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

[Yorick]

"Seasons" means getting 6 months cold, dark and wet. And short days.

Not necessarily. We have seasons and while we get wet winters ( a necessity when your water comes straight out of the ground) it doesn't rain every day and we have a lot of beautiful weather this time of year. The rain of course helps to keep everything green and growing which is something we feel differently about (although I was amused by your waxing lyrical about how green your island was a few days ago).

Cold and dark? Meh.

The almond trees will be in blossom soon around here and locally we grow a lot of oranges - they're a winter fruit so add a bit of colour to all the green.

My comments were aimed at UK and northern Europe. You went to where you are for similar reasons to us.

[Taipan]

"Seasons" means getting 6 months cold, dark and wet. And short days.

Not necessarily. We have seasons and while we get wet winters ( a necessity when your water comes straight out of the ground) it doesn't rain every day and we have a lot of beautiful weather this time of year. The rain of course helps to keep everything green and growing which is something we feel differently about (although I was amused by your waxing lyrical about how green your island was a few days ago).

Cold and dark? Meh.

The almond trees will be in blossom soon around here and locally we grow a lot of oranges - they're a winter fruit so add a bit of colour to all the green.

My comments were aimed at UK and northern Europe. You went to where you are for similar reasons to us.

To rub our noses in it?

[Yorick]

Not necessarily. We have seasons and while we get wet winters ( a necessity when your water comes straight out of the ground) it doesn't rain every day and we have a lot of beautiful weather this time of year. The rain of course helps to keep everything green and growing which is something we feel differently about (although I was amused by your waxing lyrical about how green your island was a few days ago).

Cold and dark? Meh.

The almond trees will be in blossom soon around here and locally we grow a lot of oranges - they're a winter fruit so add a bit of colour to all the green.

My comments were aimed at UK and northern Europe. You went to where you are for similar reasons to us.

To rub our noses in it?

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

[weeksy]

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

That's why i was looking at Orgiva/Burgundy, something 'nice' is closer to £200k over in either of those places. I don't think stretching to £350k would really work.

[Yorick]

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

That's why i was looking at Orgiva/Burgundy, something 'nice' is closer to £200k over in either of those places. I don't think stretching to £350k would really work.

350k is a place by the sea with a pool. Much cheaper inland.

And in Euros

[Taipan]

My comments were aimed at UK and northern Europe. You went to where you are for similar reasons to us.

To rub our noses in it?

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home. I have to say, the Canaries were never on my radar, but you've done a good job of selling the place. I certainly see it in a different light now. That said, i think southern Spain is where I want to go, but I've got to talk the wife out of Italy first. Unfortunately we had a couple of blinding holidays there and she prefers Italian food to Spanish. D'oh!

[Yorick]

To rub our noses in it?

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home. I have to say, the Canaries were never on my radar, but you've done a good job of selling the place. I certainly see it in a different light now. That said, i think southern Spain is where I want to go, but I've got to talk the wife out of Italy first. Unfortunately we had a couple of blinding holidays there and she prefers Italian food to Spanish. D'oh!

Oh bollox. I might have you and Gremlin over here

Italy is much nicer. Yes. Go there.

[Taipan]

Look at what your house is worth. Can get summat really nice here for €350k and cheap as chips to live.

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home. I have to say, the Canaries were never on my radar, but you've done a good job of selling the place. I certainly see it in a different light now. That said, i think southern Spain is where I want to go, but I've got to talk the wife out of Italy first. Unfortunately we had a couple of blinding holidays there and she prefers Italian food to Spanish. D'oh!

Oh bollox. I might have you and Gremlin over here

Italy is much nicer. Yes. Go there.

Think of the pluses, I may bring the mighty NC700X with me...

[weeksy]

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home.

I wouldn't bother, just rent somewhere for three months over winter then hand it back.
Keeping a second home abroad just for when you feel like it is just a millstone round your neck unless you're minted.

