Question for those already retired - how did your holiday and entertainment expenses evolve...?

german_keeper

barnstar2077 said:

cfw1994 said:

I think the very different experiences simply show how different we all are.

No right or wrong, & no two budgets are the same.  This forum proves that many times 🤷‍♂️

Spoke with a pal today, one of the old workmates I keep in regular touch with: he was telling me how he loves just being able to potter about, take time over jobs about the house or their allotment.  We will meet up later in summer over a nice bike ride, then waste some pennies on a meal and some good beer 🤣🍻💪

Personally, I am looking forward to the day when I can get up in the morning planning to do some DIY project, but having looked out of the window decide to go for a walk along the beach instead.  And if I see an advert for a film I want to see while I am out, then pop in and give it a go.  Complete freedom and control over my time.  I'm already working on a retirement playlist, even though I am years away! (Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Sunny Afternoon by the kinks etc! :  )

This is absolutely spot on from my point of view. I retired in May last year and the main thing on the agenda is to get the house ready for downsizing. So far I have sorted out the absolute tip that was the garage, painted 4 rooms, lopped about 4 foot from the hedge in the front garden (about 15 yards long so a big job), and given the house a really good spring clean. Not bad for 13 months but all done at my pace, ie slow, and if I fancy a day sat in the sunshine or a day catching up on TV documentaries that my missus tells me makes me a boring old so and so I just do it. And I have never walked as much in my life. Long may this good weather last because going out for a walk is an absolute pleasure.

older_and_no_wiser

Really interesting reading all this. Personally, I am planning on retiring in around 3 years age 58. I like my work though and quite enjoy the structure. Working from home means I already have some flexibility with working hours but I can't just whiz off for a day out if I fancy. I play a lot of tennis and squash so see that as a good time usage in retirement.

The big thing for me now is that my relationship with my girlfriend finished a few months ago. I'm now in limbo as I really don't want to retire alone. I had plans on travelling the world together and getting a motorhome. I really don't want to do that alone! 

I'm now starting on the dating apps! It's so demoralising though not getting responses to messages! My profiles hint at my desire to retire and travel but I don't want to attract any 'gold diggers'....or do I? ;-)

So I would say to anyone who's in a good loving relationship, just retire and enjoy yourselves! Hopefully I can join you soon! 

bigfer

Been retired 5 years now and my holiday plans remain unchanged. I use Airbnb/Vrbo/booking.com for self catering accommodation. 1bedroom. Free cancellation. Balcony or terrace (preferably south facing), washing machine + Flights incl. cabin luggage+car hire+UK travel expenses to airport. Total price must be <£85 per night for a couple.
I usually go to canaries Jan/Feb and Andalusia sept/Oct plus Poland/Portugal when I can. Never had a bad time yet. 
Rarely eat out, certainly not in the UK, complete rip off. And I refuse to buy cheese if it costs over £6/kilo.

kinger101

Prism said:

westv said:

We like to eat out but we try to choose places that don't have mediocre food, cramped seating or kids running around. 

I agree. Some of these comments about eating mediocre food puzzle me a bit. Maybe we are lucky where we live but there are multiple lovely non chain pubs and restaurants within walking distance (5k) or a 10 min drive. They serve amazing food that I couldn't easily make myself. The only type we don't bother is are Indian restaurants, as I can make those dishes better mysef

It can depend to some extent on where you live.  Anywhere that attracts a reasonable number of tourists can suffer from having a large number of eateries not reliant on repeat business.  Not that there aren't gems, but they can be a little harder to find.

ianthy

Yes £20k is the biggest spend and it includes dining out on holiday.  Dining out in the U.K. is taken care of under our monthly budget. We don’t have a mortgage or any other ongoing payments… except the usual utilities and Netflix etc., 

katejo

older_and_no_wiser said:

Really interesting reading all this. Personally, I am planning on retiring in around 3 years age 58. I like my work though and quite enjoy the structure. Working from home means I already have some flexibility with working hours but I can't just whiz off for a day out if I fancy. I play a lot of tennis and squash so see that as a good time usage in retirement.

The big thing for me now is that my relationship with my girlfriend finished a few months ago. I'm now in limbo as I really don't want to retire alone. I had plans on travelling the world together and getting a motorhome. I really don't want to do that alone! 

I'm now starting on the dating apps! It's so demoralising though not getting responses to messages! My profiles hint at my desire to retire and travel but I don't want to attract any 'gold diggers'....or do I? ;-)

So I would say to anyone who's in a good loving relationship, just retire and enjoy yourselves! Hopefully I can join you soon! 

I will be retiring solo and belong to a FB group called Solo women travellers over 50. Full of women enthusing about the advantages of travelling on their own. I am not as adventurous as some of them but being solo isn't going to stop me going away on trips. I did try dating apps but got nothing good from them. 

older_and_no_wiser

katejo said:

 I did try dating apps but got nothing good from them. 

I know! What is the problem? This is probably for another forum but what does one have to do to get responses from people? I've sent over 40 messages to ladies in my area on one very well known and established app and not a single reply! I'm very courteous and friendly with my messages. I take time to write them. Each one is different. I have a good comprehensive profile with nice photos. I think I'm a decent catch (I'm on this forum haha),  look young for my age etc. It really is soul destroying.

Silvertabby

Well settled in retirement now, and thoroughly enjoying doing what we want to do when we want to do it.  Unlike some on here, we don't go on expensive holidays as we both did a lot of travelling in our RAF days.  Instead, we prefer to buy things for the house that we can enjoy all year round.  Plus we both have hobbies that we can afford to indulge ourselves in.

We recently received a totally unexpected £7K windfall  - but instead of travelling somewhere exotic we blew most of it on my dream Rhino greenhouse.  This will give us both many years of pleasure instead of sunburn, bad bellies and a few photos to look back on.

We also treat ourselves to a brand new car every 5 years.  I can just hear the screams of "nooo - that's not mse" but the cost is worth every penny for the pleasure it gives both of us in being able to select the exact model/colour/interior/factory extras etc that you just can't get with a used vehicle.  Plus the knowledge that no-one has smoked, or thrown up, or worse in it.  Priceless.

westv

older_and_no_wiser said:

katejo said:

 I did try dating apps but got nothing good from them. 

I know! What is the problem? This is probably for another forum but what does one have to do to get responses from people? I've sent over 40 messages to ladies in my area on one very well known and established app and not a single reply! I'm very courteous and friendly with my messages. I take time to write them. Each one is different. I have a good comprehensive profile with nice photos. I think I'm a decent catch (I'm on this forum haha),  look young for my age etc. It really is soul destroying.

It's probably because women will receive dozens (if not more) messages from men. They will be able to be very picky or they may not have time to respond to them all.

katejo

westv said:

older_and_no_wiser said:

katejo said:

 I did try dating apps but got nothing good from them. 

I know! What is the problem? This is probably for another forum but what does one have to do to get responses from people? I've sent over 40 messages to ladies in my area on one very well known and established app and not a single reply! I'm very courteous and friendly with my messages. I take time to write them. Each one is different. I have a good comprehensive profile with nice photos. I think I'm a decent catch (I'm on this forum haha),  look young for my age etc. It really is soul destroying.

It's probably because women will receive dozens (if not more) messages from men. They will be able to be very picky or they may not have time to respond to them all.

It's a long time since I did it but, when I did, I had a distinct impression that they had a shortage of women members. I was matched with men who simply didn't match the criteria/interests/age range  which I had added to my profile.