Oh yes, I thought we were just keeping that to ourselves 
1 Like
Managed to get into the Osteo again yesterday, still thinks the hip is a bit tight on the LHS, and the glute is painful as well.
Also thinks there’s some tendonitis in the hip at the front which is what I’d thought given it’s worse first thing or when I’ve been sat down and soon ‘warms’ up. So, need to still be patient I think, I’d rather not have that lingering all year, it’s been nearly 4 months I think as I was starting to feel it around Helvellyn!
Still going to work on the quads etc and a bit of easy cycling, also trying the ice, heat, massage etc., but trying to avoid ibuprofen as it’s probably just masking the pain and not letting it heal properly?
It’s definitely easing, just not quick enough 
6 Likes
Well that’s good & still a bit shit @jeffb .I can remember you feeling pain during long walks before Helvellyn so your injury has certainly been lingering.
wrt ibuprofen, I hate taking painkillers & prefer to suck up my pain but often wonder whether I should be popping a few for their anti-inflammatory properties?
Left knee pain.
We could start an injury thread or spreadsheet
2 Likes
I realise why you might take some in the acute phase if it’s quite painful but ibuprofen doesn’t sound like the nicest drug on the stomach, for other things I tend to take paracetamol but I don’t think it’s as good at anti-inflammatory?
Clive, I have thought about that actually and surprised nobody has yet, even if it’s only a semi-rant feel sorry for me thread 
1 Like
Look what you have done now …!
Back to boring things like pensions 
Over the last few weeks with a bit of spare time on my hands I’ve been trying to get my head round things like pensions, work & state, and additional pensions hopefully leading to an earlier retirement.
I’ve got a figure in my head which is actually almost what I come out with now which gives me a fairly comfortable time with holidays and races etc. I can take my work pension from 55 but generally lose about 3% for every year early I take it. But currently I think I can possibly make it from about December 2028-May 29 when I’ll actually 59 
. By this time I should also have the full state pension, so I’m using a combination of other monies to bridge the £9k PA I’ll get from 67’ish. (I realise I still pay tax when I’m retired but not NI).
In October I did a salary sacrifice into my pension for an APC, it takes about £160 but I get £200 of pension bought, this is currently for 5 years.
I also got a bit of money in my inheritance last year that is largely sitting in a bank account losing money, so I’m also buying a lump of APC, I sent off the form yesterday. Due to how this works I think I then need to claim the tax back from HMRC as unlike the salary APC this doesn’t go near work and have tax relief at that point. I’ll still have a reasonable amount in case I need it even though I know I won’t make much on it.
I’ve also had an AVC for about 18 years which is building up nicely, and when I do all the sums, which took some researching I have a feeling that as long as I keep an eye on it I might be able to take all of it as my tax free lump (25%), but I’m more likely to use it as a drawdown as the bridging of the state pension.
It’s taken quite a bit of getting my head around all the rules and pro’s and con’s of different options. I’m not financial expert.
I generally like low risk, and although I know both the AVC\APC are dependent on the stock market I’m not overly keen to dabble in that directly or via a broker.
Anyway, hopefully this will work out as planned. Otherwise I’m f***ed and work until I’m 67!
Anyone in a similar position or think I’ve made an horrendous error?
4 Likes
You know more about it than I certainly do.
No way I’ll get to 60 at this rate, work wise anyway.
Even on two days a week it’s a grind, sorry those who work full time, with kids and all the faff… and still try and get sweaty a few times a week…to give it your best in a race… I’ve been there too.
I’ve set my sights on 57, you loose a touch but it’s only cash.
Once I stop paying for my son in May I will have very very few direct debits.
Phone
220 subscription
Gym.
No house or car loans, no cards nothing, it took some time getting there but did it in the end.
The rentals pay for me to live for nothing bills wise.
Between me and the job I’m hoping to amas a 150k lump sum by 57 that’s 15 k a year till I’m 67 to get the state pension.
My works pension will be vastly reduced govt sold us out and I went part time in my mid forties, but it’s … whatever I can get.
It’s a simple but achievable plan, if you see me hanging round Worden park in the rain drinking tennents super with a dog on a piece of string … it didn’t work out.
6 Likes
Sounds like a reasonably pleasant way to pass the time in retirement, in between all the golf and Spanish travel
3 Likes
It’s actually a nice place, prefer Cyprus and can’t play Golf.
We all have our dreams
1 Like
going top have to try and sit down and work this out over the next few months now that I have turned 50
1 Like
What is deemed to be a decent pension pot if you want to retire at 60?
So enough to live on comfortably until you hit 67 then get the state pension to add on.
Not totally sure about total pot. I’m on a defined benefit so looking at my monthly payout plus state rather than a grand total.
My pot as such will be from the lump I do get, ~£20k atm and anything I’ll get from my AVC which I can take as a lump if I want.
Hopefully someone else might have a suggestion.
1 Like
If you’re a higher rate tax payer, you can get the extra 20% back too if you file a tax return.
You don’t get it in your pension but you do potentially get a tax rebate.
1 Like
frankly - go talk to an independent financial advisor who will offer better advice than the experience on here (although there’s some good comments - we’re all different so have different needs)
me and Mrs FB are perhaps fortunate in having had a good IFA for a number of years who has steered us, and prior to that a very good accountant who was very savvy with his advice. beyond our state pension we have no other pension income but we have significant sums tucked away in a good spread of investments including property which we can call on as and when needed. many of our non-pension incomes are also tax free at source so overall we fall below the tax threshold so don’t pay any income tax. 
4 Likes
That’s the plan for the lump I’m just doing, as mentioned the sacrifice has it automatically done for me by our payroll.
I did get in touch with HMRC, when it’s sorted I need to get a letter off the pension fund saying they haven’t applied tax relief and I’m hoping to get a refund off them, due to the timing I think it will be a cheque rather than less monthly tax next year.
The salary sacrifice will only get you relief at 20%. If you are a 40% tax payer then you can get the extra 20% back too, but you need to file a tax return to get it.
Ta, I have considered that but I’ve spoken to various people in a similar scenario to me via work. A couple were payroll managers so knew most of the relevant things for us. Also, the fact I’ve had them for a long time means I’m largely tied in for now.
It was more just seeing if others in a similar boat had a similar plan.
Going on my conversation with hmrc I’m probably under 40% due to my other rebates etc., it sounds more like a letter I need to send than a tax return.
talking to an IFA could still be worth it imho, especially if you have an inheritance that’s not producing much return.
1 Like