I've been reading these threads in preparation for next Spring

whitesatin

Both myself and my husband will be retired next Spring. Our budget will be so very much less than it is at the moment as we have both gone "early". I know it will be very difficult to adjust and it is difficult to anticipate how it will go. We are "downsizing" the house in terms of size but not, unfortunately in terms of how much it will cost as we are moving to be near children/grandchildren but to a more expensive area. It is just the way it is. The children need to be near London for work and housing is expensive in Hertfordshire where they live. Hopefully the mortgage will be paid off by then.

Anyway, I will be watching these threads very closely indeed for ideas, so thanks.

lizzyb1812

Hi

Just typed a long post in reply and accidentally deleted it.

But, basically it said that I'll be in the same situation next year and am looking forward to it tremendously. Not having to go to work anymore is a tremendous motivator when it comes to being thrifty!

One thing I did was look at absolutely everything I spent in a month and ask myself if I could cut it out or get it cheaper - changed energy and phone supplier and stopped some insurance I didn't really need.

Next will be the Grocery Challenge - once I've used up my overstocked cupboards and freezer.

Good luck and hope you enjoy it too

Lizzyb

whitesatin

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Hi

Just typed a long post in reply and accidentally deleted it.

But, basically it said that I'll be in the same situation next year and am looking forward to it tremendously. Not having to go to work anymore is a tremendous motivator when it comes to being thrifty!

One thing I did was look at absolutely everything I spent in a month and ask myself if I could cut it out or get it cheaper - changed energy and phone supplier and stopped some insurance I didn't really need.

Next will be the Grocery Challenge - once I've used up my overstocked cupboards and freezer.

Good luck and hope you enjoy it too

Lizzyb

I do that sometimes too, Lizzyb, it is so frustrating when you delete something having spent time on it. Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it is quite exciting in its own way and I am looking forward to it but I do get a bit scared sometimes. As we will be moving area, it is hard to know what the council tax etc. might be, some areas are more expensive than others. It is things like the odd hair do, picking up the bill for lunch with my daughter and daughter in law etc. etc. that will have to be reconsidered. Mind you, the main reason for us moving is so that I can look after their babies when they go back to work so I reckon that they can treat me occasionally.:D

Good luck to you too, I am sure, like me, you will pick up lots of tips on here.

rosieben

whitesatin and lizzyb, hope you both find something useful here, there are threads on almost any topic you can think of as far as homemaking is concerned; if you have any particular questions feel free to post, Os'ers are a friendly bunch and someone will be along to help

look forward to seeing you on the Grocery Challenge lizzyb

meanmarie

Whitesatin and Lizzyb, I hope that you will both enjoy your retirement. I took early retirement on illness grounds in 2007 and have never regretted it, OH had already retired at 65. We were lucky enough that my 'lumpsum' meant that we could clear all outstanding debts, including our mortgage, meaning that we could live on a much smaller budget.

I think, whitesatin, that if you are going to be looking after grandchildren on any kind of permanent basis that it would only be fair that the parent or parents of those children should subsidise your expenses to a certain extent if you are finding things difficult....you could make an agreement that they pay you half or less of what a childminder or creche would cost.....you have worked hard and should not have to sacrifice your desired lifestyle for any reason. I am saying this as a grandmother who has looked after some of my grandchildren, collected them from school etc and been paid by my children to do so...we both gained as they paid less and I had a little more! It had always been the understanding that once my children finished university the subsidy stopped and they have respected that.

Enjoy your retirement

Marie