Enjoying Retirement
Discussion
m_cozzy said:
My last day was today! 52 and a half, so government meddling aside, I'll be able to access my private pension in a few years.
Savings and isa will easily tide me over till then.
My day to day outgoings are pretty low so I'm confident my calculations are correct, but I'll happily take a flexible day a week or so doing something, if I decide I need to.
The recent pension changes would have helped as this was the last year I could max my contributions utilizing the previous 3 years old unused, about 58k /year. Regardless it wouldn't have made a difference to my retirement plans.
Congratulations on your new-found freedom. I wish you all the best for a long and thoroughly enjoyable retirement. I'm about nine months in now and have never been busier with activities which I enjoy rather than those I was obligated to perform.Savings and isa will easily tide me over till then.
My day to day outgoings are pretty low so I'm confident my calculations are correct, but I'll happily take a flexible day a week or so doing something, if I decide I need to.
The recent pension changes would have helped as this was the last year I could max my contributions utilizing the previous 3 years old unused, about 58k /year. Regardless it wouldn't have made a difference to my retirement plans.
9xxNick said:
m_cozzy said:
My last day was today! 52 and a half, so government meddling aside, I'll be able to access my private pension in a few years.
Savings and isa will easily tide me over till then.
My day to day outgoings are pretty low so I'm confident my calculations are correct, but I'll happily take a flexible day a week or so doing something, if I decide I need to.
The recent pension changes would have helped as this was the last year I could max my contributions utilizing the previous 3 years old unused, about 58k /year. Regardless it wouldn't have made a difference to my retirement plans.
Congratulations on your new-found freedom. I wish you all the best for a long and thoroughly enjoyable retirement. I'm about nine months in now and have never been busier with activities which I enjoy rather than those I was obligated to perform.Savings and isa will easily tide me over till then.
My day to day outgoings are pretty low so I'm confident my calculations are correct, but I'll happily take a flexible day a week or so doing something, if I decide I need to.
The recent pension changes would have helped as this was the last year I could max my contributions utilizing the previous 3 years old unused, about 58k /year. Regardless it wouldn't have made a difference to my retirement plans.
I am dreaming of 21c, it did get up to 14c here yesterday but fallen back a bit. Currently around 6c and a little misty.
Today I have some plumbing to get on with. Having lifted the floor in the kitchen it turns out that water and heating pipes run underneath it. Normally not an issue but they run over the top of the original flagstone floor. So the kitchen is now currently one big trip hazard!
I need to move the pipes as we want to go back to the original floor level so that the floor is at the same height as the dining room and we can get rid of an annoying step.
Lots of YouTube last night and today I feel ready to give it a go. Have done quite a bit of diy water plumbing but never really tackled anything connected to the heating system…… but how hard can it be?
Today I have some plumbing to get on with. Having lifted the floor in the kitchen it turns out that water and heating pipes run underneath it. Normally not an issue but they run over the top of the original flagstone floor. So the kitchen is now currently one big trip hazard!
I need to move the pipes as we want to go back to the original floor level so that the floor is at the same height as the dining room and we can get rid of an annoying step.
Lots of YouTube last night and today I feel ready to give it a go. Have done quite a bit of diy water plumbing but never really tackled anything connected to the heating system…… but how hard can it be?
RichB said:
PositronicRay said:
skeeterm5 said:
Lots of YouTube last night and today I feel ready to give it a go. Have done quite a bit of diy water plumbing but never really tackled anything connected to the heating system…… but how hard can it be?
My tipNever do critical jobs at weekends.
skeeterm5 said:
RichB said:
PositronicRay said:
skeeterm5 said:
Lots of YouTube last night and today I feel ready to give it a go. Have done quite a bit of diy water plumbing but never really tackled anything connected to the heating system…… but how hard can it be?
My tipNever do critical jobs at weekends.
My tip: Don't do anything to do with the heating if it's still cold outside. 
Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
OldSkoolRS said:
My tip: Don't do anything to do with the heating if it's still cold outside.
Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
The risk in waiting for it to warm up means the job might be months away Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
We have log burners in the downstairs rooms and a couple of electric heaters upstairs if we need them,
And in my mind, once I have the right bits it will only take a couple of hours (famous last words).
skeeterm5 said:
OldSkoolRS said:
My tip: Don't do anything to do with the heating if it's still cold outside.
Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
The risk in waiting for it to warm up means the job might be months away Horrible wet day here today, so looking at cars will be a waste of time. This is where my music room comes in handy; might get out my keyboard and see if I can still play that as we might do some piano based songs in another band I'm hoping will get off the ground at some point.
