How I live on a teacher's pension of £772 a month
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- **I've edited the title as I keep getting asked if this is my state pension. I don't get my state pension until I'm 67** Since downsizing and moving house 3 months ago, I made myself sit down and look at my new costs. I no longer have a pile of savings to bail me out so the serious business of making every penny work has begun in earnest!
owning your own house is a big plus
Stopped watching tv and using broadband . Just saved myself over £800 per year . Gone back to listening to music and reading books.
The secret to being frugal is not to care what anyone thinks. I live on my small NHS pension and my carers allowance. I live with my partner and grown up son, who can't afford to move out. I managed to pay the house off 5 years ago. I make do and mend, make my own clothes, cook from scratch and we grow a lot of veg. Todays job is making blackberry wine from blackberries we picked. I'm coming up for a year retired. Best thing I ever did even though leaving the safety net of employment was scary.
Brilliant comment! :-)
The North Koreans can teach us a lot about budgeting ,certain animals they find running around frogs, and things ,they find delicious ways to consume them..
The Philippinos can also teach us about budgeting,they collect all the waste food from restaurants and boil them up into a stew add a few spices et voila! tasty meals. Also they sell these meals from street vending positions...
Gave up TV in 1995. Have not missed it. Have lots of time to read, listen to music, garden, go for a walk, time to just sit and think. Currently in a holiday cottage with TV and am appalled by the absolute "carp" that is on there. It seems like every programme is about money in some way ( Flog it / Cash in the attic etc/ quizzes to win "big"), the ads are depressing (wills / illnesses / insurance / credit), the ads and programmes all seem to show a 6 figure lifestyle that most people would not be able to afford. Hubby said to me yesterday that it was really no wonder people were depressed if they consume a diet of this stuff day in and day out.
Totally agree. We did too. Same as you not missed it. Do reading, crafts, walking, etc but also use free catch up services (particularly in the winter). As long as it's not BBC iplayer all legal. We use ITV X a lot. Mostely - agree with you again - not modern, but older programmes such as Miss Marple.
@@brightsunshinyday I thoroughly agree with you. Same old programmes recycled day in day out. Plus ads about funeral plans. Can't wait to cheer people up with that!
And for me. Although there might still be something to be said for a non-commercial publicly-funded channel or 3 for those who are reliant. What I find annoying is all the programs whose creation I funded up until 2014, which I can no longer watch, through Iplayer
Totally agree about the ads being depressing. I can be watching a good programme then the doom and gloom ads come on. Funeral plans, illness, money etc. Who wants to be reminded about death every five minutes. They seem to be a fairly recent trend ie within the last ten years or so. I remember watching tv in the 70's, 80's and 90's and the ads were actually fun and enjoyable to watch. What has happened!
It was mentioned in the news recently that many people in the UK have decided to give up their TV licence, and just continue to watch 1 or 2 streaming services, or find free programs online. We cut our cable tv decades ago. All the best to you Ali and us all! ✨😊✨.
Your all doing brilliantly keep it it i retired 55 im now 63 and have no debts n a small pension of 550 per month .living within your means makes you feel good 😊❤❤❤
They key is being debt free when going into retirement. Things will be a whole lot easier, even on a small income.
Totally agree! :-)
Just stumbled on your channel. Great stuff.
I retired last year at 54.
I comfortably live on a monthly pension of just £431.
Yes £431 per month. I want for nothing because...........I already have everything I need.
I too have no mortgage (paid off) and I have no debts.
The secrets to a happy life is be frugal and don't just waste money and more importantly just be content with what you have.
Love this comment!! Thanks! 🙂
Totally agree. ❤
Agree 😊
Thought the retirement age was around 66
@@peterstorey393 You can retire whenever you like, you just might not get your pension yet. When you get your pension depends on your date of birth and when the law says you can claim state pensions. For me it's 67, might be earlier for some people who are a bit older than me
Well done. Once a teacher, always a teacher.
Lol, so true! :-)
I just found your channel and like you I’ve just downsized my house. Your budgeting is great and when you do get your state pension you’ll feel like a millionaire! Now I’m off to review my own budget because the house move was an expensive business, although going forward my monthly expenses will be much less. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Hi there! ❤ I found you today and subscribed. I am in Utah, USA. I sold my house a year ago and moved into a low income apartment building that was brand new. I wish that I had made enough off my house sale that I could buy some thing but that didn’t happen. I had debts to pay and still have debts, unfortunately. I am on Social Security and part-time income that I make from doing graphic design and painting pet portraits and other types of art. You are remarkable that you’re able to be so diligent about how you spend your money. I admire that.
I agree with comments about cancelling the life insurance. That's for partners and dependents, not adult kids who've moved out! Save the money for one-off expenses or use it for activities and enjoy your retirement. You've earned it! Leave them your house - that's more than enough. Thank you for sharing all this. I'm 62 and will have less than I'd hoped when I retire so it gives me a bit of hope. Being mortgage free is the key and I tried to make that happen but, the property market being what it is in London/SE, it won't be possible for a few years yet.
If you need elderly care in the future, won't the privatised nursing homes be taking your home to pay for your care, especially if you live to a very old age. They are extremely expensive.
@@marianhunt8899not even nursing homes, even care IN your own home - it’s bad. I am frustrated by comments and naivety around the thought you are living perfectly healthily until your heart stops - for many people and families this isn’t the reality.
@@marianhunt8899 Yes they will. Karen over at Prime of Midlife has just done an eye opening video on this.
@@marianhunt8899yes they will but you won't need that money because the home meets all your needs.
I seriously needed to hear you talk about money in retirement! Thankyou so very much
Gosh this is interesting! I’m still working with State Retirement still a few years away. I used my workplace pension to pay off the last of the mortgage on my small house. I’m in awe of you buying a month’s shopping for just over £100, it’s the one area I know I could do a lot more, my budgeting for shopping is non-existent and you’ve inspired me to sit down next weekend and make an old fashioned list!
I’ve had dogs all my life but when my last little terrier passed away I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford another dog (vets fees 😱), but if you’re doing it on £773, I must be able to do it on my State Pension when it comes 🤔
You have inspired me to look again at my finances - thank you!
You're welcome! Having a dog takes up a large chunk of money but living on my own she's company and security! I need never worry about attacks by delivery vans and pigeons 🙄🤣
You do a great job! I have just become a widow and have been cutting down on everything, so you have given me some hope that I will manage. Thank you.
