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

Archie_Duke

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

Like never before. 

I had expected money would be tight having just left the forces on a pension that had 50% awarded to my former wife in our divorce. But it’s just going to be a long slide into poverty! I was a high earner, wasn’t able to continue in my profession though and at 57 I’m not attractive to many employers. After having something of a Gap Year, I need to buck up and get a new job to cope with the rising cost of living.

Pixiekazza

Hurray for the sunshine! Lots of washing dried on the line, no storage heaters on, hope it stays warm now. I've had to have the immersion heater on for 30 mins for hot water though.

My electric co. keeps contacting me about installing a smart meter. As I'm on Economy 7, I did some research and apparently they are hard to read. I guess more people might go on them now, only pay for what you use.

Toonie

Trying to be more economical here though we only have a few places left where we can cut and that would take us to the level of surviving (not that we're thriving at present, but it's nice to have a little something each to make us feel good). I'm doing my best to keep things frugal whilst at home so cold options are definitely explored, though when it's chilly I will make a cuppa soup or an ovaltine to keep me going. When Spring properly hits eating cold food won't bother me as much. I'll still have a cooked meal in the evenings with DP (either in the slow cooker or the air fryer).

Definitely feeling the temperature dropping off here, rain on and off today so didn't do any washing as yesterday's is still drying. Tomorrow is at least looking dry, if not warm/sunny so will get a load done before Thursday's chilly/wet weather.

otb666

@Archi_Duke when people ask me how retirement going I just say "Oh you know Pandemic then nearly WW3". Dont know what else can go wrong and hope I dont slide into poverty as well. I did see a TV programme once where they used their hot dashboard in car to cook from Although sun has to be out I assume.

nannygladys

I only use my iron if I'm sewing, so that's not often at the moment, but I do dust it occasionally.

Rosa_Damascena

Archie_Duke said:

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

Like never before. 

I had expected money would be tight having just left the forces on a pension that had 50% awarded to my former wife in our divorce. But it’s just going to be a long slide into poverty! I was a high earner, wasn’t able to continue in my profession though and at 57 I’m not attractive to many employers. After having something of a Gap Year, I need to buck up and get a new job to cope with the rising cost of living.

This is so sad. Would you not consider offering your services to a NGO?

sarahj1986

My sister messaged me last about their electric bill. They were paying £85. In April it’s going up to £200!!

Woolsery

otb666 said:

@Archi_Duke when people ask me how retirement going I just say "Oh you know Pandemic then nearly WW3". Dont know what else can go wrong and hope I dont slide into poverty as well.

Perhaps things don't just 'go wrong?' The last couple of years have seen the largest  wealth transfer to the extremely rich in recorded history. People may make of that what they will, but from doing a lot of digging and not just listening to the news outlets  owned and controlled by the same people, I've concluded "By 2030 you will own nothing and you will be happy" might not be just empty rhetoric.

Happy_Sloth

We are lucky, but sometimes i have to remind myself of that repeatedly.... 

Husband has just found work after an extended period, so that will help but quite a few years ago we moved into a "Fixer Uppa" we made some good progress pre-pandemic but the pandemic turned our finances on it's head and we struggled to keep hold of the house neverminded affording to do anything to it. 

When my father in law died of covid we got some money which helped us sort another of the big issues with the house,  sadly the reality is we are still living on a building site thats not adequately or efficiently heated and my home is not exactly comfortable. 

We arn't in danger of starving or losing the house thats some comfort and makes us luckier than many, but right now i'm feeling pretty sad   with the costs going up the way they are i can't see how we can afford to do any more of the work on the house.  I've been living on a building site since 2017 ... not sure how much more i can do... 

 

littlemoney

I reduce use of the washing machine by having my at home clothes and going out clothes. The at home clothes can be worn for much longer before washing even if they are a bit dirty or smelly as there is no one else to be impacted by this. My going out clothes are removed as soon as I get home and hung up to air. After several wears they become my at home clothes. I don't go out and see people very often and have no visitors at home.