{"id":734325,"date":"2026-08-11T07:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T07:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/734325\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T07:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T07:42:17","slug":"i-retired-at-52-after-a-eureka-moment-now-i-travel-the-world-with-1-2m-pension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/734325\/","title":{"rendered":"I retired at 52 after a ‘eureka moment’ \u2013 now I travel the world with \u00a31.2m pension"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jon Ellis, 54, retired at the age of 52 alongside his wife Jo after having a \u201ceureka moment\u201d, with the couple having a combined pension pot of \u00a31.25m.<\/p>\n

Jon, who had a variety of different jobs but most recently with Amazon Logistics, said: \u201cJo came up with the logic that if we lived to roughly the same age as my parents, and we spent at roughly the same rate, we could afford to live without working, and not run out of money.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the next year we worked through the numbers, and also paid for a financial review with a local advisor to validate our assumptions. The plan was slightly changed by Covid, which delayed our actual decision but we \u2018hit the button\u2019 about 3 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"The schoolwear industry has said that parents may end up paying more for uniforms (Photo: Sam Edwards\/Getty)<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

How much parents could save from new school uniform rules<\/p>\n

A new law coming into force in September means parents in England will save money by having to buy fewer branded items of school uniform.<\/p>\n

\nWhat does the new law mean?\n<\/p>\n

From September, uniforms will be limited to three items with a school logo, like a blazer, jumper or sportswear \u2013 plus a tie for secondary schools.<\/p>\n

\"new\u2018The new school uniform act may help parents to shop beyond expensive official school suppliers, but it will not make any impact this year\u2019 writes Stefano Hatfield (Photo: Getty Images\/Moment RF) <\/p>\n

\"TwoIn my experience, the things single-sex schools are supposed to protect against are exactly what they breed (Photo: JohnnyGreig\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The government says the changes will save some families \u201cup to \u00a350 per child\u201d.<\/p>\n

\nHow will the law be enforced?\n<\/p>\n

\"WhoCaption: Who shall we choose?
Photographer: PeopleImages
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: www.peopleimages.com<\/p>\n

Who is affected?<\/p>\n

Around 23 per cent of secondary schools will have to change their uniform lists by September.<\/p>\n

How will it be enforced?<\/p>\n

The education secretary has legal powers to direct schools to comply.<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM \u2013 JULY 15: Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson arrives at Downing Street for a weekly Cabinet Meeting in London, United Kingdom, on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

\"Group(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

The rest of the UK<\/p>\n

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have a cap on uniform items, but are encoureged to keep uniforms costs minimal.<\/p>\n

\"Rear(Photo: Alvaro Gonzalez\/Getty).<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

How England could eliminate hepatitis C<\/p>\n

England is \u201con the cusp\u201d of becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, health officials have said.<\/p>\n

\nWhat have the health officials said?\n<\/p>\n

Global health leaders have set out plans to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0viral\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0by 2030.<\/p>\n

\"ATwo more Omicron cases have been found in the UK (Photo: Reuters)<\/p>\n

\"AA member of the medical team holds up a used swab from a PCR test (Photo: Leon Neal\/Getty)<\/p>\n

NHS\u00a0England\u00a0said the nation is one of a handful of countries globally to have already exceeded the World Health Organisation benchmark of treating 80 per cent of all known cases.<\/p>\n

It said that deaths from the virus have reduced by 36 per cent in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n

\nWhat is hepatitis?\n<\/p>\n

Hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0is spread through contact with blood infected with the virus.<\/p>\n

Many people have no symptoms but if it is not treated it can cause serious, and potentially life-threatening, liver damage.<\/p>\n

A treatment course of antiviral drugs for eight to 12 weeks cures more than 95 per cent of cases.<\/p>\n

NHS\u00a0England\u00a0said that since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C.<\/p>\n

The expert view<\/p>\n

With\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C curable in more than nine out of 10 cases, we are committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and would urge those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home-testing kit online.<\/p>\n

Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director<\/p>\n

\"HepatitisThe leading hypothesis for a cause of the outbreak is adenovirus, a common cold virus (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Why August is the worst month for drink driving<\/p>\n

