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

YorksLass

sammy_kaye18: Rhubarb & ginger jam is yummy - maybe an idea for you?

Tomorrow is the end of the month and it's also the end of my budget year so I'll be looking at how our spends have fared over the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months.  I think (from memory) we've done well but there will definitely be more belt-tightening going forward.  It just remains to be seen where that will - or even can - be.

We both have a state pension, I have a small final salary pension and we get winter heating allowance but aren't eligible for either element of pension credit or any other benefit, so we have to manage on what we have.  Things like rent, CT, water, TV licence have to be paid first obviously.  Our water is on an assessed basis (can't have a water meter fitted) and phone/broadband has been fixed at a low price for 24 months.  Energy bills are the "biggie" we're looking at - we're still on a fixed price plan until the end of August but it's going to be a huge hike after that.

We have gas for heating/hot water and electric for everything else.  We're already sparing with the heating and shower once a week, with strip washes at the sink on other days.  The washing machine only goes on when there's a full load.  Laundry is dried outside (weather permitting) or on the airer if that's not possible.  I do use the TD in winter for bedding and towels but take things out still a bit damp and hang on the airer to finish off.  I don't have a DW and hardly ever use the oven unless I can fill it, instead I use the SC, AF or MW.  Surplus boiling water from the kettle goes in a thermos flask.  I batch cook and freeze to save on energy.  The TV goes on in the evenings only and everything gets turned off/unplugged rather than being on stand-by.  No lights left on in unused rooms.  I use the iron as little as possible - not my favourite job anyway.  The vacuum comes out once a week, otherwise I use a manual carpet sweeper.

Our grocery budget for two adults is £126 pm and includes food, cleaning materials, toiletries and OTC meds, so not what I would call excessive, and there's usually something left in the pot at the end of each month.  That's a potential saving but I'm going to leave that "as is" for now to allow for price increases that seem to be happening daily on something or other.

We don't need any clothing or footwear right now (and probably not for some time to come) so that's a bit of spare cash, plus I have a stash of yarn and fabric to use up anyway.  I cut DH's hair for him (have done for years) so no savings there and I'm trying to go longer between cuts if I can.  I don't use make up, nail varnish etc or wear tights but I do like a daily spray of a nice smelly.  I put by a little each month for dentist/optician bills and wouldn't particularly want to scrap those unless forced.  I save a little each month for Xmas/birthday presents for the DGCs (not as much as it used to be) and, by mutual agreement, an inexpensive token present for DS/DD and their partners.  Annual holidays have been replaced by the occasional trip out when we use our bus passes.

Things we don't have to worry about simply because we don't have them are: a car, smart phones (have basic PAYG mobiles), tech gadgets, subscription TV (Freeview only) or magazine subscriptions (cancelled a long time ago).

We do have a modest rainy day savings pot to fall back on should we need to, so are not on the breadline, and I know there are many others who are far worse off than we are.  I hope they will be able to weather the storm but I fear it will be a hard journey for some.  

London_1

sammy_kaye18 Hi there,  yes I've been back for awhile, doesn't time fly by

My lovely grandsons whom I spent so much time looking after are all huge young men now. Ben, 26 teaching in north London, Jack 22 teaching in Kent, Henry, nearly 21,almost finished his third year at Uni in Essex and the 'baby' Mikey 18 in June and just finishing his 'A' levels and has been accepted at Essex Uni to start his degree in September.

The eldest Danny , is married and lives in New York with his lovely wife Hayley, and has for nearly 6 years.

The two granddaughters are both married, and the eldest Katie is the mother of two little girls . These took up so much of my life over 19 years after I lost my late OH, bless them. But now I can really say I am more or less retired and life is an awful less hectic ,but I still budget as I always have. With the advent of the pandemic it seemed even more useful to make the most of what supplies there were, and now with the current food and utilities crisis, again budgetting and managing my 'Happy Cash' has once more come to the forefront. before I went off for a couple of years folk were very kind and put up with my daily waffles about the family and we shared so many tips and recipes.

Now I still pass on hints and things but have slowed down a bit,(age and clapped out joints have taken their toll ) But Im still alive and kicking and read all folks different stories with interest.

