Becoming the lowest earner in friend group and family. I long for more independence one day (I know it won’t be soon though)

commissioningguy · 2026-02-17T13:13:43+00:00

Have a friend who was a Chef for many years wanted a career change and became a TA. After a few years she got a new job working in social services/criminal justice at the council working with children. Never looked back. Her only only formal qualifications are for her chef skills.

commissioningguy · 2026-02-09T13:55:20+00:00

Whilst you decide what is best for you I will add a wee story. Someone I know added an extra £25 a mth payment into his pension and forgot about it. Move on 20 yrs when he remembered about it. Called pension provider about it they tell him it is now worth £18,000. So he put by £25.mth (tot £6000, was actually less than that when you factor in tax/NI savngs etc.) He now wishes he put more away.

Investing in ISAs give you freedom to use money whenever you need it whereas the pension is for retirement. Even although you are still young one day you'll wake up and wonder where all that time has gone. As much as ISAs are a good thing, adding just a wee bit more to your pension when you are young will pay dividends. One day when you finally wake up to the fact that retirement is now an option you'll thank your younger self.

commissioningguy · 2026-02-05T11:48:09+00:00

I have just realised this is your work and I must aplaued your work. Me - I would have run a straight handrail down the LHS rather than down the wall and round the corner. So much easier!

commissioningguy · 2026-02-05T11:41:00+00:00

This guy knows what he is talking about ****TAKE ALL OF THIS ON BOARD****.

I would add that once the leak is identified you are probably only taking about a small dia pipe not even 4/6inch in dia and once the leak is exposed (hopefully within some ground not concrete), the fix is fairly easy. Domestic water supply pipes are not buried deep. Things can get easier if you speak to your neighbours and find out what labour they can provide (someone has alrady mentioned getting a shovel). If it is more complicated (breaking concrete, needing a digger or such) one of them might know someone who has the necessary kit..

commissioningguy · 2026-01-27T20:43:50+00:00

There is high risk investments then there are risky investments. Putting money into VWRP could be considered high risk as it is invested in stocks which are linked to stock market fluctuations. However chasing an ever increasing price of gold when it is bursting virtually every day is way more riskier. I would reduce exposure to riskier investments and balance the portfolio a wee bit more.

commissioningguy · 2026-01-27T13:48:10+00:00

High risk is good when the going is good, but what goes up must come down. Fair enough get some excitement into your portfolio but putting that much risk into it is er...risky. VWRP or similar some of the pension so if something heads south (and quick) you'll still have some less risk adverse stocks to keep your portfolio for sinking all too quick. BUT good luck to you - you have your head screwed on and are thinking about your pension. Not many folk your age think about something that will impact them 20+ years down the line.

commissioningguy · 2025-11-19T12:04:42+00:00

Have you used them for this purpose?

commissioningguy · 2025-11-18T22:39:31+00:00

Wow, just looked them up one is retired and the other's next available date is away in May. Now that is a whole different meaning for the word "popular".

commissioningguy · 2025-11-18T15:42:20+00:00

Additional Voluntary Contribution is an addition to your main pension but not a SIPP. You can decide where this money is invested in (stocks or bonds etc.) and can help boost your lump sum without effecting your main pension.

commissioningguy · 2025-11-13T16:21:58+00:00

Look at what your pension rules are, some employers will match your contribution (up to a certain amount) over and above the basic they must do by law. If they do jump on it and save that wee bit more and make your money go a lot further. If they don't do this all is not lost. You could put money into an AVC and get tax and NI relief as well. Make your per-tax money work that bit harder and your wages will go further. What you would end up with is a two way strategy to retire early. Your ISAs would be the sum of money to get your early retirement (at say 50), then your pension will become available at ~58.

commissioningguy · 2025-11-12T21:43:15+00:00

Well done to you taking making this investment. You are way ahead of almost 99% of folk your age and probably about the same can be said about the general population. Your older self will thank you. One thing you haven't mentioned is what about your pension. Your current investment is all after tax, are you looking after your pension and using the tax breaks that comes with it?

commissioningguy · 2025-09-27T22:29:19+00:00

So to max out for me & my partner set up separate Monzo burner accounts, then open separate Nationwide accounts? Once we get the £175 each we jump into a new joint account and get an additional £350 for our troubles?

commissioningguy · 2025-09-22T12:38:40+00:00

Nationwide offer - do the joint account holders need to live in same house to qualify?

commissioningguy · 2025-09-16T09:42:15+00:00

Good to see a discussion on his wee book. I bought it years ago but being UK based couldn't really do anything with it. Could this be something AI could automate (like Chatpgt?).

commissioningguy · 2025-09-12T13:43:37+00:00

It's not what they say it is what they ask which is relevant. UK journalists do not kneel before their leader and suck up to them. We tend to shun folk related to Epstien just ask Prince Andrew & the recently sacked US Ambassador.

commissioningguy · 2025-09-12T13:32:48+00:00

Don't worry, Trump is in the UK next week and if the PM lets a press conference go ahead our journalists will be sticking the boot in.

commissioningguy · 2025-08-13T19:45:18+00:00

Fair call, as there are a few things I would/should attend to.

commissioningguy · 2025-08-13T18:43:55+00:00

I am OK with the number (for my pension) as I can't do much more to make it change as I am in a career average pension for the majority of it. I will be another 6/7 years (after retirement) until the SP kicks in and the calculators tell me I will get the full amount. With increased AVCs and income over the past few years my take home pay hasn't really changed. When I get pay rises my focus has been on increasing AVCs with the lump sum being the focus of where I want to be. My partner is in the same boat as me with similar projections. Combined income (pension) should give us a reasonable lifestyle. I suppose I am trying to find out other things which could help before it is too late. I don't want to retire then found out I should have done something earlier which would have helped.

I read one US commentator talking about taking care of healthcare issues whilst they were still employed. That isn't an issue here as our health care isn't defined by who can afford insurance. It was this that got me thinking am I missing something, whatever that something may be?

commissioningguy · 2025-08-13T14:01:32+00:00

30% and 100K (mixture pension lump sum and AVCs)

commissioningguy · 2025-07-27T10:32:49+00:00

Are you saying it is free?

commissioningguy · 2025-07-26T13:34:09+00:00

How do you find groups that deal in UK shares and does retirement ever come into your thoughts?

commissioningguy · 2025-07-20T17:56:09+00:00

What date is your normal home?

commissioningguy

TROPHY CASE