**How We Retired Almost a Decade Early—Without Waiting for the Pension**
When Donna and Frank Mountain decided to retire early , they knew it wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly. But with careful financial planning, modest day-to-day spending, and a surprising side gig, the couple from North Yorkshire have carved out a comfortable and fulfilling retirement – several years before the state pension age . Donna, now 58, stopped working at 55. Her husband Frank, 60, retired at 57 so they could start their next chapter together. Speaking to The i Paper, Donna said: “We were fortunate to be able to afford early retirement due to my husband’s Ministry of Defence pension, along with our local authority pensions and savings . We wanted to stop working and enjoy ourselves.” The couple, who have two daughters and three grandchildren, both worked in the public sector. Frank served over 22 years in the RAF before becoming a sit manager at a special needs school, where Donna worked as a secretary and later a teaching assistant. Thanks t...