I wonder how some of the older forumites have done Black Satin, caterina, meanqueen,and a good few more , I know Nelski is still posting,its nice to see you are still around though.

This has been such a useful site for so many folk over the years. I wonder if we had known back in 2004-5 how much food would increase in price wether we would have believed it. I remember having  online 50p meals shown on here I think we would struggle to do it now But then again how will life change in another 15 or so years and my grandchildren will look back and think todays prices are really cheap  

So today we will tighten our belts once more, and dig out old recipes and and once more streetch our purses . Its just another hurdle which we will get over fingers crossed  

boultdj

How do you do rice pudding in the slow cooker please London-1. 

patentgirl

Another one here who changed into indoor clothes as soon as in for day if past 4 PJs on if earlier will be leggings and sweatshirt/jumper DH does the same definitely saves on washing, I shower every 3 or 4 days strip wash in between I find this saves on towels too as not dripping like when you come out shower. Have downsized all brands only ones I struggle with is Heinz Mayo and ketchup which I get when on offer, I meal plan weekly and stick to it 90% off the time most of shopping is done at Aldis have nearly halved food budget doing this. Rarely go out in car now I am retired tend to walk everywhere my next savings will be getting rid of Sky only thing I would miss would be able to download programmes and whiz through the adverts. All our bills going up electricity the most £35 pm increase we can manage but watch every  spend and DH has decided to put off retiring from April to October.

Florenceem

Brambling - my mum used to warm up my dinner above a pan of boiling water - was great after a hard day in a factory.
No spending today here.
No car or TV so save there.
We budget £100 for 4 weeks shopping - that has not changed since 2013.

ladyholly

I wish I could stay im pyjamas all day but two problems. First my husband would have a fit - he doesnt approve of jamies in the daytime but more importantly I take the dogs out 3 times a day plus extra for one who wont toilet in the garden (believe me I have tried) and takes diuretics.

I am trying to reduce our food bills but my dear husband is so fussy it makes it almost impossible. To give an idea he wont eat pasta, will rarely eat rice, doesnt like pizza, baked beans etc etc. His breakfast is bacon and black pudding. I know thats not considered healthy but he is very slim and far healthier than I am so it is difficult to argue. My plan is to reduce the amount of meat in things when possible and replace with lentils, pearl barley etc. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

annieb64

I can remember staying with my father's cousin in the 1960s.  His house had no bathroom and only an outside toilet.  He had a bowl for washing up and a bowl for washing  himself.  He heated water in a kettle on a kind of metal ledge which fitted round  the front of his open fire. 

He washed his clothes at the laundrette and about once a fortnight would have a bath at the public baths.

He seemed perfectly clean to us and certainly didn't  smell unpleasant. We thought it was great fun washing in the sink but must admit we didn't like the outside loo.

ladyholly

My Great aunt had an outside loo which had a catch on the outside as well as inside. My sister thought it was funny to lock me in. I hated that loo.

Archie_Duke

Rosa_Damascena said:

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?

I volunteer with a charity local-ish to me, of course that unfortunately costs me money in travel expenses! I’m lucky enough to have a dog at home which needs caring for, so it’s not like I can take off to anywhere far-flung, if that’s the sort of NGO you mean.

maisie_cat

annieb64 said:

I can remember staying with my father's cousin in the 1960s.  His house had no bathroom and only an outside toilet.  He had a bowl for washing up and a bowl for washing  himself.  He heated water in a kettle on a kind of metal ledge which fitted round  the front of his open fire. 

He washed his clothes at the laundrette and about once a fortnight would have a bath at the public baths.

He seemed perfectly clean to us and certainly didn't  smell unpleasant. We thought it was great fun washing in the sink but must admit we didn't like the outside loo.

I remember living with my great grandmother when I was 5 or so, we lived upstairs and she downstairs,  we washed in the sink because there was no bathroom.  The loo was at the end of the garden and it scared the life out of me when mum made me go by myself in the dark. At the same time I remember operating a mangle with the help of my mum! I clearly remember the day she go a twin tub some years later and I was taught how to work it. I still remember the smell of the wooden tongs and the rubber frizbee to hold the washing down. I wonder if it was cheaper to run because you did several loads in the same hot water?