It started like this ...............

We'd always dreamt of retirement.

No, that's not right, rather it should be. We'd always dreamt of early retirement!

You see, since we met we've always travelled. It's been a large part of our lives but limited by the amount of annual leave we had. Our hope was to go further for longer, as there are so many places we want to see and revisit. Scandinavia, Poland, more of Germany and France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the list goes on. It was hoped that we'd be able to start this before we reached our 60's. We had made some preparations to do this. We'd paid into our employers' pensions schemes since our early 20's, to try and make it financially viable. We'd left the pensions alone, where they were invested and not touched them.

More recently we had bought our motorhome, Sheldon (see photo below). It had been upgraded and prepared as best we could for the future. We were hopeful and in our own minds ready for it to happen.

But it seemed to be passing us by. The situation was made more complicated by the fact that we were in accommodation which came with Margaret's job. We needed sufficient funds therefore, not only to live until our state retirement pension date but also to purchase or rent a property for ourselves for the future. So, we set about the countless calculations we had to make following the quotations we'd received from our former employer/s pensions. The calculations were done and redone and eventually, we felt it was feasible to do it, in our 61st years. This was not something we took for granted. We greatly appreciate that we are fortunate to be in this position, but we are also aware that we would have to be very careful in finding suitable accommodation and ensuring that we had sufficient income and money invested to provide for us for the years to come. So, we developed a plan and a budget. A plan which we would need to follow to ensure that we would have the budget to make it possible. It went something like this:-

• Find somewhere to live - ideally this would be in the area we were at the time. It soon became evident though that this would not be feasible as prices were comparatively high in that area. So we had to cast our net further afield. We had family who lived about 40 miles north of Heybridge, in Ipswich. This area looked good - it wasn’t far from our children and families, had good transport links and it looked like an area with much to offer. So we set about the task of looking for a suitable home. We wanted to purchase so looked at a few properties, within our budget. This went on for a few months. Until we eventually found a potential property in the ‘retirement complex’ where my mother lived. It was in an excellent location, near the local amenities and practically ready to move into. So we started to look seriously at the:-

• Feasibility - we began by considering whether this would be a place we could settle into permanently for our retirement and probably for the remainder of our lives? There were lots of considerations to be taken into account. The downsizing of space, the possessions we’d be able to bring, could we live in a residential setting like this which would have its own necessary restrictions? The list went on. Other considerations also had to be taken into account. Our son lived with us, he’d need to find his own place, I also had my own business which would need to be sold. Margaret would need to look at ‘handing in her notice’ to her employer. There was much that would need doing. But, after much soul-seeking, it was felt that we could make this happen and work. There were so many positives. The budget was fine. The family were happy with the prospect. The area looked good and the flat itself would suit our needs both now and in the future. The scheme has lovely well-maintained gardens and the flat had a good outlook onto these. We were excited at the prospect. So, we went for it. We made an offer to the owner of the property which was accepted and the wheels of the purchase were set in motion. Around this time, I also looked at the sale of the business. This proved to be amazingly straightforward as I was able to sell it onto a trusted family member, who I knew would look after my former customers and further develop the business. Our son also found a flat which suited his needs and fitted the timeframe. So all in all, this looked like it would be a goer. So we took the plan to its next step.

• Do it - at first, this looked comparatively straightforward. We were, to all intents and purposes, first-time buyers and it would be a cash purchase. We sourced an online solicitor and the process commenced. Forms were completed, documentation forwarded, agreements signed and we waited expecting the process to be completed within 8 to 12 weeks. If only, the purchase proved to be completed as the flat was ’leasehold’. This caused great frustration and what seemed to be endless delays. We were frustrated but tried to remain patient - realising that we were fortunate to be in a house where we would be able to remain whilst Margaret was working. After a while, things progressed and we were able to complete on the purchase. Margaret then handed in her 3-month notice to her employer. We had time then to sort out prior to the move. So we continued downsizing (a process already started), began to decorate our new home and as we still had the van, (from my former business), gradually move our belongings into the flat. It all seemed like a never-ending process. The van continued to earn its keep, for not only was it used for our removal, but it also helped with our sons move and the move of our daughter and her family. All 3 removals were, therefore, able to be done as 'self moves'. It was hard work, but looking back at it now, it was also well worth it.

Moving in - we were almost there

So after much delay and hard work, our plan, had finally been put in place and I’m glad to say that we are now happily living in our new home.

Now was the time to put the post-retirement phase of the plan into action, but that wouldn't be easy. For it soon became clear that events outside our control would take over, but more about that next time..................