Anyone live on £900 a month?

Maggie, I do hope that you have someone you can talk this over with carefully. Even things that we like can be stressful, I think you need individual discussion to work out the right course for you.
I am sure that you are right to consider selling your house 'as is'. I wonder whether you could consider renting for awhile? It would of course, eat into your capital, but just for a few months, it enables you to look around, and spreads the stress of selling / buying.
You do seem to be using your 2 weeks wisely, considering how best to look after yourself. I also wonder if, having retired, you could take a part-time or casual job that uses your skills but doesn't put you under such stress.

Maggie it was my decision to move from my sprawling four bed house in the country to my terraced house in town that made living on my pension possible.

It was the leak in the roof that finally pushed me into the move!

Council tax, heating, petrol, food costs all plummeted by hundreds! And so did my anxiety level.

A move could be the answer?

Hello everyone! I’m new to Gransnet and live in Phoenix, Arizona (USA.) I have so enjoyed this site. I’m 60 years old, we have 3 adult children (ages 31, 27, and 24) and 2 grandsons, ages 3 & 1 (both have Autism.) I feel like I have friends across the pond who are going through a lot of similar things as I do....especially we women.

I did want to do a reply to Maggie about living on £900/month, you have £8,000 in savings, and if I’m understanding correctly you will be receiving additional pension monthly income in 2-1/2 years.
Your home is paid off, and yes your car will have costs involved. I’ve read all of the wonderful input from everyone.

Our mental health is crucial. There are always part-time ways to make money down-the-line if need be, with much less stress. Based on everything I’ve read on this thread, you could absolutely retire now. And do so with a light heart and sigh of relief.
One thing: I looked up PIP, and I think you have to apply for it BEFORE your actual pension age, in order to get it. Information is powerful, so I’d start checking into that now, regarding mental health benefits. You’ve done your due-diligence, and I think you’re fine to be done with work.
I would advise that you have some ideas written down on how you want to spend your time in your “new life.” That way you won’t be thrown completely off, with no longer having the routine you were accustomed to. Ideas: if you’re a gardener, buy a new plant or flower seeds to have ready before your last day of work, have an inexpensive journal and start writing in it when you give your notice at work...that way it’ll be continuity to keep up with after your work is done, have a planned tea-time with someone a few days after you’re done with work, so you have something to look forward to.
I hope this all made sense and helped.
By the way, I don’t know what things like “DH etc” mean. ?

Molly10 yes you’re right about work and up until recently I did view it as my safe place. So it’s not my work that’s really causing me such distress, rather I just can’t function well enough to work a lot of the time. And taking so much time off is adding to my distress because I don’t like the fact that it means more work for my hard-pressed colleagues.

I just keep seeing problems everywhere I look in the house; I got divorced about 13 years ago and since then have neglected the maintenance (it was our family home). It really is quite tatty and probably needs re-wiring, a complete new CH system and possibly work on the roof (not to mention the tired kitchen and bathroom). I long to be somewhere which is in a as good state of repair and which will need minimal upkeep. My house is in a desirable area and I believe would sell quite easily, despite its condition.

MaggieTulliver, having read your last post, I now agree with Molly10 that it might be rash for you to retire if it means spending more time in, and worrying about, your house. I think most of us had assumed you were wanting to get away from work, but as Molly says, it looks like it might be your safe space. I think her advice is good. Wishing you all the best, whatever you decide. .

Hi yes I retired early, another year to go before I get my state pension. Currently live on less than £900 per month, though do dip into savings if necessary. I can say happily I am glad I stopped work when I did, I feel much healthier and stress free. Yes some things I go without, but currently that’s no hardship due to all the COVID restrictions. Having time to do things like walking, reading, gardening etc without the need to rush is pure luxury.

Are you in a union? My union officer was a godsend when I had to retire due to ill health.

I live on £750 per month I’m on my own . Live in a two bed house no mortgage . I run a car and have a small social life play bowls swim and have a dog so walk everyday . I manage .

Yes it is possible. I have to manage on my state pension and nothing else which is just under £900 if you log everything. I know tech savvy people will do it on an excel spread sheet but I use a bill book I write all utilities and expected bills such as insurance on the left hand page and then household like shopping on the right. It may sound a faff but its so easy to look back over the months and see where the money went! and also what bills to expect. If I make a saving one month its either carried over or its treat money. It also helps if you have soup weeks amazing what you save.

MaggieTulliver - I feel for you and right up until your last post I was going to say it looks like you have it all worked out and just need reassurance to do it. Along with the good advice and pointers already mentioned it sounded like taking the plunge and leaving was for the best for your recovery.

