The Big Adventure

gallygirl

I suppose the important thing is how they lived before they retired - they could have been salting quite a bit away. Am guessing you don't think that is the case though?

Goldiegirl

I think they've been fairly careful with their money, but I don't think they saved huge amounts.

When they bought their house, they borrowed about £20000, so after a few years this was a small mortgage and they never borrowed more, and she's always cooked from scratch.

The husband was in a similar line of work to Mr Goldie, so I don't think he earned a lot more the him.

But they sent their son to a private school, so that must have cost a bit (perhaps the maternal grandparents paid for it, it's a thought), but even when the son was growing up there were several holidays - they managed to get to Australia twice, there was the 2 weeks in the time share, and other holidays including Centre Parcs.

I sense they were careful with the money they had, but weren't adverse to spending it to enjoy life, which is a good way to live

It just makes me curious - were they just lucky, or was there a plan that I can't work out.

Each time we see them, which is about three times a year, I wonder about it,as they've always had a holiday to tell us about or lots of other activities weren't exactly cheap.

I'll forget about it tomorrow, but I always have a ponder after we see them, and I've never quite worked out their financial strategy

Karmacat

How fascinating! I wish we *did* talk more in real life. Maybe they'd be encouraged to talk if they knew you weren't coming from a position of scoffing, or of weakness either? You know the sort of thing - we have our plan, and its working well, I'm wondering about what I can add to it, and I've always admired the things you do, wondering how similar our plans are.

Doesn't work, does it Sorry!

Mind you ... check out rightmove for the prices of houses in Hammersmith :eek: they could've spent £100k recently and still have half a mill in the bank :rotfl:

My sister's kids went to private school because teachers who teach in them get free places for their kids, usually. And yes, lots of grandparents pay.

misscousinitt

Christmas Card writing???? What's that???? Haven't even bought any yet!

Countdown commencing on work for you - so jealous....

MCI

Goldiegirl

Hi MCI, nice to see you posting again

Doesn't work, does it Sorry!

Mind you ... check out rightmove for the prices of houses in Hammersmith :eek: they could've spent £100k recently and still have half a mill in the bank :rotfl:

In online life, it'd be the easiest thing in the world to ask.... but in real life I just couldn't imagine asking!:rotfl:


Although, the people I'm friends with that I've met through work are more open about money than most people. This is probably because we all banked and had our mortgages with our employers, so we had no secrets!


Hammersmith house prices are shocking. It was one of those cases where the parents bought the house in the late 40's or early 50's for a few hundred pounds, and then stayed there for the next 60 years, as the area gradually gentrified.


I've been doing a rather improbable amount of spending myself today.


Firstly we got a pair of gloves for Mr Goldie so he can wear them on holiday in a couple of weeks time. This is a 'needs' purchase. He has only one other pair of gloves, about 30 years old and are now falling apart.


Then I paid the balance of our holiday in March.


Then, we booked a short cruise to Amsterdam and Antwerp in September.:eek:


We seem to be a bit over excited about our freedom, and keep booking things.


I expect we'll calm down after a few months:rotfl:

JHH1982

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Each time we see them, which is about three times a year, I wonder about it,as they've always had a holiday to tell us about or lots of other activities weren't exactly cheap.

Maybe next time you can plan the meet to have 'drinks' - get them pittled and then ask away :rotfl:

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Good idea. Wine will help. But my guess is the inheritance being the clincher. i always think that it is a huge unfairness that some people muddle along and mess up and then have everything smoothed out for them with an inheritance while others have to do it all for themselves. But life isn't fair, and we should all know that by the time we reach retirement..... But I still continue to grumble about it....:j

Karmacat

And it *is* exciting to pootle around the continent

Laughing at the idea of getting your friends tiddled and making them tell you all their secrets ... talking of which, have you seen the page on firestarter where he lists all the FI blogs/websites he knows? I spent a couple of hours doing old fashioned web surfing!

Goldiegirl

:rotfl::rotfl: yes, getting them sozzled might help them spill the beans :rotfl:

In the end, all we can do is play the hand we were dealt, and if we are sensible, try to improve our lot.

There's always the what-ifs. Mr Goldie's parents were given the chance buy their maisonette at a very low price, which they declined. This maisonette happened to be in Battersea, so you can imagine what that's worth now! But there's no point in thinking 'if only they had bought the property'. (Although it would have been nice!)

I haven't looked at Firestarter much at all, as yet. I will get round to him at some point - it's always interesting to read about FI.

Goldiegirl

Mr Goldie wasn't at work yesterday as he was taking some of the lieu time that he's owed. But he probably won't get a chance to take any more of the time, so he'll end up getting paid for it ( which will be handy).

I did a pile of ironing yesterday, but no other housework related stuff.

Between now and noon I'm going to hit as much of the housework as possible, to get it out of the way.

Then I'll have a quick lunch and head off to the hairdressers. I'm having a cut and colour done, to get ready for my holiday, so more money will be spent.

I used to have my colour done every three months, but the last time I had it done was June, so I have cut down in this area. But it's all grown out now, and my hair is a dull mouse splodge, and I can see grey hair. Yuck!

Must get on, otherwise I'll sit here for another hour browsing MSE:rotfl: