers who are sick and frail, eating up a lot of our time and denying us much time together. Try as we may, it has a negative effect.
I actually look forward to a bit of peace and some mundane labour (clearing out, but not painting which I detest), as well as exercising better. There's also the great unknown of us getting older and something unexpected knocking us down. Interesting times ahead.
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Mar 1, 2024 9:13:34 GMT
A lot to ponder on there, for many of us actually. I can only wish you the best for your well earned retirement, Martin.
|
|
