The Retirement Thread
176 watchers
17 Jul
8:40am, 17 Jul 2024
3,163 posts
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Shades
I shop in Aldi and just go to Tesco once a month mainly for some frozen fish, that I'm very partial too, and lentils which Aldi don't stock. Asda for my bread and yogurt. I have a spreadsheet on my electricity usage too. I don't do a balance sheet, too fiddly valuing assets etc. But my budget spreadsheet is updated every week with actual spend compared to budgeted costs. 🤓 I have a limited income and I like to spend whatever disposable income I have on marathons and associated travel etc., that budget is stacking up as I have been injured for a long time and not able to race. Soon as I can that will be spent. |
17 Jul
8:47am, 17 Jul 2024
24,424 posts
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3M
Now that's a good use of disposable income and a good incentive to stick to a budget, @Shades! There's a worrying crossover  on here with the Dull Men's group on Facebook.... You'd be amazed how many people seem to chart their power usage!
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17 Jul
8:51am, 17 Jul 2024
3,166 posts
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Shades
@3M Indeed that's why I have no problems sticking to my various budgets. I don't deprive myself of anything, my flat could do with having some money spent on it but nothing urgent.
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17 Jul
9:02am, 17 Jul 2024
69,919 posts
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Velociraptor
The only thing I chart is my training, and that's only because Fetch makes it easy.
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17 Jul
9:24am, 17 Jul 2024
4,397 posts
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NordRunner
Velociraptor wrote: I'm thinking of putting in a Fetch request to add a way to track my food shopping and electricity bills.
The only thing I chart is my training, and that's only because Fetch makes it easy. |
17 Jul
9:40am, 17 Jul 2024
23,274 posts
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geordiegirl
Lol @NordRunner Shopping varies of course but like @Shades we cook from scratch and batch cook there is also only 2 of us. We don’t eat much in way of snacks but we do partake in a wine or beer so that is an extra spend. We don’t track energy spend OH looks after those bills apparently we a massively in credit so they keep messing with payments. It would drive me nuts. Shades have you thought about volunteering at races as many give a free entry to a future race if you do. Def a wise use of your disposable income. |
17 Jul
9:43am, 17 Jul 2024
43,080 posts
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Ness
We're also massively in credit with gas/electricity company. Mr Ness is trying to get it back.
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17 Jul
9:47am, 17 Jul 2024
12,705 posts
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cathrobinson
I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by Octopus Energy. It’s the first time in living memory that we’ve been significantly in DEBT with an energy company and yet they aren’t hassling for us to pay it, or increase the direct debit. It will even itself out over the summer, I think, but I’ve never known an energy company to have it this way round. If anyone wants a referral bonus, let me know
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17 Jul
10:01am, 17 Jul 2024
7,578 posts
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ThorntonRunner
We used my tax free sum (plus some!) to install solar and ashp, get an electric car and ditch gas. Just had my mid-Jun to mid-July electricity bill - was charged £46.59 for grid electricity used, but paid £46.60 for solar we exported. So net we were paid a penny
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17 Jul
10:04am, 17 Jul 2024
7,579 posts
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ThorntonRunner
(And yes I have spreadsheets of electricity usage month by month - split to show car, ashp, solar - with comparisons of what it would cost if I were still petrol car, gas heating and no solar!)
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Jigs Useful Links
FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.- Money Helper
- How Much is Enough to Retire On?
- Retirement Living Standards
- How much will you need to retire?
- Free Govt website for pension advice
- SIPP pensions
- ISAs
- Check your National Insurance contributions
- Check your state pension account
- Martin Lewis on pensions
- Support and advice for those widowed under the age of 50
- Power of Attorney information
- Making the most of your retirement
- 20 tips for a happy retirement
- Married Couple's Allowance
- Aviva guide to retirement planning
- U3A
- U3A Local Sites - map
- Make a Power of Attorney
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