Interesting read ( i read all the way through )....i have no idea what to do really at the moment (granted im way off retirement) at 49 (this year).... i think my official retirement age is 67. I like to think im in good health but you never know....the only "kind of plan" i have is that id like to sell up (living in Bristol) eventually and live in Tenby. We go at least once a year and have been at different times of the year to see if its a "good all year round place to live". Theres loads of old properties there and id say ive got one more renovation in me (done 2 houses) but not while im living in it this time. While ive never had the money to "pile funds into" a pension ive always had one since i was 17 so while its not going to make me a millionaire at least theres something there... Still got all 3 of my kids at home so i think i would get to 60 and they would start to be leaving (i hope!) paving the way for the above plan. Still got a fair bit on the mortgage but the price of the house outweighs total debt four fold...my wife has a share of her mums house and i have a share of my dads so theres quite a chunk there which will eventually come to fruition...when that is ive no idea though... On a comedy side note a bloke in work was bragging about how his old mans house was worth 400k and he was "getting it all". His dad, sold the house, went round the world twice picking up dolly birds on the way, effectively blew the lot, got back into the country and now lives in the same street at the old peoples home at the end of the street he used to live in courtesy of the tax payer (he even said he had a better view too) than from his house...awesome.
On a sombre note, my Manager at two previous companies died last week, four weeks after his 60th birthday in January. In December he was diagnosed with cancer, and lasted 8 weeks. He paid considerably into his pension funds, but never got to draw them or enjoy retirement. On the plus side, he enjoyed his life, had a long happy marriage, ran an Audi A8, had several expensive watches, bought a vintage landrover to do up, had a private pilot's licence and liked doing up motorcycles. Carpe Diem.
Thats the thing though isnt it Ron...if i live to a ripe old age i may not have enough to live on....as long as im healthy ( i do try to look after myself) then i think id instigate my plan at around 62 ish allowing for a year for house renovation. Ive seen a place in tenby (walking distance from the harbour) which effectively the ground floor is a garage and 2 floors above but, its old turn of the century stonework...perfect for storing bikes and cars id hazzard the property is 30-40 ft wide by about 60 deep one floor above and a good sized roof (that can be converted) - currently derelict and boarded up...perfect. And even the wife likes it...she even said (you can have your playroom down there!)
Agreed I think he's dreaming. £178 a month buys you a parking space around Heathrow, in a public multi-storey https://www.gumtree.com/p/garage-pa...in-feltham-tw13-middlesex-sp43777-/1289079341
I met a woman biker in Feb 2004 at the age of 45. I have a BMW then and she had a Honda. In November of the same year we had both quit our jobs, sold everything apart from the two new BMWs that we had bought and moved to our new house here in France. Not worked since. We now have 4 Ducatis and have no intention of ever working again. I love every minute of life in a place where the riding season is long, running a bike is cheap, and car drivers are all bike friendly. Never regretted retiring at 45 even though my pension was a pittance, it was enough to keep the bikes on the road. We married in 2005 and then she went on to write a book about the whole story. If you want to read a romantic/adventure book then it is called "A Red Waterproof Jacket" and is available on Amazon (kindle and paperback).
This one in Hayes comes with an En-Suite for just £600PCM.... https://www.gumtree.com/p/garage-parking-to-rent/garage-available-for-storage-in-hayes/1289431126
I keep telling you lot, Wales is shit, honest. The roads are crap it's always raining especially around the Tenby area and there's safety cameras everywhere.
Just great! Shown my wife this post as we would love to make the move, she writes and has a half finished children's novel in the loft. But her latest idea for a new book she thinks will be called; 'Life with a miserable old bastard (probably in France..)' could be the next one.
This thread is making me smile. Despite the theory of some of our more prominent members, half the buggers on this forum (including some of them) are around the same age as me and 25% must be older. And some of you have had a harder paper round than I ever had
I must admit i was quite surprised at the age of the posters in this thread, myself being 43 and had a go on the Just For Men this weekend so feel positively young. Thanks all!
Where did you get your magic mirror - it's fantastic obviously and talking of retirement you should be down sizing at your ripe (sour) old age!!!
Good thread, and great to know I’m not alone in thinking ahead! And that many seem to have made it work. I started contracting so that I have an opportunity to build enough in the next 10yrs (8.5 left) to clear my mortgage and have enough funds to take some time out. 63 is my number, as in when my number is up, so I need to get 5 yrs in before that, hence 10yrs. So no point in working til I’m that age and not making the most of what’s left of my life while I can spend a bit of it! I have an old pension which, should my life-long expectation be not realised, we could probably afford to live (just) thru a few years of retirement. Options we have discussed include moving to Spain, doing the motor home thing for 12m around Europe are both favourite. Just wish I could get te returns some seem to with their investments!!
The wife has also written a few childrens and teenagers books too. Fell free to get in touch if we can be any help.
Nope, my shares have increased by about 20%.... he's still a c...... Update: 5th January 2019 Losses year on year now well over £50K.....
