The Senior Wonder Years!

Sun_Addict

I’ve been reading your posts but not commented before. Thank goodness it’s not just me who thinks this! So many hair shirt wearers out there. Seriously life’s too short. I can understand if you’re on a limited budget but a lot of people are just playing at being frugal on what is obviously a good income. 

I can retire in 3 years, can’t access any pension until then and will be working full time until state pension age. I’ve been the breadwinner for the past 11 years since OH had a brain tumour that left him badly disabled. No inheritance to come as parents already long passed on both sides, leaving very little. I’ll have a civil service pension, state pension and a tiny pension from a previous employer. I’ll manage but won’t be booking that world cruise anytime soon 🤣

I enjoy reading your diary as you always sound so calm and content.

[Deleted User]

Many thanks @sunshine_girl_2 and @Sun_Addict. Welcome to the thread.

cbsexec

I am a regular reader of your posts and agree.  Life is for living and we only come this way once as they say.   According to Which etc I am just surviving but actually I feel I am fairly comfortable.  I know too many who have died before they have realised their pension pots or lived the life they always promised themselves when they finally retired.  

[Deleted User]

A productive day! Exercises were completed, bedrooms dusted and vacuumed, the car cleaned and the garden tidied. Now in my warm bed to spend an hour or so reading.

I have managed to add £200 to long term savings  this month. As my personal spends are well within budget, my annual DD (£63) to English Heritage, due next week, can come from personal spends and the money will not have to be sent across from the saved pot. 🙂. This will leave me with £101 personal spends for the next 10 days which is  very doable,as only planned spends are hairdresser and a couple of cheap lunches out.

Should anything unforeseen arise I can simply top up with what should have been the English Heritage Payment from annual bills account! 

beanielou

Such a great way to look at things. 

[Deleted User]

Yesterday I increased my monthly DD to BG by £50 even though they had just reduced it by £45 a month. We are in credit at the moment, but the cold weather in recent weeks has meant increased usage and  I want to ensure the bill in March/April which will be expensive can be covered.
Very windy today so I am pleased the outside chores were completed yesterday! 

Organgrinder

For what it's worth, I think anyone has the right to be frugal, to save, to spend etc etc, as they see fit.

I have no issues at all with that. But some posters do get very personal and at times abusive (other boards) and I see no reason for that.

I stopped posting myself once after being called "overly boastful" and a liar after I expressed my delight at a rather rapid intervention by the ombudsman resulting in a payout from Natwest who had frozen all my assets and left me no means to buy food etc. That particular poster has since been banned.

Much of what is expressed in any online forum is just opinion, not fact.  

I read the over 50s board cos it's relevant to me.

I read the banking and budgeting board cos switch offers seem a nice way to get some free cash to treat me and my family.

I'm always on the look out for good deals too.  But it's so I can enjoy what I have, or make the most of what I have.

I've long decided I'm comfortable enough. Certainly not rich. But when the middle 50% of earners have an income disparity as high as it is, it is little wonder any of us are really able to decide what "rich" is.

Blackcats

I feel pleased that I retired early last year despite colleagues implying that I was almost being frivolous by drawing my NHS pension 18 months early.  I had done my sums and the difference in monthly pension was not significant enough for me to want to spend another 18 months staring at a computer screen, travelling and staying away from home .  I out a different non-monetary value on having time to enjoy with family and friends.  I have been proactive at managing my lump sum payment and have benefitted from higher interest rates on savings.  

I have been a long term spender not saver so I hold myself accountable on my diary.  I try to be more intentional with my spending now and enjoy being resourceful, for example, with my grocery spends.

[Deleted User]

The sun is shining today and the sky is clear ! I am walking into town later for lunch with some friends and then walking back to ensure I achieve my daily steps total 😇! I have indeed become a man who lunches!

Personal spends continue to be under budget this month. I have £93 left in that pot and January is nearly over. I don’t itemise personal spends but know that the limit at the moment is £300 a month. That amount only has to cover hairdressers and treats for myself such as meals out.

I spent my Christmas M&S vouchers yesterday on a jumper and some slim fit jeans. There was 15% off the jumper as part of a Sparks Card offer. I have  another £10 voucher to spend. I may use that to part pay for clothing accessories.

At  moment the Christmas 2024 pot is standing at £175 and will be added too for the next 11 months at £75 a month so total available should be £1000 which will take care of all presents and other extras. This does not include food which comes out of normal expenditure plus about £100 worth of nectar points. Hopefully, Sainsburys may have their double up offer again later in the year.

During the next couple of months there are some annual bills to pay. These are car and house insurances, car service and MOT. In April Road tax is payable. I also have to pay my share of the final amounts for Villa, flights and car hire for the May trip to Cyprus The money is already in the pot.

In the Spring there will be also be some house maintenance costs. A company will come in to clear gutters, wash the fascia and clean the exterior of the conservatory. They are also going to clean the paved drive. Once again the money is in the attached pot.

I had better get up and do my exercises before preparing for another strenuous lunch😉.

[Deleted User]

Lunch with friends on Friday was very enjoyable. As intended, I walked to and from the venue to get my daily steps done !

I spent the last of my vouchers yesterday buying two jumpers and a casual shirt. Well I couldn't miss the 15% off Sparks offer! 

I also spent some time yesterday having a check and tidy of my clothes. Is it ok to have 50 shirts lol? They are now in winter and summer order, both formal and casual. (and colour coded lol)  . As I have said previously, I like my clothes. No wish to be a badly dressed old man lol !

I also did a quick evening shop for milk, buns, fruit and a couple of toiletries top ups. I paid using spare cash.

I have been very busy today. I spent a couple of hours tidying and re-organising the garage. This was followed by a stint in the garden for a general tidy up. I also re-potted two small Christmas trees which are now outside until required for Christmas duties in December.

I then spent some time helping my elderly relative sort her bathroom cupboards. The contents have been arranged into sections such as hair, face, nails, shower and body etc... She is very pleased with the results, especially as she realises she has enough of most things to last for the whole year! She just needs to top up a few bits of make up and accessories.

After a late lunch/early dinner I had a pleasant forest walk. Just finished some other daily chores, so can now relax for the rest of the evening.

I have not too much planned for tomorrow apart from normal household chores, a quick shop for cream crackers, plant food and baking paper lol! I am going to treat myself to some made sandwiches too as I have been so good with my personal; spends this month  . I also have a tip visit booked for 2pm! I also need to renew my Car Insurance which is due mid February. I will probably stay with my current provider as long as the increase isn't too excessive.