The Senior Wonder Years!

beanielou

Don’t hit it with a bible. 

Shudder. 

Dansmam

[Deleted User] said:

I think my one is going to need treatment as it is causing some changes to  the bone structure in the palm of my hand and beginning to affect the movement of my little finger.

Sorry to hear that @[Deleted User]. Glad you're seeking medical attention rather than testing out dubious home remedies. 

Katiehound

Savvy_Sue said:

You can share codes, but only on the Referrers' board, so I'd try to find that.

AFAIK the Referrers' Board no longer exists.

If you know better please tell me where it is hiding! It used to useful....

Savvy_Sue

Katiehound said:

Savvy_Sue said:

You can share codes, but only on the Referrers' board, so I'd try to find that.

AFAIK the Referrers' Board no longer exists.

If you know better please tell me where it is hiding! It used to useful....

Looks like you're right... sorry!

Willow1983

Hi Baron Dale, just delurking to check your ok as you haven’t been on for a few days! Hope all is well 🙏

[Deleted User]

Well quite a busy week even though the wet weather has continued . We have had one dry day out of the previous 7! Christmas present shopping is complete bar one I still need to purchase for a Secret Santa. Once I have been given the name I can go ahead. All purchased gifts have been wrapped and the others ordered from M&S to be delivered directly to recipients on about 23rd December. Christmas cards have been written and stamped ready to be posted on December 1st.

The plan is to sort and put up the Christmas house decorations on December 1st with the tree following a few days later. I like to be organised early so I can then relax and enjoy the build up to Christmas and the atmosphere and not worry. There will be 16 of us for  Christmas Day at my sister’s. Really looking forward to it.

Before then we have a couple of birthday celebrations to look forward too with a meal for one and a large family buffet for another. All good!

Financially the Christmas and clothes pots have  taken a huge bashing, but things will even out over the remaining months of the budget,  which ends at the end of June 2024.

I have been keeping up with my exercises and have managed some walks even though the weather has not been good.

I am getting a little bored with the early dark evenings. I need to get back to reading and perhaps having another look at my language courses that I have  neglected for months. I have been working  through some TV series and documentaries using the free on demand services. I sometimes watch films but I am definitely not a film buff.

I think after many years of working to timetables and bells as well as spending many evenings and weekends marking and planning lessons I am enjoying being able to do nothing lol! I don’t feel the need to always fill my time.

Fortunately a couple of weeks ago during an actual 3 days without rain I managed to sort the garden for the winter. All garden furniture is stored as well as pots and containers left fallow, apart from those containing the bulbs for Spring. Hopefully they will survive the continued heavy rain! My main task then will be to keep some areas of the garden free from the wild garlic which I find is a real scourge as it attempts to take over everything!

Well time to get up and attempt the exercises! The rain is continuing so will do a little housework, do some reading and relax! 

[Deleted User]

The Christmas shopping is complete except for the Christmas tree purchase which I will make in early December. However, I already have a small potted tree on the conservatory with lights and a few baubles that is lit up every evening lol!

Most of the family now take part in the Secret Santa so only to buy one gift for an adult and gifts for the children of the family. I take part in that, but also buy a gift for everyone as I enjoy doing so and want to keep the tradition of doing so. I also buy several for my mother. 

Skint_yet_Again

You sound very organised for Christmas 🎄 I’m enjoying hearing about your preparations. I wondered if you would take part in the secret Santa. If you enjoy gifting & can afford it then I can understand you wanting to buy gifts for all.  As long as the others don’t feel obligated to buy more than they can afford and accept them with the same goodwill with which they were given.🎁

[Deleted User]

No I made it quite clear they were not to feel obligated. 🙂

Arthurian

[Deleted User] said:

So, for the next 12 months(July 2023 to June 2024) my total income will be £21699 gross or £1656 a month after tax. However, this amount may change after next April as my teacher’s pension is index linked. Any increase from next April will match the inflation rate this coming September.

I have put together a 12-month budget covering all planned normal expenditure, and which will also allow me to add £2400 to long-term savings.

In addition I have created 5 'pots' on a spreadsheet  that are contained together in one savings account. (They are not actually visible within the savings account). Four of these pots I have already filled in preparation for the 12 months between fully retiring and receiving my state pension.
Four of the pots contain the following funds:
Pot 1Reserve Pot or Emergency Fund £3800
Pot 2Travel Pot £5000
Pot 3Presents Pot (In addition to Christmas and Birthday Funds) £500
Pot 4Voluntary NI Pot to cover July to next April as I am now fully retired from employment. £600 I need to pay this final amount to reach the full new state pension. I will have paid 47 years’ worth of NI as I was contracted out for most of my working life.

The 5th Pot is the Annual Bills, Annual Subscriptions and Annual Spends Pot  which has a balance of £300 at the moment ,but will have £300 added to it each month for the next 12 months (starting July 2023) So this pot will receive £3600 in total over the course of the year.

Any funds above £1200 in my main current account on the last day of each month will be transferred to my Cash ISA.

My other savings and investments (which I will not need to use) are in the following
Premium Bonds
Cash ISA. Any surplus funds from main current account will be added monthly to this account on the last day of the month.
S&S ISA £2400 will be added to this account over the next 12 months. (£200 monthly)
Online Fixed Term Bond. This has another year to run.

I also have second current account which is 'fed' monthly from my main current account has budgets for Christmas, Clothes and Dentist. This is with a different bank and also acts as a back-up account.

There is also a joint current account with A.N.Other which also receives funds monthly from my main current account to cover my share of the household bills, charitable donations and fuel.(I co-own the house with an older relative)

I do not have a huge amount of savings and investments but enough to feel secure and able to plan some future treats and travel.

When my state pension begins in July 2024 my annual pre-tax income will rise to just over £32000 before tax or about £2360 a month after tax (at current values). I feel this will allow me to have a comfortable retirement. I am fortunate that at the moment all my income is index linked.

I must admit I am not particularly frugal but do budget carefully and keep detailed records of my spending. I like to eat out a few times a month. I also spend money on looking after myself with regular haircuts, private dentist, chiropodist and I use good quality toiletries. I also enjoy keeping my wardrobe up to date.

Perhaps I am not the typical male retiree, but I don’t care what other people think lol! I have worked hard during my career and did not retire to worry about every penny I spend. I intend to relax and enjoy whatever the number of years I have left.

On a more practical note, my will is up to date, my funeral paid for, and a grave plot purchased. I didn’t want my family worrying about such things. Forward planning like that also enables me to also forget about those things and enjoy life.

Thanks for continuing this very interesting thread.  Even allowing for the £5,400 p.a. your mother adds to the household income, I am amazed at how much money you are able to spend per month, when the PLSA guide to retirement living standards https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/ shows a moderate lifestyle (before this year's inflation) to be £34,000 for a couple or £23,300 for a single person. You are adding to your savings, eating out a few times a month, private dentist, good quality toiletries, and quite a few home improvements along the way.  I take my hat off to you, sir, and wonder if I would be able to do the same.  Budgeting realistically in retirement is a tricky business, which is why this thread is so useful.