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 26\/11\/14 of a pint of beer and a set of car keys on a bar in a pub in central London. More than a fifth (21%) of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm when needing to drive before 9am the following morning, a new survey suggests. Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a \u201cserious threat\u201d because a \u201cgroggy head\u201d means slower reaction times. Issue date: Friday July 18, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Philip Toscano\/PA Wire
Photographer: Philip Toscano
Provider: Philip Toscano\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

August is the worst month of the year for drink-drive crashes as summer events create \u201cmore opportunities\u201d to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, according to new research.<\/p>\n

\nWhat does the research show?\n<\/p>\n

RAC\u00a0analysis\u00a0found an average of 721 people were injured or killed\u00a0in\u00a0drink-drive crashes\u00a0in\u00a0August\u00a0between 2014\u00a0and\u00a02024.<\/p>\n

\"MedicalMedical marketing and Healthcare business analysis report, Medical Expenditure, Medicare Payment \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"ATherapy can clear your head (Photo: Fiordaliso\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

Before July, there was an average 704 casualties over the 11-year period.<\/p>\n

December, which is often associated with drink driving, had an average of 663 casualties.<\/p>\n

\"FileThe current drink-driving limit in England and Wales is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 35\u03bcg per 100ml of breath (Photo: Andrew Milligan\/PA) <\/p>\n

The expert view<\/p>\n

Drink-driving\u00a0is often seen\u00a0as\u00a0more of a Christmas issue, but our\u00a0analysis\u00a0shows collisions involving drivers who have consumed illegal levels of alcohol are actually far more common during the summer.<\/p>\n

RAC head of policy Simon Williams\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\u2018Opportunities and temptation\u2019<\/p>\n

Williams added that warmer weather, longer evenings\u00a0and \u201cfestivals\u00a0and\u00a0barbecues\u201d create \u201copportunities\u00a0and\u00a0temptation\u201d\u00a0for people to drink\u00a0and\u00a0then get behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

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Explained<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

\"PrimeAndy Burnham speaking during a visit to a family centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Photo: Reuters)<\/p>\n

politics<\/p>\n

Burnham to scrap Blair-era rule in \u2018crackdown\u2019 on new betting and vape shops<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham has pledged to give councils more powers to block new bookmakers and vape shops in a bid to save Britain\u2019s \u201chollowed-out high streets\u201d. <\/p>\n

The PM intends to scrap the \u201caim to permit\u201d rule, which limits the ability of local authorities to prevent betting shops and 24-hour slot machine venues opening in their area.<\/p>\n

Shake-up expected start of next year<\/p>\n

Planning permission will also be required for outlets selling e-cigarettes as part of efforts to give communities a greater say under the proposals.<\/p>\n

The formal definition of a vape shop will be tightened to stop businesses side-stepping the new rules by claiming to be a \u201cconvenience store or a retailer\u201d.<\/p>\n

Adult gaming centres offering up to 24 hours of access will also require planning permission under the shake-up.<\/p>\n

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POLITICS<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

What are closure orders?<\/p>\n

Under proposals first announced by Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s government, police will also be able to shut down \u201cdodgy\u201d barbers, vape shops and nail salons for up to a year. <\/p>\n

The maximum length of so-called \u201cclosure orders\u201d will be extended from six months to 12, to give officers more time to investigate premises linked to organised crime.<\/p>\n

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Exclusive<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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Exclusive<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nCrackdown on \u2018garish\u2019 signs\n<\/p>\n

Officials said the Government would also set clearer expectations for the design of shop fronts, to pre-empt complaints about \u201cgarish neon signs\u201d.<\/p>\n

It will publish \u201cpractical guidance\u201d for councils on how to make town centres more attractive, they said.<\/p>\n

\"VapeVapes have become popular with young people, due in part to their colourful design and flavours<\/p>\n

The \u201caim to permit\u201d policy was introduced when Sir Tony Blair\u2019s Labour government, in which Burnham was a minister, liberalised gambling laws in 2005.<\/p>\n

Are you having as much sex as everyone else?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s natural for libido to wax and wane due to life events, dating status or hormonal changes. <\/p>\n

And it can be hard to say what a \u201cnormal\u201d sexual frequency is. But research and case studies give us a rough idea.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nThe statistics\n<\/p>\n