My thoughts have changed now having read that you love your job and that is not what is affecting your mental health. It seems you are living in what is giving you concern. If you leave work, which sounds like it may be your safe place, you are putting yourself full-time in what concerns you most, the house and possible or imagined repairs needed.

I think it might be prudent to get estimates for the repair concerns you have. Maybe get one repair done at a time. As worrying and difficult as this can be you will feel much better as you realise that your concerns were maybe not as large as you thought.

Please try and take this step first before you make any rash decisions that could affect you more.

My thoughts are with you but you always know there are folks on here to help.

I have lived on under £900 a month for the last 5 years I have porridge and two slices of bread and butter with marmalade for breakfast, I always cook a good lunch with meat chicken potatoes and two veg or something with pasta the for my tea I have a very nice salad with some
cold meat and a slice of bread and butter and I also have 5 pieces of fruit a day and it does not have to break the bank.
I read that some parents cannot give their children breakfast to go to school I could feed a child breakfast for a week on £2.47

8K could be a lifeline if something breaks down and needs replacing, plus running a car is very expensive if that needs repairs.....can you cut down on car use where you live ? either by walking to the shops or taking a bus ? If rural, then you don't have that option of course. £900 is probably like the OP says, more than some have to live on ....but only you know how much your bills would mount up to each month. You cold ask Citizens advice about any benefits, and MIND the mental health charity, if they are aware of any benefits you could have ....even if it is only things like day clubs they will pick you up and take you to (when we are allowed out again that is !) ...walking is good for mental health, if there is somewhere you can safely walk to on your own, or where you know for instance, that there will be others around, i e dog walkers.....or a river to walk by ....even in town you can wander round the empty streets and get a takeaway coffee. You can also see if there are others in your position you can talk to sometimes ....it helps ! what about volunteering (when we can !) in a charity shop, animal refuge (animals need cuddles and kindness bless them) .....I am sure if you do some research you can find something to fill your days with that won't cost a fortune. Aldi for shopping, some lovely stuff in there... was surprised at what I found and Poundland for bits and pieces .....time to wander round what shops are open for what you need is also good and saves money from just going to your usual supermarket (oh and the reduced shelf in the supermarket is a good place ...find out what time it is filled !) I used to get off the bus in town when I was a single parent, stop by Tesco and would find lots of other NHS staff from my hospital there as well ....queuing up for the out of date today stuff ! It meant we could maybe have a steak or fresh chicken breast, veggies and even sometimes a cream cake for dinner at half the price ! Good luck ....

Hello
I believe that vampirequeen has given the best solution.
I had an industrial injury and never went back to my job (or drove a car) after it. I was on sick leave and paid 6 month full pay and then 6 months half pay. I was then sent to Occupational Health and put on retirement due to ill health. This gave me an enhanced pension at 61 instead of 65, so only 4 extra years to be enhanced by. This made it more viable to County (I had worked in the school for 21 years) as it was only 4 more years to increase it by.
You have some savings which could help out if you find the 6 months half pay tight financially.
Things which may be financially ok now may look different in 10 years time, so do everything to make life financially viable for the longer term too.
I assume that your job is what is affecting your mental health, hence the suggestion re full and half pay as well as Retirement Due to Ill Health.
I don't know about PIP but expect that others on this thread have given you good advice.
I have a DWP weekly payment for Industrial Injuries Ill Health. I had to go to quite a lot of assessments over a year/18 months but after that I no longer have any assessments to attend and have the money paid weekly. I just have to let them know if I improve but unfortunately I haven't; in fact I'm worse!
Take care of yourself and all the best for the future whatever you decide.

I retired from Teaching at 54 . I wanted to look after my mother who only lived nearby. It seemed like a longtime till I was 60 to receive my pension.
I was always a fan of Martin Lewis and with his help sorted outthebest deals for everything .
Good luck

Thank you for getting back to us Maggie.
I have found these replies interesting, and I am glad you find them helpful.
I have thought from previous posts that maybe you need to think about moving. If you do decide to retire, then you have a nice little hobby lined up, looking at places to live!

MaggieTulliver, do you have an organisation called Care and Repair (or similar title) in your area? They may be able to help you - like I said in my last post, contact your nearest housing advice centre - you should be able to find out online which one is nearest you.
The C &R organisation was set up with public funds as the thinking behind it is that a house is a resource for generations, not just the present owner, and keeping it in a fit condition benefits everybody, and the community too. It is well recognised that this issue is more of a problem for home owners as they get older.

