We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
How much do you spend in retirement ?
Comments
-
Albermarle said:Whilst I will maintain that, relative to my professional peer group, I have a pretty modest existence, it is nonetheless one that many (most?) would consider wildly extravagant. And yet at the same time I get a small thrill from being MSE in some ways. I haggle ruthlessly on holidays, phone contracts, broadband, TV and the like. I exploit TopCashback, credit cards and other rewards wherever possible, and a few years back I even played the 'bank switching' game for a bit of fun.
I do not think being an active MSE, is necessarily related to the real need to do it.
Many people who do not really need to do it ( like you ) are very active, whilst many people who really should do it ( low income etc) do not do it .
It's more to do with your personality than anything else.
I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£451.50
Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£124501 -
enthusiasticsaver said:I would agree with this. I have always looked for deals and researched but we do not do cheap for the sake of cheap. So we look for bargains or deals on 4 or 5 star hotels. We look for rewards wherever possible and haggle on insurances and utilities but when it comes to holidays we like to treat ourselves and fly premium or go for the luxury cabin. We do not really need to save money on these things but old habits die hard and the more we save on some things the more we can spend on others so we like luxury holidays and nice restaurants rather than cheap although we will do that too if they are a good bargain.I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Pensions, Annuities & Retirement Planning, Loans
& Credit Cards boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.1 -
chiefie said:For those that love business class - remember in a plane crash it’s better to be at the back 😂
We sat in row 13 and the guy behind said "you're brave, I would never sit in Row 13"
I just said that if my row was going down, that there was a pretty good chance his was as well.3 -
fred246 said:The whole idea of business class is that you only do it because someone else is paying. It's not meant for retired people. It's nice but very poor value for money.
We have been using BC as we approached retirement. And we will try and fly BC from here on. You can get very good prices if you are a little bit flexible.
It may be poor value for you, but not for many. Personal choice.0 -
Oh dear, one throwaway comment from me a few pages back and this has now turned into a pseudo travel threadIt is however fascinating how polarising and socially divisive the subject of premium versus economy travel on planes can be. As others have said, the price can be managed down very effectively by being flexible (plus use of airline miles, indirect routings etc), so to me it's just more of being MSE - getting what I see as good value for money.My body is not one that appreciates small seats for any length of time, and it's a simple fact that airlines have made those small seats even smaller over the years. When I die and get reincarnated as a sardine then and only then I'll see you down the back!3
-
ratechaser said:Oh dear, one throwaway comment from me a few pages back and this has now turned into a pseudo travel threadIt is however fascinating how polarising and socially divisive the subject of premium versus economy travel on planes can be. As others have said, the price can be managed down very effectively by being flexible (plus use of airline miles, indirect routings etc), so to me it's just more of being MSE - getting what I see as good value for money.My body is not one that appreciates small seats for any length of time, and it's a simple fact that airlines have made those small seats even smaller over the years. When I die and get reincarnated as a sardine then and only then I'll see you down the back!
1 -
I would rather spend my money at the destination rather than paying for an expensive journey. It's nice to experience business class but once you've done it there's no need to keep repeating it. You realise the freebies are really cheap in comparison to the extra that you pay. I am fit and healthy and there's no need to pay a fortune for a few extra inches. I have had some really nice conversations with people I have never met before in economy. I have never done that in business class.2
-
I am fit and healthy - I am also tall so spending multiple hours with the net pattern of the seat pocket in front embedded in my knees does not lead to a happy first day or 2 of my holiday. Everyone has different ideas on what they value.I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Pensions, Annuities & Retirement Planning, Loans
& Credit Cards boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.3 -
MallyGirl said:I am fit and healthy - I am also tall so spending multiple hours with the net pattern of the seat pocket in front embedded in my knees does not lead to a happy first day or 2 of my holiday. Everyone has different ideas on what they value.
The only things I would suggest that are not worth it are illegal 'things' and tobacco, everything else is up to the individual and how they spend their money.1 -
I thought we were on a money saving site. If you want to go somewhere how do you save money getting there. Going business class is exactly the opposite. That would be for the money wasting site.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.5K Life & Family
- 258.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards