[dazmond]

I'm 67 next week my pension kicked in last October but the last 5 years I have only been working three days a week which has given me the best of both worlds. Myself and my partner ( who retires next year) have done loads of things including a 14 week trip travelling around the world last year. Buying a static caravan in Wales this year has been amazing especially has its been a great summer too. Next month we're going to Perth Australia for a month mainly to watch the first Ashes Test there then we're travelling around for a couple of weeks before flying home from Adelaide via Kuala Lumper for a 3 night stop over. Paid mortgage off two years ago too.
I know people that retired a couple of years ago but said they got bored with their lives so went back into work in some capacity.

That's the great thing about window cleaning....you can cut down your hours to suit as you age. I bumped into a local window cleaner the other day and he's 81 still going strong (on ladders too). Looks absolutely fantastic for his age. He became a window cleaner at 18 years of age (so 63 years shining). Loves his holidays and  he doesn't plan on fully retiring until he's 90 now he says.🙂👍

[Stoots]

I think working past pension age because you choose to is totally different to having to work to pay bills, one is freedom and enjoyment the other is bleak. 

Funny because i dont particularly like window cleaning, but if i retired tomorrow with enough money i probably would do a bit quite happily if i was able.

[dazmond]

You could just do 10 hours a week at £50 an hour.2 x 5 hour days per week.

£500 per week
£2000 a month
£24000 a year

This on top of your pension would be very welcome indeed.

[windowswashed]

When you are young you have youth, vitality and surplus energy. As you get older all them accidents, bruises, falls and knocks catches up with your body and you feel it.
You don't want to be single going into retirement or the richest window cleaner going into heaven. It's about earning enough to pay the bills, save for a rainy day account and living a comfortable life. Time becomes more important and work less relevant  It's finding a happy balance.
I receive an army pension, mortgage free, debt free and can choose to push work or take it easy. I like having the flexibility in this job.

[james peters]

When you are young you have youth, vitality and surplus energy. As you get older all them accidents, bruises, falls and knocks catches up with your body and you feel it.
You don't want to be single going into retirement or the richest window cleaner going into heaven. It's about earning enough to pay the bills, save for a rainy day account and living a comfortable life. Time becomes more important and work less relevant  It's finding a happy balance.
I receive an army pension, mortgage free, debt free and can choose to push work or take it easy. I like having the flexibility in this job.

that part about going into retirement single .... that is daunting. but thats what i am facing...
this time last year i would regularly discuss the future with my partner sian, with lots of exciting optiions .
sadly sian passed away suddenly in feb.
 it was like some one had dropped a bomb on my life .

getting up and going to work has been the one thing that has been carrying me through my greif.......I am only 54 ... but those older customers that live on their own through loss that were once slowing me down because they liked a chat, have been so kind and understanding.....its taught me so much about life

[The Jester of Wibbly]

When you are young you have youth, vitality and surplus energy. As you get older all them accidents, bruises, falls and knocks catches up with your body and you feel it.
You don't want to be single going into retirement or the richest window cleaner going into heaven. It's about earning enough to pay the bills, save for a rainy day account and living a comfortable life. Time becomes more important and work less relevant  It's finding a happy balance.
I receive an army pension, mortgage free, debt free and can choose to push work or take it easy. I like having the flexibility in this job.

that part about going into retirement single .... that is daunting. but thats what i am facing...
this time last year i would regularly discuss the future with my partner sian, with lots of exciting optiions .
sadly sian passed away suddenly in feb.
 it was like some one had dropped a bomb on my life .

getting up and going to work has been the one thing that has been carrying me through my greif.......I am only 54 ... but those older customers that live on their own through loss that were once slowing me down because they liked a chat, have been so kind and understanding.....its taught me so much about life

Sorry to read about Sian, I feel for you dude.   That's something for all of think about especially those who work on their own without much interaction with others.   It's so important to get a hobby or interest outside of work that's more social.   

[dazmond]

When you are young you have youth, vitality and surplus energy. As you get older all them accidents, bruises, falls and knocks catches up with your body and you feel it.
You don't want to be single going into retirement or the richest window cleaner going into heaven. It's about earning enough to pay the bills, save for a rainy day account and living a comfortable life. Time becomes more important and work less relevant  It's finding a happy balance.
I receive an army pension, mortgage free, debt free and can choose to push work or take it easy. I like having the flexibility in this job.

You have the best of both worlds at the moment mate.

Health is the most important. Without that your screwed.

[Tam1872]

I wouldn't retire fully i don't think.  Maybe keep 1 to 2 short days worth of work a week until I drop.

Not even for just the money aspect. It would atleast break up your week with having something to do.

[Tam1872]

When you are young you have youth, vitality and surplus energy. As you get older all them accidents, bruises, falls and knocks catches up with your body and you feel it.
You don't want to be single going into retirement or the richest window cleaner going into heaven. It's about earning enough to pay the bills, save for a rainy day account and living a comfortable life. Time becomes more important and work less relevant  It's finding a happy balance.
I receive an army pension, mortgage free, debt free and can choose to push work or take it easy. I like having the flexibility in this job.

