During our 41 years of happily married life, on reading some of the above, perhaps for the first time I am pleased that we could not have any children!
For those contemplating retirement, early or otherwise, it rarely works out the way you dream or hope that it will.
It really is a new way of life, quite different from anything you have experienced before and it takes a while to get used to it.
Both of us worked all our lives and since retiring, we have both taken on hobbies, joined clubs and started socialising in directions that we never looked at before.
Oh sure, some of the interests we had before, we still have and can give more time to, but retirement brings new opportunities and new interests and sometimes I wish I was back working again, just for the rest because retirement can be bloody hard work. albeit, unpaid.
Well said Lobey. As I said in my first post I don't know how we found time to work before retiring. All I wish for is a little more consideration regarding benefits that such a lot of young folk expect as their right. to repeat what I have said, we worked all our lives with never being out of work and claiming 'dole', no children so therefore no maternity allowance and no child benefit or child tax credits. As hubby paid compulsory private pension we are now over the limit for any benefits but what we would like is to have our tax reduced or better still stopped. After all we have paid tax all our working lives but most people on benefits now claim it as their right despite never having put anything into the system.
Well, governments aren't interested in whether you can survive on your pensions or not but the more they can persuade you to save for your old age the more they can take from you in tax when you finally get it.
I agree...if pensions weren't taxed most pensioners would be able to look after themselves fairly well.
You're so right Lobey, you can never predict how retirement will work out. All those years working in IT all round Europe, I never imagined that I'd be in a small Scottish village growing our own fruit & veges and raising rare breed pigs!
Tax - Aghhhh. Even with getting some of my wife's unused allowance, I'm paying several hundred pounds back in tax every month. This is money that I could do with to buy a new car and maybe a few G&T's !!
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
We are both paying a small amount of tax on our work pensions,it took a letter to HMRC to get allowances sorted.(We were both on higher tax rate).
Definitely worth letting them know straight away,as it takes a while.
No national insurance to pay and my wife got a tax refund today!
Car insurance less,no business use and less miles on mine,in fact we may go down to one car. Mine is 8 years old but fun so for time being it is staying.
More time in Europe in van,so energy bills lower at the moment!
In fact off to France again on 24th August,ACSI time again!
The chancellor is intending to raise tax free allowances again so hopefully less pensioners will pay.
As our pensions combined are about what my salary was,not complaining too much.We did pay into them for a long time though.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 12/8/2015
I agree, being taxed again on pensions after working and paying tax all one's life is disgusting!
Private pensions are taxed because the pensions are paid for out of untaxed income. If they stopped the tax relief on pension contributions, people's pensions would be smaller.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: retiring early
