The Retirement Thread

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Binky

Senior Member
Might I gently comment on this? You have company pensions to which I assume you made contributions to. Basically you pay £x in per month and your employer £y. The £x contribution you pay is free of tax, you will not have paid tax on that money during your working life.

If one has a private or personal pension those contributions are topped up by the government. If one pays in £100 and the current tax rate is 25% the government adds £25.

When we make contributions to a pension we're effectively only defering tax on that money. We, I include myself here, pay a portion of that tax in later life if our income is above the tax threshold.

It seems fair to me. I didn't pay the tax when I worked so I'm paying it now.

I understand perfectly the financial aspects of pensions. My point is paying tax on income when working and when retired rankles a bit. As I said, I'm fine financially but I feel for those in a less fortunate position.
 

rustybolts

pedalling tediously
Location
Ireland
In Oireland so many people refuse to pay the TV licence, around 15ish%, they have to spend a fortune trying to enforce it. Upshot is reckoned that almost half the licence fee there is now spent on attempted enforcement,

I boycott the licence and the Beeb out of principle (not for political reaskns.) I get the odd letter but no goons so far, and if I do get a visit the door just won't get answered.

I don't expect M&S to knock on my door and demand to inspect my kitchen cupboards besause I shop at Waitrose, and so it is with the Beeb. I'm a refusenik and proud.

On the plus side, every minute they spend hassling me is a minute they're not trying to intimidate the elderly or vulnerable into buying a licence they don't need.
Yes , but here in Paddyland they DO come and knock on doors , people get caught and brought to court. An increasing number of people are NOT paying . Its 160 euro per annum for anybody under 70 . Irish tv is pathetic , any decent programmes they show are usually UK


"The RTÉ payments controversy, which erupted in June last year, was not raised by any of those who appeared before the court. Overall, TV licence sales fell by 13 per cent last year, representing a €20 million loss of revenue, and more than 13,000 people were summonsed to appear before the courts for non-payment.

Jennifer Morgan BL, for An Post, presented all the cases, which arose from visits by TV licence inspectors last September and October to homes in areas including Dublin 4, Dublin 6, Dublin 15, Dublin 18 and Malahide.
In 31 cases, where there was no attendance by the individuals involved and none had corresponded with the court office, the judge heard evidence from TV licence inspectors before proceeding to convict.

All 31 were fined €150, to be paid within three months, and costs of €100 each were awarded against them. If they wish to appeal to the Circuit Court, they have 14 days to do so. An Post can take enforcement proceedings where there is no appeal and no licence is obtained.

A small number of other cases were adjourned before the list concluded by lunchtime on Friday."

Bejeebus Judge , shure y'know yerself sur.. wid the price o drink an fags not ta mention cocaine an nappies fer the babbys i cant pay dis year
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Flaming Hell, at least over here they need this thing called "evidence" in order to convict. The only way for the goons to get evidence would be to speak to them, and that ain't happening (not that I don't genuinely not watch live tv or the iplayer.)

Pay tv licence or not ill leave to your conscience. My beef is like Numbnuts, is that their default position is to think you're lying/evading. That's what irks me.

Next letter they send me I'm going to tape to an old phone book and shove it back in the post box marked "return to sender."
 

BoldonLad

Not part of the Elite
Location
South Tyneside
I’m up early too. Packed last night so just checking nothing is forgotten. I have resisted the " just in case " stuff that I usually lug to my destination and back again unused. 🚂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏃‍♀️🎂🚂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Don't want to be a harbinger of doom... but....

some years ago, when cycling in Croatia, with a pal, who was an inveterate "just in case" packer, I felt the weight of his pannier, and, convinced him to ditch most of it.

Yes, you guessed it, he had a "mechanical" and, we had to walk several miles to a town (Pula). Fortunately, there was a Bicycle Shop, and, they were able to fix the problem.

From then on, I kept quiet 😂
 

gavroche

Getting old but not past it
Location
North Wales
I drove down to Bideford this morning and the traffic was horrendous.
We all have to get up at 2 am tomorrow as I am taking my wife and daughter to Exeter airport . Their flight is at 6 am.
I think I will go back to bed when I get back. I will be looking after Molly , Maisy ( daughter's dog) and the cat whilst they are away for a week.
 

BoldonLad

Not part of the Elite
Location
South Tyneside
I’m up early too. Packed last night so just checking nothing is forgotten. I have resisted the " just in case " stuff that I usually lug to my destination and back again unused. 🚂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏃‍♀️🎂🚂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Don't want to be a harbinger of doom... but....

some years ago, when cycling in Croatia, with a pal, who was an inveterate "just in case" packer, I felt the weight of his pannier, and, convinced him to ditch most of it.

Yes, you guessed it, he had a "mechanical" and, we had to walk several miles to a town (Pula). Fortunately, there was a Bicycle Shop, and, they were able to fix the problem.

From then on, I kept quiet 😂
 

BoldonLad

Not part of the Elite
Location
South Tyneside
Rant.................
sorry to bring this up again, but I have just filled in a declaration for the 25% discount for single council tax payments on-line
it's worth £175.............
In contrast I do the same with the bloody BBC and get 11 years of hell and threatening letters,m yet it's around the same price :cursing:

Oh and my cake is done to perfection :smile:

Do you think I'm too old for a paddelboard ??

You are never too old 😂
 
having just turned 56 and with 11 years left before state pension age... I'm starting to realise why many people aspire to retire at 55. 🤔

State Pension will be at about 80 by the time you get there!
 
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