Enjoying Retirement

[12TS]

Not done much recently, but thinking about travelling around by train. So I bought this book, which has loads of useful information in it.

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Europe-b...

[scot_aln]

98elise said:

GT3Manthey said:

Phil. said:

The theme has certainly moved to ‘’preparing for retirement’’ plus worrying about the state of the economy, from enjoying retirement.

You have a point Phil .

Time to get it back on track

Agreed...

It's a weekday, the sun is shining and I'm sitting in my garden instead of an office. I'm going on my second holiday this year on Saturday.

I'm definitely enjoying retirement

It's more often us working and dreaming that are posting surely. Those that are truly enjoying are far from staring at the screen. There are clearly notable exceptions amongst all these pages helping remind of the benefits.

[loafer123]

Somebody said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Does it have to be by rail?

Yes, preferably by rail. Would like to experience overnight sleepers getting from A to B, or C to D.....

Not sure that Interrail covers sleepers?

Great idea though - I have been discussing it with Mrs Loafer...and they do a 1st class version!

[GT3Manthey]

Somebody said:

Has anyone done inter-railing across Europe? Would like to do this for a month or two with the Mrs and would love to hear of tips/experiences.

Liking this idea very much.

Currently hooked on the Michael Portillo series travelling the UK and other programs involving Brunells railways .

I’d like to travel the uk coast to coast using trains only

[Jaguar steve]

Dermot O'Logical said:

We need to change the thread title.

Nobody seems to be "Enjoying Retirement".

I bloody am.



Happy midweek afternoon everyone.

[outnumbered]

Enjoying retirement here this week: Out cycling for 2-3 hours on Monday and again this morning, now watching the Giro d'Italia on TV.

This week I also made my first ever contribution to an open source software project - the aim of which is keeping historic computer software working in a modern environment. I last wrote code for a living in 1998, so it's been fun to get back into the swing of doing that, it's a pleasant intellectual exercise as well as doing something that I feel is vaguely useful.

[REM2112]

I had been thinking about retiring, then got fired last summer (don't worry nothing dodgy) which helped me with timing. I am a keen runner and am enjoying going out when I like, rather than setting the alarm clock for pre work, or cramming it into lunchtime, or after when work when tired already. I am also a keen gardener, and am enjoying pottering around doing a couple of hours a day, rather than ploughing through a list of tasks, Saturday and Sunday. I've had time to get my 23 year old TVR fully sorted. And so on... In short I now have the time to enjoy doing things I like rather than trying to fit them round work. I have also bought a German Shepherd puppy to ensure I don't run out of things to do.

Don't miss commuting, endless meetings with self-important @@@@s, business travel or any of the nonsense that passes for work in offices.

I am sleeping better, eating better and levels of stress are close to zero. Yes, enjoying!

[Dermot O'Logical]

Jaguar steve said:

Dermot O'Logical said:

We need to change the thread title.

Nobody seems to be "Enjoying Retirement".

I bloody am.



Happy midweek afternoon everyone.

That's more like it!

Well played!

I'm enjoying the freedom, the lack of responsibility, and not being micro-managed by self-serving aholes. I love being retired!

[Somebody]

Dermot O'Logical said:

I'm enjoying the freedom, the lack of responsibility, and not being micro-managed by self-serving aholes. I love being retired!

Agree. Leave those deluded "Captains of Industry" to get on with it.....

[Jaguar steve]

Somebody said:

Agree. Leave those deluded "Captains of Industry" to get on with it.....

Yeah, but don't knock 'em though.

It's them and their minions grafting away who are keeping the markets up, the dividends rolling in and your pension fund in rude health.

[Drumroll]

Steve H said:

Drumroll, may I ask, had you already taken your 25% tax free amount or does the 1450 Pm take that into account?

I take the maximum I am allowed on my tax allowance and then added to that is the 25% tax-free.

[Steve H]

Drumroll said:

Steve H said:

Drumroll, may I ask, had you already taken your 25% tax free amount or does the 1450 Pm take that into account?

I take the maximum I am allowed on my tax allowance and then added to that is the 25% tax-free.

That's my plan as well, I have savings/investments to top the rest up and so hopefully no tax to pay!!!

[GT3Manthey]

Steve H said:

That's my plan as well, I have savings/investments to top the rest up and so hopefully no tax to pay!!!

Do we think given the state of the countries finances we are likely to see changes to tax on pensions ?

Just thinking 55 next year and be just my luck things might scupper my plans !

[mfmman]

GT3Manthey said:

Do we think given the state of the countries finances we are likely to see changes to tax on pensions ?

Just thinking 55 next year and be just my luck things might scupper my plans !

I'd say no on that one as the change to 58 has already been made a few years away. I can see contribution tax rebates changing though, so have upped my AVCs this year whilst it's still available at higher rate

[Steve H]

GT3Manthey said:

Steve H said:

That's my plan as well, I have savings/investments to top the rest up and so hopefully no tax to pay!!!

Do we think given the state of the countries finances we are likely to see changes to tax on pensions ?

Just thinking 55 next year and be just my luck things might scupper my plans !

Anything is possible at the moment!!

[Steve H]

mfmman said:

GT3Manthey said:

Do we think given the state of the countries finances we are likely to see changes to tax on pensions ?

Just thinking 55 next year and be just my luck things might scupper my plans !

I'd say no on that one as the change to 58 has already been made a few years away. I can see contribution tax rebates changing though, so have upped my AVCs this year whilst it's still available at higher rate

Me too, its 40% free money for me so its a no brainer!!

[Jaguar steve]

Steve H said:

Anything is possible at the moment!!

Indeedy.

Pensioners are a bedrock of Tory support though, and in the current economic and social climate the Grubberment is going to be very reluctant indeed to risk compromising a single vote of that by making them worse off.

[DT1975]

Somebody said:

Yes, preferably by rail. Would like to experience overnight sleepers getting from A to B, or C to D.....

Have you see the guys on youtube who do that ? I saw a trip from one side of the US to the other the other night, about three days by train but the views were exceptional, facilities and food weren't that bad either.

[James6112]

Jaguar steve said:

Somebody said:

Agree. Leave those deluded "Captains of Industry" to get on with it.....

Yeah, but don't knock 'em though.

It's them and their minions grafting away who are keeping the markets up, the dividends rolling in and your pension fund in rude health.

Lol

[dmahon]

James6112 said:

The way inflation is going, the drawdown pots will have to perform pretty well to keep up!
Could go either way, it’s a gamble after all.
Eg a half million pot in lieu of a db sounds a lot now. But I plan on living another 30 years. The gas bill will cost that in 2050

I felt I was in fairly good shape, but after a 10%+ fall in the portfolio and 10% inflation you soon start worrying.

I’m less nervy than I was with investments, but it’s not comfortable thinking your stash has to hold out for decades.