At what age did you (or are you hoping to) retire?

We paid into our pension from our very first paycheck. When the state decided that they didn’t want to pay their portion of the pensions for a while, they didn’t and increased the rate we paid in. Any time the fund needed more money to pay the pensions of people who got much better pensions than we did, the pension board increased rates for people currently working. Steep penalties were put in place for retiring before age 65 for everyone currently working. Our incomes were never that good because one of our perks was to be that great pension, which isn’t all that great of a pension. We’re thankful to have one, but it wasn’t a freebie.

Reality when I die.

When I hope... 5 years.

Won't happen.

I think I was 41 when I worked for the last time, and it had been a total of about 2-3 years working for the 8 years prior to that. But, it’s not by choice but rather due to physical and mental issues. 

Yes. Teachers in Texas pay into TRS in lieu of social security. The amount we receive upon retirement comes from the TRS funds we paid, just like SS. In fact, the Windfall Elimination Provision makes us ineligible for most of the SS we earned and paid into even if we spent decades in the private sector.

Let’s talk about how public employees’ SS dollars from the portion of their career spent in the private sector goes to fund the retirement of other private sector employees and never benefits us at all.

I just turned 72 and am still working 6 hours a day as a Lunch Lady at my local Primary School. I could have retired at 66 w/Medicare and SS at my full benefit age, but decide each year whether or not to continue working. We have everything paid for, and I very much enjoy being able to bank my school salary (now in my 24th year there), or use part of it for fun purchases or to help our DS if needed. Dh is retired from formal employment, but raises beef cattle and also puts up hay every year.

While I would at times like to retire I also realize that having an active job is good for me, both physically and mentally, and I have enough time off during the year to have time to do the things I enjoy. Right now I am considering trading in my 2017 Hyundai for a ‘24 Subaru Forester, which would not be a burden b/c I am still working.

I do consider myself fortunate to be able to continue doing this job at my age, and also to have the option to quit tomorrow should I so desire.

I have no idea when I’ll retire. I’m not in any rush. I’m 50 and changed my career about six years ago. I have no desire to retire any time soon because I love my work.

I used to assume I’d retire around 60, which would be shortly after DS finishes college, but I doubt I’ll be ready to retire then. It’s not a financial decision, just that I don’t think I’ll want to leave my career yet.

I could retire now, according to our financial advisor. I plan to retire in a year (or two), after the house is paid off. I have a small pension, which is no longer being funded due to changes in the Company’s retirement policy. I’ll roll that money, along with my 401K into an investment account when I retire. My Company offers retiree benefits, which includes health insurance, so I don’t have to wait until 65 to retire. SO can retire too, but he likes his work. I have lots of projects and hobbies to keep me busy in my retirement years.

I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading. You're not alone... <3

This, 100%. My dh worked as an attorney for the state. He could have made MUCH more in the private sector, but the pension appealed to him. He paid in mightily to have that pension.

I stopped working when ds started school. I was 42. I thought I might go back, but I didn't. Dh retired in 2018 from his state job, at 54. He still has his private practice, but he has scaled it back quite a bit.

Amen to this! DH will get to collect 1/2 my pension if I die first, but I cannot collect on his SS at all, plus I only get 1/2 of my SS benefit that I earned working for 20 years before I went to the school system.

I retired at 62 after working 40.5 years as an RN.  I just could not do it anymore! Knowing that I would have to pay for my health insurance , I had started saving money every paycheck in our credit union for about 10 years.
 My parents had always encouraged me to save for retirement, but did not until my later 30s. I’m proud that all of my kids started their retirement savings with their first job after college.
i love being retired. We had A lot going on the past several years and there is no way I could have done it if I was still working.
i admire those who love their job and don’t want to retire!
But, that was not me☺️

Dh and I will work as long as work as long as we can. We aren't waiting for retirement to live our lives. We travel with our adult sons now and enjoy our free time. But we need to help prepare our sons futures long after we are gone. as they have autism and will need support. So we prepare as much as we can now, but also want to earn money for as long as we can.

I was 51 and Dh was 55 when we both fully retired. We have a great pension. In 2021 we sold our house and now we travel, we spend 6 months in a warm climate and then the other 6 months in Canada.

I retired at age 64.
DH is 7 years older than I am and had already been retired for a few years.