Enjoying Retirement
Discussion
scot_aln said:
Insurance wise does noone else use or try Saga for car insurance? I accepted the over 50 part relatively recently and for the last 2 years noone has got close to them on quote or renewal (<10% up in October vs next nearest >50%).
We did once use Saga which I remember having a chuckle about as I’d always thought of Saga holidays meant old people ! Using the comparison sites Saga were actually on the list but not the cheapest.
RichB said:
droopsnoot said:
... Disturbing that I can probably qualify for their stuff now.
You are on the retirement thread 
Desiderata said:
We'll! I've finally gone and done it.
I've "retired" twice before, once at 55 and again at 59.
60 glorious years old yesterday and it's definitely permanent this time.
We don't much in the way of cash reserves or a very big income, but everything we've done over the past few years has been to prepare for the life we want at a cost we can afford.
We've built a house that we'll be comfortable in well into our dottage in a place we want to be almost all of the time.
We bought the property and built the house with cash reserves, so no mortgage. It's super insulated and with a heat pump and solar gain and plenty of free firewood for stoves so very cheap to run.
I extended a one bedroom bothy to build the house so we are on band (a) £800 per year council tax .
We have cut back to three cars (and a tractor) all older, but all paid for and cheap to run.
We have enough land to feed ourselves easily as long as we are able. If we were 20 years younger, I reckon we could be entirely off grid and self sustaining, but even as decrepit as we are and are likely to become, we should be able to produce most of our food ourselves.
Always a slight niggle as to whether we'll have enough cash as time goes on, but we could always sell up and have a very comfortable life somewhere warm and cheap if things go awry. Has anyone else taken this approach?
That sounds like a pretty good way to live: congrats & best of luck on Take 3 of the Retirement Project I've "retired" twice before, once at 55 and again at 59.
60 glorious years old yesterday and it's definitely permanent this time.
We don't much in the way of cash reserves or a very big income, but everything we've done over the past few years has been to prepare for the life we want at a cost we can afford.
We've built a house that we'll be comfortable in well into our dottage in a place we want to be almost all of the time.
We bought the property and built the house with cash reserves, so no mortgage. It's super insulated and with a heat pump and solar gain and plenty of free firewood for stoves so very cheap to run.
I extended a one bedroom bothy to build the house so we are on band (a) £800 per year council tax .
We have cut back to three cars (and a tractor) all older, but all paid for and cheap to run.
We have enough land to feed ourselves easily as long as we are able. If we were 20 years younger, I reckon we could be entirely off grid and self sustaining, but even as decrepit as we are and are likely to become, we should be able to produce most of our food ourselves.
Always a slight niggle as to whether we'll have enough cash as time goes on, but we could always sell up and have a very comfortable life somewhere warm and cheap if things go awry. Has anyone else taken this approach?
What kind of produce do you….er……produce?
& do you have a large plot to product it on?
I have a pal who enjoys tinkering with his allotment, & I’m pretty sure he does swaps with others there.
We have a v. small veg patch, but this year has seen us more away than home, so basically didn’t use it!
Oh yes….on the topic of volleyball: whilst being at least twice the age of *every* other person on court last night (& thrice some of them!), we won 3-0, & I have to say I played pretty well, with some corking unusual serves.
The university opposition had masses of people there, felt more like a Big Match than the local league: fun evening!
GT3Manthey said:
We did once use Saga which I remember having a chuckle about as I’d always thought of Saga holidays meant old people !
Using the comparison sites Saga were actually on the list but not the cheapest.
I believe Saga are usually more expensive due to premiums being guaranteed to be fixed for 3 years. https://www.saga.co.uk/car-insurance/3-year-fixed-...Using the comparison sites Saga were actually on the list but not the cheapest.
mikeiow said:
Desiderata said:
We'll! I've finally gone and done it.
I've "retired" twice before, once at 55 and again at 59.
60 glorious years old yesterday and it's definitely permanent this time.
