Peace of Mind

I don’t think you are alone in admitting this Marg75. What a gloomy time for us all. Tonight I hear the Labour Party are not ruling out stopping pensioners bus passes. Where is it going to end? May be prescriptions next.

They just do not care about us at all. Work hard, pay your taxes, raise the next generation. In our later years there is a whole army of retired people doing invaluable voluntary work. None of that matters to them. We should be valued and cherished, not being robbed of everything.

You are very lucky to have each other. Xx

Thank you Lisaangel10.

Sorry you feel so vulnerable, Marg75.

Personally I feel the opposite because I think that the last government were dishonest and created an illusion that things were improving whilst our social institutions were crumbling and the gap between rich and poor was growing.

So I actually felt more insecure before this government gained control. Now I know things are tight but there is an honesty that had been missing since before the pandemic.

I’m hoping that we are heading for solvency as a nation.

Marg75 - I think we have all got the same worries. I am divorced and live on my own. As I.’ve got older, I worry about my health more than anything. I don’t worry too much about what the Government is doing. Never was interested in politics.
I’m sure everything’s going to be fine - as my dear mother used to say …”just cut your coat according to your cloth” , or something similar. Thats what we will all have to do.
So cheer up Marg75 - I’m sure someone will come along with more constructive advice

What I’d like to know is: if the Labour Party succeed in filling the £22bn hole in the economy, will some of the cuts be reversed? Will we all then be better off?

Ali23

Sorry you feel so vulnerable, Marg75.

Personally I feel the opposite because I think that the last government were dishonest and created an illusion that things were improving whilst our social institutions were crumbling and the gap between rich and poor was growing.

So I actually felt more insecure before this government gained control. Now I know things are tight but there is an honesty that had been missing since before the pandemic.

I’m hoping that we are heading for solvency as a nation.

I agree with you, Ali. I am much more hopeful for the future now. I think that there is a deliberate and concerted effort from the Tory press to demonise Starmer and try to bring Labour down. So much of what is being said is not based on fact. We don't know what the budget will hold, but there have been no announcements about council tax, bus passes, prescriptions, inheritance tax or any of the things people are worrying about. Everything is preceded with 'I have heard that. . .', but many people are not stopping to wonder where the things they've heard have come from, and why the rumours have been started.

We know that there are hard times ahead - we've been told that 'tough decisions' will be made. But we don't know what they will be (which is why I dislike cliches in politics), so it makes more sense to wait and see. It might be that we will be a bit worse off financially, but if in return we get a functioning NHS, better housing and less crime, it will be worth it.

Starmer has already brought in a ban on no-fault evictions, commissioned a review into the NHS to feed into a ten year plan of reforms, and cracked down on rioters - all steps in the right direction, surely? I think there is more cause for hope than despair, which is not to belittle your concerns, Marg. Can you try to boil your worries down to more precise ones rather than generalised anxiety about the future, and think about what exactly you think might happen? I find that helps me when I'm worried, as often the truth is that under the fear is nothing very specific.

Ali23 I agree.
I'm much less pessimistic now!

Just hope Trump doesn't get in now ' as that would undoubtedly have widespread negative effects.

I agree too.

There has been some quite nasty scaremongering on GN on things that have not happened, just suppositions.

what *Doodledog" said

I think that there is a deliberate and concerted effort from the Tory press to demonise Starmer and try to bring Labour down. So much of what is being said is not based on fact. We don't know what the budget will hold, but there have been no announcements about council tax, bus passes, prescriptions, inheritance tax or any of the things people are worrying about. Everything is preceded with 'I have heard that. . .', but many people are not stopping to wonder where the things they've heard have come from, and why the rumours have been started

Thanks for your replies, I understand where you are all coming from. Nevertheless I still have serious doubts about our political future. Only time will tell obviously. Meanwhile it is going to be a very cold miserable winter for a lot of pensioners which takes me back to what I said originally about piece of mind financially which all of us deserve at this time of life.

I am sorry the current political change, with its inevitable tough decisions, is worrying you, Marg75, but I hope you can find some peace of mind from the positive responses to your post.

What a tonic it has been to read those posts! Yesterday, I found myself becoming increasingly upset by the constant criticism of our new government in the morning programmes. It’s sad that much of the populace has a short memory and the media is indeed largely to blame.

Thank you to those who've contributed to making this an optimistic thread! Just what is needed. 😀

It seems to be the right wing press who are circulating all these rumours.

So, I will wait for the budget before I start worrying.

I m nearly 80 so similar to you Ali but my thinking is the opposite I m not very well off but I am a bit above the thresh hold so will lose my winter payment and who knows what else BUT I m willing to go along with all that because I believe it will improve the country on the whole eventually
I feel much safer under a grown up prime minister than the last government
I hate the right wing press for the fear it whips up amongst all the country but particularly elderly folks and a lot of it is totally untrue and with A1 I wonder how much is even written by a non human

Sorry that bane should have been Marge in the first line I was agreeing with you Ali

Oh for an edit button 🙄

Name not bloody bane …..I m going

Marg75

Thanks for your replies, I understand where you are all coming from. Nevertheless I still have serious doubts about our political future. Only time will tell obviously. Meanwhile it is going to be a very cold miserable winter for a lot of pensioners which takes me back to what I said originally about piece of mind financially which all of us deserve at this time of life.

