Enjoying Retirement

[mart 63]

Phil. said:

mart 63 said:

Just got back from playing snooker. Parma ham and watermelon for lunch, by the pool. A nice breeze and a clear blue sky, 30c

I’ll be just down the road from you in 3 weeks time enjoying the pool and sunshine, as well as some hiking and biking

enjoy

[Shnozz]

mart 63 said:

Shnozz said:

Armitage.Shanks said:

Phil. said:

mart 63 said:

Just got back from playing snooker. Parma ham and watermelon for lunch, by the pool. A nice breeze and a clear blue sky, 30c

I’ll be just down the road from you in 3 weeks time enjoying the pool and sunshine, as well as some hiking and biking

I'm there next week for 3 weeks seeking out the cheap Rioja.

I'm just down the road now, albeit not retired so spent the day in the office but come 5pm I will be out in that sun.

Dont forget bbq tomorrow mate.

Looking forward to it.

Retirement means mart can spend his days playing petanca and snooker and having a drink. Whilst I sit in my office all day and stuck on coffee whilst looking up longingly at his roof terrace (thankfully just out of earshot of his retirement guitar learning).

[mart 63]

Shnozz said:

mart 63 said:

Shnozz said:

Armitage.Shanks said:

Phil. said:

mart 63 said:

Just got back from playing snooker. Parma ham and watermelon for lunch, by the pool. A nice breeze and a clear blue sky, 30c

I’ll be just down the road from you in 3 weeks time enjoying the pool and sunshine, as well as some hiking and biking

I'm there next week for 3 weeks seeking out the cheap Rioja.

I'm just down the road now, albeit not retired so spent the day in the office but come 5pm I will be out in that sun.

Dont forget bbq tomorrow mate.

Looking forward to it.

Retirement means mart can spend his days playing petanca and snooker and having a drink. Whilst I sit in my office all day and stuck on coffee whilst looking up longingly at his roof terrace (thankfully just out of earshot of his retirement guitar learning).

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Shnozz said:

Looking forward to it.

Retirement means mart can spend his days playing petanca and snooker and having a drink. Whilst I sit in my office all day and stuck on coffee whilst looking up longingly at his roof terrace (thankfully just out of earshot of his retirement guitar learning).

Still winning though - it was my company deciding they wanted everyone back in the UK - even if working from home - that made my retirement decision.

The working at home abroad has been a good glide path into it, but that Monday morning feeling of no emails to check is wonderful

[selmahoos]

Don't know if this is accurate or not but it could be of interest to those thinking of Spanish retirement.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-spain-202...

[GT3Manthey]

ARHarh said:

Could not think of a worse way to pass my time, trapped on a boat with 1000's of other people being forced to socialise.

We’ve done a couple of cruises round the Caribbean with the kids and it’s not really like that .

Yes there is the captains evening but you can choose to not go.


The advantage is that you try different beaches etc but I take your point on lots of people all afloat at the same time.

I do feel I’ve ticket that box now so unlike to again .
It worked at the time

[Shnozz]

selmahoos said:

Don't know if this is accurate or not but it could be of interest to those thinking of Spanish retirement.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-spain-202...

It is and it isn’t. Starts with some accurate factual information and then bizarrely extrapolates it over the remainder of someone’s lifetime, rather than the 5 years (1+2+2) until one qualifies for full residency.

[Shnozz]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

Still winning though - it was my company deciding they wanted everyone back in the UK - even if working from home - that made my retirement decision.

The working at home abroad has been a good glide path into it, but that Monday morning feeling of no emails to check is wonderful

Yes, the Sunday night fear still sits with me, but softened by Sunday night reasonably priced vino on the terrace.

Envious of those retired but can see myself always wanting to do something, but certainly not what I have done for my primary career.

[GT3Manthey]

Shnozz said:

Yes, the Sunday night fear still sits with me, but softened by Sunday night reasonably priced vino on the terrace.

Envious of those retired but can see myself always wanting to do something, but certainly not what I have done for my primary career.

I feel your pain .

How long have you been in your current role?

