The Best Ready Meals

[Macca]

You can't do it forever but you've got to make hay while the sun shines. Plus not having a job and not having any money can be more stressful than doing a 50 hour week but not having to worry about money because of it.

[Marco]

You can't do it forever but you've got to make hay while the sun shines.

Absolutely, and I've been there, as you know. The situation I'm in and enjoying now didn't just fall into my lap...

However, if folk were happier with simpler lives and less material possessions, the necessity to work to pay for it would subsequently reduce, and with it the associated stress. It's a simple equation

I was utterly astounded when I read recently that 'your friend and mine, over the road', at the age of 70 is paying a mortgage of £1600 a month!!! That's utter MADNESS

At that age, if you've been at all lucky and/or successful in life, you should be mortgage and debt free, living a stress-free existence of sun and Sangria!



Marco.

[Macca]

Depends on your outlook I suppose. I'm happy with a fairly modest life and no debts that's why I've never moved up to a better house. Didn't want to add to the mortgage when it is almost paid off. I don't mind working, it gets me out the house, but with a big mortgage you have no choice about it. Nothing worse than having no choice.

[Marco]

Nothing worse than having no choice.

Exactly! What price FREEDOM, and having TIME to do what YOU want, when YOU want?

I'd rather live in a flat in Stoke, which is fully paid for, earning £25k a year, working from home, than a big house in London, earning £100k a year, working all the hours under the sun to pay for it, whilst having no time to enjoy myself!

Ultimately, TIME (to do what you want, when you want) is more important than money....

I blame some of the women that folk marry, who 'demand' having a certain type of lifestyle, and expect you to fund it..... A £1600 per month mortgage, at the age of 70 (and with poor health) is just lunacy, IMO, and seriously smacks of a gold-digging female being behind it.

Marco.

[struth]

dunno, a lot of men are vain too, and are desparate to impress with all the trappings of a successul life. If you get 2 together then watch out

[Marco]

Indeed, and I just don't understand that mentality. It smacks of deep insecurity!

Marco.

[Joe]

You can't do it forever but you've got to make hay while the sun shines. Plus not having a job and not having any money can be more stressful than doing a 50 hour week but not having to worry about money because of it.

It depends. really. When I was last unemployed, for about 6 months in my early 20s, I was happy as Larry. No money, but also no responsibilities, apart from rolling up at the dole office every other week to sign a form. My outgoings were almost nil; I spent very little on food, and back then the idea of forking out a couple of quid for a coffee would have seemed laughable.

I'm not in the slightest bit 'driven', and it was only the acquisition of responsibilities (mortgage, wife and two children) that got me out of bed in the morning. Other people can't abide being idle, and will work until they (literally in some cases) drop.

[Marco]

It's not a case of being idle though, Joe. It's a case of having other interests/hobbies in your life other than work, so that when you retire, you've got other things to do, which fills that void.

And therein lies the problem... If your life revolves around work (often without you realising it), then once the work stops, you don't know what to do with yourself!

You should really try and get yourself into a position, where you work as hard as is necessary (that's also the time to work stupidly long hours), early in life, so that you can retire at a reasonable age (no older than 65), thus allowing you to sit back and ENJOY the fruits of your labours, and most importantly, spend time with your loved ones.

This 'working 'till you drop' nonsense really needs to be sorted out, but the problem is the whole system/structure now is geared towards folk working longer than ever, and then being strangled in a mountain of debt until they die!

Marco.

[walpurgis]

It's not a case of being idle though, Joe. It's a case of having other interests/hobbies in your life other than work, so that when you retire, you've got other things to do which fills that void.

Marco.

Damn right Marco. Dunno how I ever found the time for a job. Being retired is a full time occupation.

[Joe]

It's not a case of being idle though, Joe. It's a case of having other interests/hobbies in your life other than work, so that when you retire, you've got other things to do which fills that void.

And therein lies the problem... If your life revolves around work (often without you realising it), then once the work stops, you don't know what to do with yourself!

You should really try and get yourself into a position, where you work as hard as is necessary (that's also the time to work stupidly long hours), early in life, so that you can retire at a reasonable age (no older than 65), thus allowing you to sit back and ENJOY the fruits of your labours, and most importantly, spend time with your loved ones.

This 'working 'till you drop' nonsense really needs to be sorted out.

Marco.

Personally, I retired four years ago and paid off the mortgage at the same time. I'm also quite happy being idle. 'Dolce far niente', as some folks say.