The Big Adventure

Karmacat

All sounds good to me

Who are they getting to play the Whoopi Goldberg part?

Goldiegirl

I think it's Alexandra Burke - she won X factor, I understand.

Today I did the other planned spending for this pay month . I ordered a bulk lot of seeds and nuts from Healthy Supplies, which should last for some time. Also, I ordered two new shirts for Mr Goldie for formal night in the cruises. His current shirts are nearly 15 years old and are very tight round the neck now. I got them from the TM Lewin website at £19.95 each, whereas the original price was £44.50 each, so I thought that was quite good.

Recently I've become quite worried about money, and I'm not sure why. We are doing ok, and Mr Goldie gets his state pension in October, so we are getting a 'pay rise.

But I've got a thought in my head 'what if we run out of money'. I don't even know where this thought has come from

Even though we've spent some money in the last few days, there is a part of me that begrudges it, and feels as if I'd rather save it.

I know you can't take it with you and there's no pockets in shrouds, but I don't want to run out of money either.

We generally have money left from our pension at the end of the month, so I've probably shouldn't worry too much. But, I can't help wanting to save more. But on the other hand, spending some money to have fun is what it's all about at this stage in our lives.

I think I probably have got the balance about right, but I need to get over this crisis of confidence

Arkers

Hi Goldie,
I know you regularly contribute on the retirement threads. Admittedly although I do find some of the comments made by the contributors useful a lot are either scare-mongering, with a certain section patting themselves on the back at their huge (often untouched) pensions that they may well not be able to enjoy as they should. Wheras you have done your sums several times over, and you seem to have the retirement of your choosing.


More importantly, you have your health , and you have each other. Moments of doubt come to us all, and I'm sure it's your cautious nature which possibly flies in the face of an early retirement. I hope you manage to combat this latest doubt, and carry on living for today.


Arkers x

Karmacat

If you've got money left over, Goldie, then as Arkers says, you're doing fine - it's often the very elderly pensioners who have money left over, as they can't get out and about to spend, after all. For you to be in that situation now, you'll be fine. And as you say, there's significant extra money coming in soon. Do the sums again if it gives you reassurance, but it sounds fine.

I was still watching the X Factor the year Alexandra Burke won - she has an amazing voice. Not a professional who was slumming it, either, she was just a teenager working as a receptionist, I think. Excellent to hear that she's doing something like this

Goldiegirl

Arkers wrote: »

Hi Goldie,
I know you regularly contribute on the retirement threads. Admittedly although I do find some of the comments made by the contributors useful a lot are either scare-mongering, with a certain section patting themselves on the back at their huge (often untouched) pensions that they may well not be able to enjoy as they should. Wheras you have done your sums several times over, and you seem to have the retirement of your choosing.


More importantly, you have your health , and you have each other. Moments of doubt come to us all, and I'm sure it's your cautious nature which possibly flies in the face of an early retirement. I hope you manage to combat this latest doubt, and carry on living for today.


Arkers x

I think you have hit the nail on the head there - this feeling probably does stem from spending too much time on the pensions board. When people, who have more money than I can ever dream of having, seem to think they still need more, it can be quite disconcerting - I think I need to step away from Early Retirement Wanabee! :rotfl:

Health is so important though, and I'm so fortunate in that respect. It's now just over 18 months since we stopped work, and i have no regrets about the decision to retire.

My current feeling is a wobble - there's no way I could go back to work:eek:

Karmacat wrote: »

If you've got money left over, Goldie, then as Arkers says, you're doing fine - it's often the very elderly pensioners who have money left over, as they can't get out and about to spend, after all. For you to be in that situation now, you'll be fine. And as you say, there's significant extra money coming in soon. Do the sums again if it gives you reassurance, but it sounds fine.

I was still watching the X Factor the year Alexandra Burke won - she has an amazing voice. Not a professional who was slumming it, either, she was just a teenager working as a receptionist, I think. Excellent to hear that she's doing something like this

In the months before he died, my dad kept on handing over £1000's in cash, so I could pay it into his bank account. He'd been collecting his pension, but not spending it.