@@jessiemacintosh6627 I'm so sorry for your loss. You can do it if you plan everything 🙂
I easily can manage on £40 a month for myself. I make everything myself especially for work which I'm there 5 days a week.
@@maxpom68what did you mean £40 on food ?
You are so fortunate in comparison to so many people.
The biggest problem when you are on a low income, is how you are going to cope in financial emergencies such as when things go wrong with maintaining your property.
You can't live in a home with a hole in the roof! 😱 😢.
In addition, dental care also costs too and can be highly expensive. Sadly, it's life's little surprises that can cause a major bump in the road no matter how much you downsize!🤷🏼♀️
@@WouldbeRenaissanceLady6926 I've said elsewhere in an absolute emergency that wasn't covered by house insurance I can sell my car or get a part time job. I'm lucky to have an NHS dentist. I have thought of every single eventuality, I haven't gone into this without years of research 🙂
I retired . I was so bored as like you I retired early. So I got a part time job and spent the money on projects in my home, nicer clothes holidays. I filled my days and evening.
Also why are you saving for money for your children! They will inherit your home one day. You brought them up and that costs money. Surely now is the time to spend your income on you and you alone.
As other people have commented, you are very brave to put all this information in the public domain Rebecca
Brave or daft given some of the comments!!! I'm certainly thinking about a few things people have said including the life insurance 🙂
With regards to paying insurance for your children. If they were my children the first thing they would say is mum don’t save for us you spend it on yourself. You brought us up to be independent and not dependent on you. Please free them of this continual spiral of parents feeling like they owe their children for the rest of their lives which they will feel they have to do. I’m constantly shocked at how adult children think their parents owe them a life and bail them out when they have spent their money foolishly
@@juliecarne7706 It was a policy I took out a few years ago when I had a small mortgage. I've just kept paying it even though the mortgage was paid off. It's something I am definitely reconsidering after all the comments here. Thanks! 🙂
I’m 56, work as few days as possible for clients in my small biz and am comfortable - however, I have good health, I wouldn’t bank on my children benefitting from the proceeds of my estate if that changes and I ever need care in my life that forces the pillaging of my assets which are currently ‘protected’ as much as they can be.
@@TenaciousP The cost of care issue is something I'm starting to think about and I'm taking on board a lot of comments here about life insurance and passing assets on to my kids
My dad got £90 a week and £90 a month private he owned our home and when he died he had £30 000 in the bank. He rarely bought clothes lived frugally and often won at the races as a punter! We can't complain he was 93.
Hi Ali very informative video. Like you I retired early and had to live on a very similar small works pension for a few years. I am now receiving state pension and this has made a big difference 😀 I have 4 dogs so this is a large expense for me but they are my family 🐶🥰
Ali I would reconsider the money fee to your vet as the flea and worming tablets can be bought on line with a prescription from your vet. Also as others have suggested I would ditch the life insurance as your family will inherit your property.
I am very happy with my life I have an allotment and a garden and my dogs I don’t know how I worked full time before.😂😂😂😂
I didn't explain the pet plan properly but it includes more than flea and worm treatment :-)
Just goes to show it is possible to have a comfortable retirement on a modest pension, well done. Too often people wait too long to retire, my advice to my friends and family has always been plan to retire as early as possible.
Thing is as long as you’re happy and have sanity. Well done you 👍🏻
Thanks for this Ali, and sorry for all the grief you've got for sharing your experience here, sadly this subject often brings out the worst in many people, be assured though that many other people will be very grateful and reassured by your honest insight !
To be content is a wonderful thing, hoping all goes well for you while you wait the OAP kicking in at 67 !
I was initially shocked at the response but now I just delete the nasty comments. People want a secret magic solution and they don't like it when I say it took me 14 years of hard work and planning to get to this stage!! :-)
Great vid. 👍 We've retired early, 5 & 7 years before any pension and are currently budgeting & getting rid of "stuff" as we are losing about a £800pm on our current lifestyle. Food? We've got that down to £30 per week with no processed food, good healthy food is pretty cheap & doesn't leave your body feeling hungry.
Yep cutting out the processed stuff does save money and it's better for you! Win win!! :-)
As your income is below the tax level, I would do the following to boost your income by £720 a year.
Even if you are not working and have no earned income, you can still contribute to a pension, such as a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), and receive tax relief. Here’s how it works: 1. Pension Contribution and Tax Relief:- You can contribute up to £2,880 per tax year into your pension, and the government will add basic rate tax relief (currently 20%), which means an extra £720 is added, making a total contribution of £3,600. 2. Drawing Upon the Pension in the Same Year: - Once the funds are in your pension, you can access them from age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028). You can take 25% of the pension pot tax-free, and the rest is subject to income tax ( in you case none)- There are no specific rules preventing you from drawing on the pension in the same year you make the contribution. 3. Repeating this in Subsequent Years: - You can continue to contribute £2,880 each tax year, receive tax relief, and withdraw.There are no limits on repeating this process annually, provided you stay within the contribution limits. Hope this helps!
Be careful what you wish for ... This may be supplemented by tax breaks now but it will definitely push you over the Tax limit when you retire meaning that all the taxes you save now will be given back to the government later !!!
😊
@@william_marshal Don't worry, I'll be making sure the government doesn't get my money!!
@@aliliveswellonless When you get your state pension you will be taxed on the private pension if the total takes you over the allowance. I have 3 very small pensions just earned when I changed jobs eg 3-4 yrs each.
I pay tax on it and I don't qualify for Pension credit either and I am not on any benefits at all.
My wife is on the old state pension but as a couple we are just over the couples allowance so we get nothing.
Whoever works out benefits etc are crafty.
We were supposed to retire within a month of each other and my wife was one of the first to get the womens retirement age raised by one year so all we had coming in was my pension. Fortunately that was low enough to qualify for pension credit for a year and then she got her state pension.
They soon take any benefits off you.
house insurance jumped out as being high, perhaps a comparison website, if not already used. Others have mentioned the £2880 pension tax break, worth £720net profit as a non taxpayer. Thanks for posting, inspiring and reassuring to us who don't have huge pension pots
@@petersimpson633 I thought that insurance was low, I think it's a lot harder to insure a flat in block that it is a standalone house. I have a 1 bed flat in Glasgow and I was paying £275 up until a year ago, now it practically doubled that!
Hello from Wales, I work part time and live of around £1000 a month. I also cancelled TV licence as watching only RUclips so it can be done.
