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

enthusiasticsaver

Just dropping in to say hello as we have been on an extended holiday in Canada this last month. Scary time in the markets at the moment but sounds like you are still doing ok @Sea_Shell. Are you drawing on your pot at the moment or living off a cash buffer? 

I did hear yesterday that unemployment is way down but numbers of people not looking for work has risen to an all time high. I put it down to all the baby boomers are probably now early retired or retired and maybe more people self employed who are unable to register for unemployment benefits.

Sea_Shell

enthusiasticsaver said:

Just dropping in to say hello as we have been on an extended holiday in Canada this last month. Scary time in the markets at the moment but sounds like you are still doing ok @Sea_Shell. Are you drawing on your pot at the moment or living off a cash buffer? 

I did hear yesterday that unemployment is way down but numbers of people not looking for work has risen to an all time high. I put it down to all the baby boomers are probably now early retired or retired and maybe more people self employed who are unable to register for unemployment benefits.

Hi @enthusiasticsaver

Yes the markets are a little scary at the moment.  Not just for us, but the wider economic picture emerging ☹️

I wouldn't like to still have a mortgage.

We're sort of in hybrid drawdown ATM.

We haven't paused it, but we have reinvested some months in ISAs (same fund) 

Aviva sell units on the 6th, for payment on the 20th, so we've used cash to also try and buy on the same day.  So as to make it seamless.

But yes, cash being deployed.  We have £50k.   New Santander account helps.

We're winging it, basically 😉


And yes, we're contributing to the "not looking for work" figures 😇


Operation Loo is underway! 

german_keeper

I felt a little warm glow inside when I watched the news and saw the "not looking for work figures" and realised I was one of them. Don't think I have ever been one of those "millions of people" mentioned on the news before.

jimi_man

We still have a mortgage but only because the interest rate is so low and we are on a fixed rate so it would cost to pay it off. We started it early this year at 1.65% and it's fixed for two years. Come March 2024 then we'll pay off the remainder.

michaels

enthusiasticsaver said:

Just dropping in to say hello as we have been on an extended holiday in Canada this last month. Scary time in the markets at the moment but sounds like you are still doing ok @Sea_Shell. Are you drawing on your pot at the moment or living off a cash buffer? 

I did hear yesterday that unemployment is way down but numbers of people not looking for work has risen to an all time high. I put it down to all the baby boomers are probably now early retired or retired and maybe more people self employed who are unable to register for unemployment benefits.

The stats say the main driver is sharply increased levels of ill health

Half a million missing workers show modern Britain’s failings | Financial Times (ft.com)

Sea_Shell

When you're out for an early morning run, the sun's shining and you jog past the queue of commuters sitting in their cars...

Priceless 😇😎

L9XSS

Sea_Shell said:

When you're out for an early morning run, the sun's shining and you jog past the queue of commuters sitting in their cars...

Priceless 😇😎

When I was between jobs (stressful middle management roles) for about 9 months, which was the only time in a 38 year career......i had a very similar moment, no weekly Monday conference call reviewing last weeks results.......and yes I was out jogging in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.....and yes that moment was priceless!

GazzaBloom

Sea_Shell said:

When you're out for an early morning run, the sun's shining and you jog past the queue of commuters sitting in their cars...

Priceless 😇😎

I long for the day, and it is coming, but I has resolved to enjoy the journey to the destination rather than wishing the days, weeks, months and last few years away, which is all too easy to do when you can see the chequered flag in sight.

NedS

GazzaBloom said:

Sea_Shell said:

When you're out for an early morning run, the sun's shining and you jog past the queue of commuters sitting in their cars...

Priceless 😇😎

I long for the day, and it is coming, but I has resolved to enjoy the journey to the destination rather than wishing the days, weeks, months and last few years away, which is all too easy to do when you can see the chequered flag in sight.

That's a great attitude to have. Unfortunately I find myself becoming ever more disgruntled as the finishing line gets closer, so will try to take a leaf out of your book and look for the positives.

GazzaBloom

NedS said:

GazzaBloom said:

Sea_Shell said:

When you're out for an early morning run, the sun's shining and you jog past the queue of commuters sitting in their cars...

Priceless 😇😎

I long for the day, and it is coming, but I has resolved to enjoy the journey to the destination rather than wishing the days, weeks, months and last few years away, which is all too easy to do when you can see the chequered flag in sight.

That's a great attitude to have. Unfortunately I find myself becoming ever more disgruntled as the finishing line gets closer, so will try to take a leaf out of your book and look for the positives.

It can be tough, sometimes I sit in meetings, where everyone is so engaged and takes it so seriously and I just think it's meaningless tosh and just want to get away and sit in my back garden and listen to the wind in the trees. 

I just sigh and fake enthusiasm.

If I'm not careful I find myself becoming more disengaged and resentful of the time I am having taken from me, but I have to snap myself out of that kind of thinking, put everything in perspective and look for satisfaction and enjoyment where I can, remembering that it's the money I am earning that is paying the salary sacrifice pension contributions, and is the key to unlocking the door.

I try to forget about retirement and think about what I can do next weekend, what meal I can cook, where we can go, what movie we can watch, at work I look at filling my time and being busy so I have less time to ponder but I do make time to read and post on MSE!