Im almost 64 firm expect me to to run about like an 18 year old.

harz99

bendix wrote: »

The OP has a personal computer.

If that's poverty level, I'm a banana.

If you can afford a PC (presumably for recreational use because by his own admission he is a manual labourer) you can afford to save for your retirement.

The OP has an email address and access to a computer yes; you cannot possibly know whether or not he/she actually OWNS a PC.

Lokolo

Dawni wrote: »

What an odd question! Are only people who can afford to save money for their retirement allowed to have children? Look, my dad worked day in and day out to provide for his family and provide he did. We had no luxuries, but the clothes on our backs (3 children) and the food in our stomachs, the roof over our heads and the heat from the fire were all provided by my dad. He asked the government for nothing, but he paid his tax and national insurance in the belief that after 50 years of work he would be provided with a pension that would be enough to live modestly on. If he had had money to spare he would have saved it, but he didn't have any to spare. He never had any debt, never bought anything on hire purchase, always paid his way.

I'm not claiming my father was any different from countless other people who worked throughout their whole lives for a very small wage. I personally know lots of people who are/were in a similar situation to my dad and to the OP, unable to save for their retirement because their wages are needed for everyday necessities. Sometimes I really do think one half of the country doesn't have a clue about how the other half lives.

Hence why I asked silly..... I'm not psychic or an encyclopedia(!)

Working life is 40 years, nowadays anyway. Kids will take up around 20. Leaves with 20 working years left. If people can afford kids for 20 years, surely they can afford to put the same amount they put in for their kids, into their pension for the other 20 years? That's how I view it, hell I maybe wrong, but I can't see why that's not possible.

isplumm

Dawni wrote: »

What an odd question! Are only people who can afford to save money for their retirement allowed to have children? .

Actually that is exactly what my wife & I have done - we couldn't afford children, so didn't have them .... now that we are better we are thinking about them ..... just need to practise a bit more

Mark

cyclonebri1

Lokolo wrote: »

Hence why I asked silly..... I'm not psychic or an encyclopedia(!)

Working life is 40 years, nowadays anyway. Kids will take up around 20. Leaves with 20 working years left. If people can afford kids for 20 years, surely they can afford to put the same amount they put in for their kids, into their pension for the other 20 years? That's how I view it, hell I maybe wrong, but I can't see why that's not possible.

Maybe you ommited to factor in that people with children get, (sorry did get), benefits. These stop after the 20 years you mention leaving the op with kids but no further forward.

Fair enough.

bendix

harz99 wrote: »

The OP has an email address and access to a computer yes; you cannot possibly know whether or not he/she actually OWNS a PC.

Now hold on. Hold on.

I'm chastised for making the reasonable assumption (based on the fact that he has an email address and is posting on a website and is obviously computer literate despite being in his sixties) that he has a PC, and yet you lot get away with the much bigger assumption that he hasn't been able to save for retirement in his 40-50 years of working life, based on no evidence whatsoever, except for the fact that he is currently on a low salary at the end of his career?

I protest.

dunstonh

If you can afford a PC (presumably for recreational use because by his own admission he is a manual labourer) you can afford to save for your retirement.

Isnt a human right now to [STRIKE]be able to look up !!!!!! on the internet[/STRIKE] have a computer?

cyclonebri1

bendix wrote: »

Now hold on. Hold on.

I'm chastised for making the reasonable assumption (based on the fact that he has an email address and is posting on a website and is obviously computer literate despite being in his sixties) that he has a PC, and yet you lot get away with the much bigger assumption that he hasn't been able to save for retirement in his 40-50 years of working life, based on no evidence whatsoever, except for the fact that he is currently on a low salary at the end of his career?

I protest.

Of course you can protest, but you are not in his position, albeit it was vague earlier but now becoming clearer.

Again, too many presumtious

bendix

Anyway, the debate is nonsense. He has already said he has been contributing to a personal pension plan for 25 years.

So I'm struggling to see what the issue is. He obviously had the financial discipline and knowledge to save for his retirement. He is 63 years old. It seems to me there are two options:

The first is that the pension fund is a decent size, in which case he can withdraw 25% cash, convert the balance to an annuity and live off that combination until he is 65 and his state pension kicks in, or

If the pension fund is under £18000, he can withdraw it all, live off that until he is 65 etc etc.

Can't see what the problem is, really.

Heliflyguy

bendix wrote: »

Now hold on. Hold on.

I'm chastised for making the reasonable assumption (based on the fact that he has an email address and is posting on a website and is obviously computer literate despite being in his sixties) that he has a PC, and yet you lot get away with the much bigger assumption that he hasn't been able to save for retirement in his 40-50 years of working life, based on no evidence whatsoever, except for the fact that he is currently on a low salary at the end of his career?

I protest.

He could be using a library PC or a friends, he may have been given a PC, it may be running windows 98 for all you know, you have no idea of his income or outgoings in the last 40-50 years or ability to earn yet decide that it all his fault he's in the position he finds himself. shameful.

Peelerfart

Heliflyguy wrote: »

He could be using a library PC or a friends, he may have been given a PC, it may be running windows 98 for all you know, you have no idea of his income or outgoings in the last 40-50 years or ability to earn yet decide that it all his fault he's in the position he finds himself. shameful.

Perhaps we can invent a sport in time for 2012 ! we can call it -

"bendix bashing"