Just read your post, TwiceAsNice. Forgive me if you already know all this, but if you become unable to work through ill health and your housing and other costs become too much, your nearest housing advice centre, citizens' advice, and the welfare benefits section of your local council's social services department should all be able to provide useful information. There will probably be a number of ways they will be able to help you boost your income/find somewhere affordable to live to meet any changed circumstances/ advise you on support / getting aids adaptations made to your home. If your health breaks down, get a GP referral to help you access health/housing/social services support. These organisations are supposed to work together these days!

I think tbh there’s only you that knows whether it’s doable or not really. We all lead different lives, ie: some have a car to maintain, some have pets, some have private health care to pay into, I think we are all so different, however I would say if you had no mortgage or rent to pay, and didn’t have a lavish lifestyle I would say it can de done. Good luck if you decide to retire. I retired a year ago at 67 and didn’t really want to at the time, I just wanted to reduce my hours, but they said no so retired. A year down the line and I’m so glad I did, you won’t regret it!

What a huge amount of helpful information - thank you so much everyone. I’m going to give this a lot of thought over the next 2 weeks (I’m signed off sick). I do like my job and that’s not what’s making me ill but I simply can’t function at work when my MH is bad ( which is very often now).

One of the things that’s making me so ill is my house. It’s a lovely Edwardian terrace which I’ve lived in for almost 20 years but it needs quite a lot of work and I’m literally terrified of anything going wrong. I currently have a problem with my central heating which might involve taking up floorboards to lay new pipes. This has made me literally sick with worry. If I could find a little new build not too far away, I’d snap it up.

i appreciate there are 2 of us but my pension is less than £900 as I still have 3 years to go till my state pension. I think it depends a lot on your lifestyle . Do you smoke? do you drink? do you drive a car? or have expensive hobbies? Do you want holidays and if so what type? how often? I am very tight with money and find that I can still save money but I have friends that still work and spend too much money on what I would call unnecessary items. One spends over £100 on a face cream! others have over 50 pairs of shoes.

After reading this thread I have to wonder what i am missing out on.. I have never had £900 a month in my life and never thought of myself as poor! I earned only £80 a week before retiring and have lived in rented housing all my life. I now have a state pension which gives me just over £600 a month and other benefitsso I have never felt so well off before. I have never felt the need to pay for tv, or broadband, I still vidoes, DVDs, tapes and cds. Akso enjoy art and creative writing, reading, walking and gardening, . I love making things including soft furnishings and also knit and make my own jewellery and cards. I never find time to be bored or miserable>I have never been abroad and have had few holidays in the last 20years as I have two cats for company. I live in a lovely part of north Yorkshire and my son is close by and take sme shopping twice a week so I help him to keep his ancient car on the road. To be content with what you have.. is the key to a happy life. I have never thought much about money - after all in real terms it has no value-- exept what humanity decides to place upon it.

Yes. I live on that. I’m very careful and I don’t buy new clothes often! I’m glad I retired young. My health is not good x

Nannan2

To all of you who 'scrape by' on 900 a mth, many have much less to live on, and no way of improving that after one or two years-Many do- AND with children or other family to feed. its starting to sound on here like a band of 'one- up manship'-with your 'home ownerships,and 'private pensions '- i dislike this attitude.I may just stick to the lighter threads in future.

I get a little more, BUT my council are charging me £200 a WEEK for the basic necessity of having a wash, so with that and a mortgage which I am now struggling with and having to sell, I have no money to eat and heat or look after my constant companions who have been very important to me having been locked in for a year!

They require me to evidence I used extra water/heating/washing powder/drying costs in the winter etc - so next time my colostomy bag leaks I will be sending them the evidence in the post!! Ba****ds

Not sure if this would apply to you - I've got power of attorney for a relative who has her state pension and a small work pension of £260. This took her up to about £910 a month. Until she went in to a care home last year she was getting a small pension credit top up as well. I can't remember how much. I'm assuming that £910 must have been considered below the amount required when her income was topped up.

If you have a spare room in your home and can find the right person - maybe through friends/family/neighbours etc. - you can earn up to £7, 500 per year tax free through the Rent a Room scheme. You won't be able to set repairs and maintenance costs against tax though, and you may have to increase your home insurance premiums.

Also, because the accommodation you would be offering is not self contained and is your home, the person would not have tenancy rights. He/she would be a licensee and if things did not work out, you would be able to get rid of them quickly and with little difficulty.

if you still have a mortgage, you may need to inform the mortgage provider.
If you rent your home, you can still do this with the permission of the owner of the property.