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It's official I'm an OAP

(13 Posts)
morethan2 Sun 06-Mar-16 07:55:18

Today the day. I've had a countdown on my iPad for a couple of years (sad I know) entitled 'Freedom' and here it is. It's the day I can get my state pension. My friends have bought me lavender water, mints a blue rinse. They've promised to open doors and treat me with respect. It's all tongue in cheek of course. I had a little plan about how I would spend my retirement but it's all been blown out the water now and talking to friends this seems to happen a lot. I can't quite believe it. I thought I'd be young forever. I wish I knew then what I know now though. Oh well [shrug emotion]

Alea Sun 06-Mar-16 08:07:19

Just enjoy the bus pass, settle for the freedom and s*d the rest! You are now officially entitled to tut at music/weird fashion/necklines and hems and if your retirement can't be spent how you imagined it, it can also be a time of your life where you live at the pace which suits you. flowers

annsixty Sun 06-Mar-16 08:21:49

Yes, forget your plans and make new ones, there will be pleasure in that exercise alone.
Enjoy the freedom and simple things can be enjoyed to the full.
Remember, man plans, God laughs.

grandma60 Sun 06-Mar-16 08:24:54

I've had my bus pass for about 6 months now and I love it. Still get a shock though when OAP flashes up on the screen when I scan it.

Alima Sun 06-Mar-16 08:30:51

Congratulations morethan2, enjoy your pension and bus pass, they are what you have worked for all these years! ( I get mine in November, have the bus pass form already to apply! Could I ask when the pension actually gets paid, the beginning of the month of receipt of it or the end of that month? I need to know so I can refine my countdown!)

Alea Sun 06-Mar-16 08:30:56

annsixty I LOVE that!!

Luckygirl Sun 06-Mar-16 09:40:00

Oh yes indeed - congratulations. The best laid plans can go awry (as did ours) but that does not mean there are not lots of new and exciting things ahead. Our revised plan is just fine - and your time is now your own - enjoy! smile

Teetime Sun 06-Mar-16 09:48:37

Congrats morethan I got my state pension and bus pass last month I spent the former and haven't used the latter yet but I will and soon!!! Enjoy!!smile

PS state pension is paid a month in arrears.

Badenkate Sun 06-Mar-16 11:01:29

The state pension is paid every 4 weeks, not per calendar month. Mine's paid on a Friday, but I don't know if everyone's is since DHL hasn't claimed his yet

Badenkate Sun 06-Mar-16 11:03:44

Should also have said enjoy your retirement morethan. Bus passes are great especially in London - I love sitting on the top of a double decker smile

tanith Sun 06-Mar-16 11:07:06

I requested my state pension to be paid weekly (not sure if you can still do that now) its better earning the extra interest in my acc not the governements. It goes in on a Monday morning...
Enjoy your retirement morethan

ninathenana Sun 06-Mar-16 11:11:55

Enjoy yourself smile

Indinana Sun 06-Mar-16 14:03:19

Welcome to the happy clan, morethan. Six months before I was due to retire from my job I made up an A4 sheet of those yellow, sad faces, about 24 of them to represent all the 'Monday Morning Feelings' left. Every Monday when I got into work I crossed one out. All my colleagues got to know about it and used to pop into my office each Monday to see how many Monday mornings I had left grin.
I hope you can enjoy your retirement and find some good times just for you x