Thrifty in my 60's

I_Love_comps

If you have a  B&Q Loyalty Card  you will get a discount if you are 60 or over on a Wednesday 

Rosa_Damascena

Having turned 50 recently I'm very aware I am going to reap the benefit of what I do (or don't do) in the next decade in older age. I started watching this the other day and had to stop because it is so upsetting. We hear about rich pensioners and how unfair the triple lock is but this should be a reality for no one (warning: it is very sobering viewing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btAffz83MB4&ab_channel=Channel4Documentaries

I'd much rather cut back now to live a healthy and comfortable life after 60.

maggs123

I will be 60 next March.  I took voluntary redundancy from work last December at 58 and got an enhanced redundancy payment plus my local government pension kicked in as I was over 55.  I'm hoping not to have to work again.  40 years was enough and when I started working at 18 I was supposed to get a state pension at 60.  Well that's a laugh.
Anyway, we will be 40 years married next April as well so have planned a BIG trip.  Sydney Australia, cruise around New Zealand, stay in Auckland and then Tokyo.  Can't wait!.  We've booked for La Traviata in Sydney Opera House.  That's a first for us!
Not saving but spending for me next year. Oops!

Brambling

Looks like a lot of us are 60 next year, the last of the baby boomers  

Rosa it's certainly a sad watch and like you I didn't watch it all.  My parents were on a state pension with no savings, mum got more help as a widow and then later (late 80s) due to ill health a carer allowance. She would worry about me with 'no children to take care of me in my old age', she couldn't believe as a women I was capable of earning a good salary and could afford my own home without a man, but she was born in 1919 and I was her baby.  

Unless things have changed some of the forms to get additional financial help are horrendous she relied on one of my sisters who was a MH nurse and had access to a book used to help clients which told you how to fill in the standard forms question by question. 

I'm aware that once retired my saving pots will likely stop growing and there is a balance to find so I can enjoy retirement but not blow it too quickly leaving me poor at 80, I also don't want to die leaving a 'too healthy' bank balance. I think it's sad when you realise people have gone without basics but they are sitting on tens of thousands in the bank

goldfinches

Brambling said:

Looks like a lot of us are 60 next year, the last of the baby boomers  

Unless things have changed some of the forms to get additional financial help are horrendous she relied on one of my sisters who was a MH nurse and had access to a book used to help clients which told you how to fill in the standard forms question by question. 

There are now several organisations that publish this sort of guide for forms and this is one I've heard a lot of good things about PIP claim help, plus ESA, DLA & Universal Credit (benefitsandwork.co.uk)

Brie

goldfinches said:

Brambling said:

access to a book used to help clients which told you how to fill in the standard forms question by question. 

There are now several organisations that publish this sort of guide for forms and this is one I've heard a lot of good things about PIP claim help, plus ESA, DLA & Universal Credit (benefitsandwork.co.uk)

Citizen's Advice is very good at this as well as a number of disability organisations who will know how to phrase things correctly for their particular clients.  And there's also lots of random experienced people.  I recently helped someone revise their attendance allowance application because he was painting a picture of what his life was like on a great day rather than an average one or even a bad one.  (i.e. "yes i can run for the bus" often needs to have something added about "but if I do I won't be able to walk to the loo for the next 2 weeks due to fatigue etc)

Rosa_Damascena

maggs123 said:

I will be 60 next March.  I took voluntary redundancy from work last December at 58 and got an enhanced redundancy payment plus my local government pension kicked in as I was over 55.  I'm hoping not to have to work again.  40 years was enough and when I started working at 18 I was supposed to get a state pension at 60.  Well that's a laugh.
Anyway, we will be 40 years married next April as well so have planned a BIG trip.  Sydney Australia, cruise around New Zealand, stay in Auckland and then Tokyo.  Can't wait!.  We've booked for La Traviata in Sydney Opera House.  That's a first for us!
Not saving but spending for me next year. Oops!

You will laugh at this. We attended a Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance at the Opera House, the concert hall is on a grand scale and the tickets weren't cheap.....and I fell asleep 15 minutes into the performance until it ended. I was in my mid-30s at the time!

I wouldn't have fallen asleep if it was Verdi or Bizet!

Brie

Rosa_Damascena said:

You will laugh at this. We attended a Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance at the Opera House, the concert hall is on a grand scale and the tickets weren't cheap.....and I fell asleep 15 minutes into the performance until it ended. I was in my mid-30s at the time!

I wouldn't have fallen asleep if it was Verdi or Bizet!

OH & I have always agreed a nap was allowed in any concert but not for too long.  2 naps were allowed if it was Wagner.  I might have snuck in a few more when we saw Gotterdamerung.

Slinky

My claim to fame is that I've used the toilets at the Sydney Opera House.........  Haven't seen any performance there, we just used their loos on a day out in Sydney.

badmemory

Whoops I was so busy getting on with my life I just forgot until my younger sister reminded me.  But then she cried at her 30th because she thought her life was over.