We don't much in the way of cash reserves or a very big income, but everything we've done over the past few years has been to prepare for the life we want at a cost we can afford.
We've built a house that we'll be comfortable in well into our dottage in a place we want to be almost all of the time.
We bought the property and built the house with cash reserves, so no mortgage. It's super insulated and with a heat pump and solar gain and plenty of free firewood for stoves so very cheap to run.
I extended a one bedroom bothy to build the house so we are on band (a) £800 per year council tax .
We have cut back to three cars (and a tractor) all older, but all paid for and cheap to run.
We have enough land to feed ourselves easily as long as we are able. If we were 20 years younger, I reckon we could be entirely off grid and self sustaining, but even as decrepit as we are and are likely to become, we should be able to produce most of our food ourselves.
Always a slight niggle as to whether we'll have enough cash as time goes on, but we could always sell up and have a very comfortable life somewhere warm and cheap if things go awry. Has anyone else taken this approach?
That sounds like a pretty good way to live: congrats & best of luck on Take 3 of the Retirement Project I've "retired" twice before, once at 55 and again at 59.
60 glorious years old yesterday and it's definitely permanent this time.
We don't much in the way of cash reserves or a very big income, but everything we've done over the past few years has been to prepare for the life we want at a cost we can afford.
We've built a house that we'll be comfortable in well into our dottage in a place we want to be almost all of the time.
We bought the property and built the house with cash reserves, so no mortgage. It's super insulated and with a heat pump and solar gain and plenty of free firewood for stoves so very cheap to run.
I extended a one bedroom bothy to build the house so we are on band (a) £800 per year council tax .
We have cut back to three cars (and a tractor) all older, but all paid for and cheap to run.
We have enough land to feed ourselves easily as long as we are able. If we were 20 years younger, I reckon we could be entirely off grid and self sustaining, but even as decrepit as we are and are likely to become, we should be able to produce most of our food ourselves.
Always a slight niggle as to whether we'll have enough cash as time goes on, but we could always sell up and have a very comfortable life somewhere warm and cheap if things go awry. Has anyone else taken this approach?
What kind of produce do you….er……produce?
& do you have a large plot to product it on?
I have a pal who enjoys tinkering with his allotment, & I’m pretty sure he does swaps with others there.
We have a v. small veg patch, but this year has seen us more away than home, so basically didn’t use it!
Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Car insurance is all over the place at the moment.
Both my F430 and Volvo X60 just renewed, the 430 just about halved and the Volvo went up. It actually cost more to insure the Volvo than the Ferrari
I tried Saga which made me feel old
I didn't expect to talk to them for roughly 2 years.
Both my F430 and Volvo X60 just renewed, the 430 just about halved and the Volvo went up. It actually cost more to insure the Volvo than the Ferrari
I tried Saga which made me feel old
I didn't expect to talk to them for roughly 2 years.All this talk of insurance I spent some time on the comparison sites last night for my Aston which is due in December.
Jeez, very nearly crapped my pants.
I thought I was hard done by last year when it went from roughly £380 to £500 and now the meerkats are telling my I will be lucky if I get below £2000.
I can see a lot of Internet quotation gathering in the next few weeks
Jeez, very nearly crapped my pants.
I thought I was hard done by last year when it went from roughly £380 to £500 and now the meerkats are telling my I will be lucky if I get below £2000.
I can see a lot of Internet quotation gathering in the next few weeks
Somebody said:
I believe Saga are usually more expensive due to premiums being guaranteed to be fixed for 3 years. https://www.saga.co.uk/car-insurance/3-year-fixed-...
The 3 year fix is optional - it's a product called Plus vs Select which is year by year.https://www.saga.co.uk/car-insurance
Desiderata said:
We've got around 20 acres, but it's not prime arable land, just a little piece of hillside.
Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Total admiration for this!Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Roughly how many hours per week do you think this takes to keep running?
Desiderata said:
We've got around 20 acres, but it's not prime arable land, just a little piece of hillside.
Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
That sounds an absolute delight!Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Not called Tom & Barbara by any chance
I can imagine that keeping you both fairly busy and very fit: enjoy!!
Steve H said:
Desiderata said:
We've got around 20 acres, but it's not prime arable land, just a little piece of hillside.
Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Total admiration for this!Currently got a small polytunnel, about a quarter acre of beds for veg , a quarter acre of fruit bushes, a half acre orchard with a couple of beehives and the beginnings of a 2 acre "food forest". The rest is currently feeding a horse and some of our neighbours' sheep.
Plans are eventually increase the food forest to around six acres with a one acre pond in the middle, cultivate a couple of acres for cereals, double the veg and fruit areas (and hopefully yield), and keep some poultry. We have no plans for food animals as we mostly have a vegetarian diet. We may continue to let our neighbours sheep/cattle graze to manage the meadows.
Roughly how many hours per week do you think this takes to keep running?
Desiderata said:
It's actually the main reason for retiring properly. It was taking the whole of my only free day every week, a couple of hours in the evenings, and some of my wife's time just to keep on top of it as it was. We didn't manage any expansion at all over the summer so I decided to give up work to realise our dreams. I reckon we'll easily keep on top of what's there in two days per week and spend another couple (as and when weather permits) expanding and improving. Once established, the food forest will need minimal maintenance, that's part of the ethos behind them.
Interesting and well deserving of its own thread if you have the time or inclination 
So a big day here at Skeeter Towers yesterday.
I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
I'm sure that wasn't an easy decision after 15 years Skeeterm5 though I do understand, especially if you aren't using it (and at least your classic Ford is in a roadworthy state 
). I sold my Z3 after 7 years as it wasn't getting used, though hardly a classic, it was the biggest engined/fastest car I've owned, but it went to a fellow guitarist and he kept in touch with progress for a while. Not sure how I'll feel when the time comes to move on my RS after it being in the family since 1980.
). I sold my Z3 after 7 years as it wasn't getting used, though hardly a classic, it was the biggest engined/fastest car I've owned, but it went to a fellow guitarist and he kept in touch with progress for a while. Not sure how I'll feel when the time comes to move on my RS after it being in the family since 1980. skeeterm5 said:
So a big day here at Skeeter Towers yesterday.
I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
No way ! We only mentioned it the other day when discussing the MX5. I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
I do get it though. Good to let someone else enjoy her and it’s also fun to search for the next one.
What’s on the short list ?
skeeterm5 said:
So a big day here at Skeeter Towers yesterday.
I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
WOW, that's a quick result! I'm sure that you have mixed emotions...funny how a thing like a car, any car, can generate fond memories etc. A Cosworth will be very different to the 1600E.I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
R.
The Leaper said:
Seeing as the subject of cars, mostly quality Fords, has come up.....
My wife has a Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDi diesel Zetec S. It was first registered in December 2010 by the local Ford dealer, then used as their demo car. Wife bought the car from them in January 2011, mileage 1701, cost £11,995. Road tax is £20 pa. It has been fully maintained (wife has a service contract), it lives in the garage etc. Has now done 16,000 miles in almost 13 years! Googling suggests similar but higher mileage cars are priced getting on for £6000! She thinks it is a keeper...proved by it's history of single ownership I suppose. I suspect when the time comes for it to go, it will be moved to someone inside the family, rather than sold.
R.
Appearing at the NEC Classic Car Show from 2032My wife has a Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDi diesel Zetec S. It was first registered in December 2010 by the local Ford dealer, then used as their demo car. Wife bought the car from them in January 2011, mileage 1701, cost £11,995. Road tax is £20 pa. It has been fully maintained (wife has a service contract), it lives in the garage etc. Has now done 16,000 miles in almost 13 years! Googling suggests similar but higher mileage cars are priced getting on for £6000! She thinks it is a keeper...proved by it's history of single ownership I suppose. I suspect when the time comes for it to go, it will be moved to someone inside the family, rather than sold.
R.
Gassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff