Struggling along as best I can

kayannie

Thank you for posting again, I start to worry when a regular suddenly stops! I think a lot of us are in the same boat as yourself, I know I am. Cost of food & essentials keep increasing & even when our pensions go up, the increase in bills like water rates, council tax etc soon wipe out any extra pension we get. 

I'm sure the dog will be good company for you & get you out & about on lovely walks. At least walking is free! What kind of dog is it? 

KA x

remmie

Its good to see you back, I also worry if someone stops posting.
You give me lots of inspiration, as I'm sure you do others, times are hard but sharing makes us realise we're not alone.
Enjoy your doggie walks, my dog definitely hears all my woes but never comments, just gives me lots of love to help me feel better x

[Deleted User]

Very pleased to see you back!

Maybe you need a break away to clear your head. I know funds may be tight but I think you mentioned once you had a daughter in Cyprus. Maybe take yourself there for a decent break. I am sure they would love to have you. You could save on some bills that way too, especially if you went in winter time. With research you can get some good flight deals too and once there cost would be minimal staying with family.
As for the dog I am sure your family here could look after it for a while. Just an idea anyway.

As for the allotment if it is becoming a worry maybe time to let it go.

As for worrying about producing food for family, stop doing that. They are all capable of looking after themselves and probably have more resources to do so.
 
It is time to look after yourself. You have a right to enjoy your retirement years without constant worry about funding it.

Only other suggestions that you may hate but I will make anyway are:
Is there any possibly you could downsize to raise funds? Perhaps a nice garden flat for you and the dog?
Have you looked at equity release? Again think about yourself a little more. Maybe less inheritance for family but I am sure they would rather have you happy, warm. well fed and healthy!

Have you looked at the benefit checker to see if you are entitled to anymore help

I know in the past you have been reluctant to talk figures. Are you on the 'new' or 'old' state pension? I believe you also have a small private pension too. Hopefully that has some increases each year too. 

Also do not be wary of saying to your family that things are not always easy. I would be furious if my mother wasn't open with me in that way. Myself and siblings always ensure things make their way to her. She looked after us and now its our turn to make sure she is ok too.

Making plans, however big or small, is very important. We all need something to look forward too be it major or minor.

As I said just some comments and ideas. Totally up to you of course to plot your own way.

Take good care of yourself.

Sun_Addict

Good to see you back. Could the family take over the lottie for you? I think it’s time they started looking after you now. 

I’m glad you’ve got the dog, I know how much you missed him when he went back. He’ll be good company for you. It’s good your daughter is helping with costs. 

Take care nannyG, keep positive and keep posting ☺️

nannygladys

Thank you everyone for your nice comments and advice, I'm taking it all on board and will be looking into some of the suggestions.
Cherryfudge - Thank you

WeenancyinAmerica -I love reading how people lived and how resourceful they were in the Great Depression and WWII, and follow a few Youtube channels for ideas!!

keyannie -  I know what you mean about the pension rise, if you take in account all the utility rises including council tax then its more or less gone, still it all helps. The dog, Connie (he's a boy) is a working cocker spaniel and is three now, both his parents are both proper working dogs but they must have seen something in Connie to realise he wouldn't make the grade!!! and I reckon they were 100% correct as he's such a gentle boy!

Remmie - I've never thought of sharing things with the dog, I may start  I used to share everything with a certain teddybear when I young and my middle daughter has him now but he certainly hasn't given any of my childhood secrets away to her  

Baron_Dale - Thanks for all the suggestions. I know it sounds awful but I have no hankering to go to Cyprus, my sil has his own business and dd works, so are very busy people, their son, my dgs has now left school and works as well, and they live quite rural so unless I hired a car I wouldn't be going very far and if I stayed in an apartment or hotel in the nearest holiday place it would be too far away to see them regularly, it wouldn't have bothered me some years ago but now it would. Moneywise I still manage pretty well, just not as well as I did, but that's due to rises not extravagance unfortunately

Sun_Addict - Thank you, secretly I'm very happy to have the pup now! On the whole he brings me much joy but not when I'm walking him in the rain!!! I'm certainly much fitter than I was I'm lucky there's plenty of countryside where I live.

nannygladys

So yesterday eldest dd and I went to the lottie, she is going to let me make the decision whether or not we carry on, the rent is due in December. I have to admit I'm fine and happy whilst there and since she has been coming with me the last few months, I'm finding it even better as there's someone to talk and have a giggle with, the dog also likes it as he can go exploring around it (everyone's lottie is enclosed) so I will see how it goes, and make my mind up before the rent is due.

I still haven't really thought everything through but things have got to be tweaked here and there, not sure how but for a bit of inspiration I think I will spend a little time having a look around the boards this afternoon as its raining here at the moment. My biggest problem I think is just coming to terms with my money not going as far as it used to, even a couple of months ago, but I do think I overthink situations so until I have a look at everything I won't really know!!! 

Right I'm off to find some lunch, I have food in the fridge that needs using so perhaps a 'picky' plate will be best and then I must look for a recipe for using a marrow sized courgette  yes it's that season again!!! and it looks as if the rain has stopped so a dog walk will is in order as well.

Thanks again for reading and I really do appreciate all the comments and suggestions, see you all later xx

Cherryfudge

nannygladys said:

 I must look for a recipe for using a marrow sized courgette  yes it's that season again!!! 

Courgettes - I don't know if you've seen this that @Sun_Addict shared? I've saved it to try as I thought it looks like a good 'un.

joedenise

@nannygladys - I use the marrow sized courgettes for stuffing.  Slice in half lengthways and using a teaspoon removed the seeds.  Put onto to small baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes to soften a bit (I use a remoska).  Remove and turn over and fill with a ragu or even something like spicy couscous, cover with grated cheese and cook again for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.  Serve with some salad or new potatoes and vegetables.

@Cherryfudge - thanks for the spicy courgette soup link.  Will be giving that a try as have loads of courgettes to use up and at least it can be frozen to use later in the winter once the plants have stopped producing!

Makingabobor2

Glad to see you back @nannygladys. I know exactly what you mean about things going up, even with DH's wage and my pension things keep going up.....council tax is up, water rates up, Internet up, car insurance up, food prices up, its never ending.  Missing out on the winter fuel payment this year is a big loss as well, I'd only just started getting it last year. 
With regard to your lottie. I wouldn't worry about not being able to feed the family, it is not your place to provide for them. You have to just think of yourself. You still have a lot of years ahead of you and you need them to be happy and for you to be able to still do the things you love. Once you are retired, nothing should be a drag, it should only be doing what you want. 

kayannie

@nannygladys Your dog sounds lovely - and a 3 year old spaniel will take you on plenty of walks!

You mentioned that you like reading about how people coped during WW11. I don't know if you have read any of the 3 books written by Nella Last? It was on a MSE thread that I read about these books a few months ago. I ordered her first book from the library (Nella Last's War), written during WW11. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered the other 2 books, Nella Last's Peace, & Nella Last in the 1950's.

The books are taken from the diaries that Nella kept from the beginning of the war until the 1950's. Although she was comparatively well off (had a cleaning lady & had her hair done weekly), she was a very frugal lady, managing on the little housekeeping her husband gave her. The books detail her daily routine, what she buys with her ration coupons & how she stretches out the food etc.

Pleased you've visited your lottie, it'll make it easier to decide whether to continue with it or not.

KA x