General Chat

I shall retire at 60! whoopeee!! I shall receive three company pensions then, and the state one!!!!!!!! It's all quite exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Joy

The problem isn't helped by the fact that these days so many don't start regular work (ie pay tax) until they are about 22-23.

Joy I don't think you will get the state pension, as the state pension is only given to those who don't get enough from other sources. But am willing to be proved wrong...

My hubby works on local paper on printing press, already he and people younger than him struggle to get up the ladder to top of machine. If the age for retirment goes up, they will need a Stanner (spelling?) stair lift to get them up.

I cant understand them making the retirement age higher, there aren't enough jobs to go round now for those under retirement age. At 60, I wasn't ready to retire but when I got to 63 I felt differently. June xx

Hi Shelli Sorry but you are wrong, everyone gets the state pension but it is taxable if you have money from other sources. Vivienne

The trouble is Joy, you will still pay tax on your pension if you earn above the personal allowances. June xx

I shall, I shall, I shall get the pension - whoopee! doh, yes I shall pay tax on it! :-) Joy

Margaret and Christine, you both sound like two very active ladies who should really consider doing some voluntary work. There are so many different organisations which are crying out for people like you. I am the manager of a charity shop and we are always looking for volunteers. All it takes is a few hours a week and you get to meet lots of people. If you don't fancy that then why not get in touch with your local volunteer bureau and find out whats going on in your area. It could be that someone needs a bit of help with their garden in your local area or a disabled person who just needs someone with similar interests as a companion for a couple of hours. Oh and Christine, I bet I know which Garden centre you're talking about, it's about a 20 minute walk from my shop! (Your local volunteer bureau is in Sucklings Yard just off Ware High Street but if you fancy a go in a charity shop you're more than welcome to message me)

I was contracted to retire at 65, took 3 weeks holiday, got bored and applied for 3 jobs and got 2 of them. I did both in a part-time capacity for about 4 years, gave up the paid one and worked full-time in the voluntary sector, finally retiring when I was 78 - only to get lumbered with another voluntary job. Looks like I'm lumbered with that till I drop, which I estimate will be in 2007. len

I was widowed before this government changed the rules so until I am 65 I get a widows pension but because it is about the same as the personal allowance I pay tax on every penny of my salary. I'm not sure how much longer I will physically be able to do my job but I'm a little concerned about reaching 65 as my pension will not be as much as the widows pension which is based on my husbands contributions. Vivienne

I am in the age group that now has to work to 65, and having brought up three kids on my own, feel wrecked now at late 40's ! Just feeling sorry for myself as got really bad knees lol. Iz x

did say i was willing to be proved wrong lol won;t be a pension by time i get there so have already told my four they better get good jobs so they can looka fter me when i'm an pensioner

I think it's disgusting they want us to work till that age, we want some quality of life in our retirement, not be hobbling around on sticks, I for one am definately going to retire at 60, pension or no b****y pension, even if it means I'll only be getting a minimum amount.

I'm 37 and self-employed. I don't earn enough to have a private pension, so I can't see me retiring until I'm at least 75!

It might be worth remembering also, that when the retirement age was originally set, most children left school at fourteen or fifteen and would have a fifty year working life. Nowdays most leave school at eighteen after sixth form and a large proportion go to college/university so don't start work until 21/22. So the working life is considerably shorter.

Those of you in Ware who may be interested in voluntary work, please contact me. I work for a local charity (volunteer - part-time - work full-time elsewhere) and we're always looking for volunteers, even if it's only for the odd hour. Jan

You could collect goods for us to sell or answer 'phones! We're just looking into getting a shop locally - so you know it wasn't us that turned you down. We don't turn anyone down! Jan

That's ok Christine, just to let you know that not every charity would be rude to you and turn you down! Lovely garden centre, isn't it - just 5 mins from where I live now, although I actually come from North London too! Jan

Born in Holloway, but moved to Winchmore Hill when I was three. Jan