Another reason to retire early

One BIG advantage I have is that I have absolutely no interest at all in owning the latest/fastest/biggest car - some view them as status symbols - I think they're a waste of money - which is why I drive around in a 14 year old Peugeot and can now afford to retire early. Bizarrely, I'm constantly being criticised in work as I park my cronker next to the shiney BMW's and Audi's - the cheeky monkeys .

 

Of course I meant to type 'shiny' not 'shiney' - . Just goes to show how interested I am in cars

 

On pensions...
One thing that GREATLY annoys me is the now common used term "A pension is a benefit"

Did they forget the money we paid in ? When I go to the bank to draw out some money that I paid in should I go cap in hand and be thankfull for my benefit ?

 

A man after my own heart! I don't want the latest/fastest car, designer clothes, personalised number plates, etc & nor do I want to keep up or compete with anyone else! I just want to be plain old me! I personally think there's too much pressure to keep up with the latest gear weather it's a car, pair of jeans, handbag etc, everytime you switch on the TV or open a magazine someone's ramming a product of some description down your throat, which you must buy! It's not for me. I have a friend who constantly tells her children 'The most important things in life aren't things!' How right she is!

 

I get my military pension in 5 years, I'm going to take it as a lump sum, pay whats left on our mortage, which isn't a vast amount.
And what evers left leave in a bank account.

 

Good for you! To resist conforming is a sign of confidence in yourself and your own beliefs. I think keeping up with the Joneses is overrated and strips us of our authenticity and individuality. (I am delightfully eccentric!)

 

If it's more than £10,000 (I think?), don't forget the tax man.

 

Just a thought, wouldn't a military pension be along the lines of a final salary pension? If so, I'm pretty sure that at present, one can't take it all out, only 25% in the form of a tax free lump sum.

 

Some nit wit in government keeps telling us all that we are living longer but apart from my 95 year old FIL I don't know anyone else living to a great age,well not from the people I have worked with because I am now finding out that many of the women I used to work alongside in the large electronics factory have all passed away in their fifties which really is no great age and it wasn't even as if they were heavy drinkers or smokers.

I'm definitely taking each day as it comes and am trying not to let things get to me or Mr Kandy as we know we are on the wrong side of fifty so are heading towards our twilight years but are still walking as much as we possibly can,(nearly seven miles today)

Neither of us are materialistic and have no desires to die with millions in the bank,as long as we have enough to pay the bills with and have each other then we shall be happy.

 

A quick Google finds DWP and IFS referring to Old Age Pensions as either 'Welfare' and/or 'Benefits'.

We get no Welfare or Benefits, just my small occupational pension to support myself, Mrs Scrungee ('economically inactive'), support our daughter through Uni, and maintain the lifestyle of our unemployed Working Cocker Spaniel, but we manage.