I think another thing that has been distorting how I look at spending is the holidays we've been having recently. We had a long holiday earlier this year, and will be away for even longer next year. In my mind, I'm think we'll be spending that much on holidays EVERY year! But we won't - next year will be the fulfilment of a life's ambition - after that, we'll go back to 'normal' holidays!

We're away in August for a 12 night cruise (which I probably wouldn't have booked if I knew we were going away for so long next year). But we're paying for the August holiday from interest earned, so that is reassuring.

Deep down, I know we're OK , but it's good to have somewhere to get these thoughts out in the open, amd to get reassurance from people who talk sense!

cbsexec

I usually read your posts goldiegirl and think you have a lovely balance to your life. You are right about the pensions board - it is frightening how much money some people think they need! It is also awful how many older people dont spend the money they have on making their life easier and more enjoyable - you only come this way once and you cant take it with you!

edinburgher

Nothing wrong with a wee wobble Goldie, you are staying the course and are very much on top of your finances

The sorts of comments you've made remind me a little of Ermine's writing over on the SLIS blog. So much of our identity is tied up in work and saving that it must be a serious upheaval to go the other way and accept that a) we're free and b) it's time to start enjoying the fruits of our labour.

Watty1

I think Ed may have made a great point. And Arkers did too. I wonder if it has really sunk in you have now "retired" and that might have caused your wobble.
You have done the sums, and you can make it work for you. Honestly you are inspirational

Goldiegirl

cbsexec wrote: »

I usually read your posts goldiegirl and think you have a lovely balance to your life. You are right about the pensions board - it is frightening how much money some people think they need! It is also awful how many older people dont spend the money they have on making their life easier and more enjoyable - you only come this way once and you cant take it with you!

Hi, thanks for posting, good to hear from you:)


I agree, it's always so sad when older people, who have savings, don't spend anything on their own comfort. Like in winter, when they sit there and freeze, rather than put the heating on. It's bad for their health for one thing. I won't be cold in my own house - if it's cold, the heating goes on.


I do try to balance the spending and the saving. The main thing for me is, not to have any regrets later on. I don't want to miss experiences, because I didn't want to spend the money.


It can be a tightrope, and although I've had a wobble, I haven't fallen off just yet!

edinburgher wrote: »

Nothing wrong with a wee wobble Goldie, you are staying the course and are very much on top of your finances

The sorts of comments you've made remind me a little of Ermine's writing over on the SLIS blog. So much of our identity is tied up in work and saving that it must be a serious upheaval to go the other way and accept that a) we're free and b) it's time to start enjoying the fruits of our labour.

I spent 38 years at work, earning for the present day and the future, and I've only been retired 18 months, so it is very new. I think I have accepted that I'm free - I no longer think about what I'd be doing if I was at work etc. But, yes, after saving for so long, it's strange that the focus is more on enjoyment and spending.

Watty1 wrote: »

I think Ed may have made a great point. And Arkers did too. I wonder if it has really sunk in you have now "retired" and that might have caused your wobble.
You have done the sums, and you can make it work for you. Honestly you are inspirational

thank you, that is an amazing thing to say. I don't feel very inspirational, but if there's just a few people who feel encouraged that 'normal' people can retire a bit early, then I'm more than happy

Goldiegirl

Well, I had to stop 'wobbling' today, as we've upgraded Mr Goldie's mobile phone.


It was getting to the point that it was very pressing, as his previous one was 11 years old.


I upgraded last year, and now he has a better iPhone than me at a lower monthly cost, although half the monthly data allowance than me.


We've managed to get him set up with an apple ID etc, but, as he's not used to using touch screen devices, it was a bit of a kerfuffle!


But, it all seems to be sorted out - now he's just got to get used to it.


I'm slightly alarmed about the weather forecast - there appears to be torrential rain and storms headed straight for us.


Looks like a disturbed night ahead