At what age do you plan to retire?

[BlasterBates]

So who is under 50 and reckons they'll be able to retire soon?

Hands up

[milanbenes]

I was gonna reply but find such threads a little vulgar

who's retiring soonest etc

still it makes an interesting read for the nosey

Milan.

[boxman]

Been thinking about this more seriously now. I'm 42 now and my kids won't be through further education (unless I can persuade them to be plumbers) for about another 15 years.

Project managers seem to have no problem with being over 50 but most of the software developers I've worked with (this is what I do) have all been < 45 typically unless they've been permies. Well I'm not going back to permiedom so I'm working on my Prince2 exams now purely as a pragmatic option should the .NET stuff dry up anytime soon.

As usual with these things it always a good idea to have a plan even if you don't quite keep to it. I find it useful when Mrs Boxman starts asking...

Rob

[bobhope]

I like to monitor the number of years worth of living expenses in the bank. When it reaches > 50, then I'll think about retiring.

[Muttley08]

I've been contracting 3.5 years....problem I have is expectations keep going up...what I'd have been happy with before contracting has changed...

I think once I've moved to bigger house / land got that mortgage paid off, I'll aim for 6 months work in the winter and try for summer off. Timing all depends on house prices though

[milanbenes]

the key is lads, to have got into contracting in your mid twenties

3.5 years is fine, but, you need a real good run to really set yourself up

and I think these ideas of six months working six months doing nout are deluded as the technology will move on and if you don't have the skillz how you gonna get back in ?

Milan.

[Churchill]

the key is lads, to have got into contracting in your mid twenties

3.5 years is fine, but, you need a real good run to really set yourself up

and I think these ideas of six months working six months doing nout are deluded as the technology will move on and if you don't have the skillz how you gonna get back in ?

Milan.

<sniff><sniff><sniff>Oh I thought it was you, MB!

[oracleslave]

the key is lads, to have got into contracting in your mid twenties

3.5 years is fine, but, you need a real good run to really set yourself up

and I think these ideas of six months working six months doing nout are deluded as the technology will move on and if you don't have the skillz how you gonna get back in ?

Milan.

The technicalities involved in changing tapes may change dramatically in 6 months but those with lesser skills like Business Consulting, Project Management etc should have no problem returning in 6 months.

[Muttley08]

I'm guessing 6 months off / on is easier for PM work - and if you've got contacts built up.

It's all dependent on quality of living...I could stay in current 3 bed semi, save for another 3 years, and probably have a reasonable standard of living with good investments....

But...I now want a bigger house with plenty of land (ooarrr) to give me something to do with my time off.

Don't think I'd stay in this game outta choice if I didn't need the money though - far better things you could take your time on (if you can avoid the drag of Jeremy Kyle - or whatever he's called).

[milanbenes]

Churchill, you lost me, not difficult I know, but what the feck are you on about ?

OracleSlave, maybe true, but who wants to be a pm saddled with all the tulipe and trying to lead a band of people who don't want to do their tasks on a project whose scope is to large with a customer expecting too much and a budget for half of whatever is possible ?

Some people seem to 'thrive' on this kind of challenge, I say, get a life.

Milan.