Just to add my own two-pennorth, my own retirement plan is pretty straightforward.
I have a company pension from my first job which is 3 and a half years worth and is now frozen, I also have a non-contributory company pension in my current job which I get to keep as long as I don't leave before 2 years (4 months and counting ). I have thought that I should also set up my own private pension scheme just to supplement any further company pensions that I would expect to acquire over the course of my career. I see property as my main pension though. I own my house, my mortgage is not particularly large and I could theoretically get it paid off in the next 10 years by the time I'm 37. I will probably upgrade at some point if I get married and have any kids so that might add another 5 years to the mortgage. By the time I am 45 or 50 at the most I would hope to be able to retire with whatever I have from the pensions and the house sale, and go and live in thailand permanently living off the interest. Obviously this depends on whether over the next 20 years thailand becomes more developed but I think if we're honest it's probably never going to become a first world country due to the corruption in the government and the class system which seems to ensure the poor never really get any richer whilst thaksin's mates get to build more car parks and shopping malls for a nice tidy profit

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but I think if we're honest it's probably never going to become a first world country

Never a truer word was said while world prices are going up wages in Thailand stay the same

Following my own advice, I called Pension Forecast department for my wife.

I found it is more complicated than I first thought. Not the process that is quite straight forward. It was the news that my wife qualifies for the State Second Pension due to her child rearing responcibilties. She qualifies for this due to being paid Child Benefit. Maybe the government is more generous than I thought!!

We will await the forecast in the post.

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Originally posted by mervyn:

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but I think if we're honest it's probably never going to become a first world country

Never a truer word was said while world prices are going up wages in Thailand stay the same

I read quite a good article somewhere where the author basically said if they put salaries up in thailand then there would be more unemployed people because they wouldn't be able to pay as many people to work in shops, restaurants etc... The preferance is for everyone to have a job but pay them low wages. I'm not sure how true this is but there do often seem to be a lot of service-staff stood around not doing much when I've been to bangkok. Seems a bit communist in theory actually

Car parks amuse me at supermarkets they give you a ticket on the way in and collect it on the way out - no charges made but as you say thats at least four jobs

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Originally posted by mervyn:
Car parks amuse me at supermarkets they give you a ticket on the way in and collect it on the way out - no charges made but as you say thats at least four jobs

My favourites by far are the car park guys just waving their hands and whistling wildly while some poor unsuspecting soul tries to reverse out thinking they're in good hands

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Originally posted by mervyn:
Car parks amuse me at supermarkets they give you a ticket on the way in and collect it on the way out - no charges made but as you say thats at least four jobs

It's supposed to stop someone nicking your car...

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Originally posted by Orange:
It was the news that my wife qualifies for the State Second Pension due to her child rearing responcibilties. She qualifies for this due to being paid Child Benefit.

If you are lucky enough to have two sprogs, then put the second child benefit in your name. You would then accrue pension rights, if you were not working and paying NI.

Andy,

The given information is definitely very helpful. I did skim through the website and thank you for pointing out that I am entitled to the state pension as I contribute to NI. It does make sense to me now. It's interesting to know roughly the figure I could get if I were to retire today. Well, the amount of £82.05 a week is not much really but it certainly is better than nothing.

Many thanks
Tara

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It's supposed to stop someone nicking your car...

It might do if they bothered checking the tickets that they collect

Johny C-

I read your plans and hope it works out.. get married, 2 kids , retire at 45- 50.. I wish you good luck and hope it works...

However life changes, children and wives are expensive.. in the west.. and if they leave they get more expensive..
I truly hope your plans work out, its great to have goals
and hopes..

Good luck fella hope it works...