The Retirement Thread

[Dave7]

Me too and I aim to keep it that way . But the day I have to set up internet banking is getting closer and closer by the minute as there are so few banks around these days.

Yes, I do Internet banking when I need to pay bills eg contractors as my local bank has gone and people don't want cheques.
Fortunately my local Spar has a post office that allows me to draw cash via my debit card.

 

[Dave7]

I have just enjoyed a full roast with chicken, crispy roast spuds and various veg, plus gravy. Double yummy.

 

[Drago]

Home made pizza for dinner. Nice!

 

[Drago]

We have an Alexa speaker. Its only purpose (as far as I am concerned) is to link to the Camera Doorbell, and, say "movement detected at the front door".

For a giggle I renamed our doorbell..and now Mrs D's phone gives her an alert that movement has been detected at her anus.

 

[classic33]

Yes, all the analogue lines are being phased out.

And, as you rightly say when the power is out you may be goosed in an emergency.

My guess is that this situation will change relatively quickly as I read an article indicating that mobiles will eventually be fully integrated with the emergency satellite systems used by eg Garmin inReach devices. Apple from iPhone 14 onwards have this as text only. The next step will be voice calls albeit, initially, with a hefty price tag.

Contracts start at £19 per month, at present. Currently eyeing up the CAT S75, released just under a year ago. However the company making them, Bullitt, ceased trading at the same time.

You can get a piece/cradle in which your phone sits, enabling it to make satellite calls. The list of compatible handsets is more than you might think. Certainly for iPhones.

 

[BoldonLad]

One of the miracles of the wondrous mobile phones is the ability to pay for things simply by holding my phone up to the contactless thing in the shops and supermarkets. Def witchy stuff that is

Oh yes. I do that. Thought I would prove to the “young ones” that I was still with it. Apple Pay it is. Actually, I don’t see any advantage over tapping a card, but, it does wonders for my ego 😊

 

[classic33]

Yes and something I disagree with. It's very difficult to get figures on this. Most reports indicate 95%+ of households "have access to" the Internet.

I often wonder what that phrase means? It's politicians' words.

It doesn't include those who have internet access via third parties. Local libraries, community groups or via a spouse or neighbour.

Ofcom say 7,000,000 million households don't have internet access, a government report from around the same time puts the figure at 1,500,000.*
Both agree on one point, the higher the age group the less likely the access.

*This is access to the internet. So might not include those who can access it away from the home.

 

[classic33]

Anybody with a TV set must pay licence unless you are 70+ . There was a guy called Ryan Tubridy who was big on Irish TV . It transpired he was getting a secret extra income from TV company and he was fired. TV licence money was used to pay him . Consequently a lot of people stopping paying TV licence in disgust

Presenter of The Late Late Show after Pat Kenny.

 

[welsh dragon]

I never use cash now i must admit Mr WD uses it when he gets fish and chips, and we pay for the yearly wood with cash and that's it.

 

[geocycle]

I never use cash now i must admit Mr WD uses it when he gets fish and chips, and we pay for the yearly wood with cash and that's it.

I’m the same. I need cash when getting my hair cut, so that’s once every 6 weeks, otherwise I can’t remember the last time I needed it. I do have £20 stashed in a saddlebag just in case but it’s already been there some time. I did have to use it last summer when the cafe in Dent lost its internet but otherwise it’s been contactless. I’ve been using the Apple Pay thing on my phone as well. I don’t quite understand the advantage over a card but my son tells me it’s safer.

 

[classic33]

I am an old fart and still pay by card.

I still use cash, and at times still pay using a cheque.

My card has a £10 contactless limit. Anything more has to chip and pin. Done after someone took my cards as I was on the floor, having walked into a bus/been hit by a bus.
A seizure had already started, and I came to in the local A&E with a police officer next to the trolley.

The cards had been used whilst I was in the ambulance/A&E, to buy booze. One was kept by a checkout operator when she realized the card didn't belong to the person using it.

 

[Paulus]

I still use cash from time to time, it's useful to have some money on you.
Although for the supermarket and most shops I use a sainsbury credit card which gives me nectar points on purchases, so it's a kind of a cash back card.
Although I do pay the card off in full by direct debit every month, I've never paid any interest charges.

 

[classic33]

It is superb.

Most UK banks offer it and tbh they fall over themselves to provide it.

The reason being is that the security level is much higher than a card chip/pin.

The reason being is that no card information is given to the retailer. Basically each transaction generates two 'tokens' one for the retailer and one for your bank. The retailer token carries none of your petsonal information. The retailer sends their token to your bank your bank matches the two tokens and then pays the retailer. Carried out instantly and brilliantly simple.

You can have all your various cards on it. Plus store cards too. Once the DVLC get their act together driving licences* can be catered for as well.

'Sign up process is simple and fast and is handled by your bank ie they are in charge of the approval process.

Worth investigating.

Currently a digital driving licence or passport isn't considered proof of identity, and both rely on the person/organisation viewing it to accept it.
Neither appeared on the list of approved ID issued by HMG for the elections held last year.

 

[classic33]

@Paulus, @PaulSB and @geocycle,
Don't be sad, don't be blue, its not likely to happen to you.

 

[PaulSB]

I never use cash now i must admit Mr WD uses it when he gets fish and chips, and we pay for the yearly wood with cash and that's it.

I'm very similar. I have to pay cash for my haircut and on the odd occasion I use a local hand car wash. I keep £20 in my wallet and £20 in my saddlebag for emergencies. My buddies and I make a point of carrying some coins so we can tip in cafes.

Usually I use Google pay.