Can you live solely off state pension?

sheslookinhot

MEM62 said:

RG2015 said:

MEM62 said:

scoobydoo8 said:

As per title, do you think you would be able to live just off a full state pension, currently £203pw /£10,6k per year, reasonably comfortably if you already owe your own home?

No chance.  It would be poverty existence at best.  We are not far from retirement and, will kids grown up and gone and no mortgage or debt our basic bills, exclusive of food, are round £900 per month.  While there are two of us the SP would cover living costs but you need the additional income from private pensions to cover all the extras - running a car, holidays, eating out, fun money etc etc etc.....          

Are you saying that pensioners with only the state pension are living in poverty?

I cannot make any such statement based on personal experience or observation as know of nobody who's income is only £203 per week.  It is however, my opinion that even the best at being frugal won't have much of a lifestyle beyond the most basic existence as Council tax, utilities and food would take up most, if not all, of £203 per week.  That seems like poverty to me.     

Looks like a statement to me

MarkCarnage

You've selectively cropped his first sentence though......the key phrase is 'based on personal experience or observation'. 

RG2015

MarkCarnage said:

You've selectively cropped his first sentence though......the key phrase is 'based on personal experience or observation'. 

He said “ It would be poverty existence at best” I asked if that meant that UK pensioners were living in poverty.

He confirmed that it seems like poverty to him.

Many posters here would dispute that they were living in poverty. And I believe that it would be challenging, but in no way could it be described as poverty existence.

dealyboy

@RG2015 said:

MarkCarnage said:

You've selectively cropped his first sentence though......the key phrase is 'based on personal experience or observation'. 

He said “ It would be poverty existence at best” I asked if that meant that UK pensioners were living in poverty.

He confirmed that it seems like poverty to him.

Many posters here would dispute that they were living in poverty. And I believe that it would be challenging, but in no way could it be described as poverty existence.

Agreed. For me it's not even particularly challenging ... but then again I've been mean all my life. 

Thumbs_Up

Thank god I’m British! lottery of life and all that.

Thank god I’m past conscription age if it ever comes to that.

Thank god I’m childless, I pity the youngsters of today.

Thank god I’m not religious. (Irony...yes)

If any of the above offends anyone, the moderators have my number...

Any finally to answer the question, yes I could live solely off the state pension. Thank god for tax payers...

 

pseudodox

dealyboy said:

@RG2015 said:

MarkCarnage said:

You've selectively cropped his first sentence though......the key phrase is 'based on personal experience or observation'. 

He said “ It would be poverty existence at best” I asked if that meant that UK pensioners were living in poverty.

He confirmed that it seems like poverty to him.

Many posters here would dispute that they were living in poverty. And I believe that it would be challenging, but in no way could it be described as poverty existence.

Agreed. For me it's not even particularly challenging ... but then again I've been mean all my life. 

LOL!  You sound like me - Yorkshire through and through and tight as a . . . . . 

I find what I have never had I don't miss, so I have the wealth of being content with my lot.  We don't know real poverty today - not like one of my ancestors whose husband got transported to Australia in 1854, leaving her with 6 daughters under the age of 11 to feed and clothe.  I don't expect she could even imagine what a SP or benefits might be.  I lost track of her but have no doubt she ended up in the workhouse with the children barefoot in rags.  I live the life of Riley in comparison.

Thumbs_Up said:

Thank god I’m British! lottery of life and all that.

Thank god I’m past conscription age if it ever comes to that.

Thank god I’m childless, I pity the youngsters of today.

Thank god I’m not religious. (Irony...yes)

If any of the above offends anyone, the moderators have my number...

Any finally to answer the question, yes I could live solely off the state pension. Thank god for tax payers...

 

Thank God for the likes of @Thumbs_Up.  Brilliant post!

dealyboy

pseudodox said:

dealyboy said:

@RG2015 said:

MarkCarnage said:

You've selectively cropped his first sentence though......the key phrase is 'based on personal experience or observation'. 

He said “ It would be poverty existence at best” I asked if that meant that UK pensioners were living in poverty.

He confirmed that it seems like poverty to him.

Many posters here would dispute that they were living in poverty. And I believe that it would be challenging, but in no way could it be described as poverty existence.

Agreed. For me it's not even particularly challenging ... but then again I've been mean all my life. 

LOL!  You sound like me - Yorkshire through and through and tight as a . . . . . 

I find what I have never had I don't miss, so I have the wealth of being content with my lot.  We don't know real poverty today - not like one of my ancestors whose husband got transported to Australia in 1854, leaving her with 6 daughters under the age of 11 to feed and clothe.  I don't expect she could even imagine what a SP or benefits might be.  I lost track of her but have no doubt she ended up in the workhouse with the children barefoot in rags.  I live the life of Riley in comparison.

Thumbs_Up said:

Thank god I’m British! lottery of life and all that.

Thank god I’m past conscription age if it ever comes to that.

Thank god I’m childless, I pity the youngsters of today.

Thank god I’m not religious. (Irony...yes)

If any of the above offends anyone, the moderators have my number...

Any finally to answer the question, yes I could live solely off the state pension. Thank god for tax payers...

 

Thank God for the likes of @Thumbs_Up.  Brilliant post!

That's so sad ... we should go back in time and look after her.

Phossy

Most recent government data I could find  indicates many people cope on a full State pension or less, though they may have access to other benefits too. Source: Pensioners' Incomes Series: Financial year 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

pseudodox

I have been researching my family tree for 20+ years.  So many instances of grinding poverty, people who were "fortunate" to live into their 60s, 70s, even 80 were still working.  The "lucky" ones died before they were 40.  One Gt Gt Grandfather was working as a Road Labourer aged 64 in 1851 and back then that would have been heavy physical work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day.  Others were agricultural labourers, stone delvers, pedlars scratching what we would not call a living.  At age 8 or 9 many children (boys and girls) were working naked in coal mines 12 hours a day, hauling trucks.  

The last time I saw someone "poor" on TV being interviewed whilst queuing for a food bank she was covered in tattoos and wearing bling and fashion clothes.  Kids with her were busy on the iPhones.  Not my idea of poverty!

borderline

not a chance, I don't own a house and never will. The rent alone would take the state pension. If I can, I will have to work beyond pension age