How much to live on

Savvy_Sue

We live near The Wave and yesterday a friend and I decided to go and check out their cafe! The view of the surfers from inside the cafe wasn't that great, admittedly, but there is an unheated but enclosed area outside where you can take your drinks. We then walked around the water, admired the other facilities and 'features' available and agreed they're doing a good job. 

But we were not tempted to take up surfing ourselves - to progress from the 'beginner' class you need to be able to stand up for about 80% of waves, and I know it would take me some time to get from a prone position to standing on dry land, never mind on a wave!!! 

Plus, surfing in January? no thanks ... 

There are plans to open one in London too ... 

Roger175

Organgrinder said:

I've never been one who lived to work! I work to live. It's not that I don't enjoy what I do but if I had to choose between snowboarding down a mountain and being in work I know where I'd be.

Deciding to finish in two years is great. I feel comfortable knowing it can be done with every box ticked in terms of income, savings and so on.

Of course I still plan on stoozing, taking advantage of bank switching etc.  So much so I'm considering an Amex Gold card for one year if only for the airport lounge passes!

OG, definitely with you on that one. I'm a skier rather than snowboarder - we all tried snowboarding one year, but out of me and our 3 sons, only the youngest took to the snow board, the rest of us stick to our skies. We haven't been on a proper family ski holiday for 7 years now, but we've decided to treat the whole family next winter (me & my wife and 3 sons + wives/girlfriends). It won't be cheap, but then we can't take it with us, so what the hell. Like you, we have always done our own organising (separate flights, car hire, hotel etc). Incidentally, this will be our 38th time to the Alps (probably Austria, but undecided)

Organgrinder

Amazing. Sounds great.

I tried skiing once when my youngest learned. I just wasn't comfortable.

But arranging your own is great. 

My favourite place is Norway. Amazing place. Just take your own booze!!!

trevjl

Snowboarding not for me either and TBH I detest the things, but I wont rant on that.
Skiing my thing and been to the same village in Italy every year since 1987 (less one year when the Flu wiped it all out and resort closed in 2021), often more than once and in the summer too walking the mountains. Give me that any day over getting bored by the pool, although I have to do that too as under instructions from 'er indoors !!

Organgrinder

trevjl said:

Snowboarding not for me either and TBH I detest the things, but I wont rant on that.
Skiing my thing and been to the same village in Italy every year since 1987 (less one year when the Flu wiped it all out and resort closed in 2021), often more than once and in the summer too walking the mountains. Give me that any day over getting bored by the pool, although I have to do that too as under instructions from 'er indoors !!

Haha... me too!

Mrs O loves the heat and the pool. I love the cold and the slopes.

But hey, it works for us.

Organgrinder

For those of us not wholly reliant on CPI linked pensions the good people on the pensions board have mentioned the following.

https://james-shack.co.uk/retirement-planner-download

It's pretty good (albeit doesn't allow for a given retirement date, just whole years). 

I've put our figures into it and it is very encouraging. 

daz378

Started first steps setting up for partial retirement ...possible year in March...25 year DB only a 3rd unreduced... more likely Aug 26...broadband out contract..50 pound..2 year renew 30 pound a month...also posted on banking forum  whether I could set set up2nd current account with my main bank...to get 175 quid from First direct...without totally closing my Santander accounts...probably have to set up new current account with other bank...not going to be a multiple switcher  though...

FIREDreamer

Smudgeismydog said:

One of the things I did in the run up to retiring from work, was to salary sacrifice into my pension to such an extent I was living off my projected retirement income.
This has meant that as I moved into retirement I have not felt any difference in my income or standard of living. 

Similarly, though my DB and RPI annuity exceeds my work income by 50% as I salary sacrificed over 70% in the last 4 years. I haven’t felt so well off in years. I even have the gas central heating on! 😂😂😂

Haven’t touched my drawdown pot yet.

Post SPA I will be a 40% taxpayer.

Organgrinder

FIREDreamer said:

Smudgeismydog said:

One of the things I did in the run up to retiring from work, was to salary sacrifice into my pension to such an extent I was living off my projected retirement income.
This has meant that as I moved into retirement I have not felt any difference in my income or standard of living. 

Similarly, though my DB and RPI annuity exceeds my work income by 50% as I salary sacrificed over 70% in the last 4 years. I haven’t felt so well off in years. I even have the gas central heating on! 😂😂😂

Haven’t touched my drawdown pot yet.

Post SPA I will be a 40% taxpayer.

Omb...c'mon midffîld! Un o fy hoff raglenni erioed!

FIREDreamer

Organgrinder said:

YFIREDreamer said:

Smudgeismydog said:

One of the things I did in the run up to retiring from work, was to salary sacrifice into my pension to such an extent I was living off my projected retirement income.
This has meant that as I moved into retirement I have not felt any difference in my income or standard of living. 

Similarly, though my DB and RPI annuity exceeds my work income by 50% as I salary sacrificed over 70% in the last 4 years. I haven’t felt so well off in years. I even have the gas central heating on! 😂😂😂

Haven’t touched my drawdown pot yet.

Post SPA I will be a 40% taxpayer.

Omb...c'mon midffîld! Un o fy hoff raglenni erioed!

Arglwydd mawr, asiffeta ar f’enaid i!