When it happens<\/p>\n

61%<\/p>\n

\u00a0A\u00a02023 survey<\/a>\u00a0concluded that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of us wait until night-time to have sex.<\/p>\n

Only 14 per cent opt to get busy in the early evening, and 10 per cent in the morning.<\/p>\n

Three <\/p>\n

\u00a0Research from 2019<\/a>\u00a0suggests that the average number of times British live-in or married couples have sex per month is three.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Are Gen Z having less sex than older people?<\/p>\n

I see my partner on the weekends and have sex with others in the week.<\/p>\n

Leanne, a 27-year-old influencer from Bristol has sex three or four times a week, but only sees her long-distance partner on the weekends. They have agreed they can both sleep with other people during the week.<\/p>\n

\nMillennials\n<\/p>\n

35-year-old Rebecca usually sleeps with her partner once or twice per week due to not having much child-free time.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Clare, 32, says her job is busy and she has to schedule sex with her partner on weekends, or some afternoons twice a month. \u201cOccasionally this slips and I do worry that it makes us not as connected,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\nGen X\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Daisy, 56<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t had the issue of my sex life drying up with\u00a0menopause. I\u2019m more aroused now.<\/p>\n

Anna, 52<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been married\u00a0for 15 years. I love my husband, but our sex life is non-existent, and has been for about five years.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Mimi, 46<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not really motivated to seek out partners; I vaguely like the idea of it but not enough to take any action.<\/p>\n

Boomers<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been married for 20 years and sex has become something of a rarity. We maybe have sex once a week on a Sunday morning as we\u2019re both relaxed and I can take Viagra late on Saturday night \u2013 without it, I can\u2019t perform.<\/p>\n

JACK, 63, OFFICE WORKER, KENT<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"Couple,Couple, talk and arguing with fight at house for disagreement, conflict and divorce discussion. Woman, explain and bored man for conversation, toxic relationship and drama and marriage fail in lounge \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

The seven rules that could save your marriage<\/p>\n

Keep your sense of self<\/p>\n

I did what I thought I was supposed to do and forgot my needs and wants. I think it\u2019s really important that you\u2019re an individual and not just a person who is married.<\/p>\n

KATIE STRATFORD*, A 55-YEAR-OLD MUM OF TWO, WHO DIVORCED ATER 19 YEARS<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A married couple sitting in silence, looking in opposite directions. The image captures the concept of female loneliness within a marriage, emotional disconnection, and relationship problems. Symbolizes quiet desperation and isolation at home
Photographer: Galina Zhigalova
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\nSeven rules to save your marriage\n<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Kathrin Ziegler\/Getty).<\/p>\n

The small things<\/p>\n

Small things, like being brought a cup of tea or saying thank you, make a big difference.<\/p>\n

Therapists<\/p>\n

Karen Deulofeu, who ended her six-year marriage, believes all couples should seek support, even before they think they need it.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale psychiatrist discussing with mid adult woman during therapy session \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"Young(Photo: MTStock Studio\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Listen<\/p>\n

Listen properly by repeating what you have heard and ask if you\u2019ve got that right.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t lose communication<\/p>\n

People don\u2019t talk about the deep issues; nobody else is going to do it for you. You don\u2019t want to ask questions because it might rock the boat\u2026you have to keep talking, and talk about what it is that you want within the relationship to keep going forward.<\/p>\n

KATIE STRATFORD<\/p>\n

\"\"\u2018One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,\u2019 says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\nSeven rules to save your marriage\n<\/p>\n

Remember that things change<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you see on social media and what friends say is quite often the\u00a0nice version. Everything is a phase,\u201d says Deulofeu.<\/p>\n

\"Unhappy\u2018I\u2019m genuinely considering returning to full-time work\u2019 (Photo: PeopleImages\/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A senior couple spend time in an indoor sunny market. The woman looks through a clothes on a rail as her husband waits patiently behind her.
Photographer: Catherine Falls Commercial
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Look at yourself first<\/p>\n

\u201cFocus on what\u2019s in your control and what you can do differently, rather than the other person or a situation that you can\u2019t control. Invest in understanding yourself,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

There are things that all\u00a0mid-life\u00a0men should know about keeping their hearts healthy.<\/p>\n

From eating more purple fruit to avoiding large bowls of pasta, consultant cardiologist Dr Zoe Astroulakis [below] shares her simple lifestyle habits she wishes her patients would take on board.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

