We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Is the State Pension enough to live on if you are single !!
Options
Comments
-
pensionpawn said:JoeCrystal said:Small Car (Fully Legit) NA
Regular Diet(food Bills) £84 per month
Typical Bills Gas Water Elec (£20+£20+£55) = £95 per month
Council Tax = £90 per month
Internet/Phone = £63 per month
Tv Licence = £14 per month
Boiler Insurance = £30 per month
Service Charge = £63 per month
Content Insurance = £22 per month
Yes, it is certainly possible if you don't have expensive luxuries like holidays. *shrugs* Easier to budget when one does not have a high income in the first place.And there are always rooms to cut further if necessary.
2 -
As an aside...
I read today there are 1.5 million Pensioners struggling with Credit Card Debt....what sort of country are we??0 -
Silvertabby said:Mustbeananswer?? said:Brie said:Gas, water & electric at £95 a month? Our gas and electric is more than twice that and the water is £40.
Don't forget there's car insurance, MOT, maintenance, tax. Prescriptions are free, up to a point, less things are included now. No going out to the pub, the local kaffee klatch, art class. Nothing for pets. Haircuts. Clothing.
Assuming they are careful and have a savings pot (big assumptions) what happens when the fridge or oven dies, something in the plumbing springs a leak? Car needs to be replaced?
And hopefully they have no friends or relatives who expect birthday or Christmas cards or presents.
So I say no.
A fairer comparison would be a Euro pension with the UK State pension PLUS all the occupational/personal pensions that the UK pensioner paid into/could have paid into.
also people seem to forget that Pensioners in the UK retain eligibility for things like Housing Benefit (if in rented accom) when coming out with their doom laden claims ref State pension vs costs0 -
Mustbeananswer?? said:As an aside...
I read today there are 1.5 million Pensioners struggling with Credit Card Debt....what sort of country are we??20 -
When I was growing up there were next to no credit Fascillities ....Mum and Dad bought us stuff with cash they already had.Also the benefit system didnt exist on the same scale as it is does today....people went to work ...nobody was claiming for a bad back and stress(both of which are unmeasurable).I feel sorry for the Pensioners in that 1.5 million ..but it wouldnt have happened in those days.Maybe some are wishing they pass soon so they dont have the indignity of it all ...shame0
-
Nothing wrong with equity release if you need to maintain a decent lifestyle. Inheritance should not be seen as a right, is not something family should expect especially if it means the person with the property has to live in poverty for the rest of their lives.
8 -
pseudodox said:I enjoy a comfortable, busy & interesting life with just the SP as income. Single household, nice house with large garden, small old car. I do have a savings pot for emergencies, but any drawing from that cannot be replaced so I spend carefully. I don't need latest gadgets & have done the travelling I wanted before retiring. Never had a well paid job so was used to budgeting & never been so well off as I feel now. Every 4 weeks a chunk of money hits my bank & there always seems to be some of the previous chunk still unused. I do an annual review of income & expenditure from that income & it seems I am always in surplus. So I enjoy the Mr Micawber state of happiness. Savings pot went down last year as I had a new roof, but I already am saving on the previous regular repair outlay & with the rise in interest rates some of the capital outlay is being recouped. If the Micawber misery looms I will downsize the house.0
-
barnstar2077 said:pseudodox said:I enjoy a comfortable, busy & interesting life with just the SP as income. Single household, nice house with large garden, small old car. I do have a savings pot for emergencies, but any drawing from that cannot be replaced so I spend carefully. I don't need latest gadgets & have done the travelling I wanted before retiring. Never had a well paid job so was used to budgeting & never been so well off as I feel now. Every 4 weeks a chunk of money hits my bank & there always seems to be some of the previous chunk still unused. I do an annual review of income & expenditure from that income & it seems I am always in surplus. So I enjoy the Mr Micawber state of happiness. Savings pot went down last year as I had a new roof, but I already am saving on the previous regular repair outlay & with the rise in interest rates some of the capital outlay is being recouped. If the Micawber misery looms I will downsize the house.
Do you feel the last few years of increased inflation has affected you at all?
I have never had a penny of credit card debt. I was brought up with the discipline to not buy stuff I cannot afford.
13 -
Mustbeananswer?? said:As an aside...
I read today there are 1.5 million Pensioners struggling with Credit Card Debt....what sort of country are we??
Are sure about the 'struggling' bit? We are pensioners and put most of our shopping on our two cash back credit cards. The returns aren't as good as they were, but it's still 'free' money. Of course, we don't have credit card debt or pay stupid % rates of interest as we always pay the bills in full every month. We are not alone.
6 -
JoeCrystal said:Small Car (Fully Legit) NA
Regular Diet(food Bills) £84 per month
Typical Bills Gas Water Elec (£20+£20+£55) = £95 per month
Council Tax = £90 per month
Internet/Phone = £63 per month
Tv Licence = £14 per month
Boiler Insurance = £30 per month
Service Charge = £63 per month
Content Insurance = £22 per month
Yes, it is certainly possible if you don't have expensive luxuries like holidays. *shrugs* Easier to budget when one does not have a high income in the first place.And there are always rooms to cut further if necessary.
Council Tax £90 per month, where are you living?
1
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards