I was made redundant at 52 and got an 82% net of salary pension plus a lump sum for a boat. Bought a suitable 25 ' boat three years before because I saw it coming.
Go out on the boat between 3 and 7 months a year, kept house [ all houses cheap and done up with DIY and no mortgage] and 14 year old car, family and friends. Eat out cheaply about once a week. Live well on fresh stuff and happy.
Now 13 summers later my pension is bigger than my old salary plus I get another £ 151 a week from the nation including £54 for a dependent wife [ Claim before 2010. The dependent wife scheme finishes then for new entrants and for me in 2020]
I sailed the boat to Greece via the canals and I am now on my slow way back before the dream of sailing in Greece got destroyed. People who are there will know what I mean .
I met my wife in 1999 and we married in 2002. Before she came out to the 25 footer I swapped it for a 30 footer with hot water and a shower. [ Buy the smallest boat your wife will tolerate otherwise you will become a boat maintainer rather than a retiree]
You have to do everything possible to do it if you want to because you never know when something beyond your control will stop you, eg the 11th of September or 7th July incidents.
Note: Worry. If the country is populated by lots of people like those represented here how are those paying NI etc. going to afford it. In 1996 terms I got much more in the lump sum than I paid in contributions throughout my career. Now the state is giving me another £8k a year. Where is it all coming from! That is not a question.
It is not taxes as I pay so little - but maybe they will come for me soon.
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Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how.. ?
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