The Senior Wonder Years!

sheilavw

me too! a very useful and informative thread. Merry Christmas

Arthurian

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and please don't stop posting.  There's such a huge gap in information on the real details of how to live as a pensioner, the day-to-day details of where the money goes and what provision to make for what might crop up, spending-wise.  Your thread is much appreciated and a real help.

Skint_yet_Again

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas @[Deleted User] and best wishes for 2024. I hope your CT scan results are all clear and look forward to hearing about your simplified budget in the new year 

Sallyforth

Another vote for you to keep sharing your life experiences with us @[Deleted User]. I mostly lurk in the shadows for fear of general recriminations. I find your posts illuminating, well balanced and always kind. I could add many positive adjectives to that statement and I know other likeminded MSE’s agree.

However if you do decide to retire from posting I understand and wish you all the very best.

SF

[Deleted User]

Happy New Year to you all!

Many thanks for your kind words and best wishes for the season. They are much appreciated.

All the Christmas events with friends and family were happy and enjoyable.

New Year’s Eve was spent with friends and family at my sister’s house.

After thinking things though, I have decided I will continue to post in 2024.

However, I am making some changes to how I use the forums to achieve a better balance in terms of the time I spend perusing and contributing to threads in addition to my own.

I have reduced the number of threads which I have bookmarked to only 10 in number. Most of these are threads written by those who comment on my postings and who have interesting journeys to follow.

Please let me know if you are happy for me to bookmark any of your threads.

I am also going to try and avoid ‘wandering off’ into other sections of forum. One area that will become out of bounds is the ‘Works, Benefits and Business Section.’ I may occasionally visit the DFW area to offer support, and the ‘How Much Have You Saved’ thread.

I have also copied into a word document most of the postings I have made on this thread. To my astonishment I have written nearly 14500 words! The word document is already twenty-seven pages long!

The reason I did this is because several years ago the TES abruptly closed its online forum without warning and many of us lost hundreds of postings as well as thousands of pieces of advice about all things to do with teaching especially retirement and finance.

My new budget plan begins today. I will post how the first month goes at the end of January.

The current plans will run until June 30th, 2024. My state pension should start in mid-July so it will need adjusting during that month.

Hopefully, I will hear soon from the DWP regarding the final NI payment I have to make to ensure I receive the full ‘new’ state pension. I only worked until June 2023 so have some months to make up as I needed 47 years of contributions, and this is year 47! I did apply in August 2023 to have the rest paid by direct debit but, yet nothing has happened officially. I did check online, and they have received the application and hope to reply by April 2024! I want it sorted so I receive the correct amount from July onwards.

I went into town on December 27th to make my annual purchases Christmas cards and Christmas wrapping paper (for Christmas 2024) in the sales. All purchased at 50% discount! I also purchased 4 presents also for 50% discount.

We packed away the Christmas decorations on Saturday 30th December but have left the Christmas trees until today to see in the New Year. The two potted trees will spend most of the year in the garden. The large cut tree I will cut up and take to the garden waste recycling section of our local tip later this month.

Financially January is a quiet month for me. Only one birthday and no annual bills to pay apart from English Heritage.  One haircut and home visit by the chiropodist are booked. Money for those in the budget.

February to mid-April is the main period for annual bills. These include, car Insurance, house insurance, car annual service and MOT. The money for those is already in the pots.

Final payment for the villa in Cyprus is due at the end of March and the final payment for flights and car hire in April. Once again, this money is ready in the travel pot.

I have a telephone appointment from my consultant to report back on the CT scan I had in December following up my day surgery last September. Hopefully, that will be routine.

My aunt is coming to stay for a couple of weeks in January. I will take this opportunity to have a few days away from home as it means my older relative will have company. Nothing concrete planned, but I may use the time to catch with some friends on the mainland.

Well, that is it for now.

Hopefully, we  will hear more about the plans and finances of others on this thread and the ‘How Much To Live On’ thread as 2024 progresses.

Meanwhile once again Best Wishes for the New Year.

May it be Happy, Peaceful and Healthy!

nannygladys

Happy New Year Baron, I'm pleased you've had a lovely Christmas and New Year and that you're back posting. I'm thinking of cutting down on screen time this year as it's so easy just to scroll whilst you have a cup of coffee and then find another hour has gone from your life! I will participate in a couple of challenges but nothing too strenuous and won't take up too much time out of my day.
Nannyg 

MrsPorridge

Glad to see you are back posting and that you had a lovely Christmas.

Lily8

Happy New Year! Glad to hear you are going to carry on posting. I find your posts really relatable. Hope your telephone appointment with your Consultant goes well. Plans for us this year are to get a few jobs on the house completed. Chimney needs pointing and we lost a few slates in the recent high winds. Currently decorating the hall. Started off as we'll just paint it and get a new carpet. Now thinking it might be worth replacing the front door too. OH will receive his state pension in September and we will reassess our finances this year. I would like to fully retire but know if I stay in work the extra income could be saved. We shall see. Best laid plans and all that!  Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024 to all.

mrs_motivated

Happy New Year to you.

I am so glad you decided to continue this thread, I have been reading along, but haven’t commented until now.  I would just like to say I find it very interesting and informative, especially as I am planning to retire in approximately 3 years.

Skint_yet_Again

Happy new year @[Deleted User] I am glad to see you back & still posting. 

I think 2024 is going to continue to be financially challenging for many as the cost of living crisis continues, so any reporting by others of plans and finances can be of help.