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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 3:43:15 GMT
The previous government was fascinated by the concept of private retirement funds and was on the verge of allowing their creation when the financial crisis hit. So we have maintained the system of a single unified government fund into which everybody pays and from which everybody receives a retirement when the time comes.
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Post by bjd on Apr 19, 2016 5:08:21 GMT
Yes, that crisis came along at the right time for some things. There had also been talk of letting people borrow money to buy houses for 30 or 35 years and if they died, their kids would be stuck with the loan. Fortunately, that went out the window too.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 19, 2016 7:16:41 GMT
Already I want more than the 2 extra days I have but conversely my company wants more hours out of me as we lost 2 staff suddenly (one to prison!). Not sure I want to work any more but depends what they offer me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 13:59:55 GMT
Already I want more than the 2 extra days I have but conversely my company wants more hours out of me as we lost 2 staff suddenly (one to prison!). Not sure I want to work any more but depends what they offer me. Oh Mick, they know how valuable and indispensable you are. We were contacted and told them as much.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 19, 2016 15:41:33 GMT
Already I want more than the 2 extra days I have but conversely my company wants more hours out of me as we lost 2 staff suddenly (one to prison!). Not sure I want to work any more but depends what they offer me. I guess going to prison is a form of retirement. Can you work more hours and still keep the two extra days?
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Post by htmb on Apr 19, 2016 19:27:30 GMT
Yep, prison would do it. I used to work in a jail, and it was no fun either.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 20, 2016 7:22:46 GMT
So it was your reference Casi that swung it? The UK insurance industry thanks you.......
I'm going to work 2 hours a day on my days off this week but I can work from home and I want it to be overtime as it's a better rate.
My colleague who is in prison is excellent but has an alcohol problem - not the sort where you need a drink for breakfast but when he starts he can't stop and then he fights. To meet him you would never guess.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2016 10:50:53 GMT
Oh, I have met more than one person like that. Mr. Jekyll and Drunken Hyde. Luckily, the majority of drunks I have known are just 'happy' or 'sleepy' drunks.
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Post by lagatta on Apr 20, 2016 13:23:53 GMT
I won't have much of a pension, but there is a minimum pension here and I'm in a housing co-op. If all goes well, I can volunteer (there is a stipend) at an institute in Europe and thus be able to travel a bit. Our CDN dollar has tanked, of course. The Harper government cut funding to most of my regular clients and thus I've been having a rough time. I already have a bit new work with the change in government but one never knows... That isn't the only reason I've been travelling less. Renzo is really elderly now, and I hate leaving him for long. Obviously that problem will eventually resolve itself.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 20, 2016 15:18:24 GMT
I hate to think about the part with Renzo, but it's great to hear that you won't be cut off from traveling when you retire.
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Post by chexbres on Apr 20, 2016 20:06:26 GMT
There's always a spot under my mattress, if anyone wants to hide any retirement funds there...
When I lived in my old apartment, all but three of us were under the age of 80, and all the rest had the bad habit of keeping significant amounts of cash around the house "for emergencies" - as in thousands of euros. In one year, 2 widows and 1 widower were pretty much wiped out when the "gas man" or the "electrician" came to do "inspections". I asked Mme A___ why she didn't just stick the cash inside the pages of some books, instead of leaving it stacked up on the dining room table, and she said the thought would never have occurred to her.
I rent a safety deposit box these days for my little retirement stash because you just never know when you might need cash money.
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Post by htmb on Apr 20, 2016 20:16:30 GMT
My dad was of the depression era generation and had $2000 in cash stored in the A volume of the encyclopedias. Since I was his executor, he made sure I knew about it ahead of time, but I was careful to look through everything else in case he had forgotten to mention any other stashes.
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Post by htmb on May 13, 2016 12:08:38 GMT
My retirement is four weeks away. I feel a bit like I'm heading towards a cliff on the edge of a deep abyss. While I'm very excited to be making the change, there's also that element of the unknown.
There are several applicants for my job, and today I will be sitting in on the interviews. In my mind, two of the candidates are viable. As for the rest, it will be a struggle to keep a polite face.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 14:31:16 GMT
I have been amused recently that after often dreaming that I was back at work for some reason (e.g. "We need you to stay an extra week/month.") -- and never actually working since it seems like I would just wander from office to office -- I have started a new series of dreams where I am back at work and actually working. I don't much like it, but I also know that it isn't really happening.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 13, 2016 14:49:11 GMT
I hope you're doing a good job, Kerouac. For you, Htmb ~
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Post by questa on May 13, 2016 14:52:16 GMT
10 years retired and I am still getting dreams about being called in to work...I don't understand the new systems and get put down about that, I am late because they didn't call me in until late, I'm hungry ...had no breakfast but when I make a cup of coffee I am in trouble. I get scolded for everything I do. I wish I could REALLY retire.
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Post by htmb on May 13, 2016 15:31:56 GMT
I really don't want those dreams. I'm having enough current work-related dreams as it is!
Friday the 13th!!! Lucky interviewees!!!! :-)
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 17:28:05 GMT
Currently,with my shoulder injury prohibiting me to work (7 plus weeks now....),and my husband's recently being fired for mouthing off to a" big wig" BP executive we are in retirement mode here. So far, it's been delightful... A lot of travel on the horizon in the coming months.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 13, 2016 17:32:27 GMT
Ha! A BP exec showing its face in Louisiana is definitely taking its chances. Did T have any down time after retiring from his other career and starting the present one? Hope your shoulder is ready to roll when you all set off on your travels.
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Post by htmb on May 19, 2016 23:07:48 GMT
Last week I had the privilege of sitting in on interviews for my job. My boss was very respectful to every one of the applicants, even those who really weren't suited for the position. They each got the same amount of time and were asked the same questions. They're all very good people but, in the end, the person I've been training on the side for the past several months got the offer, and accepted the job. For her, the transition will be very difficult at times, but this person will do the best job of it, I do believe.
I'm working at a different location most of the time now, but did get an opportunity to start cleaning out my desk drawers this afternoon and tomorrow I hope to load up my framed pictures and my (personal) bookcase. It feels like I'm making good progress.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 20, 2016 1:22:09 GMT
Oh, that is a nice relief. Also nice that all your training wasn't for naught.
I love hearing that you are physically & mentally poised for the door opening to FREEDOM.
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2016 2:37:55 GMT
My right foot is halfway out the door.
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Post by breeze on May 20, 2016 4:49:20 GMT
The excitement mounts! Are you crossing each day off on your calendar? How soon will your travels start?
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Post by mossie on May 20, 2016 7:25:04 GMT
Talking of crossing off the calendar reminds me of my time in Egypt. Most servicemen posted overseas in those days went by troopship, and some men made and kept up, a boat chart. This was a large sheet of paper marked out like a calendar with the expected date of the trip home as the last entry. Then days were crossed off as they deagged by.
Not a good idea, better to just busy oneself making sure everything goes right, the longed for day will come quicker.
Good luck htmb.
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Post by mossie on May 20, 2016 7:26:22 GMT
Just remembered, there was a mournful song, of which the yelled out refrain was
"Roll on that fucking boat"
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2016 11:15:36 GMT
There's a mental calendar inside my head, to be sure. My job is physically and mentally demanding this time of year, so I'm too busy to think much about the looming deadline. I've actually planned my trip so the day I leave is actually the last day I was supposed to work. I've promised to update the new person periodically because job responsibilities change throughout the work year, so I'll have to go back from time to time. I'm sure it will be weird.
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Post by breeze on May 20, 2016 16:31:47 GMT
Yeah, but once it's not your job anymore, you won't care as much. Especially when you see how they've redecorated "your" office.
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Post by questa on May 20, 2016 16:50:21 GMT
You will probably find they "do things differently now' and after a few months and new staff on board you will find it very strange.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2016 17:08:53 GMT
I was "consulted" for maybe six months after I left the office. Nothing was really important, but the new person and the new supervisor needed to have their work validated.
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2016 18:59:21 GMT
Several of us have traded offices in the past. My replacement had my current office a few years ago, so things will just be back to the "olden days" once she's moved in. She can have it. I'm sure she'll enjoy the fancy new desk the prima donna person in between us insisted she needed. I think my friend is silly to move offices since her current space, right around the corner, has windows. I would have given just about anything to have had an office with windows.
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