Is the state pension really that bad?

Alice_Holt

capital0ne wrote: »

I think your Gas/Elec is low I pay £90/month

Yes, and the Insurances look low.

House Maintenance costs?
Health costs?

But anyone on a basic SP would get help with Council Tax through the Council Tax reduction scheme.

I think according to a recent survey from Which? retired couples need £18,000 a year in order to cover essential expenditure.

TheShape

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

My gas/electric is 4 times what you've allowed and council tax double.

Are there any girls/women in your household.

My girlfriend thinks she cold die from the cold at my house. At her house, it's so hot I feel like I could die from heat exhaustion. My sister has the heating turned up so high that you can't move without breaking into a sweat.

Bogof_Babe

My Council Tax for a 1-bed flat in the North West is £112 a month now!

I suppose if you are on your own you will get a 25% discount, but still £90 is optimistic ongoing.

TheShape

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

My Council Tax for a 1-bed flat in the North West is £112 a month now!

I suppose if you are on your own you will get a 25% discount, but still £90 is optimistic ongoing.

London Borough of Havering:

Band D with single person discount £100 pm.
Band C with single person discount £89 pm.

kidmugsy

You could save on the TV licence: just stop paying, say you don't watch a telly any more, and refuse to let them into your property. Look upon it as striking a blow against the class of twerps who run the BBC. If people can think of any other ways of simultaneously saving money and hitting out at the Blairites (and worse), do volunteer them.

haras_nosirrah

I guess it depends if you want to live or want to merely exist.-

After working for 45-50 years I want more from the remaining 30 years of my life than sitting at home watching television as I can't afford to leave the house

By sacrificing a decent wedge of my income now I plan to retire by 60 and enjoy my free time, travel etc rather than sit at home choosing between eating or putting the heating on.

You can exist on state pension - you will be kept alive but it sounds a pretty crap existance

Silvertabby

The State pension was only ever intended to keep a roof over your head and bread on the table. If you want more than that then you'll have to pay for it yourself.

You may think that the State pension will be enough for you - but, as someone has already said, what will you do when your boiler fails or your roof starts to leak?

davieg11

My father in law has lived off state pension for years with around £20pm pension credit = £700 month.

Groceries - 200 including beer and whisky
Council Tax - 20 only pay water charge in Scotland
Gas/Elec -80
Phones/Internet - 40
Water/TVL - 15
Entertainment - 200 in pub
Clothes - 0 gets new ones for Christmas
Emergency fund - 100
Insurances - 20. House insurance
Xmas/birthdays- 25

He seems quite happy with that!

EdGasketTheSecond

TheShape wrote: »

Are there any girls/women in your household.

My girlfriend thinks she cold die from the cold at my house. At her house, it's so hot I feel like I could die from heat exhaustion. My sister has the heating turned up so high that you can't move without breaking into a sweat.

Ha, yes. What is it about women that make them want to turn the heating on full blast and open windows?

DancingBadger

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Ha, yes. What is it about women that make them want to turn the heating on full blast and open windows?

My ears are burning...:p