Interesting reads.

Legacy_user

I continue to find these forums relevant and interesting. However I find the posts of those with average pensions and savings discussing their plans the most absorbing. I suppose that is because their situations are closer to mine. People giving detail too is fascinating. I know everything is relative but just stating my preferences.
I have thought of suggesting that there should be a section on the Pensions Board and maybe the Saving Board for people with everyday amounts to deal with who are asking for advice or discussing their plans.
Thanks again to all posters for their advice and ideas.

ianjean

glad you enjoy reading through theme too!

Broken_Biscuits

i do pop on this board as its the retirement board, but there's very few posts about early retirement. Wasn't there a plan to make a specific thread section for this?

early retirement and frugal living for people on normal ish wages. That's what id like to see.

dunstonh

i do pop on this board as its the retirement board, but there's very few posts about early retirement.

The content is controlled by what people type in their posts. If there is a lack of early retirement posts then that would suggest there is no demand for content of that type.

Wasn't there a plan to make a specific thread section for this?

Awful idea personally. Although if it keeps the diaries in one section away from the interesting stuff then that would be good. Then only those that are interested in such things can see them and not let them pollute this forum.

early retirement and frugal living for people on normal ish wages. That's what id like to see.

The existing forums already cater for that. These is no such thing really as early retirement. You retire when you choose to retire. To be early or late would suggest a defined age but that is not the case.

Financial planning is knowing what you need and when you want it by and setting your goals for that date/amount and being aware of what could go wrong and then adapting it over time as long term plans rarely happen as planned. You dont need a new forum section for any of that as the existing suffice.

Broken_Biscuits

thanks for the warm welcome dunston.

most of the content on frugal living is connected to those in debt in dfw boards. Most will not want to share the experiences of someone saving hundreds of thousands while they struggle on to clear debts.

one of my good friends is in debt. We don't talk about money as its clear they are very resentful and angry about other peoples positions.

talk of early retirement seems much better placed here to me.

OldBeanz

To me it is the question of planning. Most of the people on here are either here to plan or are in the process of being able to take their pensions in the next few years having planned. I compare many of the money saving threads to the behaviour of bulimics.
Mr Micawber's philosophy on money still holds but perhaps more than 2.5% free to put into a pension.

agarnett

OldBeanz wrote: »

To me it is the question of planning.

I would rather suggest it is the question of end-game management of assets which some happily find themselves holding, not so much through prior planning, but through having taken a lucky route through their careers. Long term public sector survivors are a particular breed in mind. The Micawbers of this world if you like.

There are of course others, who have found themselves more able to control their earning capacity, and thus more easily than most, their disposable incomes, and simultaneously they are perhaps the same types who have spare time to think long term about optimising their own wealth.

I compare many of the money saving threads to the behaviour of bulimics.

I think I know what you mean, but I still find it a tad too harsh to describe most other MSE'ers. The Micawber analogy is more acceptable I think, although with only 6d. disposable on an annual income of £20 I was never sure where he got his pension in the end! Was it a gilt-edged non-contributory index-linked final salary jobbie? Do I need to read that book again before I take mine? I only ever got Grade 3 in English Lit O'level so maybe I do

Freecall

What are 'everyday amounts'?

The one thing that we can all learn from reading posts on here is that while there may be a numerically average pension there is no typical pension.

One minute there is a post from someone in their late 50's wanting to know what to do with their £15k pension savings and then the next there is somebody trying to wrestle with their LTA.

I suppose that we all gain from reading of the experiences of others, whatever they might be.

DancingBadger

Reading the posts on this board often confuses me as to my own situation; one minute I'm feeling comparatively wealthy and the next thinking I don't have enough. It's all relative, I guess.

That said, the breadth of knowledge of the regular posters on this board is breath-taking and I appreciate the way in which it's freely given, even to the rudest and most crass of posters.

jamesd

Broken_Biscuits wrote: »

i do pop on this board as its the retirement board, but there's very few posts about early retirement. Wasn't there a plan to make a specific thread section for this?

Most people retire before state pension age. Early retirement is just normal retirement planning. The section was proposed by those who like diaries. The problem is the diaries, which tend to drown out other discussions. Useful as diaries but they flood other discussions. So if the new section happens it'll be a place for diaries and where MSE moves other topics to kill them.

Broken_Biscuits wrote: »

early retirement and frugal living for people on normal ish wages. That's what id like to see.

Early retirement is fine here and regularly discussed, just not with that title because it's normal retirement planning. Frugal living outside the debt context is discussed on the Old-fashioned moneysaving board.

I don't know what you'd consider to be early retirement but I still work even though I reached my initial financial independence thresholds before I reached fifty, in something between six and eight years from a zero start and with assets that are now more than 90% of my net pay plus gross pension contributions over the period. It's routine for me to discuss the sorts of things I do in discussions with others though I choose not to have an ongoing topic dedicated to just me or just that particular age or timespan.

If you want more of something, just start the topic)s). Nobody compels particular discussions (except MSE if they move topics) so if you want it, start it and see how it goes.

Goldiegirl

Freecall wrote: »

What are 'everyday amounts'?

I think 'everyday amounts' vary from person to person - it generally means amounts you personally can identify with.

DancingBadger wrote: »

Reading the posts on this board often confuses me as to my own situation; one minute I'm feeling comparatively wealthy and the next thinking I don't have enough. It's all relative, I guess.

I started to feel like that as well, so I took a step back from reading too many posts. I think the important thing is to look at your own life. Most people want to maintain their lifestyle after they give up work to a similar level as when they were working, and hopefully some money put by for holidays that they had always dreamed of.


High earners will need a big pension pot to maintain their life - but the average earner won't need to have so much, so they shouldn't try to compare themselves to high flyers.


I think there is a place on MSE for 'retirement planning' diaries.


I also think that this board, or a sub board of the Pensions board is absolutely not the place for it. The regulars seem quite hostile to the idea of diaries (even in this thread the words 'bulimic' and 'pollute' have been used) unless it's Marine Life's diary.


I wouldn't feel comfortable with having a diary around these parts - I think MSE would be better off having a separate section for Retirement planning diaries and not have it as part of this board


However, I think this board is excellent for information, facts and figures, and I have learnt a lot, and have been given some great ideas.