There are post retirement opportunities out there in abundance I recon especially on a part time basis.

Change as good as a rest and all that

[Jaguar steve]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Tomanybikes said:

ARHarh said:

Jaguar steve said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

DT1975 said:

We're off on a cruise this Friday around the Med so got the Tux dry cleaned for the formal nights.

Horses for courses, but I wouldn't dream of going on any holiday where I had to pack a tie, let alone a tux.

Horses for courses indeed - and nope, me neither.

The thought of a floating Petri dish rammed with thousands of people being entertained non stop sounds like holiday hell not heaven to me. I'll be sticking with quiet off the beaten track holiday destinations where both weather and formality requires nothing more than shorts, T shirts and lots and lots of factor 30 all day.

Could not think of a worse way to pass my time, trapped on a boat with 1000's of other people being forced to socialise.

Could not think of anything worse, not even work.

You've gone too far now!

Yeah - steady on.

I'd rather repeatedly batter my 'nads with a rusty lump hammer than go back to work...

[DT1975]

GT3Manthey said:

We’ve done a couple of cruises round the Caribbean with the kids and it’s not really like that .

Yes there is the captains evening but you can choose to not go.


The advantage is that you try different beaches etc but I take your point on lots of people all afloat at the same time.

I do feel I’ve ticket that box now so unlike to again .
It worked at the time

I actually wrote out a lengthy reply as to how misguided his comment was then thought again as this is a cordial happy thread, not one for dissing folks holiday choices in retirement.

I think we have to blame Jane McDonald (or that small Scottish girl ) for some of the stereotypical replies from folk and you can't blame them. We've done the big ships in the past and had a great time but now its small, intimate cruises if any. We like our history and no better way than to slip into Naples early morning for example and have a day exploring. Yes we're 'forced to socialise' if sharing a table with friends for example but that's the only thing we've ever been forced to do. Our tests today were negative so into the petri dish we go ;-)

[eyebeebe]

Shnozz said:

selmahoos said:

Don't know if this is accurate or not but it could be of interest to those thinking of Spanish retirement.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-spain-202...

It is and it isn’t. Starts with some accurate factual information and then bizarrely extrapolates it over the remainder of someone’s lifetime, rather than the 5 years (1+2+2) until one qualifies for full residency.

I did have smile about the comment regarding being able to take your state pension to Switzerland. I’m sure it’s true from the U.K. side, but there’s no way the Swiss will take you if that is the only income you have, as you won’t be able to survive on it, unless you are coming with a hefty (multiples of what the article says for Spain) lump sum. Switzerland is where you go to make your money in a low income tax/no capital gains environment, so you can retire to Spain I note that the CHF broke parity with the EUR today and is the strongest it’s every been against GBP.

[Jaguar steve]

DT1975 said:

...how misguided his comment was...

Who - me?

Not knocking it at all Chap. There must be many millions who enjoy cruising and nobody would investing $ Billions in building cruise ships if there weren't.

It's definitely not for me though as I much prefer the freedom of doing our own thing on villa or sailing or road trip holidays with family and friends rather than mixing with loads of strangers on an itinerary but it's each to their own of course.

[DT1975]

Jaguar steve said:

Who - me?

Not knocking it at all Chap. There must be many millions who enjoy cruising and nobody would investing $ Billions in building cruise ships if there weren't.

It's definitely not for me though as I much prefer the freedom of doing our own thing on villa or sailing or road trip holidays with family and friends rather than mixing with loads of strangers on an itinerary but it's each to their own of course.

No not you. As we agree its totally marmite. All I'm offering up is that away from the Behemoth ships there's a decent smaller alternative if you want a cruise. We loved villa holidays but now the kids have flown the nest no so much, perhaps when the grand kids come along. We're also both into sailing, so September is a lovely remote resort in Antigua with some excellent sailing facilities included. We've owned boats in the past and a yacht was firmly on my buy list as we live in Dorset, however we've decided we'd rather fly to the Caribbean and sail, something we've done for a few years now.

[Armitage.Shanks]

eyebeebe said:

Shnozz said:

Don't know if this is accurate or not but it could be of interest to those thinking of Spanish retirement.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-spain-202...

