Quote - "Cut pensioner benefits now, they won't be around by next election"

moneyistooshorttomention

Me - I wouldn't want older than 85 (the average will do me) and that will get revised downwards if my genetic inheritance catches up with me. I doubt there are many people with worse genetic inheritance:( - as all my family have appalling health that I wouldn't put up with a fraction of.

Guess that means I'd better go about 70 personally - as I guess its harder to "fight off" genetic odds after that..:cool:

There is a snag to that - in that I'm likely to have spent little (if any) time being financially straight at all in this lifetime if I go at that age. I'm still not straight yet and my projections are that I'll be about 70 by the time I've scraped the money together from pension to get my house completely finished:(:mad::( and can just get on and keep my income for myself iyswim.

LessonLearned - you're "owed some" - ie many years of enjoying life after the way things have been for you in recent years. Glad to hear you're well on the way to getting your health problems sorted out and it all sounds positive for your future to me.:)

lessonlearned

Ah thanks, Money - you are very kind.

Yes I'm feeling so much better now. I miss my husband and my mum but their deaths really were for the best so in a sense it was easy to let them go. I just feel that death "set them free" iyswim.

Life is looking a little bit rosier these days, the future holds promise once more.

My eldest son has met a lovely girl and gets married next year. I know they want children so hopefully one day there will be babies for me to cuddle and help care for.

The circle of life and all that.

In the meantime there's plenty to keep me busy and amused.

Our little cat got hurt quite badly last night and had to be left overnight at the vets. Fingers crossed. He is a stray who came into our lives the week my husband died so he's very special.

Soppy I know but he's family now.

pollypenny

lessonlearned wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your high risk of MD. At least you know the risk factor so you can try and outsmart your genetic inheritance.

Dark green leafy vegetables, kale, collards etc, but especially raw spinach. Spinach contains lutein, essential for eye health but particularly good for protecting against MD.

Eat as much spinach as can stand, try and aim for one portion a day. If you dont like it bung it in a smoothie and disguise with berries.

Nuts, and plenty of omega 3 rich foods.

Protect your eyes from sunlight, so good quality sunnies. and if you smoke, quit.

My genetic inheritance is diabetes 2. I'm 64 and so far all clear but I now watch my diet like a hawk. I saw what diabetes did to my mum and I am determined not to go down that route.

I'm also at risk of deafness too - all those loud Rock concerts didn't help .......:rotfl: I have noticed a slight dip already so I'm thinking of learning lip reading and sign language. In fact I think I already lip read a bit, my hearing seems worse when I take my glasses off. :rotfl::rotfl:

The joys of getting older.......but......it sure beats the alternative.

Thanks, Ll.

I'm vegetarian so dark green veg are my staples anyway.

I wear reactolite specs, which shade very promptly even if I pop out to the line in winter. I've noticed that many spec wearers have dark lens in winter, which is important since the sun is low.

My cousin spent some of her retirement lump sum treating herself to replacement lens in her eyes. She no longer wears specs and looks great. However, I prefer the safeguard of glass lens, which darken.

I used to nag DS about protection, as he lived in Florida. Now he wears glasses all the time, so they darken anyway.

On a positive note, my friend a neighbour is 86 and a whizz kid. She takes super holidays every year, Japan the most recent, and she is my role model.

merrydance

Did anybody listen to the Radio 5 programme this morning about how the older generation had betrayed the younger, very interesting listening. Yes you scrimped and saved to buy your house, but there were many more council houses available then than there are now, so easier to pay cheap rent and then hey presto, buy it at a later date at a knock down price and make a killing especially if you managed to get one in London. Companies do not offer such lucrative pensions now even if you could afford to pay into one.

moneyistooshorttomention

I doubt anyone isn't aware of the ways in which life is harder financially for younger people. This thread is just about what hopes/plans the Tories might have for pensioners though.

Goodness knows - I was only reading an article this morning about some academic or other stating that a large percentage of jobs are becoming "outdated" and people may have to swop job/career quite a few times in their life. It seemed to boil down to him thinking that would end up prolonging their worklife - as he was on about "people should be prepared to work to 100":eek::eek::eek:.

Not that many people live to 100 and I doubt anyone would at all if they had to carry on working regardless - they'd die from being worn out basically.

lessonlearned

Money - it depends on the job.

Fireman, builder, airline pilot - maybe no, fire safety officer, architect, pilot trainer - maybe yes.

But lawyer, academic, doctor, business owner etc - then no reason why not.

Maybe not full time but as a consultant or just a few hours a week it could be perfectly doable and also very beneficial.

Look,at how many actors, entertainers, writers etc just keep going and going, some getting just better and better with age.

Even The Rolling Stones, a Bunch of geriatrics some of whom ought to be dead, keep packing them in at the stadiums.

I once worked as a legal secretary for a very senior partner. He was 82 and as sharp as a blade. He averaged about 20 hours a week, most of which seemed to be long liquid lunches with clients. :rotfl:

I think the right kind of work can help keep us fit and active.

I was offered a job recently but turned it down - im too busy at the moment. :rotfl:

But I was thinking about it yesterday and once ive moved and got everything ship shape I might well reconsider, even if it's just part time.

My career was based on using my brain, and my communication skills, nothing particularly physical so I reckon I could still pass muster.

Now that I'm a widow and once I am living alone i think it will be good for me.

lessonlearned

Just heard from the vet my poor little cat has a broken pelvis and needs surgery. Poor baby.

Dilly

I agree. I had 3 jobs to save for the deposit for my basement Victorian converted flat. I went without cars holidays social events to save. Having got the property I then had to furnish it. Couldn't afford anything like IKEA, so second hand and other gifts were what I had to make use of
Unfortunately todays young housebuyers expect all their social lives, holidays, cars and gadgets, plus everything new to furnish the home. I'm not saying its not hard to get on the property ladder today, BUT I didn't have it easy and nothing was given to me on a plate, which is the common assumption today from generation rent

p00hsticks

Alter_ego wrote: »

Interested to hear that, how can my OH get her bus pass before SP age? Forgive me if it's based on something other than age.

Alter_ego wrote: »

OK found it, we have to move to Scotland, Wales or NI

Well actually, we're in England, but my OH is male - so he gets a bus pass and Winter Fuel Allowance when he reaches the age where he woudl be eligible for SP if he was a woman...

p00hsticks

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I can understand buspass before SP age - I just assumed she's somewhere like Wales perhaps (where it comes at 60).

I would be interested to know how someone can get the Winter Fuel Allowance money before State Pension Age though. I shall shortly be reaching my revised SPA - but have been told I wont start getting my Winter Fuel Allowance money until next years payment . When I checked the government website on that - it gave a deadline date you have to be born before (before 5 January 1953) in order to get that payment this year and, if you're born after that date you don't get it this year (even if you're SPA).

We're in England, and my OH is male. He's recently had his 63rd birthday (born September 1952) , so would have reached SPA in March this year if he was a woman. Hence he's entitled to claim Winter WFA this year, even though he won't get his State Pension for another couple of years, and got his bus pass in March.