Retirement (or Last of the Summer Wine)

Hi all, it's me. Eating in or out has become comparatively more expensive, we all may have noticed. Some may be feeling a pinch. Being serious now, if I can, I enjoyed a fabulous Sunday lunch yesterday at a local pub, in the past best known for its curries. Most meals out are now served with a price tag of £10 plus. Such was the generous serving yesterday, of properly roasted huge meat joints, that I came away with a takeaway tub. The lunch that I've just enjoyed at home, I would defy anyone to think otherwise, that I've eaten a freshly roasted dinner. Scrummy, scrummy & scrummy. Plus a roast beef sandwich that I had for supper last evening. Pussy is licking her chops too. That, providing another dinner, to which I added a few veg, halves the price of yesterday's lovely dinner at the Hollybush. Please, just enjoy. ps The curry that I ate there recently was fab. Scrummy. I came home with a takeaway tub then, so that did two meals.

Hi all, HEATING FOR THOUGHT. Disregarding social welfare help, folk living on their own, like me at present, in three/four bed homes, must be in the category of high impact cost change. In my present reasonable health, I don't need my heating hyped as I did keeping Pamela warm. My thoughts do turn to that group just now. I'm on a fixed tariff, but that ends in December. My heating consumption this past winter was only a third of the previous winter. I can still trim it, but even so, I'm budgeting for at least twice this year's cost. So many folks just won't cope, without social assistance. Will we see families merging into single households. Maybe a glut of higher priced properties coming on to the market. The possible projected ramifications are mind blowing. At present, nearly nine million people are single occupancy status. Within that group, the out of control impact will be… you know what's coming hey!… Equity release, folks financially trapped like prisoners in their own home, but cannot afford the hyper cost of living. Any thoughts on this?

It is going to be a tough few years. I'm not sure that it will result in a lot of vacant properties. Though I fear that equity release companies will start advertising using the energy crisis as a reason for the elderly to 'free up cash'.

Hi all, Welcome to the board room. Please pull up a chair. Quote: (The UK State Pension is set to increase by an astonishing 10.1% from April, it has been confirmed. It means hard-pressed pensioners could enjoy an annual State Pension pay rise of close to £1,000 during the 2023/24 tax year. However, exactly how much pension you receive will vary based on a number of factors.) The media is full of state pension & benefit increases at present. I wish to iron out a basic fact, before anyone rushes to book a Caribbean holiday for us all. THERE ARE, AT PRESENT, TWO STATE PENSION LEVELS. THOSE WHO BECAME ELIGIBLE IN APRIL 2016 THOSE WHO BECAME ELIGIBLE PRIOR TO THAT DATE. Most of the value data refers to the post 2016 folk, whose state pension value is considerably higher than those who were already receiving their pension before 2016. The percentage increase is the same. Currently 10.1%. The media, many journalists, are ignorant of the two-tier levels. I'm not discussing the politics here, I know and understand the split reasoning, but it's to make sure that our forum members are aware that the increase figures are usually quoted for the post 2016 state pension receivers, not for the clapped out ones like me. Please don't respond regards the politics for now. Let's make sure that every member knows what they are due to receive, with no disappointments. The Accountant - I've done this before.

Hi all, PLEASE BE AWARE OF WHO IS IN CHARGE. For many folks, retirement starts off with the Golden Age idea. Until changes are forced upon us by changing circumstances. I've already more than covered Equity Release issues, but there are others. Moving to a residential home. Family moving in with you, or you moving in with them. Downsizing, moving to a Park Home, very popular nowadays. My thoughts to share here are, know in your own mind, who's the boss! The more accommodation is managed, usually the more that restrictions increase. That's not always a bad thing, as most folk in retirement don't want to be living next to a builder's yard. Friends of mine have moved into their own Park Home, not far from Coventry. Wonderful, until they discovered that they could not give their customary English & Maths lessons in their new home. That's possibly a rare example, but it should give a inkling of what to be aware of. So, happy retirement all.

It does come as a nasty shock trying to manage all the variables. Power of Attorney was one we almost left too late. We discovered that assisted flats were a rip off because the rules about living there meant that by the time you need assistance you're not able enough to stay in the flats. Assistance might not be anything more than a call necklet that you can have in any home. After my operation I was vulnerable for a while so instead of a call button I put my mobile on a big elastic cord round my neck. If I was with it enough to press a call button I'd be with it enough to dial a friend or 999, which in many cases is all a call service will do. Fees for buying and selling assisted flats are massive and very restrictive. Invest in a second hand stairlift instead.

Hi all, An errand in Coventry for me this morning. Please be mindful of bus industrial action later this week. I'm a bit easier sharing future events nowadays, as my home is multiple occupation. It's a home again with its added security. That's a peace of mind that I've not known for a couple of years. Regards the current bus & train industrial action, I wonder what the outcome would be if the operations were to be shut down completely by the owners! Possibly a much shortened painful period, with no money going into any of the pockets. There would be legal challenges no doubt, but that wouldn't have much effect in the short term. I have opinions but they will stay indoors. If time permits, a bacon sarnie might secure a Flying Standard test this morning. I sound like Tom Forrest introducing the Archers on a Sunday morning. "Oh, how is Pru"? So have a good day, all.

PS, Can you all talk much quieter now please. Specsavers needed a skip lorry to cart my wax away. They're making four candles or fork handles. Also sorry! I went to the new Greggs cafe for my bacon butty & coffee. £2.40, it was boooootifooool.

Can you shush about the bacon Philip, my Leo drools at the mouth at the mention of the word.

Shush, is the word.

I'm impressed that Leo can read Though if I was a dog then 'bacon' and of course 'sausages' would be some of the first words I'd learn. The first two would be 'roast dinner'.

I don't think Prince the dog could manage "bacon", but we all know what he liked for breakfast, on That's Life!

Sausages!

Hi all, It's your fault Rob, I'm going in search of a sausage today. Sausages! Our puss likes a sausage.

Sorry Philip, my word is usually sheruuuup! And I get the sausages and Leo gets 'some' bacon. Now my stomach is rumbling. Oooooh. PS. The cafes and restos (yes, an Aussie word) must be raking in a fortune from HCF members (says I, green with envy).