Does anyone live on £1,000 per month?

Not enjoying work….health problems? Retire!
Before I took early retirement with just a work pension and 6 years to wait for state pension (grrr) I was very unsure.
I had some savings and could claim a lump sum as part of my pension.
I totted up all my standing orders, direct debits, subscriptions, commitments etc and firstly looked at everything I didn’t actually need.
I took the plunge. I cancelled everything that was unnecessary. Shopped at Aldi, became more energy conscious, bought books from charity shops, looked for bargains, sold tons of unwanted items on eBay.
After a year, I realised I had money to spare!
Over the next 5 years, I stopped being so frugal but never returned to the wasteful practices I had whilst working.
With price increases you need to think about inflation and need some savings to help out. However, once you get the state pension, you’ll feel rich!

I Live on just over £1000 quite comfortably. No mortgage, small car - not much petrol and really low insurance. I put away £100 a month for Christmas, birthdays and emergencies.
I know things are going up a bit but I don't feel too hard done by. Still treat myself now and again. I have a small inheritance due within the next few months but I can manage. And I'm happy!

We are living on the amount we will get when we retire , to make sure it’s doable .

I have lived well on the state pension plus pension guarantee for many years and manage to pay for help in house and garden. I eat very well. Also manage to buy presents for grandchildren and great grandchildren Never eat out.

I retired on I’ll health due to work and Mr B saw how much good it was doing me and decided he see if we could afford to retire at 60, did our sums and realised we could if we ere careful do it for 5 years until his pensions kicked in. Go for it I say, life is to short

I think it’s doable as long as you have money in the bank to cover any crises eg white goods breaking down, building work etc. I live on £1600 pm at the moment and that will at some point reduce to 1000 at some point.

i live on £240 every fortnight, i don't pay rent, just £25 per month on council tax, i have home insurance and my broad band/home telephone. i can just about do it but i would be in trouble if my washing machine or cooker needed to be replaced, i am lucky that my son is always there if i need something major but then i feel guilty for not being able to pay my own way, i have not been able to work for the last 10 years due to health problems. you should do what other people have said and try living on the £1000 for a month and see how it go's.

As a family of five we receive £1,200 pcm. Our rent is £600.
So yes definitely do’able.

Your health is the most important thing.I,and many others manage on that amount.I don't drive,and I think I would struggle to run a car if I could.But otherwise,I manage quite well.

It would be doable for me were it not for the optician and the dentist.

I'm sure some could and I'm sure some couldn't. Defining how much is enough depends on lots of things but if your job is making you ill the value of not doing it wiĺl be priceless.. Good luck for your future.

Those of you on low pension with no savings or small savings should apply for pension credit. Even if you only qualify for 1p a week it opens up so many other benefits and discounts.

I have never had £1000 a month to live on yet never considered myself poor. We never had enough to buy a house and renting got really expensive in the 70's. when being a council tenant got us called scroungers because we had repairs done at the taxpayers expense apparently but my husband worked hard on day and night shifts until he was laid of and we had to live on benefits. He went to away to work and never came back and full time work was hard to come by so I had four 4 part time jobs . When the children left I had to claim housing benefit but was managing on £60 a week for everything else when I retired aged 60 in 2009. I had expected to share my husbands pension but and not enough of my own contributions to reach the government assessment so have been awarded pension credit to top it up. I have never been abroad or learned to drive and I don't smoke , drink or eat out much. I live in a small bungalow with a beautiful view and am still able to enjoy my art and craft hobbies , walking and gardening. I manage to eat what I like and build up enough savings to cover any repairs or replacements of essentials I may need . My clothes last me year in year out, I watch freeview tv and read books from the library all on less than £700 a month.

You’re an inspiration Harrysgranny but how tough life has been for you.

If you will have a lump sum or savings to supplement your income you should be fine otherwise ‘treats could be limited. If you are under state retirement age would you be able to claim any non means-tested benefits? CAB would advise on that. Would your Dr. issue you with a medical certificate? At £1000 p/m you wouldn’t pay tax and may be entitled to a (small?) rebate at the end of the tax year.

I live on just £120 per week and manage ok, so £1000 per month for me would make me feel very rich indeed !

i live on £650 a month, i retired early due to ill health, another 18 months for my state pension

I am currently signed off sick and living on £410 a month after my rent is paid so yes its certainly possible to live on £1000 a month!

chance would be a fine thing.
fortunately i have my savings with which to pay bills. at the moment.
y'day bought some tea towels that i didn't actually need, for £2.50, and felt a bit remiss. but i liked the colour, so that has value too. also to put under window when it rains.

I don't think I could manage because council tax is £256 pcm. Add gas, electricity, water rates which are also high, TV licence, house insurance, fuel for car, mobile sim only contract, and TV entertainment package with Sky Sports and BT Sport's which is my main entertainment, and internet and before buying any food or pet food and grooming for my 2 girls, and charity donation, I think it would be gone. I don't think I am extravagant. I don't smoke, rarely drink, don't buy much new clothes, don't have expensive hobbies or eat out very often. I do like to give generous gifts to family though.

According to Which.com, a single person needs a retirement income of £12k to pay all essentials and £19k for a comfortable retirement.

So if you retire now, you should be able to get by and in a years’ time when you reach state pension, you should be able to put money aside for emergencies.

I will be retiring in a months’ time on my occupational pension and I just cant wait. Had to wait 7 years for my state pension though.

We are a couple and manage just over that amount. We run a car , I go to theatre , days out once a month. It depends what you want from life and what you have been used to

DH & I live on £617 a month, It was ok until all the price hikes now we are starting to struggle, will have to see how things go.

Do these very low sums people are quoting include benefits like pension credit (not cash, but things like council tax and rent paid)?

If not, it's not a like for like comparison, as the OP won't be eligible for these payments as she is not of pension age.

I get Pension Credit, - £3.90 per week!