Pensions Planning: The NUMBER

westv

From April £135 a month band C.
Not sure how that will change when we upsize (different area not bigger home) in a few years time.

bownyboy

westv said:

£ 3,600 a year sounds awfully high. What band is that? 

Band F. 

I did check into it using the guide Martin provided and it looks about right unfortunately. 

AlanP_2

SouthCoastBoy said:

Yes I am very concerned about inflation, all the money pumped into the economy recently will I think result inflation over the next few years. I'm not convinced cpi is an accurate indication of my inflation number. Council tax increases are horrendous, no accountability, not based on whether you can pay and nothing discretionary about it. Mine is around 2200 a year for a band d property.
In some ways the govt need inflation to go higher to help inflate the massive govt debt away

How can you get more accountability than the ability to "sack" the Board every 4 years through local elections?

You may not agree with the decisions they make but it's hard to argue there is no accountability.

SouthCoastBoy

Yes, agree accountability is not the correct word, as you say we can get the right to vote.

Terron

DairyQueen said:

In the absence of any fun things to do during a winter lockdown OH delayed his retirement until the end of this year, although I suspect he will go sooner now we have the new home, lockdown is lifting, and the weather warmer.

What absence? There is always reading.

Ibrahim5

Bring back the Poll Tax. It would be good for me now.

NedS

ex-pat_scot said:

I'm cautious about commenting on energy, as it's a touchy subject!
We are deep in the N Yorks moors, on heating oil, which is very volatile in price (and delivery times).
One of my many early projects in retirement will be to address a more sustainable energy strategy for us.
1. draughty large house, which we struggle to heat even with a large boiler
2. 1930s Aga (family heirloom) that is non-negotiable
3. insulation
4. solar
5. electric car. Next door neighbour has just bought a BMW i3, so I'm keen to see how they get on with it.

We live rurally and are also dependent on oil for heating and hot water. Last March as oil prices plummeted we were scrambling to fill the tank to the brim to take advantage of cheap prices and I even went as far as pricing up another tank to add more storage so I could buy more cheap oil, when it struck me I could buy as much cheap oil as I like through an ETF in my SIPP/ISA. My plan is to hold the equivalent of 10 years worth of oil in an ETF, topping up the holding when prices are low and selling from the holding to release funds to top up the real tank as required or when prices inflated. Given the price volatility of oil it seems a great way to mitigate against price movements and ensure I'm not a forced buyer at peak prices.

michaels

NedS said:

ex-pat_scot said:

I'm cautious about commenting on energy, as it's a touchy subject!
We are deep in the N Yorks moors, on heating oil, which is very volatile in price (and delivery times).
One of my many early projects in retirement will be to address a more sustainable energy strategy for us.
1. draughty large house, which we struggle to heat even with a large boiler
2. 1930s Aga (family heirloom) that is non-negotiable
3. insulation
4. solar
5. electric car. Next door neighbour has just bought a BMW i3, so I'm keen to see how they get on with it.

We live rurally and are also dependent on oil for heating and hot water. Last March as oil prices plummeted we were scrambling to fill the tank to the brim to take advantage of cheap prices and I even went as far as pricing up another tank to add more storage so I could buy more cheap oil, when it struck me I could buy as much cheap oil as I like through an ETF in my SIPP/ISA. My plan is to hold the equivalent of 10 years worth of oil in an ETF, topping up the holding when prices are low and selling from the holding to release funds to top up the real tank as required or when prices inflated. Given the price volatility of oil it seems a great way to mitigate against price movements and ensure I'm not a forced buyer at peak prices.

I like this - are there similar ways to hedge gas and electricity prices?  How does the downside risk work?  If prices fall even lower would you effectively be paying the higher price you had bought your futures at?

cfw1994

AlanP_2 said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

Yes I am very concerned about inflation, all the money pumped into the economy recently will I think result inflation over the next few years. I'm not convinced cpi is an accurate indication of my inflation number. Council tax increases are horrendous, no accountability, not based on whether you can pay and nothing discretionary about it. Mine is around 2200 a year for a band d property.
In some ways the govt need inflation to go higher to help inflate the massive govt debt away

How can you get more accountability than the ability to "sack" the Board every 4 years through local elections?

You may not agree with the decisions they make but it's hard to argue there is no accountability.

Well....there are MANY areas with 'safe seats' that mean a non-insignificant portion of the population feel there is no accountability....

Terron said:

DairyQueen said:

In the absence of any fun things to do during a winter lockdown OH delayed his retirement until the end of this year, although I suspect he will go sooner now we have the new home, lockdown is lifting, and the weather warmer.

What absence? There is always reading.

& walking, watching endless films or binging series, gardening, not to mention brewing & drinking (I told you not to mention brewing & drinking!)....& now meeting up with pals in parks....& soon in beer gardens (etc)....

sevenhills

cfw1994 said:

Well....there are MANY areas with 'safe seats' that mean a non-insignificant portion of the population feel there is no accountability....

If you live in Scotland and every election a majority vote Labour or SNP, but mostly you get a Conservative Government. It's the same in other areas too.