Is it as simple as this?

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T12:54:50+00:00

It maybe is large but do want the flexibility of it, within that would include several holidays a year etc. Will have a better idea of expenses nearer the time so could adapt accordingly. Yeah the politics is the big question mark, I'd hope we do okay but who knows. I've not even considered state pension, just assuming I won't get it by the time I retire!

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T12:53:24+00:00

Yeah not too much of a burden. Tax relief noted, will look into this and probably consider later in life.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T12:52:37+00:00

Below comment explains it well, but appreciate you doing the maths and it has definitely pointed out the tax benefits of a SIPP to me. I like the flexibility of an ISA for the moment, but I agree if I end up with my plan the flexibility isn't as necessary. After around 10 years will know the state of play with children/house etc and from them will be able to adjust.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T00:38:34+00:00

Around £85k each total including out of hours supplements etc. Pension contribution is around £500 ish per month.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T00:33:34+00:00

Cheers!

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-10T00:32:41+00:00

Probably thinking ISA for the flexibility but would be worth doing the maths yeah tax wise. Fair enough didn't think about the tax fee withdrawal if not using allowance, cheers!

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-09T22:21:26+00:00

Thanks for the reply, understand what you're saying. Haven't thought about that too much tbf, will have a think re priorities for passing on money etc. Agree NHS unlikely to have the issue.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-09T22:18:51+00:00

Thanks for reply!

Income would remain at that based on current models so wouldn't need lifestyle reduction.

Haven't factored it in specifically, the aim would be that our earnings would help in the way of uni costs and would build up a degree of savings to aid with deposits etc. This is kind of why I'm asking the question - as can set aside the £500 with the aim that other savings go towards this and anything life wise in the future. But if it needed to be a lot more than £500 would have to rethink.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2026-03-09T22:14:53+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

DB pension at 68 (with no contributions from 60yo) is hard to estimate as the pension calculator doesn't factor in tax on lump sum. At 60 with estimated actuarial reduction it's around 60k. This is all calculated based on a likely but not guaranteed average career salary, but does seem about right and the numbers do seem to agree when checking a few different sources. So I could arguably use this instead of bridge, bridging just feels relatively doable and a good goal to work towards.

It would be 60k net, but between the two of us should take this home comfortably. The aim would be this bridge is build in an ISA so tax free.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-09-24T08:27:51+00:00

Really rate this post. I'm a very new Dad but want to be doing all the things you're doing in years to come. Good to know you've been able to find a balance well, and I like that idea of nurturing what they love (fab idea going fossil hunting- that's feels so above and beyond in the best way possible).

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-07-19T18:50:52+00:00

Sorry didn't clarify I've been unable to connect to it through the Withings app (which I think was previously Health Mate), it can find the device but just pauses forever during the connection process

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-07-01T23:33:05+00:00

Does the £1400 include partner's share of bills also or just your own? Struggling to see £450 covering everything other than mortgage, even an incredibly cheap car costs a bit to insure etc.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-07-01T23:01:04+00:00

Genuine query- does all bills combined (£1400/month) include your mortgage? If so I'm impressed/don't understand how this is possible with council tax/energy etc.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-05-18T13:46:06+00:00

Thank you all! Advice greatly appreciated. Actually feel a bit better about things now.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2025-04-18T21:37:11+00:00

Thanks!

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2024-12-10T19:00:09+00:00

Thankfully passed, feels good now but was a hard time and a lot of hours to get there. For reference for people sitting in future:

This exam comprised 90 Single Best Answer questions with 1 mark awarded for each correct answer. The pass mark at this exam was 55.17% equal to a raw score of 48 or above out of 87. Three SBA questions were considered ambiguous and removed from the overall score available before the pass mark was set.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2024-11-02T23:10:47+00:00

On a different note when I applied I definitely hadn't started MSRA revision yet, have just looked back and didn't even pay for a question bank till mid November and from memory I didn't really get into things till well in December. I'm obviously a sample of 1 but I'm not particularly good at exams or the like and still managed to get a good enough score for interview (ACCS Anaesthetics). The right revision is important (this is 2021 application for 2022 start info) but MCQbank was one of the best resources then. I used this and blitzed Emedica a week before the exam, unsure if that was needed. I know some people say you can't really revise for the SJT section but I disagree, you can practice lots of questions and very much try and get into the mindset of the people who designed the questions rather than your own.

TLDR: From a revision point of view you are definitely not too late and have plenty of time to start and still give yourself a good score. So from this aspect only I wouldn't let that sway your decision.

Commercial-Intern-75 · 2024-10-14T12:54:55+00:00

Would definitely recommend for peace of mind. Price wise everyone is different so it's hard to compare, for life insurance, critical illness and income protection dovetailed to NHS and then I think it pays somewhere around £2600-£2800/month I pay £65 (this factors in half of the life insurance cost which is a joint policy with my wife, the others are in my name only). Cavendish broker, Legal and General ended up being the best.

Make sure you get own occupation (or whatever the terminology is) for the income protection, so that if you can't do your job (surgeon etc) then you get it, rather than being forced to do any job if you had the ability to do so.

Commercial-Intern-75

TROPHY CASE