The Advice Thread

[Langers]

I'm sure you've commented on it before.

Phrases as "what fucking game were you watching?" in the pub after the game for example.

 

[SSB]

As a glasses wearer I've tried contact lenses, but could never got on with them. At my last free trial with Specsavers my prescription gave me perfect eyesight in one eye, but the other lense gave me a soft vision. However much they tinkered with my prescription I never felt I had perfect vision through both lenses, so knocked it on the head.

 

[Tredman]

I wear them occasionally (and wore them for 6 years in my 20s continually), if I’m honest I’d much rather wear glasses.

 

[Sniffer]

Does anybody wear contact lenses?

Im a glasses wearer and toying with the idea of switching to lenses. I've only had glasses for the last two years but looking for Pro's/con's on lenses? I've a consultation after my eye test but if there's any first hand experience of them I'm all ears.

I wear a varifocal one a day version of them. I think I get sent 3 pairs a week, 3 months in advance and depending upon what I'm up to is whether or not I wear them. If I'm doing close up things I tend not to bother and use glasses to drive whereas if i'm not I'll wear them. I've never really had a problem wearing any version and often forget that they are in.

 

[Langers]

I'd definitely suggest getting a trial of them - most opticians offer this before you commit to any subscription.

As you can see above, it's very much a personal preference - some people just don't like them, others find them uncomfortable, other people have really dry eyes which means they can't wear them etc.

 

[Tredman]

I got 20 pairs free from vision express for a trial recently. Quit generous of them and should last me 6 months

 

[Johnny75]

Yep - worn them for more than half of my life. Couldn't live without them - mine are the All Day and Night kind so I don't have to take them out when I sleep.

I need to clean them once every few days but in all honesty, I can't feel them at all - it's like having perfect eyesight again!

Glasses are ok and I sometimes wear them to give my eyes a rest but they're shit when it rains, and in the current climate, wearing a mask with glasses on is a no-go as they constantly fog up when you breathe!

I'm the same. Couldn't do without them.

Blind as a bat and I've always disliked wearing glasses.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Tried lenses once as have had to wear glasses since I was 12, but really couldn't get on with them.

Now gone with very lightweight glasses (titanium framed and special lenses) so don't really notice that I am wearing them (expensive though!)

 

[lemonjelly]

I also had no idea either langers or johnny were glasses/lense users!

I've never had the urge for contacts personally. Like the fact I can take the glasses off for certain things. I don't wear my glasses for reading for example.

 

[Tredman]

Yes, I quite like taking my glasses off when people are annoying the shit out of me - I can pretend they are not there.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Lenses would be a distraction for me now as inside the house & certain activities really don't need to have them on - need to wear glasses when I go out or drive otherwise I walk into things or am a danger on the road.

Easier to remove when needed with the glasses.

 

[Paul]

One for the oldies, has anybody on here took any of their pension out at 55 ?

 

[sycophantia]

Not 55, but I retired a couple of weeks ago at 62. My personal pension was transferred into a retirement fund. I will be contacting them after Christmas to start 'drawing down' on my pension.

 

[EpsomWolf]

One for the oldies, has anybody on here took any of their pension out at 55 ?

I took the 25% of the total value tax-free option at 55 last year which can be a nice sum even for a modest pension.

Needless to say it’s all about personal circumstances and your strategy - and it’s imperative you have one. The tax ramifications of making the wrong choice are massive and all that bumf you receive about seeking expert advice is worth heeding.

25% Tax-free at 55 seems a reasonable option for many people. That cash injection can be crucial in restructuring your finances (paying off debts/a mortgage etc) or perhaps even facilitating a complete lifestyle change before it is too late. You’ve still got the remaining 75% to be strategic with and offer you some protection going forward.

It would be easy to be tempted by the large number that is the total value and take the whole lot at 55 being blind to the subsequent caning from the taxman. But that is a very dangerous gamble indeed - you wouldn’t want to run out of money and rely on the government in your old age.

We can count ourselves very fortunate to have options and hopefully avoid that fate. It’s a pretty depressing outlook for those that don’t.

 

[Paul]

I took the 25% of the total value tax-free option at 55 last year which can be a nice sum even for a modest pension.

Needless to say it’s all about personal circumstances and your strategy - and it’s imperative you have one. The tax ramifications of making the wrong choice are massive and all that bumf you receive about seeking expert advice is worth heeding.

25% Tax-free at 55 seems a reasonable option for many people. That cash injection can be crucial in restructuring your finances (paying off debts/a mortgage etc) or perhaps even facilitating a complete lifestyle change before it is too late. You’ve still got the remaining 75% to be strategic with and offer you some protection going forward.

It would be easy to be tempted by the large number that is the total value and take the whole lot at 55 being blind to the subsequent caning from the taxman. But that is a very dangerous gamble indeed - you wouldn’t want to run out of money and rely on the government in your old age.

We can count ourselves very fortunate to have options and hopefully avoid that fate. It’s a pretty depressing outlook for those that don’t.

Thank you for that, much appreciated, unfortunately my need will be necessity rather than just a cash injection.

 

[sycophantia]

What kind of pension is yours? Guess you know there arw various ways of taking your pension e.g. buying an annuity, drawdown

 

[Paul]

What kind of pension is yours? Guess you know there arw various ways of taking your pension e.g. buying an annuity, drawdown

Sorry for the late reply, It's a group personal pension plan from my last employer, it is something I need to look into first before committing to anything, we did look at equity release on the value of the house, but that was just extortionate !

 

[sycophantia]

Sorry for the late reply, It's a group personal pension plan from my last employer, it is something I need to look into first before committing to anything, we did look at equity release on the value of the house, but that was just extortionate !

Yeah you need to get specialist advice on that, not sure how a group plan via your employer affects things

 

[Pablowolf]

Sorry for the late reply, It's a group personal pension plan from my last employer, it is something I need to look into first before committing to anything, we did look at equity release on the value of the house, but that was just extortionate !

My Dad looked into that, for shits and giggles and to look at funding "a grand world tour". Anyway, these folks make you have a house survey and update your fuse box and various other stuff like that. He said "fuck that" in the end.

The interest alone was £1500 a year!

 

[Paul]

My Dad looked into that, for shits and giggles and to look at funding "a grand world tour". Anyway, these folks make you have a house survey and update your fuse box and various other stuff like that. He said "fuck that" in the end.

The interest alone was £1500 a year!

The set up and administration costs were just over £3k !! Before you'd even started

The people on the telly advert look so happy doing it as well ?