Swap \u2018bad\u2019 fats for healthy ones<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to eat a fat-free diet; the key is to reduce your saturated fat. Reduce your dairy and swap your red meat for lean meat such as chicken and oily fish.<\/p>\n

\"ShoppingShoppers are set to face spiralling food bills as a result of the war in Iran (Photo: Bet_Noire\/Getty) <\/p>\n

\"manCaption: man eating fried chicken
Photographer: Prapass Pulsub
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Control your portions<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need more carbohydrates in a meal than you can fit in your hand. Enormous plates of\u00a0pasta\u00a0can cause blood sugar spikes, which can lead to health problems.<\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

\"ASupermarkets report increasing demand for blueberries (Photo: RHS\/Guy Harrop)<\/p>\n

Look for purple<\/p>\n

Blueberries, black grapes and aubergines are\u00a0great for boosting \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol.<\/p>\n

Have oats<\/p>\n

Porridge is one of the healthiest breakfast options because it\u2019s full of soluble fibre.<\/p>\n

\"OatmealSwap supermarket-bought cereals for wholemeal oats (Photo: Arx0nt\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\"YoungKetamine has become an increasingly mainstream drug used in clubs and festivals in recent years (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Stop taking cocaine<\/p>\n

It can provoke a massive heart attack, even in younger people who\u00a0don\u2019t have existing artery problems.<\/p>\n

Stay below the alcohol limit<\/p>\n

\"Middle\u2018She doesn\u2019t really like me drinking and says that I smell after a night out with friends\u2019 (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

The NHS guidelines of 14 units per week is still more than 1,000 additional calories.<\/p>\n

The safest level to aim for is zero.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re drinking, make sure you have some alcohol-free days each week and space it out.<\/p>\n

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Interview<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

Do cardio too<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t only focus on lifting weights. It might make you look toned, but it says nothing about the health of your heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Close-upCaption: Close-up view of female jogger tying laces of her sport shoes before running exercise routine. Motivation, healthy lifestyle and fitness concept.
Photographer: Xavier Lorenzo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\"\"Home blood pressure monitors are now available to buy for around \u00a320, and are preferred over smart watches due to their more accurate readings (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Check your levels<\/p>\n

You can get free blood pressure checks in many pharmacies or you can buy a monitor for around \u00a330 to use at home.<\/p>\n

Avoid night shifts<\/p>\n

It disrupts the body\u2019s circadian rhythm and\u00a0can lead to increased cholesterol.<\/p>\n

\"EngineersEngineers from a Thames Water leak hunting team unloads equipment from their van during a night shift in London in 2022 (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\nA sign to look out for\n<\/p>\n

A beer belly is a sign you need to make urgent changes<\/p>\n

\"glassesCaption: glasses of Real ale beer on bar in traditional English pub
Photographer: Peter Cade
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Photodisc<\/p>\n

It\u2019s usually\u00a0a sign you\u2019re drinking too much. By the time your belly starts to bulge, it\u2019s a sign that you\u2019re consuming excess calories and storing too much fat internally.<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

Want a new career but worried it\u2019s too late? <\/p>\n

Mid-life is not too late to start again, says experienced recruiter Elizabeth Willetts [below].<\/p>\n

Here, Willetts shares the best jobs to switch to during midlife if you want a change \u2013 without sacrificing pay.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nChanging careers in your fifties\n<\/p>\n

Mid-life\u00a0career pivots\u00a0can lead to higher earnings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7.4%<\/p>\n

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, workers aged 45 to 54 who voluntarily pivot jobs see an average wage growth of 7.4 per cent.<\/p>\n

3.5%<\/p>\n

And those aged 55 to 64 still see a 3.5 per
cent increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The AARP Global Employee Survey also found that over half of workers who changed jobs voluntarily experienced improvements in work flexibility and mental health.<\/p>\n

So what job options are there? <\/p>\n

\nVirtual assistant\n<\/p>\n

As a virtual assistant your workload will be very\u00a0varied and it could be anything from tidying inboxes, booking travel, sending invoices or updating spreadsheets.<\/p>\n

\"OnlineMore and more people are using AI for counselling (Photo: Oscar Wong\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

