Your retirement years are supposed to be some of the very best in your life – after all, you can do whatever you want and go wherever your heart desires whenever you want once you’ve left the world of work behind you.
But it’s important to come up with some kind of plan of what you want to do and what you want to achieve before you reach retirement age, so you can prepare accordingly and don’t find yourself suddenly feeling directionless and adrift.
So with that in mind, here are a few ideas to help you if you’re wondering what you’re going to do with all your newfound freedom.
Start a garden
Now’s the perfect time to cultivate an interest in gardening. It’s a great way to keep active and get lots of fresh air, while stimulating your mind with lots of new and interesting facts. Growing your own food can also help you reduce your carbon footprint and food waste, so it’s a win for both you and the environment.
Write your memoirs
Leave something for family members to read and enjoy for generations to come by writing the story of your life. You could even try to get it published if you’ve got an interesting story to tell. Or what about making use of your skills and experience to write a how-to book on a particular subject you’re passionate about? This could be a bestseller as well!
Volunteer
Is there a cause particularly close to your heart? Giving up your time to help charities and non-profit organisations will always be welcomed by groups such as these – and they can help increase your value and sense of self-worth as well.
Renovate
Mark the next new phase of your life by making some new changes at home. You could also take this opportunity to make accessible home adaptations to futureproof your house and ensure that you can stay living there independent for as long as you can.
A great way of funding home improvements is through retirement equity release. This kind of plan allows you to access some of the cash tied up in your property without you having to move house. The money is released tax-free and in order to be eligible, you have to be a homeowner over the age of 55, with your property worth at least £70,000.
The amount of funds you’re able to release will depend on your age and the value of your home. The older you are, the larger the percentage of the value of your property you’ll be able to take out. Some lenders also take into account your lifestyle and your health to increase the amount you can release.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with Retirement Solutions today.