I'm really going to give it some serious thought 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless I cancelled my TV licence almost a year ago and haven't watched the TV at all. Netflix £4.99 per month and RUclips keeps me going when I'm not working.
I may do the same!
Really sad to hear that people are cancelling their 5V licences. Once the BBC is killed off, it'll be a race to the bottom. No more Our Planet and the like. Not to mention all the wonderful radio programmers. Our TV and radio options will mirror the US....... and, believe me, you really, really do not want that.
@@seamus7054 I do the same 👍 The only thing I miss is Wimbledon on the BBC!
Ali, you make me feel better about money now as I see I could just about manage on my Pension, thank you 🙏
It’s the extras that take your money. Car maintenance costs, Christmas birthdays etc. Basic living expenses are easier to cover because they’re roughly the same every month I find.
Spot on!
Apologies if you do this already, but I find it useful to save on a monthly basis for expenses that are not payable monthly. Various ways to track this but I use a spreadsheet. So I save, say £50 per month, I add this to the balance of 'savings' and I note an amount against individual items.
Eg. £20 in September is added to the running total for 'Christmas' (now at £180 as I have been saving since January). Come December I know I have £240 to spend on Christmas.
Hope that makes sense, tricky to explain without pictures!
All the best.
@@sarahr6089 Yep that makes sense. I've got Christmas covered this year but will need to do something similar for next year 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless 👍 I have a lot of things on the spreadsheet that I don't pay out monthly (Car service, car insurance, MOT, road tax, holidays, dentist, home insurance). It really adds up 😕😂
Give up being a Christian then you don't have to do it. As for Birthday presents say you don't want one and you are not going to get any. The key is to be a strong individual and not be cohersed into things you don't or can't afford do. You earn a lot of respect.
Refreshing to see such a real and honest video on RUclips. I would say you are very comfortable financially indeed. The impending pension time bomb for tens of millions of adults is going to be horrendous. Over ten million without any pension at all, millions retiring with not even a fifth of what they actually need to live on. Lastly, millions more without their own home. I believe this time bomb may end up having a detrimental effect on us all.
I don't want to stray into politics but I think you're absolutely right. It's very worrying
Hi Ali, I am currently not working and have set myself a budget of £400pm. I have a fully paid off 1 bed flat on the outskirts of Glasgow, no pets, kids, car, TV or TV license (it was hard to give up the iplayer though), so I'm down to only CT, G&E, internet and mobile as DDs which is less than £200pm. Home insurance is paid annually and factor fees quarterly. I get a lot of food from olio or yellow sticker and try to walk everywhere where possible to keep my costs down. Luckily I volunteer in a cinema so that ends up being free entertainment which also has benefits that I can pass on to others as "bartering"tool, lol.
Brilliant! Now that a few folk are mentioning it I might rethink the tv license 🤔 I'll have a look and see what I actually watch on the iplayer
Couldn't do without my t.v.
@@janicesmith975 I know loads of people who couldn't but it's all about choice 🙂
What a good idea
@@aliliveswellonless I do miss being able to watch live TV though, (you can't watch ANY live TV, even on commercial channels), especially when it comes to things that bring the nation together like the Olympics or the World Cup (not so much Royal weddings or funerals), it was great to see the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow when I had a TV as it made me really proud to see my adopted city portrayed in such a great light.
Some of these comments make me sick. I feel quite angry!
The writers have clearly not listened to what Ali has said. She retired early so is not yet old enough for state pension. No state pension means no pension credit.
Unlike the negative commenters she's not saying "poor me". She's just saying how she manages, quite happily on a limited income, by spending her money on only the necessities, but also the things that make her happy eg her lovely dog and companion.
Many people nowadays fritter away money on things that in the end don't bring them satisfaction or happiness. She's not saying this is how you should live, just how she lives, and manages. Her budgeting ideas are obviously helpful to some of her subscribers.
Those of us in the 60 to 80 age group who own our own properties are fortunate. I don't agree with the term lucky! We didn't win our homes or get given them as a nice surprise! We worked f****** hard to pay for them. Many including myself went without holidays and other luxuries to pay the mortgage. So many older people paying rent now could have done the same. It's called prioritising!! It was so much easier to buy a house back then. I feel sorry for the younger generation. Only 3 out of 5 of my children are on the property ladder, and go without to pay their morgages.
Their are many government benefits available to older people who are genuinely poor.
Also Ali did say how she paid home and car insurance.
Well done Ali, good on ya, keep blogging!
I think this is honestly the best comment I've ever had!! You definitely understand what I'm saying :-) I've come to realise the negative commenters just don't want to hear about sensible advice like planning/hard work/budgeting/prioritising mortgage over holidays etc They want a magical secret to do what I'm doing and are pi$$ed off when they realise there isn't one!!
You have given me a lot of inspiration for my future
Personally I think pet insurance is a big rip off...if you read the small print of any policy, the dog is hardly covered for anything. Once i realised this, I stopped my monthly payments to the pet insurance company and put the same amount of money in a seperate saving account. When or if anything happened to my dog and I needed to take her to the vet, I used the money that I saved up. It soon added up and I never was in a position that I could not afford the vet bill.
I used to do this. I haven't renewed yet so will reconsider :-)
I agree! Many years ago, I had adopted a puppy who was about 2 months old. I had gotten him pet insurance, and he ended up with some parasitic ear infection. The pet insurance refused to pay for it saying it was "pre-existing". How is it pre-existing when he was 2 months old?!😅 I had also gotten the full coverage plan that was supposed to cover him being neutered. Insurance still tried to fight me on that! After that, I just got rid of the policy and started saving money on the side for his expenses.
Yes, unfortunately, insurance is a gamble in itself! I think a lot depends on your own attitude to risk. I think most policies are a waste of money but it depends on whether you want the peace of mind in case your pet requires surgery and rehabilitation costing thousands. Yes, the chances of that happening are low, but the impact if it does happen is high. It is very much a personal choice.
Our pet insurance costs a fortune. Our labrador is now 11 3/4 and very fit but he was very ill when he was 3 and the insurance was invaluable then even though we also had to pay a lot on top of what they paid out.
