In 2019, I retired from teaching at 60, not because I was ready to, but because, well, apparently, I had become “too expensive” to employ. Yep, that was a wake-up call. I could’ve stayed and fought, but honestly, I knew life would be unbearable, so I packed up my lesson plans and walked out the door. My teacher’s pension kicked in, but it was hardly enough to cover everything. So, I found myself back in the classroom as a supply teacher, earning less than half of what I used to. Some days, no work at all. No sick pay, no holiday pay, just me waiting every morning by the phone like a teenager hoping for a date.

With the steady income gone, I tightened my financial belt so much I’m surprised it didn’t snap. Holidays? Rare. Eating out? Even rarer. And as for helping my adult children with a house deposit, well, that dream was about as likely as winning the lottery. I wanted to update the house, but there wasn’t a penny to spare. And during lockdown, when there was no work at all? Let’s just say bill paying became an Olympic sport in “How long can I juggle?”

Supply teaching was tough, draining, and honestly, left me feeling like I’d been shoved onto the scrapheap. How could this be it? After decades of working hard, this was supposed to be my time, not a daily grind of financial stress and waiting for calls that didn’t often come. I knew there had to be something better out there.

One day, I was doing what most of us do when we’re avoiding reality—scrolling through YouTube—when I stumbled across a video of this lady named Helen. She was older than me, though noticeably fitter (probably from all those freedom-filled hikes I hadn’t been on). She was talking about her online retirement business and how she’d managed to create a pretty decent income from it. And not just pocket change—enough to travel wherever and whenever she wanted, pay her bills without breaking a sweat, and feel totally secure in her retirement. And here’s the kicker—she didn’t have a background in business, just a willingness to give it a go.

I was intrigued. She talked about how this business model had provided her with education and mentorship that changed her life. So, I signed up for a series of free videos. What did I have to lose? I watched them all, and I was seriously impressed. Stuart, the guy in the videos, didn’t sugarcoat anything. He was upfront: this wasn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, and it wasn’t for everyone. But if you were serious about building something real, he and his team would be there to support you every step of the way.

I wasn’t sure if I could do it—I mean, learning something completely new in my 60s? But I figured if Helen could do it, why not me? So, I signed up with Launch You as an affiliate ambassador, and I can honestly say, it was the best decision I ever made.

From day one, I felt supported. The mentorship and training were incredible, and I learned skills I never thought I would at this stage of my life. Now, instead of dreading each day, I wake up excited. I’ve built something I’m proud of, and I’m almost financially secure in my retirement. Best of all, I’m finally living life on my terms. It’s my time at last!