Nordboy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:04 pm
Ah, pensions.
Whilst many would say that my pension is still a very good one, it has been changed dramatically over the last few years. The changes have had a massive effect on my actual ability to retire. I'll probably now have to continue to work full time rather than get a part time job.
I (along with about 30k others) have had to take both the government and my so called union, even though they're not technically a union, to court. The first case against the g'ment we've already won, the other could take a while to get to court.
Ultimately because of this, I actually can't get any true figures, because no one yet knows what the court remedy will be.
Saying that, because the gubbermint is probably going to change my pension again in the next few years, I don't think I will now do my full 30 years, I don't think it'll be worth me staying beyond 25, as the extra 5 yrs I pay in (and I pay in a load each month) will bring me any real benefit.
I'm not bitter about it all though (not much!!!). All the years of shift work, dealing with shit, missing events at home, etc etc.......
When i did my post on this i did wonder how you would be affected with the changes from the PPS to the NPPS to the 3rd one. My mate retires this summer and he made the cut off to stay on PPS by about 5 months as would i if i had done the full time without my military pension carry over. The only thing i can see the courts doing is reinstating people who were forced onto the tiering system between the PPS and NPPS and the 3rd one back onto the one you signed up for.
I have a load of mates all in the same position as you and most have pushed the "lets get promoted" button to try and make up what they have lost in potential pension income by going up a rank. Fingers crossed the court action brings results
Nordboy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:04 pm
Ah, pensions.
Whilst many would say that my pension is still a very good one, it has been changed dramatically over the last few years. The changes have had a massive effect on my actual ability to retire. I'll probably now have to continue to work full time rather than get a part time job.
I (along with about 30k others) have had to take both the government and my so called union, even though they're not technically a union, to court. The first case against the g'ment we've already won, the other could take a while to get to court.
Ultimately because of this, I actually can't get any true figures, because no one yet knows what the court remedy will be.
Saying that, because the gubbermint is probably going to change my pension again in the next few years, I don't think I will now do my full 30 years, I don't think it'll be worth me staying beyond 25, as the extra 5 yrs I pay in (and I pay in a load each month) will bring me any real benefit.
I'm not bitter about it all though (not much!!!). All the years of shift work, dealing with shit, missing events at home, etc etc.......
I think they did similar with the NHS doctors' pensions. Asked them if they wanted to change and when given the wrong answer changed it all anyway.
I like to think I’d enjoy retirement but tbh I’d still want a part time job so I can get out and see people. I’d already gone part time a few years back in a sort of semi retirement but then started a new business which now needs me full time. I guess my mindset isn’t one of doing little, I’ve got several private pensions but together they won’t pay a lot but it’ll be enough to live on with some luxuries especially with the wife’s NHS pension. I’m topping mine up with 80% of my salary now too so it may increase a good percentage. Haven’t set a time as I want to make sure my daughter has a great childhood first and foremost so I’ll work till she leaves school, prob part time but still work. House is paid for anyway and doesn’t cost much to run so hopefully I’ll retire within 10 years but nothing set in stone
Dodgy knees wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:43 pm
After watching David Attenborough the other night, in another 60/80 years we won't need to worry about pensions.
That is a big old risk we've (westerners) had a good run since WW2 with riches and lifestyles unimaginable from our ancestors. But things are starting to look a bit bumpy
cheb wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:34 pm
I think they did similar with the NHS doctors' pensions. Asked them if they wanted to change and when given the wrong answer changed it all anyway.
They didnt ask the Police or Fire Service, just decided to change them because they could and knew they would get a fight from the Fire Service Unions but as the Police cannot legally hold any industrial action they were the easier target, Fire Service threatened strike action so their increase in contributions was reduced but Police increase stayed the same.
When they changed it again for the 3rd time Fire service Unions began industrial action and court action straight away. Police Federation wouldnt act so Police Officers got together themselves to fund the legal action which as far as i am aware continues to this day. The federation are the best example anywhere in employment relations of a toothless tiger
It should be illegal to change a pension scheme entitlement once started. Yes pensions needed reform for the Public sector, but once you start your terms should be locked.
I hate the way governments change shit like pensions once people are already committed. A contract is a contract.
Yorick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:18 am
"Seasons" means getting 6 months cold, dark and wet. And short days.
You soon get used to not having that.
If you do get over here, I'll show you round, properly. Stuff you'd never see normally.
Not at all. This is my third winter here and it's been the worst, but still far better than a wet Northern Europe winter. October to December, though the trees are shedding, the landscape is a gorgeous green which is very much appreciated after a long, hot summer, then you get to see it all over again in Spring along with the trees blossoming. Jan and Feb tend to be colder, though the heat from the sun is still strong enough to warm the house most days (I hardly ever have the heating on during the day). Cloudy days feel the coldest, this winter we've had more cloud hence it being a worse winter. Nights can be very cold even if we've had a warm day, but I found myself longing for those cold nights with the wood burner blazing away during the summer due to it being a long one. Daytime temps for the next 10 days are forecast to be between 15 and 19 degrees, that's just about perfect for a few hours walking the dogs each day.
Each to his own though.
As for pensions, mine is shite. I joined late and paid minimum, preferrring to concentrate on the mortgage. Sold the house, paid off all debts, bought a fantastic property here in Bulgaria for silly money which left me with a tidy sum, half of which I use for investments which are giving a far better return than my pension over the past few years. I'm not relying on the private pension, so last year I changed it to medium and high risk and just leave it for a few years, see what happens.
Yup - as I said it needed reform, massively, but it should have been done with new starts, not dicking with peoples pensions years in.
I’m the last person you need to convince public sector pensions were and still are way to high compared to what everyone else has to do to get a pension.
