Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

seven-day-weekend

I've no news from Las Alpujarras as we have not been there since June. However, we are travelling back on November 23rd so will have some news soon after that.

We are travelling on the Cap Finisterre ferry from Portsmouth-Santander, run by Britanny Ferries, as P&O's Pride of Bilbao has now retired. I shall miss the old gal!

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

I hope so!! Nice to see you back, and I hope all is well in the Black Country.

When will you be back in Spain?

I'm sure it's fine although Wolverhampton is not in the Black Country (well only a tiny bit on the south-eastern tip). All is fine in Wolves though!

droopsnout

I stand corrected!!

droopsnout

This item is on offer soon at French Aldi stores. Made me smile.

beedeedee

Hi - Nice to see a few familiar names back!
I'll stay in touch.....

donny-gal

Hi everyone

I'm still here, but time seems to be flying by atm.

We spent the third week of June - third week August out in Spain, and our son and girlfriend came out to see us for my birthday, something about a birthday present to myself, or helping me spend his inheritence :rotfl:

We came back and immediately had 3 long weekends in the 'van followed by another a couple of weeks later. We had scheduled November in Spain, but the petrol situation in France has dampened our enthusiasm, coupled with my BP deciding to go high when the cold weather arrived after no medication for over 6 months:mad:. So no messing with tablets to sort it out, and been given a "free" twice weekly gym session at our local gym on the "Fitness for Health" program. Have to be careful what I can do without aggrevating my knees, but started today, DH is there too and he is well away. We have just had 5 nights in the Premier Inn £29 special to see our son and gf, walking took its toll on my legs, and having a test on the circulation at the end of November, so it has scuttled our plans completely. Don't get me wrong I feel fine, and unless doing "too much" have no problems:D. So we are off in the 'van again this weekend, and will defer Spain until early January, shame as we had a ferry booking, but £29 is not a lot to lose. I did consider a flight for a couple of weeks, but cheap flights appear to be a thing of the past to Alicante unless from Stansted. We could have a late booking at All Inclusive for the same amount.

That's you up to date with my news. What do I think about the situation in France, they like some folks in the UK need to wake up and smell the coffee, none of us can live beyond our means. While there are people saying it is not going to work for, we are paying the unemployed too much, and it needs sorting, doing away with pension credit and making it easier is a good idea, however, those of us with private pensions, will lose some of any increase as we will be taxed on it, so be it. What it doesn't tell you is if you get pension credit, you do not pay poll tax, rent etc.

Here is an example of someone who is female, pensionable age, savings of less than £10k, but did not work full time and only has a pension of £50, and what it gets made up to.
Entitlement ..........................................per year .... per week notes
Means-tested income entitlements
Pension Credit-Guarantee Credit .......... £4,307.00..£82.60
Pension Credit-Savings Credit ...................... £0.00..£0.00
Pension Credit ...................................... £4,307.00..£82.60
Pension Credit Award.
Means-tested bill reductions
Council Tax Benefit.................................£1,199.80..£23.01.....You should not have to pay Council Tax as you qualify for full Council Tax Benefit.
Housing Benefit......................................£2,607.14..£50.00.....You should not have to pay rent as yo alify for full Housing Benefit. For more information on what qualifies see eligible rent for Housing Benefit
Total Entitlements..................................£8,113.94..£155.61 weekly

So we have to be careful wen they say they only get £82.06 a week, that is once rent and council tax have been deducted.

Is it great no, but it is more than often quoted.

Let the debate begin!!

DG

zygurat789

£8113.94 is equivalent to an under 65 earning £8970 pa/ £172.50 pw /£4.3125 ph.
Well below national minimum wage

droopsnout

My Mum gets a straight widow's pension (roughly £120 a week, isn't it?) and that's it. Has had slightly too much in the bank, so qualifies for nothing else at all. Now that can't be right after a lifetime's hard work (until she was 63). It just has never paid to save for old age. Those who boozed, gambled, smoked and bingo'd it all away are rewarded by the State for their excesses.

When I had a short spell needing some support, I found it the very devil to get. Same for my daughter, who went to tribunals, etc., and had to appeal against decisions. In the end, they awarded her more than she was claiming for.

The system is too complicated, making it almost impossible for the staff to administer. And it doesn't always provide the help where it is genuinely needed or deserved, too often allocating the dosh to those who know how to play the system. Shades of Joey in "Bread".

By the way, DG, the fuel situation in France is much hyped. Yes, there are areas where there are closed stations, but nearly all the motorway service areas have stocks. In our area, there is fuel everywhere. Besides, it is supposed to be all over by the weekend. We'll see.

As for the French and their pensions protest, well, whatever my political thoughts on the matter, I can't help but admire people who stand up for what they believe in. Their passion contrasts sharply with so many Brits who simply accept all that is thrown at them without a murmur. So long as they get their fix of X-Factor and EastEnders, anyway. A daily dose of soma will keep the plebs quiet.

seven-day-weekend

I get £104 a week. This is a full State Pension plus a tiny bit of SERPs as I was opted out into the Local Government Pension Scheme. I would not be eligible for Pension Credit as my husband and I between us have over £200 a week.

donny-gal

The example I quoted was someone who has always spent every penny she got, and has lived off benefits for years. Long story I will not bore you with it.

I take it you have tried the entitledto website DS for your Mum but as say if she has 1p over £10k she gets "nowt" and it doesn't seem right at all. I totally agree a simplification process is needed.

We are both under retirement age and living off private pensions/savings. We would be entitled to a little council tax relief if we didn't have savings, until we reach OAP age, but wil just be taxed totally on anything else we get when we reach retirement age, so much for saving for our old age!

DG