‘I was burnt out’ – the joys and fears of economic inactivity

Readers reveal how they have spent their time since retiring - be it helping with childcare, renting property, gardening or worrying about the future

Barbara was 59 when she decided she'd had enough of working. The former chief executive of a multi-academy trust, now 63, had always wanted to retire early, but didn't think she could afford to.

I was quite burnt out and desperate to change my lifestyle. I worked 70 hours a week for years - it was just exhausting," she says. I was lucky to have a good pension, but also quickly realised that when you retire, you just don't need as much money. All the activities that I do - my walking group and book group - they don't cost anything."