It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

nannygladys

I'm a single pensioner on state pension only, receiving just over any other help and I'm starting to struggle. I use a local food hub for free bread and veg when they have any and a community pantry once a fortnight for some tinned stuff, I still have to visit the sm but I have quite a good stocked pantry at the moment. I don't have the heating on unless I have to, and although I have a car I mostly use it once a week and do a round robin trip. I haven't eaten meat for about 38 years so I save there, but as I have no mortgage or debt I'm still a lot better off than many many people.

My g&e fixed deal is coming to an end and the new fixed deals are horrendous, so I will go onto a variable one and keep a close eye on what's happening.

Rosa_Damascena

nannygladys said:

I'm a single pensioner on state pension only, receiving just over any other help and I'm starting to struggle. I use a local food hub for free bread and veg when they have any and a community pantry once a fortnight for some tinned stuff, I still have to visit the sm but I have quite a good stocked pantry at the moment. I don't have the heating on unless I have to, and although I have a car I mostly use it once a week and do a round robin trip. I haven't eaten meat for about 38 years so I save there, but as I have no mortgage or debt I'm still a lot better off than many many people.

My g&e fixed deal is coming to an end and the new fixed deals are horrendous, so I will go onto a variable one and keep a close eye on what's happening.

This is so sad. I'm not suggesting that people waste energy but the comment "unless I have to" isn't something I would expect to read in January. The choice it seems is not between heating and eating your case, and I can see how those in your position in less than robust health could quickly deteriorate.

luvchocolate

Another single pensioner here,I'm lucky to be in a lovely housing association property so rent is low.
Also the £200 heating allowance is a big help.

[Deleted User]

I have two young children and, excluding housing costs and council tax as I can’t do anything about the cost of these, we have an annual budget of £3,800.

This is to pay for food, energy, internet, clothing and incidentals like school trips, postage, the odd treat. Our gas CH has barely been on - we burn scrap wood and logs in the burner. We eat very little meat, go to bed very early with hot water bottles and generally live an incredibly frugal existence. Health issues mean I simply can’t work anymore. I have really felt the struggle this winter, and the storms by us have been horrific so we’ve had repeated loss of power.

When the energy prices go up we will have to give up using the main oven completely. Already stopped using the kettle and boil water on the woodburner then put it in a flask.’

mandy47

We are mortgage free as of June 2021. The intention was to put the mortgage money away for holidays and a slightly early retirement. Our plans are completely scuppered. £100 a month energy rise, food, fuel and the national insurance rise have taken the extra cash. Obviously it could be a lot worse if we were still paying a mortgage.
We live a frugal life. There's no community pantry in our area, occasionally get  a TGTG bag. We do most the money saving tips that we read about on the forum but now it's just not enough. 
Just don't know where it's going to end. We have no debt and I know we are better off than many, many people out there.
My heart goes out to you all. 

YorksLass

nannygladys: It sounds as if you are in that awkward middle position of just being over the qualifying criteria for help over and above your state pension.  I don't know when you last looked into Pension Credit but keep trying, the rules seem to change from time to time.  Maybe you would be eligible now, especially the Savings element of it.  Even if you only get a small amount it's better in your pocket and does open doors to other help too.  That said, we can't get it either.

luvchocolate: We're in social housing too (ground floor maisonette) so our rent isn't bad by today's standards but I can't say the same for fuel bills.  For some unknown reason (probably bad design and 1960's fad for concrete construction) the living room where we spend most of the time is the coldest room in the property!  The boiler decided to throw a wobbly a couple of weeks ago (nothing drastic, needed topping up for the pressure) and the temperature in that room had dropped to just under 12C.  I think it was actually warmer outside!

Deleted_User:  You're doing your best in a tough position and I really hope your future will be brighter one day.

I've been giving this a lot of thought over the weekend and have looked at every single outgoing that we have.  I honestly can't see any area that we can cut back on other than food and heating so, if things get worse, I'll just have to try harder with those.  On the plus side, we have no debt and do have some savings we could dip into if needs be.  I guess know we're luckier than some and I'm grateful for that.

Auntycaz

Another single pensioner here. I receive a small amount of pension credit to top up my pension as I live in a private rented property. I think everyone is feeling the pinch what with energy and food prices rising all the time lately.
There are people a lot worse off than me though, so I still try to pop an item or two in the trolley for the foodbank when I can afford to. I wish I had an Olio or a community pantry nearby as my local supermarket is a waitrose so not cheap but it does have offers available now and again.

KxMx

Definitely noticed the food increases although that is something we can absorb. 

Finding another 50% for energy costs really worries me.

Household of two, weekly income £205 (one ESA SG, one basic UC awaiting medical assessment).

Don't qualify for Warm Home discount with our supplier. 

We are careful with turning things off, blankets etc but don't stint on heating it is a budgeting priority for us. We both have health problems and Mum is 64, we simply will get ill if too cold (as i did when the boiler died for 3 days a few years back in winter!) 

I have the higher income and put £750 annually (monthly payments higher Sep- Mar) into a separate bank account for our monthly (formerly quarterly) energy bills.
Never had the money run out yet.

We do bills because DD's are unaffordable, IMO the companies set them as high as they can get away with, not reflecting actual usage as our bills do.

We don't have a car, holidays are few and far between, carefully saved for and rarely go out.
Live in a council house. No smoking or alcohol. 

Really don't think we can afford another 50% (who can right?) for energy which is going to mean tighter budgeting although everything is already low, and using up savings I guess which we are fortunate to have.

When Mum went from ft work to UC, there was literally no fat to trim as mentioned we are already very frugal! 

Rosa_Damascena

Deleted_User said:

I have two young children and, excluding housing costs and council tax as I can’t do anything about the cost of these, we have an annual budget of £3,800.

This is to pay for food, energy, internet, clothing and incidentals like school trips, postage, the odd treat. Our gas CH has barely been on - we burn scrap wood and logs in the burner. We eat very little meat, go to bed very early with hot water bottles and generally live an incredibly frugal existence. Health issues mean I simply can’t work anymore. I have really felt the struggle this winter, and the storms by us have been horrific so we’ve had repeated loss of power.

When the energy prices go up we will have to give up using the main oven completely. Already stopped using the kettle and boil water on the woodburner then put it in a flask.’

Shocking 

I didn't think it would be possible to live on so little, are you accessing all the available help? 

[Deleted User]

Rosa_Damascena said:

Deleted_User said:

I have two young children and, excluding housing costs and council tax as I can’t do anything about the cost of these, we have an annual budget of £3,800.

This is to pay for food, energy, internet, clothing and incidentals like school trips, postage, the odd treat. Our gas CH has barely been on - we burn scrap wood and logs in the burner. We eat very little meat, go to bed very early with hot water bottles and generally live an incredibly frugal existence. Health issues mean I simply can’t work anymore. I have really felt the struggle this winter, and the storms by us have been horrific so we’ve had repeated loss of power.

When the energy prices go up we will have to give up using the main oven completely. Already stopped using the kettle and boil water on the woodburner then put it in a flask.’

Shocking 

I didn't think it would be possible to live on so little, are you accessing all the available help? 

 Morning, yes I am. As I say, this figure excludes housing and CT as these  are unavoidable costs. There are plenty of us on the frugal living thread living on similar, it isn’t always easy but it is amazing how creative you get and how much you become prepared to compromise XX