The Happy Thought Thread

Done a bit of household accounts admin for SWMBO.

Dropped her O2 monthly (sim only) bill from £14.03 to £6.99 through Uswitch (with data doubled to 20Gb), and checked her NI contributions for her State Pension (after setting up her GOV.UK account - nice and simple as long as you have the NI Number, passport, & driving licence info).

She was 2.5 years short of contributions for a full State Pension (she retired from work six months before her 60th birthday, and her State Pension will begin June 2027), so the site lets you know what the shortfall you need to contribute is to get the full State Pension, and we calculated the the return over expenditure (what we needed to pay against how long she would have to collect State Pension for it to be cost-neutral) was two years, so we paid it - if she lives to the U.K. female average life-expectancy of 83, she will have gained nearly £13k in State Pension payments over the amount we paid.

I would recommend everyone to check their State Pension forecast, to enable them (if they wish/can afford to) to remedy any shortfalls in NI contributions - it can be worth it.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Done a bit of household accounts admin for SWMBO.

Dropped her O2 monthly (sim only) bill from £14.03 to £6.99 through Uswitch (with data doubled to 20Gb), and checked her NI contributions for her State Pension (after setting up her GOV.UK account - nice and simple as long as you have the NI Number, passport, & driving licence info).

She was 2.5 years short of contributions for a full State Pension (she retired from work six months before her 60th birthday, and her State Pension will begin June 2027), so the site lets you know what the shortfall you need to contribute is to get the full State Pension, and we calculated the the return over expenditure (what we needed to pay against how long she would have to collect State Pension for it to be cost-neutral) was two years, so we paid it - if she lives to the U.K. female average life-expectancy of 83, she will have gained nearly £13k in State Pension payments over the amount we paid.

I would recommend everyone to check their State Pension forecast, to enable them (if they wish/can afford to) to remedy any shortfalls in NI contributions - it can be worth it.

would she not have quallified for pension credit to uplift her entitlement

Originally Posted by papa smurf

would she not have quallified for pension credit to uplift her entitlement

Thanks for the suggestion, but we’re fortunate enough not to be eligible for Pension Credit.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Thanks for the suggestion, but we’re fortunate enough not to be eligible for Pension Credit.

It grinds my gears that people who actually contributed ,worked hard and saved hard ,as opposed to sponged all their lives and spent every penny they recieved become "fortunate " enough to get means tested and rulled out [of every thing going] exept the bill

[denphone]

Feeling better after a bad chest infection these last 2 weeks.

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by denphone

Feeling better after a bad chest infection these last 2 weeks.

Chest infections are nasty Den, glad you are on the road to recovery.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Tinky

Chest infections are nasty Den, glad you are on the road to recovery.

Thanks Tinky as with my dilated cardiomyopathy l have to watch that l don't get complications.

Originally Posted by Hugh

I would recommend everyone to check their State Pension forecast, to enable them (if they wish/can afford to) to remedy any shortfalls in NI contributions - it can be worth it.

Since my wife gave up work to look after our granddaughter she has got "Adult Childcare" credits every year (in fact I will be filling in the forms for another year soon).

For anyone who hasnt heard of them ;

These credits work by transferring the weekly National Insurance credit a parent or carer gets, as the Child Benefit recipient, to an eligible family member.
They can help to stop gaps in your National Insurance record.

[Russ]

Off to Luninate at 7 tonight with Mrs Russ

https://luminate.live/margam-country-park

[Dude111]

I hope ya have fun!!

[thenry]

I've travelled to my mum's in London. The train was therapeutic as always, calming my nerves. It is fascinating how individuals cross paths in the city. A lot of the time you're oblivious to it all.

[SnoopZ]

Playstation only billed me £17.20 instead of £74.99 for a PS+ Extra subscription, I hope they won't notice so for now it's a big win.

[Dude111]

I hope they did that on purpose for some reason,maybe a discount since your a long time user

[thenry]

I travelled to and fro to Brighton on the train. I got to see family. Nothing beats a loving smile. The weather was good, a little chill in the wind but nothing a decent jumper can't combat.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by thenry

I travelled to and fro to Brighton on the train. I got to see family. Nothing beats a loving smile. The weather was good, a little chill in the wind but nothing a decent jumper can't combat.

Train is definitely the way to go as the Brighton eco-loons run a hate the motorist policy and parking you'll need a second mortgage for. Glad you had a good time visiting us on the coast.