The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb.

beanielou

Yah for special friends xxx

milann

Glad your friend cheered you up. 

Sounds as if you’re making progress with the bunny house too. 

RosaBernicia

While we're on the subject, check your NI record as that affects your state pension - and you only get a six year window to correct mistakes.  I was very glad I overheard someone else in the office talking about it a few years back as our employer had screwed up, and I hadn't known I could check it myself.  It's just on the .gov stuff. 

Honeysucklelou2

Have you gone online to the Teachers Pension Agency?  They did something a few years back that meant everyone went onto their new scheme. I’m not explaining it very well, but it is interesting to see which schemes you are part of and how your pension will be made up. I discovered that somehow I’ve paid into 3 different schemes over the time I’ve been teaching and each scheme pays out slightly differently. 

Buffythedebtslayer

Ooo I looked at that too *feels very grown up* 

There weren't any gaps, aside from when I was very young and didn't work - so fair play!! 

I did my walk, went to see the rabbits, I think my pair are jealous of the new pair, God knows what will happen when tiny evil bun goes out there...........

Buffythedebtslayer

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Have you gone online to the Teachers Pension Agency?  They did something a few years back that meant everyone went onto their new scheme. I’m not explaining it very well, but it is interesting to see which schemes you are part of and how your pension will be made up. I discovered that somehow I’ve paid into 3 different schemes over the time I’ve been teaching and each scheme pays out slightly differently. 

I think I am in two schemes.... that is who I looked at. It is a bit confusing... 

Buffythedebtslayer

beanielou said:

Yah for special friends xxx

He is very kind. It is so nice XX

[Deleted User]

I think you can also do it on websites like Aviva, Which etc.  A couple of years ago, one of my MIL's (well off) friends scared her saying she needed £x per year which threw her into an almighty tail spin (she is asset rich, sitting in a 6 bed house worth about 1.2, which she refuses to sell even though she can't maintain it properly but cash "poor" - I say "poor" she has a full state pension and over 100k in savings plus is getting £500 a month from lodgers so she's not really but she thinks she is).  Anyway, it turned out that the friend was quoting the income you'd need for 3 x foreign holidays abroad, a new car every 5 years, eating out all the time etc - none of which my MIL does.  So hence she doesn't actually need that much.  So I guess what I'm saying is, it's def worth looking at that and realistically what you are likely to do as you may not need as much as you think.

We drive really old cars (2004 & 2009) as it is something we are just not bothered about.  However, we do like holidays and eating out so we will need to factor that in.  But I know that we don't have enough at the moment and need to up our contributions.

Jellytotts

I don't have a pension at all.  Wasn't eligible for one with my first 3 jobs as the company schemes started at 21. Left work to have my family, self employed for years after that and there was barely enough coming in to cover the basics so paying into a pension wasn't an option.  DH is claiming 2 of his 3 pensions already on health grounds, the other one will be roughly £50 a month.  When state pension kicks in we'll be £4K a year better off...if we're coping now then we'll be fine then 😀. (Does help that we lead a very quiet life, don't eat out due to health/allergies, don't do holidays due to mobility/health, don't drive very far due to health...our hobbies adapt according to how flush we feel at the time and the mortgage is very nearly paid off so we'll have the back up of being able to sell up and release capital if needs be.

Buffythedebtslayer

Morning all, 

My back is terrible this morning. But I did have a lie in which was lovely. And a pain au chocolat for breakfast. Not bad. Can't move but I am sure once I get going it will ease up. Yesterday was hard work but the aviary is still standing! I feel like the roof needs a brace across it.... but that is doable... 

Am waiting for the amazon delivery to finish the door.... 

I am hoping the pension lady will be in touch, I think she will be helpful. 

XX