Enjoying Retirement

[DT1975]

I guess we'll get collared for looking after the grandkids, we already look after their dogs when they go abroad etc. It's a doggy hotel, luckily the house is well suited and we have some lovely walks 2 minutes away and of course we have the time.

[RDMcG]

DT1975 said:

I guess we'll get collared for looking after the grandkids, we already look after their dogs when they go abroad etc. It's a doggy hotel, luckily the house is well suited and we have some lovely walks 2 minutes away and of course we have the time.

Lots of travel here and very clear about not looking after grandkids ( have none yet, and if they arrive they will be on a different continent, so likelihood very low in any case).. Happy to have any such offspring visit and stay as long as parents accompany them and look after them. ( At least till they are 20 or so).....

[BoRED S2upid]

tertius said:

Martin315 said:

One of my retirement plans is to do a history degree. Where are you studying and what period are you covering?

Department of Continuing Education, Oxford Uni. Two year part time course that is the same syllabus as year 1 of the Oxford undergraduate history degree. Modules are: Tudor England; C19th Europe; C20th Britain; Approaches to History and one option: either Spanish Civil War or Tudor/Stuart nobility.

Highly recommend it and very happy to share my experiences if you would like. Feel free to PM me.

Anyone who doesn’t want to go the whole 2 year full time degree route but still want to learn something interesting should try openlearn from the OU free and very interesting what’s on offer

[tertius]

mikeiow said:

I've no desire to take such drastic action, but I admire those who do - well done!

One thing that has occurred to me: if a student today reaches 50, any loans are written off. How does that work for those who *start* their studies over 50? Is it free? Do you have to self-fund (£9k pa?)

My current course is part time so much cheaper than that but yes I do have to pay.

Regarding student loans I haven't looked in detail but I believe they are restricted to a first degree only. If you already have a degree (as I do) then you can't rely on them.

[Dixy]

Arrived back from 9 days in France yesterday, so nice to think I will spend a few hours cleaning the car, wander down and vote and not be thinking what has happened at work whilst I have been away.

[Gary C]

Just asked our new pension administrator for my Pension, but apparently I can't ask for that until I have asked for a quote

Why oh why don't they just stick an easy to follow link to apply for your pension with the lump sum you want but no, I have to get a quote by post, then apply for an 'application pack', then send the 'application pack' back by post to actually apply.

Will it all get done by the 27th Feb 2025 ?, I'm not convinced.

Scary times. I'm in my 41st year now and it seems to have suddenly rushed up !

at least this company provides a telephone number.

[Car bon]

Gary C said:

Just asked our new pension administrator for my Pension, but apparently I can't ask for that until I have asked for a quote

Why oh why don't they just stick an easy to follow link to apply for your pension with the lump sum you want but no, I have to get a quote by post, then apply for an 'application pack', then send the 'application pack' back by post to actually apply.

Will it all get done by the 27th Feb 2025 ?, I'm not convinced.

Scary times. I'm in my 41st year now and it seems to have suddenly rushed up !

at least this company provides a telephone number.

I had similar - I was away from the UK, but they would only send a pack by post, to my registered address, then I had to complete and post back. So I had to wait 6 months. Then another form, which they agreed to email but I had to sign & return. Then I was able to book an appointment to speak to someone - the next available appointment was in 5 weeks - I haven't had it yet.

Fortunately I don't need the money. This is for a relatively small SIPP that I want to take out over 2 tax years to use a tax allowance. I've already missed one tax year with the faffing about.

I guess they're just paranoid about mis-advising people & future claims, even though I know exactly what I want to do.

[Techno9000]

Dixy said:

Arrived back from 9 days in France yesterday, so nice to think I will spend a few hours cleaning the car, wander down and vote and not be thinking what has happened at work whilst I have been away.

I can agree, having returned from two weeks away to being newly retired, not having to see the build up of work to do that would've accumulated is rather wonderful. Mrs Techno has gone back to the Office and seeing her demeanour on Sunday/ Monday makes me realise what a stress it was for me and can be for her.

Have been trying my best to help out with my newly found spare time and Mrs Techno is far happier today.

Here's to a better life.

Edited by Techno9000 on Thursday 4th July 09:45

[GT3Manthey]

Gary C said:

Just asked our new pension administrator for my Pension, but apparently I can't ask for that until I have asked for a quote

Why oh why don't they just stick an easy to follow link to apply for your pension with the lump sum you want but no, I have to get a quote by post, then apply for an 'application pack', then send the 'application pack' back by post to actually apply.

