How much is 'enough' for a single pensioner?

Pollycat

Well done, Parsimonia.

I really hope you manage to sort this out for your MIL - I've said it before on this thread "you must be a saint".

And good luck with your own budgeting too.

Parsimonia

Pollycat wrote: »

Well done, Parsimonia.

I really hope you manage to sort this out for your MIL - I've said it before on this thread "you must be a saint".

First time I've ever been called a saint, and it's far from the truth, unfortunately, but I do appreciate the compliiment. Thank you! I know MIL is probably appreciative of our help deep down, but we're getting more complaints than compliments from her at the moment, so it's lovely to receive a compliment from a stranger!

Pollycat wrote: »

And good luck with your own budgeting too.

Thank you! It's going well so far...we started living to this budget on 23rd December in anticipation of our benefits appeal being turned down, so we've got almost 2 months of practice under our belts now which will stand us in good stead from next week. We've got everything we need at the moment, we've cancelled our planned trip to Italy without incurring any financial penalty, and cutting out all our customary frivolous purchases certainly won't kill us...in a funny sort of way we're almost looking forward to the challenge of it!

pollypenny

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Santander 123 account, on balances up to £20,000, plus you get cashback on utilities (includes council tax and mobile phone). It's not a savings account as such, but that's where the bulk of my savings live ...

And Nationwide is offering 5% on balances up to a much smaller amount. But do look at the link given previously.

I did note the other links. We are reluctant to move our current account as the HSBC one is so easy to operate on line, when we are in USA.

Santander is still dodgy on customer services, but we are thinking about Nationwide.

margaretclare

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I'd say a mobile phone is a necessity for an older person too. I rather think it is for anyone, but particularly for an older person.

With the corollary that mobile phones are for necessity purposes only. That is, emergency phonecalls in the absence of a landline phone to use OR when wishing to say something in writing to someone who won't give you their email address (eg a workman). I keep mine basically for such purposes and am glad of the chance to find a way to contact workmen, for instance, when they aren't answering their phone and seem to have "forgotten";) to have the message-taking service working on it.

BT have a 'call divert' service i.e. calls can be diverted to your mobile. This has saved us missing important calls or having to rely on an answerphone. We've also had calls while away on holiday, often from people who thought they were calling us at home and having been surprised to find that we were half-way across the North Sea, or anywhere.

marjrie_2

iris wrote: »

This has been asked on another thread and I worked out the following figures, but obviously this doesn't apply to everyone. However, the figures do show that it is possible to live on pension


Even when you are 65+ you have to look for the bargains and shop wisely if money is limited. You can get free cake and a drink in John Lewis. You can also go to the cinema for free. I haven't bought any toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner or dishwasher tablets for years. You can also get free postage stamps for very little effort. I enjoy the challenge and 'no' I am not on pension credit.

Hi, can you tell me how you get these things for free please, especially the toiletries and dishwasher tablets.
Many thanks

Pollycat

Parsimonia wrote: »

Thank you! It's going well so far...we started living to this budget on 23rd December in anticipation of our benefits appeal being turned down, so we've got almost 2 months of practice under our belts now which will stand us in good stead from next week. We've got everything we need at the moment, we've cancelled our planned trip to Italy without incurring any financial penalty, and cutting out all our customary frivolous purchases certainly won't kill us...in a funny sort of way we're almost looking forward to the challenge of it!

I hope it's good news for you at the appeal tribunal.
I've had a brief read of your other posts on that subject and it sounds like you've got lots of documentary evidence to support your appeal.

Re looking forward to the challenge - my OH found himself out of work many years ago after the end of a very well paid series of jobs as a contractor.

It was a shock to both of us (even though I was in a pretty well paid, very secure job and we were luckily mortgage free) but we saw it as a challenge and changed our shopping & cooking habits and even now - 20+ years on and comfortably retired - we still 'bargain shop'.

You seem to have the right attitude to cope.

I'm not sure if you've visited the Old-Style board but there is lots of great advice on there about frugal living - from batch cooking & freezing, bulking out recipes cheaply, menu planning (which I still do for 3 weeks at a time - it's on my 'to do' list for today) etc.

Good luck - and keep us informed about your progress with Mrs Spendthrift.

iris

marjrie wrote: »

Hi, can you tell me how you get these things for free please, especially the toiletries and dishwasher tablets.
Many thanks

Look on the Freebies Board first:D


Here is a link to free dishwasher tablets


http://www.finish.co.uk/power-and-pure/get-free-sample/sample/sample-voucher/free-power-and-pure-sample/


And another for hand cream


http://www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk/hand-cream-amnesty.html

Katiehound

iris wrote: »

Look on the Freebies Board first:D


Here is a link to free dishwasher tablets


http://www.finish.co.uk/power-and-pure/get-free-sample/sample/sample-voucher/free-power-and-pure-sample/


And another for hand cream


http://www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk/hand-cream-amnesty.html

I agree with look at the freebies board but... for the hand cream (for example) you need to be near a shop! (not one near here) and often the links are with Facebook (and I'm not going there!)
Certainly don't know how you would get a year's worth of things this way.
I do however notice that lots of the supermarkets (& Wilkinsons) have items like toothpaste for 25 pence.

the banking thread has been mentioned before but Halifax Reward would earn you £5 per month- conditions: £750 pm going in and 2 DD going out. Perhaps worth a look?

Katiehound

Pollycat wrote: »

Well done, Parsimonia.

I really hope you manage to sort this out for your MIL - I've said it before on this thread "you must be a saint".

And good luck with your own budgeting too.

I thorougly agree, even if you are receiving more complaints than compliments!!
Perhaps we can send you a virtual bouquet instead??:j

Will watch this thread with interest after the meeting with the solicitor.

iris

Katiehound wrote: »

I agree with look at the freebies board but... for the hand cream (for example) you need to be near a shop! (not one near here) and often the links are with Facebook (and I'm not going there!)
Certainly don't know how you would get a year's worth of things this way.
I do however notice that lots of the supermarkets (& Wilkinsons) have items like toothpaste for 25 pence.

the banking thread has been mentioned before but Halifax Reward would earn you £5 per month- conditions: £750 pm going in and 2 DD going out. Perhaps worth a look?

Katie, I'm not saying that all freebies are suitable for everyone, I'm just giving examples.


As for getting a year's worth of toothpaste and dishwasher tablets. I am a member of Pinecone (and other companies) and very often trial products for them, including dishwasher tablets, washing powder, toilet rolls, face cream etc, they also pay out £3 per trial. As the saying goes 'you have to be in it to win it':D