I keep our house in the UK but it doesn't feel like home anymore and it's just a liability and a bit of a pain to be honest. I could argue it's possibly an appreciating asset but it's costing me money just sitting there.

Nah, i wouldn't keep the home here i don't think. Unless i did it as a trial and rented somewhere for 12 months on the continent as a 'tester' and then would make a decision.

[Yorick]

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home.

I wouldn't bother, just rent somewhere for three months over winter then hand it back.
Keeping a second home abroad just for when you feel like it is just a millstone round your neck unless you're minted.

I keep our house in the UK but it doesn't feel like home anymore and it's just a liability and a bit of a pain to be honest. I could argue it's possibly an appreciating asset but it's costing me money just sitting there.

Nah, i wouldn't keep the home here i don't think. Unless i did it as a trial and rented somewhere for 12 months on the continent as a 'tester' and then would make a decision.

That's the obvious sensible answer. We rented 12 months then looked to buy.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Your parents sounds blissfully happy, they could probably do all sorts of things but they choose to give their time to other people for free.
I reckon it takes a very happy and contented person to do that.

The only reason they haven't sold up and moved to Florida is 'cause they've got such amazing children to see

Personally I have no real plans for what I'm gonna do in retirement 'cause it's so far away, but by making sure I've got at least 'enough' money I'm setting up options now. If you asked me right now what I can see myself doing, I quite fancy being a leather-patches-on-the-elbows-retired-engineer Uni lecturer like I had when I was a student, never handing back coursework on time and working 1.5 days a week. We'll see when we get there

[weeksy]

Your parents sounds blissfully happy, they could probably do all sorts of things but they choose to give their time to other people for free.
I reckon it takes a very happy and contented person to do that.

The only reason they haven't sold up and moved to Florida is 'cause they've got such amazing children to see

and there's you as well

[Cousin Jack]

........... I'm seeing it as a small bicycle/motorbike business of some description, be that buying and selling or polishing and cleaning then buying and selling, i am not quite sure yet. But i don't see it being Tescos. Restoring 1990s bikes and 2000s bikes in 10 years time, i do see how there could be a market in that, so maybe that'll be the road to go down................

Be very careful turning hobbies into a business. Your enthusiasm can mean you don't spot a massive risks associated with it.

I toyed with the idea of a gunshop specialising in pistols. MK was a big town, lots of shooters (more than you might think), and no decent gunshop for miles. Luckily I didn't venture down that path, if I had I would have gone bust!

You might think restoring old bikes is less risky than pistols, but if they ban petrol .......................

[Horse]

cheap as chips and beer

Give it a rest

[Taipan]

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home.

I wouldn't bother, just rent somewhere for three months over winter then hand it back.
Keeping a second home abroad just for when you feel like it is just a millstone round your neck unless you're minted.

I keep our house in the UK but it doesn't feel like home anymore and it's just a liability and a bit of a pain to be honest. I could argue it's possibly an appreciating asset but it's costing me money just sitting there.

That's why and how our thinking changed about what to do when we retire. Early days were always buy a place abroad and eventually move out there. But I've never actually been to southern Spain, so would need to scout it out first and find somewhere that suits our needs and renting a place would give a good insight into what living amongst that community would be like. Plus their property market does seem like a waste of time, so we'd be better buying a flat here and renting it to provide the income to cover renting costs in Spain. Then i think I don't really want the hassle of being a landlord. This is when it all gets messy and I give up on planning anything!

I would like a place abroad though, because ideally i'd like to replicate what i have here with regards to household possessions and vehicles, so I can literally board a plane in what i'm wearing, without carrying any luggage and have a turnkey home waiting for me at the other end.

[Mr Moofo]

I have retired.

