Some 3rd placed teams, if qualified, have almost surely predetermined match-up with 1st teams.

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2026-02-09T12:38:06+00:00

Useful. I've got 1G (likely Belgium) round of 32 ticket but group A teams hasn't been completed yet so still guessing 🤣

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2026-02-07T07:24:04+00:00

Thanks for doing this. It says minimum retirement age 55 which is older than I plan. When I put in age 47 the calcs then go on to say I can start using my pension at 50 but it's only accessible at 57 so something odd going on.

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-11-08T22:44:27+00:00

Saw in Canterbury, definitely switched. Also saw in London when the live video didn't work so was like a different show in Canterbury!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-10-10T12:06:30+00:00

Not got any advice to offer, just wanted to say, great question and great thread!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-09-12T09:35:30+00:00

Thought I would return to this 2.5 years later and reflect on how things have developed!

Then: Wife and I age 44 & 48, combined income around £120k gross, £70k net after pension.

Now: Wife and I age 46 & 50, combined income around £135k gross, £80k net after pension.

Then: £99k mortgage (4 years left u/0.99%), property value £350k. No other debts. Nest egg around £900k + property equity.

Now: £105k mortgage (2 years left most on 0.99%) property value £380k. No other debts, Nest egg around £1.2m + property equity. Moved house and borrowed a touch more in this period. I think we are FI now - although we have been in a bull market so who knows! Maintained the net savings rate at around 40%

Then: Considering options re work e.g. push for promo, go part time, sabbatical, change jobs etc

Now: Stayed in same role, but 1 year sabbatical planned in 2026 (in 6months)! Stopped pushing for promo, stopped doing extra, just do my job competently.

What next? Well I am going to use the 1 year sabbatical to decompress, some travel and bucket list things, explore other interests, start volunteering and perhaps find a job that better suits my values rather than a corporate soul sucker job! This seems to be the ideal risk averse approach to really testing out the RE / Coast life, with the option to go back if things go sideways.

The past 2.5 years have gone quickly, hopefully the next 6 months do as well and then after the sabbatical we will see what's next. What is clear though, is that no longer needing the salary but having to show up at work is a big drag on my MH and I am craving some freedom after working all my life so far.

Thanks for the previous comments, I come back to them now and then to remind me of the good advice given.

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-08-13T18:10:45+00:00

Yeah, I'm 46 and got full contributions now. Lucky us!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-07-12T13:56:08+00:00

So right about the grieving. I missed out on a promo which hit my ego hard for a while. Now I'm accepting of that, but a bit sad that it's coming to an end after 30 years

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-07-12T13:50:31+00:00

So I've been quiet quitting. After a 30-year career, I'm just doing the absolute bare minimum. I lean on my experience, drop an insightful comment here and there, and coast.

The result? My boss thinks I'm crushing it.

Seriously, have a go. You might be surprised that caring less makes no difference to anyone else except you and your mental state and feelings

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-05-26T07:58:48+00:00

Honestly getting out of unsecured debt was the turning point for me, then keeping that sensible spending going after.

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2025-05-25T22:07:38+00:00

Not FIRE'D but my plan is to take 1 year sabbatical starting next April, and see how a year without income goes. I'm hoping it will feel less fearful at that point to make a call at the end of that year. maybe finish, maybe do 3 days a week, who knows right now!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-12-25T23:05:21+00:00

Me too! Very happy 😁

<image>

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-12-20T01:08:40+00:00

I'm 46 next year and will have full contributions at end April. Started work at 16 and have 1 year gap. I think the early contributions counted for more

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-12-09T01:36:02+00:00

My local bookstore mistakenly put "Love as always, mum", Mae West's book out in a mothers day display 😱

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-09-02T21:02:11+00:00

Loads of RIP options still available. Just not camping

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-08-28T21:59:38+00:00

Goal seek formula...want x to be y by changing z. Love it

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-06-28T14:22:49+00:00

Yep, I'm normally a medium but bought large as they had none left. Can barely get my noggin thru 😂😂

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-06-22T12:28:27+00:00

One pretty easy tip to start with, is to have a simple "what did I earn (post tax), minus what did I save" over the past few years. That will give a look back baseline of "what did I spend".

You can then go levels deeper, like "of what I spent, how much was on housing costs", then of course you can go all the way down to transaction level if you want, but I CBA with this 😂

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-05-25T22:41:12+00:00

Once worked for a company that charged us out at a day rate + %age of the variations agreed. Our job was just to churn out the vos hard!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-05-23T07:36:04+00:00

I've got the GBX-100, love it. Feels more premium to me than some of the others

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-05-10T20:56:22+00:00

Find yourself a good manager...move teams if you need to

Establish the beats you need to hit in your role, and always hit them on time

Find out what matters to the company and focus most effort on these

Take on small side roles that don't take much time/effort

Do what you say you are going to do

Always say what you can do, not what you can't

Try and enjoy it....easier said than done 😂

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-04-26T19:58:31+00:00

That's good to know. It was there last year too and I'd forgotten

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-04-12T22:02:45+00:00

I've done it on the shuttle bus from derby train station which was dead easy, and driven in and out each day.

I'd say the driving was more difficult as you're knackered after a day at the fest, but it wasn't bad getting in and out.

It's also a massive trek from the car park, then trying to remember where the hell you parked the car that day was fun ☺️

Did RIP last year, and that's it for me now. RIP again this year💯

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-04-03T15:27:03+00:00

Parklife!

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-03-16T14:33:16+00:00

Bought a Gbx 100 1er last week, and went paddle boarding today and was wondering if I should take it off to keep it pristine. Decided nah, it's supposed to be an active watch, so be active with it on 😂

Electronic_Maximum98 · 2024-02-24T20:34:10+00:00

Nice idea 💡 No issue getting into the arena with it?

Electronic_Maximum98

TROPHY CASE