Pet insurance total ripoff save the money instead it NEVER covers anything when the time comes always want more £
Hi Ali, yes I agree it’s not about giving things up it’s about making adjustments and getting what you need at the best price. Hubby & I are in the process of selling our house to downsize and reduce our outgoings, hopefully I’ll be able to reduce my hours at work as I’m getting older and it’s getting harder for me to work full time now. Thanks for such an informative video, it’s always helpful to see where others reduce their outgoings and adapt accordingly. As my granny used to say, cut your cloth according to your means. Lots of love Ali ❤
Thanks for the lovely comment 🙂
Hi,love your video,I take my hat off to you.I think we can all learn something from this.Like you I downsized a couple of years ago .I had bereavement and retirement all with in two months.Downsized from a 3 bed to a 1 bed and downsized my car from a 4 wheel drive to a fiat 500.I am happy with my life, at 69 and a nice girl friend to go out with.
Lovely comment! :-)
Here in Australia, I gave up working 3 years ago. I did not have any pension fund that I paid into. I am now 70 years old. So, my government allows you to retire at age 67. A great deal of the population of course do have retirement funds. I get now a month $2,232.00 (Aus dollars) to live on. But, here's the catch! unless you own your own home, out of that pension you will be paying about $350 a week for some 1 bedroom to rent. Or, you may be lucky to have your name down on Public Housing a now about 12 years. Then it is about a 3rd of the rent. I was smart and put all my money into buying a home, with my then-husband. So my expenses are about half of my pension, and the rest is mine to save. We do have it very good in Australia and free health care. I was born in England, and moved to Australia in 1963 with my mother. I remember times of being homeless, but then my mother got a break, and we did ok.
I found this really useful as a comparison of how I could manage. I am returning to the UK after living 24 years abroad and will only have a state pension and some small employment pensions to manage on. I would say apart from basic utilities and not needing half of your expense requirements, makes me less concerned. Thank you.
I rent from a housing association, so outlay is relatively low. I have no additional obligation to pay for buildings insurance or routine maintenance and upgrades. I like where I live and have security of tenure, which gives me great peace of mind. I feel very fortunate in that regard. I have 4 years to go until State Pension kicks in, so am working part time (in this job 10 years) and have two modest occupational pensions which started paying out at age 60, so I'm comfortable currently. I can afford to go on holidays, keep a cat, run a car and go to cafes, etc. I've given a lot of thought to whether to retire early or keep working, and for now I think it gives me a feeling of normalisation and purpose. That may change, however! I was interested to see how you manage your finances on your current income - well done for sticking to your budget as much as you can. There will always be surprise expenses, but it sounds like you're as prepared as you can be.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your costs & expenses. We’re thinking of retiring early so it’s good to know other people can live well on a company pension.
You cope amazingly well, Ali, and I know from experience that it could be depressing surviving on such a small income. We are in a shared ownership bungalow so have to pay rent on 40% of it for life. Unless we have a windfall (unlikely) there is no option but to pay rent as we couldnt afford to buy a bungalow outright in our area and my hubby has health issues which mean stairs are difficult.
Thanks so much for going into incredible detail regarding your budget. We don't have pets and yet the breakdown you show is so helpful. Thanks Ali 👍
Angie x
Thanks! I do have concerns that long term living like this will become a slog. But for now I'm trying very hard to find solutions for future issues. I wish I had been able to afford a wee bungalow but they're like gold dust here and go for way over the asking price when they do go on sale. My stairs are steep but straight so I hope I'll be able to fit a stair lift in the future if needed! 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless I'm assuming your state pension will kick in sooner or later though, which means you'll me nearly a £1000 a month better off.
@@sheenamaclean8324 Hi Sheena! Unfortunately it will take her over the personal allowance so some tax will be payable. But yes, that will significantly improve things. Of course, the govt could change things in the next 9 years! 😀
@@sheenamaclean8324it's not 1k pm ?
@@juliafisher5844 I said nearly £1k, full state pension is £221pw or £957pm. And as Ali has 9 years before she gets her pension it might be £1k by then
this is really informative indeed, thank you
Really enjoying your videos Ali, they are so encouraging especially as I’m in a similar situation and trying to stretch my “limited means” as far as possible! Thank you ☺️
You're very welcome. I think it's important to see older ladies doing what we do and remind younger ones to plan ahead 🙂
Very much enjoy your upbeat, positive vlog.
Thanks 🙂
Thank you for that break down of costs. It reassures me that I am not doing so bad, managing on as little as I do. I am on a no spend week - including groceries! I bought 4 pts of milk yesterday so that should last us most of the week. ( me +adult son who is here due to a messy break up which left him with nothing!). I may have to go and buy lettuce once the cabbage and lettuce here runs out for our lunchtime salads. Other than that I think we will manage ok. Trying to last until next Saturday - so I'm going to give sprouting some seeds a go - perhaps to use instead of lettuce????
I'm so sorry for your son. One of mine came back home for a wee while for similar reasons but is now happily married. You've just reminded me about sprouting seeds and growing microgreens as I have a ton of unused seeds from this year. Highly nutritious and free! Thanks 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless In the Pacific NW region of the US some people grow lettuce in outside planters. The weather is good enough for these easy-grow plants. Your latitude is cooler than here, more like Canada, so perhaps the hardier greens such as kale, chives, etc. would do well.
Tbh, I’ve always found it easier to work than to budget!
Thank you, you are so organised, I wish you well and God Bless ❤❤❤
Interesting video Ali. Thanks for explaining how you go about allocating your income as it stands at the moment. Also for being so kind as to explain the position re pension credit/ state pension with such patience.
One thing that might be a good topic for a video is how you deal with celebratory events eg family birthdays/ festive season etc. as I don’t think you had a category for that, unless it comes under socialising maybe? These events could involve Money Mondays and Foodie Fridays as there’s often a bit of both cost and food involved.
I hope you continue with your channel, I do enjoy your blog but it’s nice to see and hear you as well.
Thanks! Those are great ideas for future videos. I'm realising this channel is taking up a lot more time than I thought!!! 🙂
I use coconut oil on my cats for flea treatment and a flea comb, I would not use a toxic treatment especially monthly and you can bath a dog
Love your mind set. You have exercised choices which I think makes all the difference.
Thanks, it's all about choices 🙂
Luna looks to have everything she needs too and appears very happy and comfortable. Thank you for an interesting video. Best wishes to you and Luna :)
Thanks! 🙂
Look at phone/internet costs when contract is up for renewal. We pay £35 p/m for super fast broadband. There's really cheap SIM card deals for less than £5 p/m with good data packages if your package currently includes a mobile. You can go pay as you go.
