How much to live on

helensbiggestfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123928#Comment_82123928

Sorry to hear about your divorce, it does sound that you have paid what I call the "divorce tax". Sadly, both death and divorce cost money, both in the immediate aftermath and in how they affect long term financial outlooks. It can take some time to recover financially but it sounds like you're getting there. You have put the work in and now you will reap the rewards. Not long now till October, you're almost there. One of my little not so guilty pleasures is being able to wake up naturally and really savour that first cup of coffee. No alarm clocks, no rush, no commute, no stress.

The fact that the managing partner is being "petulant" - great word, lol - says it all really. Sounds like you're well out of it. Perhaps your manager is suffering from the green eyed monster. Ha ha. Never mind, their turn will come. In the meantime you've done your bit for the human race and contributed to the economy. Time to pass the baton, time to just "be". Retirement is not the end, it's the beginning. A new life, a new adventure.

I've just had my hair cut this morning. Since giving up the car I have decided to try a new hairdresser who does home visits. She's great, a really nice lady and I am chuffed to bits with my new style.

My previous hairdresser had the audacity to die last year and I have been searching for a replacement for some time. He was 72 and he practically died in harness. He was a wonderful man and a very talented "hair artiste", one of the few who could make my hair look half decent. I would have crawled over hot coals to get a haircut from him. I once asked him if he had any plans to retire and he gave me such a look. He said "they will have to prise these scissors from my cold dead hands". Bless him, he almost got his wish. He died a happy man still doing what he loved.

Some jobs and careers can last well into old age, with maybe just a few tweaks to accommodate changing physical needs and health issues. I was listening to an interview between Judi Dench and Ian McKellan, both in their 90s. Both still have wonderful speaking voices, deep, melodious and resonant, must be all those vocal exercises. So many old people struggle even to speak, their voices become weaker and they gasp for breath. I can no longer sing so after listening to Judi and Ian i have decided i need to start doing breathing and vocal exercises. A strong voice so people are forced to listen to me and I can't be fobbed off as a doddery senile old woman. Haha.

Judi started losing her sight a few years ago and relies on a PA to help her to learn her lines. My hairdresser invested in a good quality adjustable stool on wheels so he didn't have to stand all the time. And of course theres the likes of Mick Jagger still strutting his stuff and David Attenborough still going strong. I'm sure they buy in help as required.

Right time for breakfast. It should be second breakfast but I missed first breakfast because the hairdresser came early. So now I'm ravenous or as my baby sister used to say "ravishing". Lol

Organgrinder…..sounds like you've a nice day planned. A good mix of activities. I am aiming to get in my garden.

Ps. Didn't make it into the garden. Did some laundry, had a light bite and then promptly fell asleep. Never mind, there's always tomorrow. The weather looks more settled too. My handyman is coming to dig up the dead and dying shrubs and take the first load of my decluttering efforts to the tip.

He's a real treasure……he's just turned 50, not retired exactly but he got sick of the rat race and decided to downsize from the big job and became a freelance handyman. He says he doesn't miss his old life and enjoys his freedom. Money doesn't seem to be an issue. He has lots of holidays and enjoys his hobbies, cars, motorbikes and guitars. A happy man.