\"ConfidentConfident successful Indian female HR recruitment manager holding resume in hands while having an interview in a modern office, looking and listening to job candidate. Friendly interview between HR female director and caucasian job candidate. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

You can start out earning around \u00a320 to \u00a335 an hour, but it can scale into agency work, launch support or even project management.\u00a0Some earn very well.<\/p>\n

\nRecruitment\n<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

What it involves<\/p>\n

You will source, screen and interview candidates to match them with the right job roles.<\/p>\n

Who it\u2019s for<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need any qualifications but it\u2019s suited to communicators and commercially-minded people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RearviewRearview female recruitment reading and checking resume in hands interviewing and hiring woman candidate for jo\u0438 near laptop in office with glass windows \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Olga Rolenko\/ Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"From April 2027, retirement savings will be included when the tax bill for those inheriting money is calculated (Photo: Malte Mueller\/Getty)<\/p>\n

The pay<\/p>\n

The salary van vary from \u00a325 to \u00a350k, but you can earn around \u00a3100k depending on commission.<\/p>\n

\nJobs to switch to in your fifties\n<\/p>\n

\"MaleSome estate agents give high valuations to drum up business (Photo: Monkey Business Images\/Getty\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n

Estate agent<\/p>\n

It offers flexible hours and weekend staff can earn \u00a315 per hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Training<\/p>\n

This form of coaching for businesses\u00a0could earn around \u00a3250 to \u00a31,000 per day.<\/p>\n

\"portraitCaption: portrait of confident senior business man holding digital tablet in modern office
Photographer: zeljkosantrac
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

Sales<\/p>\n

In the lower end,\u00a0a sales rep can make \u00a330k and on the higher end \u00a350-60k, plus commission.<\/p>\n

Why coaching is a good option<\/p>\n

Coaching is incredibly varied and can be anything from\u00a0career coaching, to\u00a0confidence and leadership coaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As it is an unregulated industry, you don\u2019t need qualifications but the more reputable option is the International Coaching Federation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great career option for older people because clients genuinely\u00a0value your wealth of life experience.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s flexible, scalable, and you can start doing it part-time alongside another role.<\/p>\n

It could make you anything from \u00a3200 an hour, all the way up to \u00a3500 p\/h+.<\/p>\n

\"staffEven though the NHS Pension scheme is envied by many for its generosity, those working for the NHS facing financial struggles are choosing to opt out (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Consulting<\/p>\n

This can be across HR, operations, marketing, finance, people strategy or project management, as it\u2019s varied.<\/p>\n

A huge number of businesses now want expertise without having to hire full-time staff so there is a big job market for\u00a0freelance consultants.<\/p>\n

Price on value, not hours \u2013 if your advice saves a client \u00a3200k, charging \u00a3150 an hour undersells what you\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Jo is older than Jon and so although rules say you cannot draw out of a private pension before the age of 55, they draw \u00a340,000 annually from her plan \u2013 plus they are taking money from their ISAs, of which they have \u00a3150,000 saved each, whilst Jon has income from renting out his annex.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cJo started her pension at 19 when working for her parents\u2019 business, I started around 25 when I first started a \u2018proper job\u2019 after university. We generally put in the typical matched company contributions of 3 per cent plus the occasional additional contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Very early on, Jon took an option to opt out of SERPs \u2013 the state earnings related pension scheme (also known as the additional state pension) \u2013 and had the contributions paid into his private pension.<\/p>\n

SERPs was replaced by the state second pension, which ran until 2016. <\/p>\n

Jon said: \u201cI did this on the basis that I thought I\u2019d be better at managing my own money and investments than leaving it to the government.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever my wife and I changed jobs, we typically closed our old company schemes and transferred them into our personal pensions so we always had good visibility of their progress. Mid-career, I was also a pension trustee for a defined benefit scheme, and I learned a lot about general investing and returns.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple prioritised paying off their mortgage and achieved this when Jon was 48.<\/p>\n

They took in a lodger in their spare room to help pay off their mortgage quicker but also allowed them to qualify for additional allowance under the \u2018Rent a Room scheme\u2019, which lets you earn up to \u00a37,500 per year tax-free.<\/p>\n

They rented it out for \u00a3350 a month and also now currently rent out their annex to a family member for \u00a3650 per month. <\/p>\n

Jon said: \u201cOther ways we saved was not wasting money. Second-hand cars, and not falling for the latest technology or branded fashions. Whilst I\u2019d say we were relatively frugal in many ways, we were not extreme savers and did still enjoy ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple enjoy travelling and have five to six holidays a year. They are aiming to do the \u201cbig travel\u201d holidays while they are still younger.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our first trips was to visit my brother\u2019s family in Australia, via Bali. Where our typical holidays used to be two weeks in the sun in Europe, we have since done several trips to the Caribbean, the Maldives, South Africa and Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later this year, the couple have a Mediterranean cruise before visiting Australia and New Zealand over Christmas. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also able to fly business class, which is a true luxury on longer trips. Without the ties of work, we have also been able to support our local community and volunteer with a charitable trust as well as spending more time with friends and family,\u201d Jon said.<\/p>\n

Jon released a book on personal finance and how he was able to retire early. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve also started giving talks at my local school to help students understand money, and their long-term ideas about saving an investing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Everything feels at a more comfortable pace now\u2019<\/p>\n

Susan Black, 61, says she has been able to \u201cslow right down\u201d since retiring<\/a> at 59 \u2013 and calls it the best decision she has ever made.<\/p>\n

Susan, from Edinburgh, retired eight years before she will receive her state pension after working in financial services for over three decades years.<\/p>\n

Her savings are made up of a final salary pension \u2013 which she transferred into a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) in 2017 \u2013 and a defined-contribution (DC) workplace pension.<\/p>\n

There are highly considerable risks in transferring a final salary pension \u2013 which guarantees an income for life in retirement \u2013 as it can drop in value, and you take on investment risk, so it is important to seek financial advice before making any decisions.<\/p>\n

\"SusanSusan Black with her dog at Arthur\u2019s Seat in Edinburgh <\/p>\n

And if you want to move one into a DC pension or Sipp \u2013 an invested pot of money earmarked for retirement \u2013 if it\u2019s over \u00a330,000, by law, you must seek out a regulated financial adviser.<\/p>\n

Susan said: \u201cBefore I transferred my final salary pension, I never even thought about my pension. However, when I joined my DC scheme, the employer matched contributions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey matched half a per cent for every per cent you put in so I was putting in the maximum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Susan\u2019s original plan was to retire at 55 but then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and she decided to continue working through lockdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that point my expenditure went right down so I was putting in 30 per cent of my salary into my pension,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Susan retired at 59 and now draws down the same amount of money she was taking home when working \u2013 amounting to \u00a32,500 a month \u2013 which covers her son\u2019s rent at university, paying for her dogs as well as holidays and weekends away.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI see people sometimes say they need to take home \u00a38,000 a month in income in retirement and I think \u2013 what?!\u201d<\/p>\n

She said since retiring her stress levels have reduced drastically and she has been able to lose weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had time to go to the gym more, started cooking properly and not eat the kind of rubbish you grab when you\u2019re in a hurry,\u201d Susan said.<\/p>\n

She said when she was working, she would do everything at \u201ca million miles an hour\u201d but now \u201ceverything feels at a more comfortable pace\u201d.<\/p>\n

Susan says her monthly income allows her to go to the theatre once a month, go to gigs and go for weekends away in her van.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t own a fancy car, don\u2019t eat out an awful lot, I don\u2019t go to the pub a lot, but I feel that I live a fairly good life,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Retiring has also allowed Susan to work within her local community.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI\u2019ve just started volunteering on a canal boat in Edinburgh which mainly run trips for charities to give people a couple of hours out on the canal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Susan is also a carer for her elderly mum and she has joined a charity supporting carers that puts on workshops.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been to art classes and done felting. I\u2019ve been on courses to learn about dementia to learn how to deal with my mum\u2019s illness,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jon Ellis, 54, retired at the age of 52 alongside his wife Jo after having a \u201ceureka moment\u201d,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":734326,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[84,2169,4176,4178,4174,4175,4204,3668,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-734325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-personal-finance","tag-business","tag-edinburgh","tag-finance","tag-pensions","tag-personal-finance","tag-personalfinance","tag-retirement","tag-savings","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=734325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/734326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=734325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=734325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=734325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}