Retirement on my terms: Mary's story

Mary was a civil servant for almost 30 years and while she loves her job, it’s clear she’s having the time of her life in retirement so far.

Mary tells us about her initial decision to leave work behind for good, but a chance-encounter with a colleague made her re-evaluate and opt for partial retirement instead. It’s given her the right work/life balance as she eases herself towards her post-work years.

Keeping one foot in the ‘work door’ meant she could continue doing what she loved, whilst having more time to do things she enjoys outside of work – such as travelling, spending time with her family and meeting new people.

Splitting her time between the UK and Turkey, she talks about the importance of having a good pension behind you to support the lifestyle you want after you leave work. She also shares advice for those approaching retirement or considering partial retirement.

Listen to the episode using the embedded player on this page or by searching 'Civil Service Pensions Podcast' wherever you get your podcasts.

• Full transcript for this episode
• Partial retirement
• Partial retirement calculator