You have the best of both worlds at the moment mate.

Health is the most important. Without that your screwed.

Health is obviously more important than any amount of money.

Money is second after health though tbh.

[windowswashed]

I see so many customers reach retirement or near retirement age and go on so many holidays with their partner making the most of time together. It's always sad when I come across someone who has recently lost their partner just as they were coming up to retirement and their whole life has changed in a day, all their plans, you can't help but feel for them.

I'm not in the best of health but I manage reasonably well and always put my partner and family priorities before work commitments.  Don't want to be rich, just happy and content in life making the most of what I got as I know what it's like when someone has to look after you 24/7 when health isn't good (back in 2002).

[matthewprice]

 I am just 59 . Been window cleaning 44 years . Definitely finding body struggles with 5 day week now .. now wondering how much is needed in the pot? . . As someone said once you give up work it’s gone forever . Would like to gradually decrease . But with 8 years to retire . It’s a big quandary

[Rob.Hall]

Problem with semi retirement is you still have the same overheads apart from fuel.
It makes me wonder if it's worth it sometimes.

How do you semi retired guys feel about it.

[AuRavelling79]

Problem with semi retirement is you still have the same overheads apart from fuel.
It makes me wonder if it's worth it sometimes.

How do you semi retired guys feel about it.

Much less overheads.

Less wear and tear on the van, poles, reels etc. and as you say - fuel.

[dd]

You still have annual van costs: insurance, tax, mot, service, plus cost of buying new van when needed.

Also running the RO system, making sure to protect it from frost damage in winter etc.

Added to that in future there will be Making Tax Digital to deal with.

So yes, earning £500 a week for two short days sounds good, but it is not £500 profit. The less you turn over, the higher the proportionate costs of your overheads.

[AuRavelling79]

You still have annual van costs: insurance, tax, mot, service, plus cost of buying new van when needed.

Also running the RO system, making sure to protect it from frost damage in winter etc.

Added to that in future there will be Making Tax Digital to deal with.

So yes, earning £500 a week for two short days sounds good, but it is not £500 profit. The less you turn over, the higher the proportionate costs of your overheads.

I beg to differ. My van is 13 years old on 85,000 miles from new and barring (another) prang or catastrophic failure it will last another 5 years. I could put a trailer behind my car rather than get another van - especially when my turnover drops below £2000 - but I won't as long as my van lasts.

Sure I'll get my oil and oil filter changed annually but why replace air and pollen filters  if your mileage is less.

Less miles means less work for an MOT pass. Less wear on tyres and brakes.

My extremes used to get replaced every two years - now I get four.

RO lasts longer as less water used; same with resin and filters and if on a water meter.

The only constants are road tax, mot and insurance at about £1000 a year total. And if I stopped completely we would probably run two cars instead of a van and a car.

Not knocking on the door of higher rate tax mean earnings do not get taxed above 20%.

£500 a week is £26,000 turnover.  Not to be sneezed at from two shorter days. Especially if it is cream low mileage work.

Making tax digital isn't necessary if turnover below £50k then £30k and only a few hundred to set up if that.

[Stoots]

Theres barely any overhead at all with window cleaning, especially at 2 days a week. You would have all the gear already so maybe a pole every few years is all you would have and water.

Unless you are planning to have no vehicle in retirement then running  van isnt any or much more expensive that running a car.

It depends if you buy a brand new van on finance, pay a dealer to service it every year plus buying  expensive tyres and paying for it fixing then yes it can be expensive.

Or you could have an old van and service it and fix most faults yourself,  i got a  set of 4 wheels off ebay for my old van not long ago for 50 quid with almost new tyres on.

Theres ways of being resourceful when you want to lower your outgoings

[AuRavelling79]

Theres barely any overhead at all with window cleaning, especially at 2 days a week. You would have all the gear already so maybe a pole every few years is all you would have and water.

Unless you are planning to have no vehicle in retirement then running  van isnt any or much more expensive that running a car.

It depends if you buy a brand new van on finance, pay a dealer to service it every year plus buying  expensive tyres and paying for it fixing then yes it can be expensive.

Or you could have an old van and service it and fix most faults yourself,  i got a  set of 4 wheels off ebay for my old van not long ago for 50 quid with almost new tyres on.

Theres ways of being resourceful when you want to lower your outgoings

Actually, running a van can be cheaper than a car due to it being largely a dedicated work vehicle.

[Tam1872]

You still have annual van costs: insurance, tax, mot, service, plus cost of buying new van when needed.

Also running the RO system, making sure to protect it from frost damage in winter etc.

Added to that in future there will be Making Tax Digital to deal with.

So yes, earning £500 a week for two short days sounds good, but it is not £500 profit. The less you turn over, the higher the proportionate costs of your overheads.

You could get rid of the van and get a car which is able to hold some barrels and a back pack if you were just 1 or 2 days a week. So that's the price of a van taken away already.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

If you won millions on the lottery would you carry on working too?   Or is working after retirement age really about affordability?

[dd]

MTD is set to kick in at turnover of 20k. Starts at 50k, then 30k, then 20k.