Those Things you do...

ianthy

After taking a career break for 3 years, I officially retired this year and I expect OH to retire in the next 2 years. To be honest we are still developing our interests. I think our biggest spend will be on travel and we have ring fenced a travel budget to ensure that we can do it and not worry about the impact on other costs. The next few years will be taken up with a house move/downsizing and renovation works on the new house.

Husband
Technology – new gadgets
Wine
Online projects and interests
Exercise

Me
Exercise - Walking and Gym – I use Pure Gyms – it’s not as good as Virgin Gyms but I like the no contract - low cost deal.
Gardening – it’s small 30 mins a week would do it
Language classes
Interior design
Reading
Theatre

Finances - I (try to) stay within a monthly budget but after what seems like a lifetime of saving, I don't worry too much if I go over budget now and again.

Joint
Walking
Travelling - holidays form a very large part of the budget. We have a long list of places to visit our bigger trips are South America, Japan, USA and South Africa.
Holiday home – owned it for 12 years. We completed the major works/projects while we were working but expect the usual DIY in retirement. We plan to sell our holiday home in our mid 60’s and purchase a holiday apt.
Eating out - we like The Ivy but also we also love Wetherspoons too!
DIY – does it ever go away? Due to downsizing into a newly renovated home, we expect DIY costs to be kept to a minimum for the first 5 years at least.
Visiting friends and family
Cinema – depending on what’s on we could go once a week – Monday is half price at our local Vue cinema.
Subscriptions – we try to keep these to a min – but we enjoy the FT, Times and Moneyweek.

I think about 50% of our income is spent on leisure time which we are comfortable with. In later years i suspect this spend to reduce and more will be spent on care etc.,

fatbeetle

I forgot a major one of ours. Should finances work out, we'll be buying a decent campervan. As my wife is an Aussie, I'll be delighted to show her how bloody amazing and varied the UK is, as well as continental excursions in it

OldMusicGuy

Interesting thread, good to see many people with similar approaches to retirement. I have so many hobbies and interests that I will still struggle to find time to do them all, but right now I hardly have time for any of them!

Mine:
Music - like several others have already posted, I am a home recording nerd. I write and record my own music which varies from prog rock to punk and electronica.

Model making - I make model aircraft and military miniatures (grew up with Airfix in the 60s and never grew out of it).

Classic cars - I have a 1971 Alfa which I try to drive as much as possible and love going to classic car events and meets.

Reading - military history, sci fi and the classics.

My wife:
Cooking - seriously into healthy, sustainable food and cooking (which will be very important in keeping us healthy).

Interior design and soft furnishings - has been running a small business doing this

Gardening.

Shared interests:
Walking, having dogs and cats, house renovation (we will be downsizing and restoring a smaller house before we are both too old).

Although my hobbies can be expensive, they won't be when I retire because I have been stocking up on everything I need while the monthly income tap is still turned on. So I have been buying all kinds of music recording equipment, have had the Alfa restored where it needs it and have a cupboard full of unbuilt kits that will definitely take 10 to 20 years to build! What I need is the time to use these things rather than the income to buy them.

We plan to live a frugal, simple life when we are retired. No more expensive trips abroad (we have been everywhere we want to go so will focus on cheaper holidays in the UK in the classic car), no more fine dining (we prefer our own food to what we get in restaurants these days). I also plan to spend a lot of time focusing on staying healthy, so lots of brisk walks, meditating and relaxation stuff. That takes up quite a lot of time.

I know already that I won;t have enough time for all of this, so that's why I don't plan on any form of work to "give me a purpose". But of course YMMV, nothing wrong with that!

crv1963

fatbeetle wrote: »

I forgot a major one of ours. Should finances work out, we'll be buying a decent campervan. As my wife is an Aussie, I'll be delighted to show her how bloody amazing and varied the UK is, as well as continental excursions in it

Hi fatbeetle,


We to are aiming for a motorhome/ campervan. If you do get one may I suggest a visit to North Durham? I know everyone thinks that their part of the UK is the best but as my adult sons live in the South East when they stay with us we always do the "Treat your area like a tourist".

Some of the views and places are great and as it is off the main tourist areas not too busy. I'd suggest Durham City, Hexham and Corbridge, the A689 through Stanhope up to Alston and if you time it right go to the Kynren show on a summer weekend at Bishop Auckland.


Off post I know but felt I'd share anyway as people do miss a real treat of a hidden gem! No my work is in no way linked to tourism or the hospitality trades!


CRV

atush

EdSwippet wrote: »

US citizen(s)?

If no, then you will want to be sure that you limit your stays so that you remain under the 'substantial presence test' to avoid a world of tax pain when the US treats you as tax residents. If yes, of course no restriction on US visits, but then all of the tax nightmares associated with US citizenship anyway (in which case, my sympathies!).

I am yes. And my world of tax pain is worlwide- no matter where i live- even a tax haven.

Terron

Snakey wrote: »

I hesitate to put words in Terron's mouth because who knows what s/he's into (and more power to him/her as long as it's consensual, safe and all that), but when I read it I assumed tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. A surprising number of such groups exist, I've been in several over the years. I would absolutely join another if I didn't have to rush there straight after work/get up early the next morning.

You are right.
Sorry Bugslet, There are Role Playing Games which feature Rocket Propelled Grenades, but I am not currently playing one. Currently I am playing a dwarf in a party working their way through the Pathfinder Adventure Path Guantslayer. We play once a month on a Sunday.

bugslet

Best of both worlds Terron!

And to echo dev, North Durham is amazing, particularly the less populated areas, you feel as if there are hardly any people in England.

greenglide

go to the Kynren show

We were at the Kynren show in August and it was really good.

There are some nice parts of County Durham despite it being the wrong side of the river (the Tyne, that is). Can't beat what is between the Tyne and the Scottish Borders!

fatbeetle

crv1963 wrote: »

Hi fatbeetle,
If you do get one may I suggest a visit to North Durham? Some of the views and places are great and as it is off the main tourist areas not too busy. I'd suggest Durham City, Hexham and Corbridge, the A689 through Stanhope up to Alston and if you time it right go to the Kynren show on a summer weekend at Bishop Auckland.

CRV

Cheers CRV, funnily enough it's an area I have never visited, and one which is high on my list!

Wednesday2000

I like this thread!:)

I especially liked the idea of looking at your home town like you were a tourist on holiday. I was in central London for the first time in ages the other day and kept noticing tourists stopping and taking photos. I should slow down next time and see what they are finding so interesting!

There are historic buildings in my local area that I have never visited too! Lots of free things to do when you include parks as well.