Single pensioners

lilac_lady

Is financial life harder for single pensioners?

zygurat789

Undoubtably since there are most costs would not be halved for a single as opposed to a couple ie heating and very few would double for a couple as opposed to a single, except perhaps food.
So perhaps we should try to identify all the savings a single pensioner can make.
Council tax has a 25% discount for single occupancy.

seven-day-weekend

Good idea zygurat.

There would be less to spend on food than if you are a couple.

Ken68

On the other hand Lilac, having to persuade someone else to economise aka MSE could be a problem.
And if you don't grow your own food, a real pain buying smaller quantities.

placido

This thread reminds me of an old song sung by The Carter Family, called "The Stern Old Batchelor". It refers to the non-financial advantages of being a batchelor.:D Here are a couple of verses.


When I come home at night
I smile and walk right in
I never hear a voice yell out
Or say where have you been

On a cold and stormy night
In a cozy little shack
I sing my songs and think my thoughts
With no one to talk back

I go to bed when ever I please
And get up just the same
I change my socks three times a year
With no one to complain

At night when I'm on peaceful sleep
My snores can do no harm
I never have to walk the floor
With a baby in my arms

And when I die and go to heaven
As all good bachelors do
I will not have to grieve for fear
My wife will get there too

:j

pollypenny

Apparently many widows fall into the trap of income over £21,000 when they inherit half of spouse's pension. This means they would not benefit from the increased personal tax allowance for over 65s, losing proportionally.

I envisage it being hard to keep warm and maintain the house on one & a half pensions, anyway, without losing tax benefits.

Is this something that Martin could campaign to change?.

Errata

I've struggled to arrive at a point of view on this, but there are too many variables for any answer to make any sense.

lilac_lady

Running a car, utilities bills, house maintenance bills - surely it must be easier if there's 2 incomes? The plus side is being in charge of one's own life and having control of the tv remote. Money doesn't buy everything.

Merrywidow

You hit the nail on the head lilac lady. I am widowed and my husband died "in service" (the phrase of the Benefit's package) at 56. With his pension, and that of a previous employer and along with my own state pension and works pension I pass the £21,000 mark. The meagre extra allowance as far as I am concerned is neither here nor there.

lilac_lady

My pensions are under £21000 (well under!) but I have a good life by being sensible and following MSE principles. When I listen to some married pensioners moaning about their finances, they forget that shared expenses mean that they're better off than us "single" pensioners.

Merrywidow

To be honest lilac lady - I have quit listening to moaners, life is too short. As you say its all about being sensible. I am quite comfortable and enjoy economising to finance other treats like holidays. Being single now means to me that MY time has come, as you say, you watch what you want, eat what you want and life is just what YOU make it. Being single has many things going for it. (Mind you I still hate putting out the bins!)