I was on leave last week when I picked up a voice message from my boss. She was alerting me to the Voluntary Redundancy programme my company is offering and letting me know I’m eligible. There have been several of these downsizing efforts over the past few years, most of them voluntary but some (not many) people have been made redundant. This is the first one in the last few years that I’ve been qualified to apply for.

Previously I haven’t been interested in going anyway. But this time it’s different because I’m able to take up my company pensions. One of them is fully paid now that I’m over 60. The other isn’t, but is worth much less anyway. My working to age 65 won’t make a tremendous difference to that one.

Of course there is a downside. If I don’t draw them, both pensions will continue to grow: the smaller one if I keep working and the other increases each year that I don’t take it (and at a generous rate of 9% a year.) In addition, obviously, I’ll lose my monthly salary.

On the upside, I’ve calculated I can replace pretty much all of my salary with a combination of pension and investment returns, so I won’t be much worse off than I am now, working full-time. And if I’m careful and my investments work out well I could even beat my salary in future years.

Then there is the big plus of having my life to myself. That really is very tempting.

So the position right now is that I’ve applied for a “no strings attached” redundancy quotation. I’ve told my boss I probably won’t take it. But as the days go by I’m more enthusiastic about the prospect of freedom. I’ll get the figures tomorrow or Friday, I have to decide by next Tuesday at noon. If I accept, I’ll be gone by the end of the month. It’s all designed to rush through but if I’m going to go that will suit me fine.

In anticipation, I’ve asked for pension quotes, based on them starting in October.

So now I’m all ready, just awaiting the figures before I decide.