How much to live on

louby40

Organgrinder….. congratulations on your teachers pension finally coming through. It's a relief when it all works out.

We really want to re-do our living room. After downsizing 2 years ago we have a massive corner sofa crammed into our lour living room that doesn't really work. It cost £2k and we have only had it 4 years so I just can't justify getting rid of it yet. When we bought it, downsizing and retiring wasn't in my head and it fitted our old living room perfectly.

We also want to replace the carpet and have a wooden floor put down so we would have to do it all at once I suppose. I think we will have to wait a couple of more years to replace the sofa. Ahh well it's a small world problem.

helensbiggestfan

Louby. That's why I'm replacing my sofa. It's a sectional and it dominates the room. I bought it 12 years ago when I lived in a Victorian house, with large rooms and high ceilings. I guess Its one of the problems of downsizing. Excess furniture and household effects, furniture that is the wrong scale for smaller rooms. Hey ho.

middlewife

Interesting comments about downsizing. We have ideas to downsize next year, although a few health issues might throw a spanner in the works plus concerns about being further from our adult kids. I think there's an emotional attachment to some of the furniture which my parents gifted me 20 years ago, it's a huge pine dining table, 8 chairs and a dresser, no longer needed really, but I'll hate to see it go......

helensbiggestfan

Yes, the sentimental attachment is real too. Leaving the family home is hard. All those memories…….

When my mother had to go into care and my father into sheltered accommodation he was so upset. I had to clear their house and make decisions about what to let to go of because he couldn't. And I only had a couple of weeks to do it. He was so angry with me, accusing me of "throwing his life away". I was the villain. It was traumatic for all of us and although I understood his anguish it was a painful experience. I was the elder daughter so I was the one made to bear the blame.

This is one of the reasons I have started the "Swedish Death Cleaning Process". I want to try and smooth the path for my kids when the inevitable happens, as well as making my home easy to manage and maintain so I can remain in situ as long as possible. Not necessarily in this house, I've no emotional attachment to it as such and I would be prepared to move again if necessary.

i had to sell the family home when my husband went into care in 2012. It was beautiful even if I do say so myself, 24 years of TLC went into building our home together, creating a lovely garden and furnishing it exactly how we wanted. Everything chosen with love and care. I still miss our house. I've moved 4 times since then. All nice houses in their way but none have felt like "home". For me "home"is the people in it, not the building, that's just bricks and mortar.
I like my new house and I am gradually making it mine, but it wouldn't break my heart to have to move again.

Handyman coming again today so better get cracking.

Humboldt

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82130780#Comment_82130780

Great news @Organgrinder

Humboldt

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82131151#Comment_82131151

Morning @helensbiggestfan, loving the colour of the new sofa and velvet sounds so luxurious. Enjoy!

Organgrinder

I must confess it is a very strange feeling. I even think "oh I could have done another year".

But then I think of how I felt back in January. I was exhausted and although I know the students are just being young people, I just thought "I don't want to do this any more".

So today is another day where I don't do any lessons and I've been shopping. Meals planned for the week (taking a leaf out of @Humboldt 's book!)

Tonight. Kedgeree.

Friday. Pizza.

Saturday. Gyros.

Sunday. Pad Thai.

Monday. Peri peri chicken, rice and corn.

Tuesday. Tagliatelle alla Bolognese.

Wednesday. Fish and Chips.

I'm just having a brew, before changing the beds, then cleaning garage. This afternoon is probably some guitar time!

I have redone my finances too. All looking good. Got a very busy couple of months coming up with a weekend university reunion, a weekend in the lakes and I've just booked a murder mystery dinner with overnight stay and breakfast.

I've got someone coming out next week to advise on a home battery too.

The one thing I'm finding so far is I don't feel useful in school, as I'm only there for a few hours and with it being A level teaching, a lot of time is spent not doing a huge amount. I'm considering finding something extra although perhaps I can do more exam marking.

All in all though, it's a rather nice feeling.

Fear not though, I won't be donning m&s slacks just yet ;-)

helensbiggestfan

M&S slacks……lol. And fgs no beige sweaters, or those awful "bum freezer" beige jackets. In fact I suggest all beige clothing should be banned. Along with millennium grey interiors. Bring back colour, sumptuous fabrics and luxury…….

Sunday dinner sounds perfect. Am I invited. Ha ha.

louby40

We downsized 2 years ago and it was the only way for me to retire early. We actually only moved 2 miles up the road. We had to get rid of a lot of furniture but it wasn't expensive stuff.The sofa is the only thing left. We had to take out an electric fire and fire surround to make it work. But it's very cramped still.

I've signed up for more supply work again but haven't had any phone calls or worked booked in yet. Fellow supply teachers say it could be the end of September before it really starts up again. I only tend to do 2-3 days a week, the money is useful but I don't like it if I'm honest. I could totally stop if I wanted to and dip into my savings but I'm nervous to do that. The plan was to work until I'm 60 doing odd supply then start using the investments to bridge the gap to 67. I'm nearly 58.

Id definitely have to look into doing some volunteer work or something if I stopped supply.

It's a weird feeling stopping saving and using your savings to boost your pension. Can't quite get my head around it yet.

helensbiggestfan

I think when you've been used to saving for most of your life the idea of drawing down your savings takes some getting used to. There's always that nagging "what if something bad happens and I really need that rainy day money". We tend to forget we are allowed to spend on sunny days too..🌞