Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

General chat topics, anything and everything you want or need to discuss
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23301
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5434 times
Been thanked: 13025 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by weeksy »

It's interesting to see how much people think they're going to need when they retire each month.

Without a mortgage etc i don't see my outgoings being THAT huge... i'm a simple boy really and an odd beer here at lunch or a bit of cake and coffee when out cycling, shouldn't be too much of a stretch on the budget.
I don't know yet whether i'll be burning through tanks of fuel on a motorbike, that remains to be seen. But as you'd expect i'll have a bicycle in there for sure.

I'm still struggling with what i'll actually be doing day to day though. If i have my way, it won't be in the UK though, it'll be in Burgundy... but i don't know how plausible that is at the moment.
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13870
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2545 times
Been thanked: 6201 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

When i look at what we spend, "discretionary" items are actually quite a way down the list! Mortgage, school, food, utilities, various insurances and the like.....they're easily rhe majority of my spending.

Obviously knock the first two off (hopefully!) but still....
the_priest wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:25 am add the latest solar system to the house
Perks of the chosen career I suppose. Just be sure to have a rest after.
Last edited by Mr. Dazzle on Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11743
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6345 times
Been thanked: 4729 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Count Steer »

weeksy wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:31 am I'm still struggling with what i'll actually be doing day to day though. If i have my way, it won't be in the UK though, it'll be in Burgundy... but i don't know how plausible that is at the moment.
Until you can imagine what you'll do (and you've a few years left to think about it) I'd say a) don't retire and b) then retire here first for a while before going to Burgundy - if you can't occupy yourself happily here, in France, unless you buy and restore a ruin, you'll be twiddling your thumbs - in French :D

When the time comes it's also worth seeing if you can taper by going, say, 3 days/week and see how it goes.

PS You could train as a bicycle mechanic, there's a few locally doing it from home and you've probably got as much experience as some of them. :thumbup:
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23301
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5434 times
Been thanked: 13025 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by weeksy »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:50 am PS You could train as a bicycle mechanic, there's a few locally doing it from home and you've probably got as much experience as some of them. :thumbup:
Indeedy, although i'm not sure i'd bother 'training' as such, but yeah, doing mechanic stuff to pass some time would actually be quite nice in some ways. The only downside to that being i'd be quite selective on what i spanner on :) £200 shitters ain't coming into my garage that's for sure :D
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11743
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6345 times
Been thanked: 4729 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Count Steer »

weeksy wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:53 am
Count Steer wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:50 am PS You could train as a bicycle mechanic, there's a few locally doing it from home and you've probably got as much experience as some of them. :thumbup:
Indeedy, although i'm not sure i'd bother 'training' as such, but yeah, doing mechanic stuff to pass some time would actually be quite nice in some ways. The only downside to that being i'd be quite selective on what i spanner on :) £200 shitters ain't coming into my garage that's for sure :D
Yeah, some of the earlier technical courses look a bit noddy but I like doing courses. :D

The Cytech Tech 3 and e-Tech courses look useful and they run them in Oxford (Tech 3 includes wheel building).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
Mr. Dazzle
Posts: 13870
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:57 pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Has thanked: 2545 times
Been thanked: 6201 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

Just to make it really boring like..you'd probably need the quals to help with getting insurance? You'd need insurance to cover a) people's stuff getting nicked while it's in your care and b) people getting hurt as an alleged result of your work?

Sounds like a job to me.

Life is never straightforward :lol:
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23301
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5434 times
Been thanked: 13025 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by weeksy »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:15 am Just to make it really boring like..you'd probably need the quals to help with getting insurance? You'd need insurance to cover a) people's stuff getting nicked while it's in your care and b) people getting hurt as an alleged result of your work?

Sounds like a job to me.

Life is never straightforward :lol:
You're likely correct on all of the above matey... which is why it'll arguably not happen lol.
Mussels
Posts: 4428
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 1235 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Mussels »

I've had liability insurance in the past, they were interested in the line of work but not any qualifications.
It is a good point though, doing business involves some regular costs so you need to do x amount of work to cover those costs plus time spent on paperwork. It makes odd jobs a bit less attractive even if it's just filling in a self assessesment tax return.
Docca
Posts: 997
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:09 pm
Has thanked: 657 times
Been thanked: 1148 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Docca »

I don’t know squat about money. I do know that we’ve always spent what we’ve got. Yes, I have ‘some’ savings- but it’s negligible.

My kids currently: 17, 15, 12 x2 and 10. Off the top of my head, current kids costs include:

- driving lessons @ £36/ lesson (2 a week)

- horse riding @£65 per lesson per week

- drama club @£50 per week

- trumpet lessons @£60 per week

- art lessons @£40 per week

- school trip stuff. Currently £800 this month ( for 2 trips). Usually 5 trips a year.

That’s before you get in to clothes, commuting, furniture, other hobbies, food etc.

For grown ups: I now commute to London once a week. Once you get your train fare, lunch, parking - that’s £80 a week.

Then the mortgage is £2.5k /month

My pension is going to be ok, but the kids need to move out to give me a fighting chance 😂
User avatar
Yambo
Posts: 2464
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:08 pm
Location: Self Isolating
Has thanked: 598 times
Been thanked: 1646 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Yambo »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:50 am
weeksy wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:31 am I'm still struggling with what i'll actually be doing day to day though. If i have my way, it won't be in the UK though, it'll be in Burgundy... but i don't know how plausible that is at the moment.
Until you can imagine what you'll do . . .

I'm not so sure you can do that. The fact is, once retired you can do what you want to do - at that time - and what you think about now may not be what you think about later. What you will have of course is time to do what you want and when you want.

I have a couple of hobbies; I make model boats but it's not a business, not work so I don't spend all day every day butchering small bits of wood. It's very much a wet winter day pastime now as good days are going to be different, mainly outdoor days. A few years ago I made some boats and paddleboards. Right now I'm repairing/refurbing the paddleboards after 5 years of abuse. I made them so it seems to be my responsibility to remake them. :( Making the boats was a bit of therapy for me but the work now is more like work and I'm finding it hard to motivate myself. I don't watch the telly so evenings are spent reading, popping into here and other forums and if the skies are clear trying to take photos of stuff you can't see. The reading and forum stuff is usually part of the learning curve for that. If I'm up late, I have the time to sleep late.

The simple fact is, when you have time to play with, you can do what you want. Maybe just sit and watch football or soaps on t'box, drink tea with friends, walk in the hills, ride your bike, whatever.

Planning that sort of shit is impossible because you know full well the plan goes out the window with first contact with the enemy. At best, you'll make up your mind in the evening what you might do tomorrow. Next week? Who the fuck knows what's going to go down!
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11743
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6345 times
Been thanked: 4729 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Count Steer »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:43 am When i look at what we spend, "discretionary" items are actually quite a way down the list! Mortgage, school, food, utilities, various insurances and the like.....they're easily rhe majority of my spending.
I just totted up a typical month of debits for the two of us inc house bills, petrol, food, car(s) parking etc etc (didn't include stuff like coffees, clothes or other non-essentials and there were no car taxes or insurances that month, also have no mortgage) - £1300

(The :wtf: for the month besides that was an unexpected £1800 bill for car repair/service/MOT...I expected it to be about £360 :( )

I could squeeze quite a bit out of that ie run one car, buy cheaper food, use less energy etc but that's where the 'comfy' bit comes in.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23301
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5434 times
Been thanked: 13025 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by weeksy »

Potter wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 10:53 am I reckon you know when it’s time to retire and if you don’t feel the pull of it then it’s not time.
Nah, i could happily agree with the idea today.... the bank account disagrees.... if i never went to work when i was 30-40-50 i'd have been fine with it :)
Bustaspoke
Posts: 1792
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:55 pm
Has thanked: 3224 times
Been thanked: 1721 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Bustaspoke »

Count Steer wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 10:48 am
I just totted up a typical month of debits for the two of us inc house bills, petrol, food, car(s) parking etc etc (didn't include stuff like coffees, clothes or other non-essentials and there were no car taxes or insurances that month, also have no mortgage) - £1300

(The :wtf: for the month besides that was an unexpected £1800 bill for car repair/service/MOT...I expected it to be about £360 :( )

I could squeeze quite a bit out of that ie run one car, buy cheaper food, use less energy etc but that's where the 'comfy' bit comes in.
Because I had been planning to retire/go part time for a few years I had been keeping an eye on the monthly outgoings & for me it's £1000 a month plus any holidays.When I was asking ex workmates & a few friends who'd retired they all commented that you don't need a lot of money for everyday expenses.
User avatar
Dodgy69
Posts: 5424
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Shrewsbury
Has thanked: 1741 times
Been thanked: 2065 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Dodgy69 »

I'm gonna get some retirement practice in soon. Finish work on the 21st and having the summer off. 🙂👍

I'll find a bit of a job after that. ☹👎
Yamaha rocket 3
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11477
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6127 times
Been thanked: 5038 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Horse »

Yambo wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 10:43 am
Count Steer wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:50 am Until you can imagine what you'll do . . .

I'm not so sure you can do that. The fact is, once retired you can do what you want to do - at that time - and what you think about now may not be what you think about later. What you will have of course is time to do what you want and when you want.

Planning that sort of shit is impossible because you know full well the plan goes out the window with first contact with the enemy. At best, you'll make up your mind in the evening what you might do tomorrow. Next week? Who the fuck knows what's going to go down!
There was another WWII general who said something like 'planning is essential, plans are worthless'.

I posted a list earlier. How much of it happens, well, as you eloquently phrase it, "Who the fuck knows". That list is a starting point. Actually, the latest starting point, as a couple of other ideas haven't persevered.

But what I don't want to do is wake up every morning thinking 'now what?'

My dad lived to 91, my mum is 95. That could be a lot of long boring days.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11743
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6345 times
Been thanked: 4729 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Count Steer »

One more snippet, as a rule of thumb, because of 'fixed' costs two don't live as cheaply as one. Apparently one needs 75% of what two need.

Given the rough £1k+ per month figure that seems typical, my suggestion would be aim for
a minimum of double what your fixed costs are going to be. Then work out how often you can do stuff like holidays, new cars, clothes, house projects, meal out etc etc and keep an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses like roof (car :( ) repairs. If you can top that up a bit from the monthly incoming then so much the better, that way it doesn't just dwindle and disappear.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
Le_Fromage_Grande
Posts: 11222
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
Has thanked: 607 times
Been thanked: 4116 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

My retirement plan is to do feck all, I'm going to sit round, drink cups of tea and bore anyone daft enough to talk to me with tall tales of how fast I was, so not much different to now really apart from not having to go to work, I might have an easy to ride motorcycle to potter round on when the weather is nice. I've done foreign travel, I've raced motorcycles, I've had adventures, I could die this afternoon and be happy that I've lived a full life, don't wait for retirement to do things, you might not get there.
Honda Owner
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11477
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6127 times
Been thanked: 5038 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Horse »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 12:28 pm don't wait for retirement to do things, you might not get there.
Good point.

Everything on my list is stuff I do now or have done before. The difference is that I'll have more time to do more of them, if I want to.
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
Cousin Jack
Posts: 4420
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:36 pm
Location: Down in the Duchy
Has thanked: 2533 times
Been thanked: 2268 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by Cousin Jack »

After retirement, if you get bored, volunteer!

Lots of things can be interesting, I have done Citizens Advice, Coastwatch, and Trustee of a local Multi Academy Trust, but that is just my choice. Huge range of stuff you can do, ranging from the odd hour every few weeks to pretty well full time, and to suit just about every interest.
Cornish Tart #1

Remember An Gof!
JackyJoll
Posts: 3716
Joined: Sun May 03, 2020 10:11 pm
Has thanked: 260 times
Been thanked: 1255 times

Re: Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

Post by JackyJoll »

Potter wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2023 12:58 pm
I'm not a religious man but I feel like the right door will open when it's time, as Mr Jagger said, you don't always get what you want, but if you try real hard...
When one door shuts, another one closes.