Retired? How has that affected your life?

I had to retire about 3 years before I planned which really put a crimp in my finances since I didn't have everything paid off and my pension is quite small. I've always lived pretty frugally, but have had to rethink frugal. On the other hand I don't have the stress I had when I was working, I have time to keep my yard a little better than I did. Well I probably have time to keep my house better too, but I don't because, like you said I can do what I want and keeping house isn't it. All in all retirement has its drawbacks, but it has its perks too.

Hi marguicha..I retired at 52 with a medical condition and my husband retired with disability 4 years ago at 48 becasue of having a heart transplant. It is nice not having to be on a schedule and work things around a work schedule, but I do miss my paycheck as it was alot more than I am getting on disability. You learn to get by and be frugal and save where you can, but by no means can you live the life that you lived when you were working. I guess it is a lot of give and take. I know longer have to go out in the winter weather to clean the snow and ice off my car to go to work and it can just stay snow covered until I absolutely have to go aomewhere. This I like!!! flutterby

I call myself "semi retired" because I only work part time. I live alone, too, and know what you mean about freedom. There are problems with that, for me anyway, because I tend to eat all day instead of making a meal, sit in front of the computer way too much and bedtime is haphazard. My income has been cut about in half, but I've adjusted to that OK because I've always been frugal. All in all, it's a different way to live, though!

I am still working, margucha, fulltime working and I am in my mid 40. So I have still got 25 years of working before I get my pension. So I would say I feel in some way envious of you. I also would like to wake up in the mornings and do only what I like to do...however, the life is not like that way at all. You need to work, in order to survive...but I put my money on hold for use when I get there and can stay home for some extra time...and I do not use all my holidays in one time, take some now or then...when I feel I like to be home from work. I hope your pension will be a bless after a long working life.

I had to retire due to bad health so that sure wasn't in my plans to be puny but things happen..I have always had to live frugally so that was nothing new. I HAD ALSO BEEN BY MYSELF for years so that wasn't anything new either. Really not much has changed other than i don't work anymore.