To use the forward analogy - if I buy a forward contract for beans - I can’t change my mind half way through because I can buy cheaper beans because the price has dropped - im contracted at that rate.
Wreckless Rat wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 6:49 am
Yup - as I said it needed reform, massively, but it should have been done with new starts, not dicking with peoples pensions years in.
I’m the last person you need to convince public sector pensions were and still are way to high compared to what everyone else has to do to get a pension.
To use the forward analogy - if I buy a forward contract for beans - I can’t change my mind half way through because I can buy cheaper beans because the price has dropped - im contracted at that rate.
If you were daft enough to sign a 40yr contract for beans then you'd have change clauses in to cover changes that you may need to make during that time period. Change in law, change in economic circumstances, change in markets, variations, etc.
That's what's happening.
I know that’s what happening, but it shouldn’t be allowed. Blah blah blah can’t afford it.. it’s amazing what the government can afford. Public sector pay now often outstrips private sector, the pensions still do, it needs reform, but as I said, it should be done more at entry rather than exit.
It’s like buying a mortgage and the mortgage company deciding half way through that it can’t afford your fixed tracker mortgage anymore and interest rates are too low, so it years up the deal and writes a new one, doubling your payments.
I spent some time chatting with Mrs Weeksy on this last night. I think we're at a bit of an impasse.
But, that said, i think there's a compromise likely which will be end of Oct - March spent renting in warmer climates each year, then living the rest of the time in the UK. It's a fair compromise to me and one that sounds pretty much ideal. You never know, it may even persuade her to do the full-jump to it.
The one thing i wouldn't do though is the ex-pat thing. Irrespective of whether we were in Spain/Canaries or France, i don't get that side of it at all. I'd be far more inclined to do the local thing instead.
There will be a 2nd caveat for me personally within it, that i'd like to do the cycling 'business' over there, officially or unofficially, so would be buying a van, taking 3-4 ebikes (i do see these as the future for many) and picking up some customers to help fund our time out there.
weeksy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:02 am
The one thing i wouldn't do though is the ex-pat thing. Irrespective of whether we were in Spain/Canaries or France, i don't get that side of it at all. I'd be far more inclined to do the local thing instead.
I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?
Ok, in the winter I have always gravitated to the seasonaire bars but that's for the music as much as anything
I'm finally getting a grip on the language and once I'm out on a bike in the summers, I will make more French friends and hopefully move away from the Brits a bit!! LOL
Really struggle with people that live here every winter for 25 years and can't speak any french
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
Noggin wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:32 am
I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?
Without being horrible it's not much different for Ex-pats who come to the UK in large numbers. Be that Asian, Polish etc. In general people stick to what they know when they can.
Noggin wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:32 am
I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?
Without being horrible it's not much different for Ex-pats who come to the UK in large numbers. Be that Asian, Polish etc. In general people stick to what they know when they can.
True true, fair call. It's not that i won't speak to Brits, that would be silly. It's not that i wouldn't go to Brit bars to watch MotoGP or football... but if you go somewhere you've got to immerse yourself in the culture, the language etc.
For me being part of, or more like neighbouring, an ex-pat community would be the make or break side to it. I'd certainly not want to be isolated by my lack of language skills, but i'd need to be part of a native Spanish speaking community to learn it. Equally i'd want to be able to pop into town and chat with other Brits. And yes, there probably are some things I'd want from home, tea bags, HP sauce etc. My local Tesco has a massive world food dept for foreigners who want their stuff from home. Nothing particularly wrong with that!
Noggin wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:32 am
I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?
Without being horrible it's not much different for Ex-pats who come to the UK in large numbers. Be that Asian, Polish etc. In general people stick to what they know when they can.
True. But I don't totally understand that either - I do get the 'comfort' thing of sticking with people/culture you know/is easy, but not to the detriment of integration!
Noggin wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:32 am
I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?
Without being horrible it's not much different for Ex-pats who come to the UK in large numbers. Be that Asian, Polish etc. In general people stick to what they know when they can.
True true, fair call. It's not that i won't speak to Brits, that would be silly. It's not that i wouldn't go to Brit bars to watch MotoGP or football... but if you go somewhere you've got to immerse yourself in the culture, the language etc.
What he said. I do, of course, have a lot of English friends in the area. The one thing that stopped me building a network of French friends was language and one of the big issues to learn up here is all the French either want to speak English to practice, don't have the patience in a normal winter to deal with a Brit bastardising their language or hate seasonaires so you have to wait a few years for them to realise you are staying!! (I was asked by some of the French I know here why I wasn't going back to the UK in the first lock down - they couldn't get their head around the fact that I live here now!!)
Yorick wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 8:42 am
The ex-pat thing ain't too bad here. Most of my pals are English. But most have bikes as as a coincidence.
I have a few Canarian pals and the majority of the riders on a Sunday are locals.
But I don't ignore folk just coz folk in the UK have a poor view of ex-pats.
I'm happy and that's what counts.
Every time I walk through town I get waves off all colours and creeds.
I'm lucky that most of the French I meet now appreciate the effort I make to speak French but even before, I used to get hellos from all the people I know, French and English. But then I do walk around smiling at people and saying hi to those I recognise!! LOL
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
I think there is a reason many stay in ex-pat 'communities', as Noggs says, its as much the locals as the ex-pats. We are just the same in the UK, most don't make an effort to integrate with the Poles etc, and vice versa, common language, culture, foods etc gravitate people together. I must admit though, I really hate the Brit ex-pat communities. Bars full of miserable pink Brits, eating fry ups with some bastardised attempt at English style bacon etc., especially when there are often far better local foods available.
One of life's pleasures imho when travelling or living in another land, is the different food. Unless is somewhere like Colombia.... where they eat crap food, morning, noon and night. However, if I was living in France /Spain etc, they have an awesome culinary repertoire to feast on.
