Exploiting the members

Posted on 25/01/2022 10:47 by ADP1963

Rocky.....Agree 100%. If I stop and take stock of my position I/we have been very fortunate. We have worked hard for our now comfortable lifestyle. Nothing like many, was given to us, but we did have the good fortune and wisdom to provide for this present time. During our working lives my wife and I were covered by BUPA, a perk provided by our companies which we never used ( glad we had no need to ) but it was something we had to pay Tax on. The cost if I wanted to be in BUPA now at my age is astronomical. As you say medical health care in other countries is mind blowing. Again as I say I am not complaining and what we have not needed others in need are very welcome to.

Posted on 24/01/2022 23:39 by Rocky 2 buckets

If you have issues you can make a claim KJ, that’s what the benefits system is there-to help the truly needy & suffering. There are more & more in this country making the hard decision of-Eat or Heat☹️. Food banks are seeing unprecedented requests for help.

Posted on 25/01/2022 16:03 by KjellNN

No issues, just  pointing out that many do not have inflation proofed pensions.

My pension is presently sufficient for our needs, but certainly not keeping up with inflation.  Expecting fuel bills to be very large any minute......today is unfortunately  the last day of our current fixed rate deal.

We have savings, slowly being used on updating the bathrooms in the house to make them more user friendly for our creaky knees.

Interest   rates are rubbish, but at least the money is there when we do need to supplement my pension.

Posted on 25/01/2022 17:58 by Rocky 2 buckets

You could release equity from your home, sell it to an agency, continue to live there👍🏻. Not too bad after all.

PS-not all were created equal KJ?, we were created equal but some invested long term, signed up early with a gold plated inflation proof extra pension too? Lose early but gain later👍🏻

Posted on 25/01/2022 18:25 by KjellNN

Rocky, I worked for my last employer for 32 years, the previous ones 8 years, though they pre-dated the company pension requirements, and was in the pension scheme the whole time.  I have paid into state pension schemes since I started working in 1967, but those first employers did not have company pension schemes.

I retired on a 60% final salary pension in 2007,  but unlike some public sector workers, my employer did not guarantee that pensions would be inflation proofed, only part of it is, the rest is discretionary.   One can only have what is on offer.

When one has been retired for a while, the non inflation linked pension does tend to fall behind.

However, OH is financially savvy and has been saving as much as possible, she is even still saving from my pension, so we have savings to fall back on.

No need therefore for equity release, though we could easily downsize if things got really bad, but we like it here.     Meantime, the house is appreciating in value, though not as much as "down south".

Posted on 25/01/2022 18:25 by KjellNN

Rocky, I worked for my last employer for 32 years, the previous ones 8 years, though they pre-dated the company pension requirements, and was in the pension scheme the whole time.  I have paid into state pension schemes since I started working in 1967, but those first employers did not have company pension schemes.

I retired on a 60% final salary pension in 2007,  but unlike some public sector workers, my employer did not guarantee that pensions would be inflation proofed, only part of it is, the rest is discretionary.   One can only have what is on offer.

When one has been retired for a while, the non inflation linked pension does tend to fall behind.

However, OH is financially savvy and has been saving as much as possible, she is even still saving from my pension, so we have savings to fall back on.

No need therefore for equity release, though we could easily downsize if things got really bad, but we like it here.     Meantime, the house is appreciating in value, though not as much as "down south".

Posted on 25/01/2022 20:11 by KjellNN

I doubt we would ever be that desperate!

Posted on 21/01/2022 10:13 by MichaelT

I am finding the costs of club sites are now way too high in any season to use and with the introduction of deposits will likely cancel our membership.

We are going to Cornwall in August to meet our son and grandkids for a few days on a private site they have booked, cost per night for full hardstanding pitch with EHU is £87 for 3 nights so £29 per night, expensive but it is high season in school holidays. 

We are looking to go to some other sites whilst in the area and looked at Trewethett Farm and a economy non EHU pitch as we do not need hook up and these are right on the cliff, £29.20 per night!!  Standard awning pitch is £35.90 per night. 

These are all for 2 adults so why so high, private site has excellent facilities and in good location near cliffs also.....

Posted on 25/01/2022 20:38 by Cornersteady

As interest rates as so low we bought some premium bonds with some of our savings, we've been lucky and made double what we would have got but of course it's up to Ernie for the big prize. A bit of fun.

Anyone else remember the Ernie tv ads?