I worked for 25 years for the same company , who ( as a complete surprise to me) had a fine salary pension scheme), I also did addition AVCs . I left that and joined another company and bunged the maximum allowance by the government to top up m company pension - for 9 years.
I also had a few other pension bits and bobs here and there.
All of this came as a surprise as I am not the best long term fiscal planner - but the crux is that the previous employer wanted to close the final salary pension - and started offering impressive amounts to take my "pot" elsewhere. Which I did.
I have consolidated everything with a pension / financial advisor - and so the it has worked out well.

But some points from experience:-
I stopped work just as Covid hit. It was crap timing - travel plans have gone tits up - and you do get conscious about the sands of time.
Find stuff to do - for the first 6 months you will be really busy - after that , it gets slacker. You need hobbies
The winter is an absolute bummer - shit weather, cold, grey etc - unless you are busy elsewhere you could go mad.
I don't get fully retiring to somewhere far flung - whether Cornwall or the SoF. It takes you away from support network, friends, the stuff you like to do etc. It may be different for me, because I actually like where i live.
I can see the point in travelling somewhere warm fro the winter.
Volunteer - put something back into the community. I am now a qualified watchkeeper with the Coastwatch Organisation - and have just applied to the RNLI.
You would be surprised at how much money is spent on for related things , or the trinkets of being employed. equally, when you are not working, it is very easy to buy pointless shit.
I am hoping that Covid is sorted - and plans can back on track. At the ,moment because of restriction of movement , I do find frustration levels getting high. There is loads of stuff i want to do - but Boris says no!

[Yorick]

I'd be keeping our place here and would be looking for a second home.

I wouldn't bother, just rent somewhere for three months over winter then hand it back.
Keeping a second home abroad just for when you feel like it is just a millstone round your neck unless you're minted.

I keep our house in the UK but it doesn't feel like home anymore and it's just a liability and a bit of a pain to be honest. I could argue it's possibly an appreciating asset but it's costing me money just sitting there.

That's why and how our thinking changed about what to do when we retire. Early days were always buy a place abroad and eventually move out there. But I've never actually been to southern Spain, so would need to scout it out first and find somewhere that suits our needs and renting a place would give a good insight into what living amongst that community would be like. Plus their property market does seem like a waste of time, so we'd be better buying a flat here and renting it to provide the income to cover renting costs in Spain. Then i think I don't really want the hassle of being a landlord. This is when it all gets messy and I give up on planning anything!

I would like a place abroad though, because ideally i'd like to replicate what i have here with regards to household possessions and vehicles, so I can literally board a plane in what i'm wearing, without carrying any luggage and have a turnkey home waiting for me at the other end.

Why do you want a turkey ???

[weeksy]

Out of interest for the non-UK people here, what does it cost per year for health stuff outside of the UK and what level of cover does that bring ?#

Is there any likely reciprocal health cover like the EHIC card we have (i assume) now lost? If so, what would that cover ? If not, do the have an NHS type service abroad and how does it all work for non-birth residents, can you even get to be classed as a resident enough to get covered ?

[the_priest]

I have my pension pot from working in the charities which I was able to consolidate. I will also receive the state pension and my Church Pension, which I am going to top up each month. I will also top up the charity pension as that one is my biggest pot of money. We are going to buy a two bed flat in a University town and rent it for a small income stream. It will be a bolt hole when we need it in retirement. As a priest, I will never "fully retire" and will continue to take services/funerals/weddings etc for long as I am mentally and physically able. That is how it is for me. The wife loves gardening and we will travel. We love our children, so want to where they are for as long as possible and have our base where they can join us. Wife will have her meagre state pension and school pension... every penny counts. I think we will be comfortable, but so long as we are warm and have food on the table I won't complain.

[Yorick]

EHIC is dead. If you are working here as a taxpayer, then you are covered by Spanish NHS.

Otherwise it's compulsory to have private health care. Decent cover starts at €1000 a year. I pay 1400 but started later and it's the best.

But, to balance that out. Our total tax bill for huge villa and 5 vehicles is 900€ a year.
And zero gas bill.