Gap to State Pension

Longwalker

GibbsRule_No3. said:

Strange your thread came up today. Here is my take.  Granted I am already beyond SP age now but I digress.

At 60 I took one of my FS pensions, moved to a more expensive rented one bedroom bungalow, than the two bedroom ground floor flat that I lived in for 40 years. After a year I took my second FS pension and dropped down to a three day week, then the SP kicked in, unfortunately Covid did as well, so rather than retire I kept going. In January this year I did hand in my notice, you don’t retire anymore, I was due to leave after 50 years at the end of May.  It then seemed that no one had a plan for what to do about my job after I left, so I have now dropped to a 16 hour, two day week.  For those 16 hours I actually get more money than each of the pensions pay monthly. (Obviously the three combined give a nice sum, about as much as I was taking home in wages) So it is a no brainier, I will keep going until they really decide they don’t want me or I physically cannot do the job, Reprographics, so a bit of exercise.  Also a Stakeholder Pension is being added to (well it should be but the markets are not good at present).

So can you ask to do less days, at your current employment, or do you think they’d expect you to do the same amount of work in those fewer days, thus even more stress?  Does your office skill enable you to do it elsewhere with less stress, even if it is less pay?

I second this. less hours in the job you are already in.

Less hours worked, less tax and NI you pay so the drop in hours doesn't wipe out as much as you think

Also are their any years of SP that your wife could be buying if she doesn't have full stamp?

Im getting to the stage where Im thinking of using part of my lump sum from my pension to buy a few years so I can cut my hours further then they are now

AlanP_2

Rather than delivering for DPD / Evri etc, I think delivering for a supermarket would be my preference.

My BiL does it for Waitrose since he took redundancy / early retirement last year- 2 or 3 shifts a week, staff discount, first choice of really cheap goods at end of day etc. No stress and gets him out and about.

DE_612183

AlanP_2 said:

Rather than delivering for DPD / Evri etc, I think delivering for a supermarket would be my preference.

My BiL does it for Waitrose since he took redundancy / early retirement last year- 2 or 3 shifts a week, staff discount, first choice of really cheap goods at end of day etc. No stress and gets him out and about.

Yes, I did think of that but lugging those trays doesn't look like fun - although would keep you fit!

Silvertabby

dunstonh said:

Prosecco's a bit sweet for me - but M&S do a selection of lovely English sparking wines!

Waitrose Cellar online for home delivery.   Great range of English wines normally.  M&S white label a handful but Waitrose sell the originals.    Every few months Waitrose do a 25% off if you order 6 or more.  So, we tend to stock the wine fridge each time.

I can recommend Camel Valley (all of theirs), Chapel Down Flint dry or Bacchus (and sparkling Bacchus is currently on special at £12.49 a bottle - just ordered 12 bottles at that price), Bolney Estate Autumn Spice and Nyetimber Classic.    Waitrose's own brand is the leckford estate but it's nothing special.   

Thanks for that.  We do an occasional Waitrose online delivery (nearest store is a 70 mile round trip) so will certainly have a look at those!

sevenhills

DE_612183 said:

That sounds good - do you need a PSV licence for that - or it is ok as it's a small vehicle?

Only the younger drivers need to pass another test, I passed before 1997.
Since the worker shortage, we now have 7 seaters for those that havnt got grandfather rights.