Frugal in retirement

Gers

I'm another Feb 1954 baby - so SP in July 2019. I was well aware of the first changes to SP age but the second one caught me unaware. Luckily I have an occupational pension and still work very part time, through choice.

My need to be frugal is mostly overcome by my need to be un-frugal, however I have given up my C osta coffee habit even though it was only occasional.

I live in a remote rural area, no real public transport, eight miles from a village and neighbours are about a mile or more away. That means that my car is essential, I bought a new'ish one in April and will happily keep it until it falls apart.

My elderly mother increasingly wants me with her although she lives about 100 miles away so I'm there most weekends for at least two or three days. All my other family are overseas, either on the European mainland or in Australia.

Because of my occupational pension and savings I'm not on the breadline though I have memories of vastly different times as a younger adult so am fearful of it. Strange how our minds 'control' us!#

WeeMidgie

I'm April '54 vintage, early retired on health grounds. State pension due Nov 2019. Fortunately I was able to create an income by downsizing and renting out a property. So I'm very fortunate to have a modest amount of rental income - still living below the income tax threshold.

I was prepared to retire at 64, my first increased state pension age, but was working part time by the date of the announcement of the further postponement. Why part time? Because already my health was hit. Then even part time became unsustainable.

After 18 months of retirement and no spending on clothes or shoes, lately I've needed a few replacement items, just to smarten up a bit. Smart boots £15, hospice shop; black jeans £12, M&S outlet store; everyday handbag £3, PDSA shop; smart handbag £15, Cancer Research shop.

Good props can really enhance a basic outfit - scarves, gloves in winter, and earrings anytime. I also wear jewellery, Sheila Fleet rings and bracelet bought years ago with legacy money, serving as everyday remembrances, but also they give me a feeling of substance during this wait for state pension.


With just under a year to go, those recent purchases should see me through clothes wise. I tend to live in jeans for everyday, and wear skirts with smart boots for dressier occasions.

Luckily I quite enjoy a challenge, and I'm frugal by nature. Having fun on a budget works well for me thanks to the local U3A and the community education service. And I'm eternally grateful for MSE and the forums.

Looking forward to reading along and posting too.

westcoastscot

I'm a 1960 baby, and although I knew of the first change the second has caught me by surprise! I "retired" due to ill health in June and am living off very minimal savings until my pension comes in at 66, 7 years from now. I need to make major financial savings so shall join you if I may. This year has been truly dreadful and i'm looking forward to turning the page to 2019.

thriftwizard

May I join in too, please? I'm a December '58 baby with no private pension - a succession of low-paid PT jobs (OH working unpredictable shifts meaning childcare fell 99% to me) and assorted caring responsibilities meant I never had a chance to build one up. I'm now self-employed running a specialist market stall and may well have to continue long after "normal" retirement age, as many stallholders do, health permitting; I've always paid my "stamp" so will receive almost the full State pension, though not for a while yet. OH is still working, though not shifts any more, and will get a good pension, but declining health may mean he has to retire shortly, long before he feels ready or qualifies for the full whack.

Our main tack has always been not spending money unnecessarily, but not scrimping either; we still have two offspring living at home (one of whom has AS-related issues & can't go out to work) so can't really downsize, and live in a bit of a money-pit of an old house, which would cost a fortune to retro-fit. I kind of need to work out what we can do differently to survive the changes that are inevitable when OH does retire! So will be following with interest...

Hard_Up_Hester

Good morning.
Today is leftover soup day, everything that hasn't been eaten or packed away will be made into soup.
It will be a good start for OH, he has been told to eat more vegetables and has agreed, so I'm going to make HM soup for lunch every day and serve it with no knead bread, I'm hoping the bread will tempt him to eat the soup as he is beyond fussy.
The only other things we have left over from Christmas re some very posh chocolates that will be redistributed between the grandchildren.

Dia_Pita

Good morning Hester, I too am making soup today, but making my bread tomorow. I need to get a bit fitter so going out for a walk after breakfast. We went to the sales yesterday and came away with a big fresh turkey for £4.25, this has been made in to various joints & frozen for another day.

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
We’re back from my youngests now and feeling quite fat. I can always tell when it’s time to go back on to healthy foods because I crave brocolli so what’s left Xmas food wise will be boxed or frozen and rationed. A couple of sweeties or a bit of cake a day until it’s all gone. I’ve a box of nice biccies with a long sell by date that will be good in case of guests.
Left over corned beef with veg and gravy for lunch then off to eldests for tea.
I will need a bottle of milk at some stage but I’ll do that on the way home from work tomorrow. Apart from that I won’t need to shop until the New Year.
I’ve enough smellies, soaps,lotions and potions to keep me going for a long while too.
Christmas is lovely but once it’s over I like to get back to normal as soon as possible.
I hope everyone is warm and well
Cuddles

jackieblack

cuddlymarm wrote: »

Christmas is lovely but once it’s over I like to get back to normal as soon as possible.

I agree. Have just finished packing away my little tree - only put it out because my daughter and son-in-law came to stay on Christmas Eve for two nights and also my parents here on Christmas Day - and turning the cards into gift tags for next year. I sent most of the leftovers and goodies home with my daughter and son-in-la, just kept enough cold meat myself for the next couple of days.

I only put the tree out and cards up on Sunday but they were irritating me this morning - I feel so much better now everything is tidied away and back to normal

lessonlearned

Me too, I am itching to get back to normal and raring to go to make a start on next year. I will keep the tree up till January 2nd but I have decided I'm going to start decluttering today.

And this time I mean business.....:rotfl:

janb5

Gers wrote: »

I'm another Feb 1954 baby - so SP in July 2019. I was well aware of the first changes to SP age but the second one caught me unaware. Luckily I have an occupational pension and still work very part time, through choice.


I live in a remote rural area, no real public transport, eight miles from a village and neighbours are about a mile or more away. That means that my car is essential, I bought a new'ish one in April and will happily keep it until it falls apart.


Hi Gers, I dont know whether this will help you but I got a new car- Hyundai on a lease scheme so I can return it after three years or choose to buy it. Reasonable payments.