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After 35 years as a high school teacher, she jumped at the chance to leave work behind.
But now, three years into retirement, Patricia wishes she had planned more carefully.
Heres why sheregrets her quick decision to retire.
Money Worries
Patricia didnt save as much as she thought she needed.
Her pension and savings dont cover all of her expenses, as she hoped they would.
Now she worries about running out of money before shes ready.
I really thought I was ready, Patricia shared.
But I didnt account for inflation or those dreaded unexpected expenses everyone warns you about.
I dont want to penny pinch in my golden years and now Im worrying that I might.
But soon, Patricia found herself withtoo much free time.
Yes, its a thing!
Dont get me wrong.
I dont miss thegrading papers part, Patricia said.
But I do miss the energy of the classroom.
The old saying is true: Kids keep you young!
She sees her old friends and coworkers less often now.
Making new friends in retirement has been harder than she expected.
I used to chat with colleagues every day, Patricia said.
Now, a whole week can go by without talking to anyone but a Trader Joes cashier.
Health Insurance Costs More
Patricia was surprised by howexpensive health insuranceis when youre not working.
She didnt factor these higher costs into her retirement budget.
Now a big chunk of her monthly income goes to insurance.
The sticker shock was real, Patricia said.
Im paying nearly double what I did when I was working.
Nobody warned me about this.
Now shes worried her skills are calcifying as the world moves on without her.
Education is always evolving, Patricia said.
Thats whats so exciting and sometimes frustrating about it.
Now, I feel like Im stuck in 2020 while the world moves on.
Missing Out on Peak Earning Years
By retiring early, Patricia gave up her highest-earning years.
She now sees that working a few more years could have boosted her retirement savings by quite a bit.
If I could go back, Id tell myself to stick it out a bit longer, Patricia said.
Those last few years could have made a big difference in my overall comfort.
Unfortunately, employers seem less than willing to hire an older person to be around active young kids.
I guess I thought Id be a hot commodity, Patricia said.
But that hasnt been the case.
No Clear Plan for the Future
Without the structure of work, Patricia feels lost.
She didnt have clear goals for retirement beyond relax and travel.
I jumped into retirement without a real plan, Patricia said.
Now Im trying to figure out what I want this chapter of my life to look like.
Its harder than I thought it would be.
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