Having not seen your channel before, when you referenced Lunar i was imagining small fluffy dog. What a surprise i had Lunar is massive and gorgeous. 😂
Lol! Yes Luna is a huge 30kg/5 stone monster :-)
I agree with the comment about cancelling your life insurance. You own two properties, the one you live in and the one your son lives in, that is their inheritance.
Yes that was a brilliant suggestion 🙂
This short video has inspired me to take another look at my outgoings.....I'm living on a combination of a Teacher's Pension, Carer's allowance and Savings while I wait for the time I get my state pension. I really must be more vigilant about my avoidable outgoings!
got Rid of TV in 2018 after my Husband died been living on ESA up until last week when it ended i am 66 today 2:9:24
i will get a Small inherited pension of Just over £75 will receive monthly
waiting on hearing from pension credit ❤
I got rid of my tv about 5 years ago when it broke and I never replaced it 🙂
You won't get person credit if you get full state pension
@@juliafisher5844 so sad wrong 😢
Thanks for sharing! Just a thought, for my dog I used to buy the flea treatment pipettes as single items from eBay, and I think you might find it cheaper than what you are paying your vet.
I should have clarified that the pet plan also includes other things like one vet appt, nurse check ups and some vaccinations as well🙂
If you feed your dog the BARF diet ,you will not need vet visits, medication or the suffering of dental cleaning, cavities etc .Cooked processed dog and cat food will slowly poison them.
Hi Ali. Thank you so much for sharing this breakdown. I think when you live alone, it’s hard to know whether there is anything more one can do to reduce costs as people will rarely share their financial position so this is very kind of you to do so. That’s very interesting that you pay water bills within your council tax in Scotland. Do you have council tax bands there as we do in England? Also, your car. Can I ask please roughly how many lines you do each month and are you doing more or less that you did before you moved or had a previous non hybrid car? I really worry about the ongoing increasing costs these days and that my little pension, like yours, will never keep up. I’ve 6 years and 4 months until state pension age…if that’s not means tested by then or withdrawn completely. I hope we are fortunate enough to still receive a state pension in 7 years time and to help us through our older age. Given like me, you have to draw on what savings you have too for other costs, how do you stop yourself worrying that your savings will run out? LOVING THE RESTFUL PHOTO OF LUNA! Those naughty delivery vans Luna, my little girls do not like them either. 🐾🐾💕
I'm so happy this is useful for people. I do watch channels of people who have retired but if they're a couple they usually have double the income. I'm bearing all these costs on my own. Yes we have council tax bands in Scotland and you get 25% for being a single adult. My car is a Honda Jazz. My mileage has always been very low as I worked close to where I lived. It's now 4yo and has done 9,000 miles!!! I walk a lot and as Stirling is very compact I don't need to travel far to do anything. Can't wait to get my free bus pass at 60!! I do worry about my savings running out. I really only have enough left to cover the 2 upcoming insurance renewals and the odd bit of DIY essentials. So I'm going to try really hard to put a small amount away each month so it adds up. In a worst case scenario I would sell the car or get a part time job (def not teaching!!) 🙂
@@paulaevans2555 the water and sewage charges aren't actually included in the
CT but they are billed at the same time because Scottish Water is a Nationalised not a Privatised company.
I am single, own house, old banger car, don’t drink or smoke. I need £900 to survive. However, if something goes wrong or needs a repair that’s the terrifying bit. Plumber 100 ph etc. boiler replacement £4k. Service my car and pushbikes. Don’t have tv licence, no life assurance, just energy, food, ctax, w rates , internet etc. I eat pretty awfully but cook my own not take aways etc and £900 is my minimum, having worked for 50 yrs
What upsets me as oap is why do we have to scrape to live
@@volt8684 Totally agree!
Most of Europe and Canada and USA can get their state pensions at 62. We have to wait a whole 5 years more. It’s adding insult to injury.
I would be interested to see your budget. Not from a judgement stance, just curious why you need £900 minimum if you own your own home and don't have the outgoings that you mentioned. I am in a similar position in that I am single, own home. old car and don't drink and smoke. Wonder why the difference between my minimum and yours is all. Either way, take credit that you are a strong person with a good constitution that can manage on a low budget. Best wishes.
It's the big items that worry me too.
Hi Ali 👋 new subscriber. Loving the channel.
Brilliant that you are so positive and grateful for your somewhat limited lifestyle. You could consider using Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth instead of flea treatments which can cause cancer and killed one of my cats years ago before I knew the risks and blinded a friend’s dog! Flea treatment is rarely necessary particularly in winter.
I comb my pets daily,with a flea comb and rub a little DE into their fur and never have a problem. Also DE half a teaspoon or so occasionally in food takes care of parasites and probiotics should not be necessary unless antibiotics have been given. I use oregano oil for myself and dog if necessary,it is much safer and a natural antibiotic, nothing beats it for a tooth abscess!
There is an animal rescue in California called Wolf - Creek - Ranch - Organics with plenty of information on DE which is literally “dirt” cheap and has many uses. Namaste 🙏
Very encouraging and positive. Thankyou.
Thanks! :-)
Lovely video! I'm 45 and currently done 27 years at my work place I'm planning on retiring in 20 years time at the age of 65. I'm gonna have to survive 3 years with no state pension that's what's worrying me. I've started a life time isa at 40 and have set up and AVC on my work pension. I'm planning to retire on £110,000 thousand.
You can do it!
Are you planning to retire on £110K to cover the period before state pension eligibility or will the £110K be your full retirement fund for the rest of your life (excluding state pension)?
@@Afrinaturality I'm not sure what you mean by £110K???
@@aliliveswellonless ☺️ Oh, I was responding to @hardcorealienpg
Great greetings from Ukraine. Very informative
I’m 67 and get the state pension and work part time as a support worker 64 hours a month to top it up this allows me to go on Holliday a lot and get Botox lol I refuse to to let my age stop me living a decent life and having a better standard of life. Of course I’d rather not work but don’t have any pensions
I totally agree with you, i’m about to get my state pension but i’m still going to work part time, pays holidays, hair nails etc, i refuse to go into later years scrimping and scraping, my job also keeps me fit, so it’s a win win for me🥰
Thank-you Ali that helps I'm paying rent 😢
Paying a mortgage or rent once I'd retired was something I knew I couldn't realistically afford so made plans back when I was newly divorced and in my mid 40s. I'd still be working well into my 60s if that was the case as I wouldn't qualify for any benefits until I'm 67 and getting my state pension. I'm glad this video was useful 🙂
Hiya!