Will it all get done by the 27th Feb 2025 ?, I'm not convinced.

Scary times. I'm in my 41st year now and it seems to have suddenly rushed up !

at least this company provides a telephone number.

Not sure why it would take until feb 2025.

Wife and I both asked by post when turning 55 if we wanted to start taking pensions .

I wouldn't have expected it to take 8 months from that point to start drawdown.

It's an interesting post though on potential timings given I fear labour will make changes to the TFLS.

[Gary C]

GT3Manthey said:

Gary C said:

Just asked our new pension administrator for my Pension, but apparently I can't ask for that until I have asked for a quote

Why oh why don't they just stick an easy to follow link to apply for your pension with the lump sum you want but no, I have to get a quote by post, then apply for an 'application pack', then send the 'application pack' back by post to actually apply.

Will it all get done by the 27th Feb 2025 ?, I'm not convinced.

Scary times. I'm in my 41st year now and it seems to have suddenly rushed up !

at least this company provides a telephone number.

Not sure why it would take until feb 2025.

Wife and I both asked by post when turning 55 if we wanted to start taking pensions .

I wouldn't have expected it to take 8 months from that point to start drawdown.

It's an interesting post though on potential timings given I fear labour will make changes to the TFLS.

I will have 38 years by feb 25 and due to other complicated pensionable salary rules its the best time to take it.

I was hoping the election would have been at the end of the year so I will be nervously watching things for the next 8 months with regard to lifetime allowances and lump sums

[Sheepshanks]

Both my State and an old company pension were a couple of months late - the old company pension is now being administrated by Mercer and they're notorious. Send an email and the acknowledgement that you'd expect instantly arrives 2 weeks later.

I put a Trust Pilot comment up and someone contacted me and gave me her direct mobile number but it still took a couple of mths.

I started talking to IFA early in the new year to get all my stuff together and it's not finished yet (I retired last Friday).

Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 4th July 11:48

[The Leaper]

Gary C said:

Just asked our new pension administrator for my Pension, but apparently I can't ask for that until I have asked for a quote

Why oh why don't they just stick an easy to follow link to apply for your pension with the lump sum you want but no, I have to get a quote by post, then apply for an 'application pack', then send the 'application pack' back by post to actually apply.

Will it all get done by the 27th Feb 2025 ?, I'm not convinced.

Scary times. I'm in my 41st year now and it seems to have suddenly rushed up !

at least this company provides a telephone number.

You cannot simply "ask for your pension" because there will be several options available to you, and you need a quote to see what they are. Then you can decided which options you want and they can be set up and come into payment.

[Gary C]

Sheepshanks said:

Both my State and an old company pension were a couple of months late - the old company pension is now being administrated by Mercer and they're notorious. Send an email and the acknowledgement that you'd expect instantly arrives 2 weeks later.

I put a Trust Pilot comment up and someone contacted me and gave me her direct mobile number but it still took a couple of mths.

I started talking to IFA early in the new year to get all my stuff together and it's not finished yet (I retired last Friday).

Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 4th July 11:48

our company has just left Mercers, now with Trafalgar

[Gary C]

The Leaper said:

You cannot simply "ask for your pension" because there will be several options available to you, and you need a quote to see what they are. Then you can decided which options you want and they can be set up and come into payment.

yes, I know that but there is no reason that it has to be so obscure, when I say, ask for my pension, I mean there should be a button on the web page to start the ball rolling rather than having to search through to find the 'ask for a quote' function which is in a different place to the 'ask for you pension application pack'

To be honest, the only option I have in my pension scheme is how big a lump sum to take as its an old fashioned Nationalised Industry Defined Benefit scheme.

Either that or take it all out which would be madness...

[Sheepshanks]

The Leaper said:

You cannot simply "ask for your pension" because there will be several options available to you, and you need a quote to see what they are. Then you can decided which options you want and they can be set up and come into payment.

There wasn’t in mine - I recall it was slightly ridiculous but I suppose Mercer have to cover all bases, so a load of options were listed then it said my only option was to take the pension offered.

[jrb43]

Armitage.Shanks said:

It always make me laugh the supercar dealer Tom Hartley comes on social media telling everyone he's up and out at work at 6:30am and anybody who isn't is, in his words, a "lazy bd". I feel like saying "What on earth are you doing getting up to go to work at that time at your age? I retired early so I don't have to".

Quite. Poor chap, is he reliant on state pension? Should really have had some better financial advice