I agree totally, my peace of mind went as soon as RR opened her mouth and as soon as Starmer started to act like a dictator. I too was doing fine financially, keeping my head above water, albeit drawing on savings from time to time as a widow

I get peace of mind if I remain in my bubble of hobbies, exercise and so on. I hardly ever listen to the news now and certainly take no notice of the everyday people on GN who think the sun shines out of labours a**e and starmers backside.

Marg, I understand how you feel. It’s nothing to do with unnecessary scare mongering by the Tories, its happened, hitting finances and letting people out of prison without a plan, just leave them to it. Its very scary esoecually when ekderly abd for the vulnerable,
Im afraid it’s what weve got and we have to live with it. Unfair as it is. Have you found out if you can claim any benefits, if you ring Age Concern its a free phone number and they can advise, if you get into difficulties ring your energy supplier. Now is the time if you were careful and have saving, you have to use them, if its really hard and there's always equity release if you own your home but again take advice. We all want to pass what we struggled for to our children but it may not be possible, we don't know. Remember everything passes and this will too. The most they have is five years.

To all who are worried about bills this coming winter.
Check Pension Credit eligibility.
Ask your energy supplier for support, better tariffs- maybe they have a fund for more vulnerable clients?
Check with your Local Authority. They have access to Hardship Funds- under various names- which are not always well publicised. Often they are not generally accessible except through advice agencies etc. but money is there for those who need it.

Marg, I’m pleased you are feeling a bit happier (or were until the doom mongers arrived to take away your peace of mind . Whilst getting financial ducks in a row is always good advice, take heart from this little ditty, think about who is feeding the dark thoughts and don’t let idle speculation bring you down:

Never trouble trouble 

until trouble troubles you,

for you only make your trouble

‘double trouble’ when you do.
And the trouble like a bubble 

that you’re troubling about
may be nothing but a zero

with its rim rubbed out.

I don't know what has happened with this labour government. They should have had some much higher cap when it came to the winter fuel cap. I do understand that people with very good incomes may not need it and this will be reflected in the amount of income tax they pay. If people do pay a good amount of income tax, then I do understand them not being eligible. But why target the middle and lower income pensioners.?

Personally I felt far more vulnerable under the previous government who had stripped the country's coffers to line their own pockets.
I think we now have to face up to the reality of what happened when people ignored project 'fear' and voted for Brexit. Most of the voters who said they didn't mind the bit of hardship that Brexit would bring are now beginning to experience that hardship.
All I can say is this is what people voted for and it is now going to be a very bumpy ride indeed.
When you are feeling sorry for yourself think about the young people who cannot afford to leave home due to ridiculous rents, poor wages and working conditions, and even if they move out they cannot afford to save for a mortgage deposit or even dream of owning their own home. The idea that they might ever be able to retire with a state pension is laughable.
Yes, we are all feeling vulnerable but at least we can say as David Cameron did before he gave into the pressure of holding a referendum; 'we're all in it together.'

What has happened with this Labour government is easy to understand. They have to make up for years of corruption and incompetence, and this will not be easy for anyone.

I agree that there will be some older people who will struggle with the WFP withdrawal, and the timing and delivery were atrocious, but KS is governing the whole country - not just pensioners - and it is not just pensioners who are poor. Money that would have gone to older people who can afford cruises and champagne can (and should) be diverted to children who are going to school hungry. I don’t understand how anyone can argue otherwise.

Means-testing is always iniquitous. Always. But there may be announcements of measures in the budget that will help those who needed the payment but won’t get it - I hope so.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I must say I too am quite frightened for the future. It may be part of getting older and being on my own. I miss DH more than ever.
My meagre savings are dwindling away and water is still dripping through the ceiling every time it rains.
I fear that politicians of every colour, cannot imagine what its like to be old.
We have no way of increasing our income and the prices of everything have rocketed.
Surely the bus passes will stay. There would be a riot, starting with me, if they are touched!

There has been no growth in the economy for 2 months in a row now and the £22bn black hole which Reeves and Starmer blame for all their decisions has not been helped by their rush to pay the junior doctors and train workers their wage demands. I reluctantly stuck with the Tories at the last election because I couldn't bring myself to vote for Labour. As a pensioner born in 1948 I get the lower State pension only and I am concerned what is next for people like me. Reeves needs to insist that the likes of Amazon pay their full tax bill and not be patting herself on the back because they have given £8b for apprenticeships. A sop to Cerberus if ever I saw one.

Cabbie21

To all who are worried about bills this coming winter.
Check Pension Credit eligibility.
Ask your energy supplier for support, better tariffs- maybe they have a fund for more vulnerable clients?
Check with your Local Authority. They have access to Hardship Funds- under various names- which are not always well publicised. Often they are not generally accessible except through advice agencies etc. but money is there for those who need it.

Good suggestions. Can I add that there are grants for upping your home’s insulation and in some cases more efficient CH boilers.
There are scammers in this area, so only go through the Government’s official websites.