Your channel was recommended to me & have subscribed as it's right up my street! ❤
Ask for your NI record of payments. You may have years where shortfall payments can be made by you to increase your state pension. You have until April 2025 to do this.
Yep I've done this 🙂
My pension is £60.62p a month. Missed out on the State pension thing, because they moved the goal posts. Now having to find work to survive... I live in a van and hooking-up to the electric is very expensive, therefore, not looking forward to the Great British winter weather.
Definitely ditch the life insurance!! You need that extra payment money for yourself (and Luna) now. Don't save just for someone else.
You can ask your children if they want to take over the payments for life insurance as they are the ones who will benefit from it.
I retired recently, first thing to go was the car which I no longer needed for work, I don’t care about impressing anyone, I could afford one if I wished and could spend my days looking at it sat in the drive, waste of money.
I know I won't be replacing it but need it just now to support family members :-)
Hi sorry can’t find me previous comment I live near Glasgow and have three mobile broadband unlimited, which works well works for tv with chrome cast, on a month to month contract 12 month contract are cheaper and it costs me £25 a month, I buy my phones off Amazon I need dual sim and large memory but not much else. I use Lebara £4.50 a month unlimited calls 5 gig data. I know all our requirements are different but just thought I would let you know. We have been retired over twenty years and have learned a lot along the way. Wishing you all the best, realise you do not want to go through all the hoops that claiming benefit involves, I am also an ex civil servant Just read about your council tax policy oh well what can be added.
I will definitely be looking into a new internet/phone provider next year. I was stuck with a Vodafone contract for various reasons. I have looked into the benefits but don't qualify as I 'chose' to retire even though there was some ill health involved. But it's all good :-)
A very frank and interesting video, Ali, and shows that with careful thought, you can thrive on a low income. Though I find that what can derail the most carefully planned budget is those unexpected costs - breakdowns, repairs etc. I would try to set aside some money each month into a contingency fund (plus ditch the life insurance).
Many people asking about your state pension so it might be worth while in your next video explaining that you don’t yet qualify for one.
Thanks! Yes it's unplanned events that I'm still working out how I'll cover. I have explained in previous videos about my age and the state pension and answered that question many many times here! But yep I'll explain in my next video :-)
The problem with keeping to cheaper budget food is they invariably have rubbish ultra processed ingredients and pesticide sprays.
So you save now but potentially pay with your health later on.
I eat a non processed diet and cook from scratch every day for this exact reason. There are little to no ultra processed foods in my kitchen. I aim for 85% non UPF. I'm a huge fan of Chris Van Tulleken's work on this
That's not true. Branded food is high in added chemicals , hence the cost. The raw ingredients are the same in non branded food, but without the crap.
Wow I must review my spending. My supermarket shop is £350 a month and dog food (2 dogs) including treats is £90 I don’t insure my dogs anymore they are 10 and 11 years old and of course no vet fees as they don’t need vaccinations every year (it’s a money spinner for vets!). Car insurance has gone up to ridiculous prices 😢 Well done 👏🏼
With pension credits and boosts such as free boilers and paid for council tax those on pension credits are really getting much more than that base figure.
With pension credit should be an income of more than 11000 pounds. Must have savings
@@CarolandDaveteachers get a lump sum on retirement.
@@BoninBrighton as did I ex nurse so why spout rubbish…sorry but not as poor as made out then
@@CarolandDave she’s not spouting ‘rubbish’ she’s offering a useful monthly breakdown for others. Also the lump sum is her only fall back for large expenses: house maintenance replacing the car etc in the coming 25 years.
Thanks Ali for you positive attitude and honesty about your finances. I find living on a small income quite wears me down, since health meant I had to stop working early. I find it easier to include those annual expenses like insurances in my monthly budget, to save for them on that basis over the year. Also, here in England some essential service providers have social tariffs for things like phone/broadband, which I discovered accidentally when seeking a cheaper deal. Not sure if the same applies in Scotland, but it might be worth asking.
A few folk have mentioned this. I didn't know about it but will def look into it now :-)
Wow .. that's news to me .. which broadband provider has social tariff please?
@@juliafisher5844I'm on BT social tariff and pay £20 a month for broadband.
@@juliafisher5844 BT British Telecom
Interesting. Very brave of you to be so honest! I had to Google Stirling since I've never heard of it before and wow! Such a cute town! Well, the parts I found on Google maps at least.😁 I went to Edinburgh one summer many years ago and worked, but never went outside the city. Always wanted to go back to Scotland and see more!
To have a paid off house must be such a relief. I'm my 40s and never got into the "house ladder" (don't know the proper term) and so we rent. Renting here in Sweden is good. We have a large flat 5 bedrooms and pay £720 in rent wich is quite fantastic for Sweden. I like renting for the ease, but of course I will never own a house in the end. Wich few people in my generation will, since the house prices have been very high for a long time. I've been on sick-leave for stress relatwd diseases for a long time and I don't think I will come back to a normal work life. I was a nurse wich isn't the best job for a stressed soul. I worry about my pension, it will be super low but then again I have lived on very small income from time to time. See you next video!😊
Stirling is very historic and beautiful! I'm being honest because I think we need to be more open about what happens when you retire. This retirement isn't the one I thought I would have when I was in my 20s/30s/40s. But life happens and you need to be proactive 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless: Thank you - yes
Thank you for sharing. I am hoping to go flexi retirement at 60 and work part time. ❤
Good luck! :-)
I am dreading retirement. In fact I have decided I will not be 'retiring' and will keep my little job trading CFDs going.
At 6:45 you have given a snapshot of a budget.
I have one question:
(i) Your three pensions are private pensions. Are you drawing the state pension? (I think not. I don't think you look 66.)
The budget shows 'car tax', what of car insurance? Answered at 10:24. December payment.
I wrote this at 3:09 so I will continue to view in case this is made clear before submitting.
Notes: The water was part of the old Rates which the same in England before the Community Charge.
Very well done on the downsizing.
My mother, 87, has a council tax demand of £2500 or £250 per month (10 month payoff).
The house is in Band E and London.
The cost of living in Britain has not just jumped, it has increased markedly from 2020.
Local and national government costs have spiralled upward with many (England) councils on the verge of insolvency. Labour, will have no choice but to allow them all to increase the Council tax by 10%.
I will (hopefully) be able to finance a house purchase with my private pensions somewhere in the midlands to a house which is much better laid out; downstairs lavatory and a bedroom with an en-suite.