It is and it isn’t. Starts with some accurate factual information and then bizarrely extrapolates it over the remainder of someone’s lifetime, rather than the 5 years (1+2+2) until one qualifies for full residency.

Brexit. The gift that keeps on taking So it appears the annual 'fees' can add up if you want to stay long term so I wonder how those 'Bargain Loving Brits' go on in those caravan parks in Benidorm? Not that retiring to a caravan overseas is what I'm looking for but equally I'm not looking to sink EUR500,000+ into a property for a golden visa either.

[Phil.]

Armitage.Shanks said:

Brexit. The gift that keeps on taking So it appears the annual 'fees' can add up if you want to stay long term so I wonder how those 'Bargain Loving Brits' go on in those caravan parks in Benidorm? Not that retiring to a caravan overseas is what I'm looking for but equally I'm not looking to sink EUR500,000+ into a property for a golden visa either.

Broadly, take up residency in Spain and pay fees for all their bureaucracy and experts to help you through it, and pay more tax forever. The Golden Visa can cost £50k in fees alone! Then add another 10% in purchasing/tax fees to buy your €500k property. Spending less than 6 months in Spain without a visa is the only way to avoid the extra taxes. Portugal is far more attractive financially for retirees.

[mart 63]

Phil. said:

Armitage.Shanks said:

Brexit. The gift that keeps on taking So it appears the annual 'fees' can add up if you want to stay long term so I wonder how those 'Bargain Loving Brits' go on in those caravan parks in Benidorm? Not that retiring to a caravan overseas is what I'm looking for but equally I'm not looking to sink EUR500,000+ into a property for a golden visa either.

Broadly, take up residency in Spain and pay fees for all their bureaucracy and experts to help you through it, and pay more tax forever. The Golden Visa can cost £50k in fees alone! Then add another 10% in purchasing/tax fees to buy your €500k property. Spending less than 6 months in Spain without a visa is the only way to avoid the extra taxes. Portugal is far more attractive financially for retirees.

You may pay more tax in Spain forever, but the day to day living is much better, with sun.

I'm looking at taking a load of dividends out to purchase another villa €60k- €300k 45% tax 5% more than the UK. Just waiting for the £ to go up. Accountant over here charges me €85 to do my tax return.

[eyebeebe]

Phil. said:

Broadly, take up residency in Spain and pay fees for all their bureaucracy and experts to help you through it, and pay more tax forever. The Golden Visa can cost £50k in fees alone! Then add another 10% in purchasing/tax fees to buy your €500k property. Spending less than 6 months in Spain without a visa is the only way to avoid the extra taxes. Portugal is far more attractive financially for retirees.

Where do you get 50k for a golden visa from? That seems disproportionately expensive.

There’s ways to mitigate the tax too if you plan properly before becoming resident.

[Phil.]

eyebeebe said:

Where do you get 50k for a golden visa from? That seems disproportionately expensive.

There’s ways to mitigate the tax too if you plan properly before becoming resident.

Apologies I think it’s nearer £10k for an expert to help get a golden visa.

I’d love to know how to circumvent the wealth tax. Any ideas or experts you can recommend?

[eyebeebe]

Phil. said:

Apologies I think it’s nearer £10k for an expert to help get a golden visa.

I’d love to know how to circumvent the wealth tax. Any ideas or experts you can recommend?

That seems more reasonable, but still a bit of a piss take given you’re going to be paying 50k plus in stamp duty. Do you need an expert to help though? Isn’t it just submitting a bunch of forms? Going down the non-lucrative route would also be an option, as would getting a Swiss passport first.

I was more thinking of minimising capital gains tax. Wealth tax is more tricky. Beyond maximising the primary residence allowance (2x350k in Valencian community from memory), I know that you can use offshore bonds, but they seem to cost more than they save and have limited funds to invest in. Through work I have access to a Spanish tax specialist, but haven’t pulled any favours yet to speak with them, as we’re still 8-10 years out from moving. It’s high on my agenda to have a chat sooner rather than later though.