We have log burners in the downstairs rooms and a couple of electric heaters upstairs if we need them,
And in my mind, once I have the right bits it will only take a couple of hours (famous last words).
skeeterm5 said:
RichB said:
PositronicRay said:
skeeterm5 said:
Lots of YouTube last night and today I feel ready to give it a go. Have done quite a bit of diy water plumbing but never really tackled anything connected to the heating system…… but how hard can it be?
My tipNever do critical jobs at weekends.
That's good if you've got a log burner and electrical back up...we have neither, so I tend to leave replacing/moving radiators/flushing/replenishing Fernox until the spring/summer months. I've been caught out in the past on a Sunday afternoon in winter, then left myself with no heating and a cold house. 
Sat here willing the 5 year bond rates to go up today before I commit, but I don't think it's working.
Slightly suffering from analysis paralysis having poured over my plan for months while we waited to get Probate, but I think I just need to stick to it...then not look at the rates once I've fixed.
Sat here willing the 5 year bond rates to go up today before I commit, but I don't think it's working.
Slightly suffering from analysis paralysis having poured over my plan for months while we waited to get Probate, but I think I just need to stick to it...then not look at the rates once I've fixed. 
Have to say my DIY abilities are woeful but maybe with some time I can do the regular odd jobs and painting and leave the very technical stuff to someone else.
Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
GT3Manthey said:
Have to say my DIY abilities are woeful but maybe with some time I can do the regular odd jobs and painting and leave the very technical stuff to someone else.
.
Since retiring I have become quite adept at all sorts of stuff that I have never tried before. I think the secret is having the time to do the job, I don’t need to rush and if I don’t finish today it generally only matters to the two of us..
It is amazing how much is available on you tube and google and I have found that local trades people that we have used are always willing to offer advice if you ask them.
Props to the wife though, she will also have a go at most things and doesn’t mind living with rooms looking like building sites.
skeeterm5 said:
GT3Manthey said:
Have to say my DIY abilities are woeful but maybe with some time I can do the regular odd jobs and painting and leave the very technical stuff to someone else.
.
Since retiring I have become quite adept at all sorts of stuff that I have never tried before. I think the secret is having the time to do the job, I don’t need to rush and if I don’t finish today it generally only matters to the two of us..
It is amazing how much is available on you tube and google and I have found that local trades people that we have used are always willing to offer advice if you ask them.
Props to the wife though, she will also have a go at most things and doesn’t mind living with rooms looking like building sites.
GT3Manthey said:
Have to say my DIY abilities are woeful but maybe with some time I can do the regular odd jobs and painting and leave the very technical stuff to someone else.
Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
Sorry to hear the EA didn't give you the news you hoped for. Maybe it'll balance out though as you say when viewing your next place.Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
I've always been handy, which I think is due to the Navy training as they gave us a wide general engineering training and it gave me the confidence to have a go at most things. While I've never been a high flyer in wages terms (at least by PH standards) I have saved a fortune over the years doing DIY and car maintenance.
My concern now is that I'll get to the stage where I can't DIY anymore, so I do appreciate that it's a worry having to get jobs done by trades and pay the higher cost. I've tried to get on top of as much as I can though, which this last 10+ months has helped me achieve. Not only that, I'm only 57 so I hope I've got plenty of years left that I'll be capable of wielding a spanner, or at least paintbrush.
GT3Manthey said:
Have to say my DIY abilities are woeful but maybe with some time I can do the regular odd jobs and painting and leave the very technical stuff to someone else.
Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
This from today's DM may not be good news for you, GT!Anyway, had the EA come back to us y’day and didn’t give us the golden number we were after so we’re getting another agent over for a second opinion.
Very likely we have run away with what we think our place is worth and if that’s the case we’ll either lower our expectations on what we buy or go in hard when we view.
Is what it is as they say….
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/...
The Leaper said:
This from today's DM may not be good news for you, GT!
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/...
Yes spotted that Leaper . https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/...
All in the timing eh !
PositronicRay said:
Instead of posting on PH, shouldn't you be cracking on?
Yes indeed.First part of the job done. Old radiator pipes that didn’t go anywhere successfully cut off and capped. Heating back on and all seems well.
I used a freeze kit for the first time, the water mark you can see is because the first pipe didn’t freeze, I don’t think I used enough stuff. The second pipe was frozen nicely.
Tomorrow I have two more pipes, a hot and cold feed to a sink to deal with but feeling confident with that.
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