The London house will need a £300k renovation to bring up to standard and I will let it out.
Not sure any of this is worthwhile doing.
Were we still part of the EU I would happily emigrate to somewhere much more pensioner-friendly than the UK with better weather and commute back to the UK for healthcare.
[Edit] Various typos having written it during the wee hours.
Brilliant comment and thank you for watching to the end to see if I answered your questions! It seems many people didn't. I've still got 9 years until I get my state pension. Renting out a property isn't straightforward with many hidden costs and obligations. That's why I'm not counting on that money yet. It would be nice to move somewhere more pensioner friendly and warmer!! 🙂
£109 is really good for council tax, especially as it includes water x
unfortunatly most of us cant live on the state pension and even a very small private pension, my rent is £645 a month alone council tax is £198 a month , on top of that i have gas electric, food cat food ,water tv licence , broadband car tax ins and m o t, and petrol once a month clothes as and when i can afford , i do not have anything spare to have a social life ie meals or pubs ect, i just have an odd trip out for a walk in country obviously im not getting any younger and i will have to pack up driving , but money from that will go on to rent rises and council tax rises for next decade ,so it wont make me better off but my point is not all can live on these basic pensions, its the lowest in the whole eu and its taxed , the cold benefits taken off most of us, and they are angry of the mps using tax payers money to heat their homes thats on an income of £90 000 plus this is just appalling, the gas and electric are going up and its all for making profit, its nothing to do with sale price ,they could keep prices down most will have to choose to eat or keep warm , this government has no empathy for us old and its clear these companies dont either ,we are just a burden and are now going to take everything off us ie free bus passes free medicine , free dentist treatment and more and most will die n debt and poverty or most will be pushed back into working but that wont benefit them has tax will hit harder still to be taken off them most will probably sit in candle light or torch light ,if no money to have electric on , it should not have to be though, i might put my xmas tree up early as lights on tree will be cheaper to run or hang tree lights round the house instead of having lamp or ceiling lights on , most will be forced into having duvets or blankets hats, coats on to keep warm even in bed but they could still die of cold i live in a stone house , its bitter in winter, you can see your breath we all should be able to live and enjoy our final years but what bit we have is now going to be taken off us , its not even my fault i could not save towards old age other than through my stamps and working for council to have money put in a council pension we had low wages ,but bringing up two kids on my own on rubbish wages was taken up for their needs not mine ,i feel now why did i bother working hard , i should have claimed benefits that most did all but me ,i had my pride i had dignity i had it drilled into me by my father that it was my responsibility to provide for my kids myself ,not the state .for their needs if i couldnt its failure , we have but one life and it should be an easy pass through , but its really hard and others make it so hard thats got money , running our country , all dictators really ,telling us what we got to do but they do opposite ie partying in lock down forcing jabs on us proven not to be safe or didnt work , all we can do is plod on budget as always do our best i believe in karma those who inflict pain or other it comes around to them in the end
I think your comment explains the terrible plight of pensioners so eloquently. Thanks for sharing and I wish that there was something that could be done. I agree karma will come to those who truly deserve it. Take care xxx
@@grahamcook9289 I don't rent
@lindasmith8068 fortunately people are waking up to what’s going on,but still so many are asleep.
The cat is old I'm not ridding it .as to broadband I bank on line, and other ,and has to car, it's my means of independence to visit my grandkids, to far away to use buses that would take up a whole day to get there and back, that's not reliable as in my car it's half a day, and TV is to unwind as I do not go pubs or clubs ect ,it's my means to a social life and re me not buying my own house ,well I could not afford after my divorce, that my ex husbands solicitor pushed it's sale to split assets shares, but not able get a mortgage re my jobs so ended up renting ,not all are to blame from life choices it's pushed on us in my case my husband broke my family unit up ,by having an affair thinking I'd share him but I should not have to explain that to you , not all can get it perfect like some others ,but one thing in my favour I worked to provide for my kids on my own.and that is what mattered to me okay , punctuation is admitted to your satisfaction,
@@grahamcook9289 typical male ,picking or finding faults on others ,because they do not like to be put on their place yes most times I do if I'm not on my phone as keyboards bigger ,or I'm not stressed i do apologise your majesty ,for my not being perfect to your satisfaction and my off day of lack of care and thought into my comment , due to concern of my others health in the family , it's my way of saying to you , its not important right now to me ,but clearly to you , enjoy your day
Your video is a breath of fresh air, real numbers and all. Possibly 1/12th of the insurance costs could be used as a place holder within the upper those fixed costs? On the other hand, it appears you're using a sinking fund method to handle those annual expenses.
Yes, I have a small fund for these things and am now rethinking the tv license and life insurance 🙂
Another good video, Ali.
Thanks! 🙂
Here Band b council tax is £184.00 Water is £31.13. p/mth. (Small terraced house)
It really does depend on where you live, sadly.
@@aliliveswellonless Very true
What about your state pension? You also have your rental income too so more than you said.
I don't get my state pension until I'm 67 and I explain why I'm not living on/using the rental income yet
Well done Ali.. nice to get saving ideas from someone else, I notice however you haven't mentioned house insurance or car insurance ? or a car contingency plan.. MOT, Service, tyres etc.. these are other costs which total up.. well done on your food shopping costs as this is where I struggle...
I have mentioned these elsewhere and have them covered :-)
I have been reading the comments where you mention you also have rental income as well as a local government pension. I think you should be more transparent about the total income amount because this video can mislead people into thinking you only have £772 a month and feeling fine about it. Apology if I misunderstood.
At the moment I genuinely only have that money available. The rental income is being held as I don't know yet how much tax etc I'll have to pay on it until next year. After April 2025 I'm hoping to be able to put that money into savings for all the ongoing costs not covered in the monthly outgoings 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless as I expected it is almost impossible to live without worry on £772 a month. nowadays people do need more than that amount to make ends meet. i can see now why you seem at ease, as having that additional income source does help.
@@grahamcook9289 That's good advice. I just haven't looked into all yet (it's only been 3 months) so have just put the income aside and I'm not touching it until I understand how the tax implications work. I'm doing it to support a family member so it's not a profit making scheme for me. And sorry I think I answered someone else's rent question on your answer. These comments are all over the place!!! 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless You can get 5% interest by putting your savings in a Trading 212 Cash ISA. Its flexible and tax free so you can take it out or put it in anytime (max 20k a year).
Exactly I am incensed at the bare faced lie if the title!!! Wow....
