It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

SouthCoastBoy

vulcanrtb said:

Bravepants said:

vulcanrtb said:

Sea_Shell said:

Guys....come on!!!!

Please don't take my thread off topic.

Many thanks

You definitely started the thread. But it's not yours, this is a public forum and conversations naturally steer one way or another as they develop. 

Wrong! It IS Sea_Shell's thread, and I and others consider it to be an important one.

It is a thread based on the premise of providing a clear example of the progress of one member of public's progress during her, and her partner's, journey into their retirement years. I have the thread bookmarked because I find what people have to say about the subject of the thread important enough to read.

Politely disagree, nobody owns a thread. 95% of the chat is about the original intention, a little weaving here and there does no harm.
Anyway, I'll go back to lurking!

I tend to agree, a forum is just that, an open area that is can be used for debate. Often diaries of one's life are fulfilled by a blog rather than a forum.

ussdave

Also agreed with the above.  But I'm just a mostly lurker too.

michaels

Equally it would be a shame if sea_shell felt the thread had veered irredeemably off topic and didn't bother to post any more.  WE are all able to create a new thread on a different topic if that is what we wish to discuss.

ussdave

That's also a fair point.

ex-pat_scot

The strength of this (and similar) threads is in the continuity - indeed it is a long running thread and can be read sequentially as a guide to the journeys she and others have taken. 

I really value threads of this nature, as distinct from the "specific question and response" main style of threads.

There is a place for a blog, and it can generate a modicum of debate (such as Ermine's SLIS musings and the fantastic comments they generate), but this thread and others such as MarineLife are the real beating heart of this forum, and I'd love them to maintain broad relevance and integrity.

nigelbb

cfw1994 said:

Sea_Shell said:

nigelbb said:

For some reason I have had email notification of the last few replies. I have never had email notification of replies to forum threads before. I have looked through preferences etc but cannot see anywhere to switch email notification off or on.

Does anyone know how I can control this?

I have no idea, other than to look in all your settings and preferences?!?   I've not changed anything my end.   Maybe ask in the "feedback" section?

Maybe you ticked the ‘bookmark’ tag at the top right of the thread, and have notifications set to tell you - see in the notifications (bell) at the top….

Thanks. That was it. I must have accidentally clicked on the ‘bookmark’ tag & by default you get notified of replies to bookmarked threads. I never knew that was there. Could be useful.

Sea_Shell

nigelbb said:

cfw1994 said:

Sea_Shell said:

nigelbb said:

For some reason I have had email notification of the last few replies. I have never had email notification of replies to forum threads before. I have looked through preferences etc but cannot see anywhere to switch email notification off or on.

Does anyone know how I can control this?

I have no idea, other than to look in all your settings and preferences?!?   I've not changed anything my end.   Maybe ask in the "feedback" section?

Maybe you ticked the ‘bookmark’ tag at the top right of the thread, and have notifications set to tell you - see in the notifications (bell) at the top….

Thanks. That was it. I must have accidentally clicked on the ‘bookmark’ tag & by default you get notified of replies to bookmarked threads. I never knew that was there. Could be useful.

You mean you hadn't bookmarked this thread on purpose!!!   

Oh well, you're here now. 

DairyQueen

SS may be the lowest spending contributor on the pensions forum and I am interested to see how this is achieved as, in my wildest dreams, we couldn't come close to matching SS's frugality.

It may be helpful for those of limited retirement means to see how a couple are able to live a fulfilling lifestyle whilst spending much below the recommended 'comfort' level. SS is also in the 'FIRE' category so is able to demonstrate how she and spouse are managing a retirement income likely to last 40+ years.

I am happy to see the thread go OT from time-to-time. Indeed, marine_life's 'The number' thread regularly did so, and without detriment to the original concept.

DairyQueen

Stubod said:

Pre covid we always shopped at Aldi, love their products and prices. However as covid kicked in we changed to online shopping at Tesco, which to be fair has been a positive experience. (Hardly any substitutions, very friendly delivery staff, and despite booking a 4 hour slot we always get a call to confirm the actual delivery time which hardly ever varies).

Yes they are probably more expensive than Aldi, (although they do have a lot of "Aldi price match" items), but it only takes about 20 mins on the computer to "do your shopping", there is no car usage, (our regular Aldi is a 20 mile / 45min drive away, so probably saves £10 on car costs?). They turn up and we have everything sorted and packed away in another 10 mins. So with another "wave" of Covid about to hit us I think we will be staying with Tesco for the time being!...(There are other on-line supermarkets available....but Tesco seem to have it cracked.....).

I have been online with Tesco for well over a decade, and Waitrose for 5+ years. All the reasons you give apply, plus I hate supermarket shopping. Guaranteed to make me grumpy and Covid added an extra disincentive to in-person shopping in crowded places.

Having a history with Waitrose came into its own during lockdown as I was able to book delivery slots with them when Tesco were booked solid for months on end. Yes, Waitrose prices are generally higher but they offer some goods that we like and that the others don't supply.

I recently added Asda to my list of online grocery suppliers. Their prices are good for some of our basics and they offer the best choice of fresh fish. They also offer next day delivery slots in our very rural area and that's a rare offering in the Covid world. Delivery service is not as good as Tesco or Waitrose but horses for courses.

We also use local suppliers for bread, eggs, meat and greengrocery. That's a shopping experience I am happy to continue.

enthusiasticsaver

DairyQueen said:

SS may be the lowest spending contributor on the pensions forum and I am interested to see how this is achieved as, in my wildest dreams, we couldn't come close to matching SS's frugality.

It may be helpful for those of limited retirement means to see how a couple are able to live a fulfilling lifestyle whilst spending much below the recommended 'comfort' level. SS is also in the 'FIRE' category so is able to demonstrate how she and spouse are managing a retirement income likely to last 40+ years.

I am happy to see the thread go OT from time-to-time. Indeed, marine_life's 'The number' thread regularly did so, and without detriment to the original concept.

I find this thread interesting for the same reason.  We spend a lot more than SS but it is within our budget and not a great deal different to our lifestyle when working except we have more spare time so hobbies and activities, holidays etc have taken the time our working hours used to fill.  I would like to think we still get value for money though.  We have had an expensive country club membership for the last 20 years or so because we go there a lot both on our own, together and with family and friends.  We have changed our membership to off peak though as cheaper and would rather go during the week rather than weekends or evenings. I also wonder how much earlier we could have retired had we been able to live a cheaper lifestyle but for us money was not the only motivator in deciding when to take early retirement.  Basically we both retired when we were fed up with work rather than reaching a determinate level of income in retirement. 

Whilst I think it is ok for threads to go OT I think ultimately SS should have the final say on this as this is essentially her retirement diary thread.  People can always start their own thread if they want to discuss something specific.