I buy pets at home essentials 24pk of dog food which costs just over £13 per month. Also a 10kg bag of mixer biscuit which costs about £10 and lasts forever.
you should apply for pension credit, even with some saving you might be entitled ,if you only get £1.00 it opens other doors ,dental,optician heating allowance etc.
I'm not eligible as I've 'chosen' to retire early and am still too young! 🤣
@@aliliveswellonless Could you be entitled to any state benefits because of your low income? Have you asked Citizens Advice?
@@1verysteveperry I'm not entitled to anything because I 'chose' to retire early. I did a lot of research and got advice before I did it 🙂
Good on you.retiring early will affect your state pension.
Not by much, I did my research and know the exact figures
Thats very interesting, thanks for sharing xx
You're very welcome 🙂
, I'd be interested to know what sort of a food shop you do .
I buy a big bag of basmati rice, then it's chicken, prawns,onions, tomatoes, I usually buy ots of spices, and always have eggs. Maybe two bottles of wine a week and some chocolate. I haven't sat down and calculated how much I spend on food, toiletries and cleaning products, I'm guessing about £60 a monthes. I love to have a challenge 😂😆😂
I absolutely take my hat off to you because it seems like you are living below the poverty line in essence. You don't want to get a part time job or anything to give you contingency money or anything? Thankyou for sharing
Yes I'll happily get a wee part time job if needed. I'm only 3 months into this so still working it all out 🙂
@aliliveswellonless As you are only 3 months in, things may not fully settle until the next tax year. Did you inform the tax office that you had retired? PAYE meant even though I only worked for the first month of the tax year in which I retired, the system trickle-fed my tax refund throughout the rest of the year and I could get no explanation. That may explain why your payment varies each month, though I appreciate things may work differently in Scotland.
I have been living well on a similar (only slightly larger) amount for over 5 years now, paying those one-off bills out of savings. Haven't been scrimping, still run a car, TV licence etc etc just being careful, and my state pension kicks-in at the end of this year. There is always Pension Credit if you qualify, and that opens the door to other assistance too (apparently!). Keep up the good work - it shows what can be done!
Yes housing and associated costs is the one to get rid of. We aren't on any benefits so still have council tax etc.
If I could go back app 10 yrs I would also get solar with batteries and go off grid.
Yes there is no obligation to have mains electricity in a normal house and you can request to be disconnected.
The solar would charge up batteries NOT be connected to the grid. Any power would be mine. Electricity is going to be a big cost in the future. Gas is reasonable at the moment so if you have it keep it for cooking otherwise you could run an air fryer on the batteries along with small fridge etc.
Main thing is to keep a roof over your head and the other stuff you can get by as the camping world has improved a lot over the years and with the power stations it's feasible to have a lot of the home comforts.
This was really interesting!
I decided to do a comparison and converted £ to Australian $.
The Australian equivalent is $1510 per month and I was very surprised to discover that I could easily live on that amount if I was single.
We don't need a tv license in Australia and I don't have life insurance, home internet, streaming service's or a pet.
My monthly fixed expenses, including food would be $945 or £483.
Brilliant! This is exactly why I'm doing this, to make people think about it. Great comment!! :-)
I used to live in Stirling, beautiful place, but expensive
Thats interesting thanks for sharing. Makes me feel more positive about my 435843 finances. Presumably you will get a state pension at 67? Then your income will double and you will feel rich!
You're welcome! Yes I'll get my state pension when I'm 67. And yep I'll feel rich!! 🙂
But remember you will pay tax on your two pensions!
What's 435.... pension ?
Can I ask why the life insurance?
The reason I’m asking is because I’ve recently listened to a thought provoking Audiobook titled ‘Die with Zero’ by Bill Perkins, and made me realise all the wealth accumulation I was suffering for now, won’t help my children at the end of my life as they’d probably need an extra hand earlier in their lives when buying their first house.
I et 100 pounds more. I moved to Morocco where I don't touch my pension for months on end!!It's warm and safe.My last electricity bill was 19 pounds for the month I own the house paid cash! I feel safer here than the yuk!
Wow, that sounds lovely 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless It's a lovely country had the house for 20 years lived here six! Taxi to town 8km 60pence!!!
@@franktiesteel7868I’m originally from South Africa and Africa is in my soul. I visited Marrakesh Morocco many years ago and was fascinated by life there.
I’ve been living in UK for 22 years and I’m keen to retire to warmer climates when the time comes.
Are you able to provide any information and do you have any videos of where you live in Morocco and daily life in the area you live?
@@Paulie44Hi I'm not too hot on the lap top !I live in Essaouira on the Atlantic coast there is lots of info on line.It's a world heritae site and very beautiful!
@@franktiesteel7868 same, I don’t come across well on camera and besides I’m an old git now 😃
I saw you mentioned that you receive £100 more per month from your pension, but as a matter of interest, what would an average monthly outgoings look like for Essaouria Morocco please?
How old is your Luna? My sweetpea is six. She is a papillon and she has definite opinions about everything. I live on social security and a tiny pension. Oh, yeah, I have a husband under foot, also. We live frugally here in the USA. Everything goes up except our income. Life is what life is. We don’t have the health care system that other countries do but we have our Medicare and military retirement insurance for our supplemental, which puts us a little better off than a lot of other retirees. ❤❤❤
Luna is just one so in that completely goofy daft stage! There's a wee papillon lives near me and is so cute! 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless Sweetpea is the boss here. We just ordered her a dog stroller, as we take her with most of the time. I think she will be more comfortable in that than a store cart on a blanket. She loves Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot and several other stores that we use. I guess we have spoiled her just a bit.
what about house . building insurance....boiler insurance....what do you do if something like a washing machine breaks...my pension certainly wont cover it....a vet bill for my cat was almost £ 2000.....he was only 10 but insurance wouldn't cover treatment.....I had to borrow and sell so much to cover it....life as a pensioner sucks.....I dont go out or spend anything on myself....my meals are cheap and to be honest my house is often cold....
Yep all these things scare me, a lot!! I have a wee bit of money leftover from my house sale but it's less than £1,000 now. I still have pet insurance and boiler insurance to set up. I'm under no illusion that this will be tough and frugal fatigue is a real thing. But for now I'm being positive 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless
CN you grow food in the garden?
I grow what I can, but my garden is small. I have raspberry bushes, tomatoes in a very small greenhouse.
And I have grown French runner beans.i have a new plum tree in a large pot, so next year I'm hoping for fruit.