How much do I need to live on

I don't know if anyone has answered the question about your bank balance before retiring: I would aim for £10,000. You could maybe manage on less, but bear in mind that you could easily live for another 20 years at least, this is what you might need during the next two decades: All white goods to be replaced at least once; possibly double glazing replaced; new bed; new sofa/ chair; new tv twice, new boiler, shower room if you don't have one; replacement (electric) car; at least one decent holiday, more if possible. This assumes that you will be able to manage on your state pension and not dip into your savings. It may sound a bleak prospect, sadly it is much harder to manage on one income, which is why I went back to work (part time) three years ago at 68, and was given a new fridge/freezer as my 70th birthday present by one of my sons! In the future, you may decide to downsize but in most areas a bungalow is no cheaper than a house. As said before, you will be able to fall back on the equity in the house if all else fails - I have friends who are deliberately 'spending their childrens' inheritance' and are living it up by going on several cruises a year!

I also have friends who manage quite well on their basic pension, (beans on toast is cheap and nutritious!) and you could grow some fruit and vegetables. You might manage a cheap holiday occasionally - depending on where you live, there are some very reasonably priced UK coach trips to be had, or there are house swap schemes, and pet sitting holidays are another option.
Before you give up work, make sure that you have some good quality timeless clothes eg a warm coat, smart outfit, comfortable shoes, etc that will last for years.

I know it's somewhere in the future this but think about your will.
Change any bank accounts including joint accounts debit cards, credit cards or insurance of any kind which were in your husbands name.

Yes, Once is operating in England, or at least in parts of it. We used it in Huddersfield in September after Dad died, and it saved us so much hassle.

Even after previewing I missed a typo. That should be CTB

Don't forget that getting a pension is a change of circumstances and you have to specifically tell the council tax office to make sure that your CRB continues. The same applies to all benefits.

Chelseababy, yes it's a superb service, I live in Scotland and we apparently rolled it out first, I'm not sure if it's on the rest of the U.K. yet but it was so helpful. It was the registrar that told me about it when I went to register his death .

Has anyone mentioned Tell Us Once? This saves having to inform every different government depart mentioned about your husband's death.

So sorry for your sad loss of your husband. Could your daughter spare a few days to visit and help you out? Or a relative or family friend? While you’re feeling so lost and sad, it would be nice to have someone beside you to help you through this. Financial security is so important.

Don't worry, Totallylost, this is a perfectly logical forum to use for discussing these problems. The Bereavement one would do just as well, or Chat, but there are no 'rules' as far as I can see, and sometimes things end up in surprising places. Don't think anyone will be muttering about where you've put this thread!

It seems like the perfect forum to me, Totallylost - you started by asking about money, and where bereavement is involved, legal issues and money issues tend to overlap a lot of the time - that's how it's felt dealing with my dad's estate, anyway, and I imagine you are finding the same.

I agree Mamacaz, it's so awful, esp when you get your husbands name removed , it's like letting go of another piece and expunging them frm your life , when in reality all you want to do is hold on t them. I suppose really we should be having this conversation on a different forum and not legal and money but I wasn't sure where t start, I hope I've not been inappropriate and bent the rules too much, I've gone from being such a confident outgoing person to questioning everything I do , because the one I would have had this conversation with isn't here . Best wishes to your Mum I genuinely know what she's going through.

It's a minefield, isn't it, and at a time when you are probably already an emotional wreck!
In my case, it was the loss of my dad last month that opened my eyes to how difficult it is for a bereaved partner. I have had to deal with a lot of it on my mum's behalf, and it is so stressful. Even though my dad had done all he could to simplify things before his death - they were probably about as 'simple' as it gets - we were still overwhelmed with it all.

Even now, writing this, I have remembered that we have not yet informed the phone, water or energy suppliers of his death. I keep putting it off in case it turns out not to be a simple matter of replacing my dad's name with Mum's on the accounts!

Thanks Mamacaz, I hadn't thought of that until the renewal came through a couple of weeks ago then I suddenly realised I had to let them know as well.......just so many things. I've only got one spare room loopy and I do tend to get quite a few visitors because of where I live so I don't think it would work.

Totally lost.
Do you have a spare room? Would you think about having a lodger?

Totallylost. Please check your house insurance straight away to make sure it was in both your names, because if it is only in your late husband's name, you will no longer be covered.
I am so sorry for what you are going through

Why dont you book anappointment with Age UK or CAB i am sure they would be really helpful in assisting you to sort out your finances. When i worked fulltime i had several occasions to contact Age UK on behalf of people on benefits and they were excellent at navigating the sometimes complex application forms that need to be filled in correctly. They also knew exactly which benefit linked to another. It is worth making a phone call.Good Luck

Thanks once again, such helpful people. Jeannie99 that list is great several things I hadn't thought of eg house insurance. There's definitely no income from my DHs private pension that went when he went, but we both always knew that would happen. There's no longer a bereavement benefit or widows pension, what happens instead is some of my DHs state pension is commuted to me. So my income from the pension without working is £637 per 4 weeks which means I'm just over the amount to claim pension credits . I do get 25% discount on council tax .

I am so sorry for your loss and hope the months get easier for you as time passes.
This is what I would do as far as budgeting is.
Make a list of all your monthly outgoing which need to be paid, base this on last years bills adding a little on for price rises,set up direct debits this will make it easier for you.
Food
Gas
Electric
General rates
Water rates
mortgage or rent
Insurance buildings, contents,
Car, road tax
Car insurance
Car repairs
Car breakdown cover
Petrol for car
Phone
TV license
House maintenance
Clothes
Hair
Holidays
Some of the above may not apply
List your income, pensions, occupation, state, other pensions, interest from savings.
Compare your income to your expenditure and cut your cloth to balance
Don't forget to check out the current accounts which pay interest TSB at the moment pay 3% up to £1500 which might help.
You should get a % of your husbands occupational pension this does seem normal and I think you may get a higher pension from the state,
Apply for the 25% reduction on your rates.
Phone state pensions they will be able to advice on what you can get.
Also ask the tax office if you have anything also to consider now you are on your own.
Citizens advice are very helpful also.
Hope this helps

Totallylost. DWP .no matter what your savings, or other income, as a widow you will get an increase.
Be prepared, not a pleasant task, to send a copy of DH death certificate.
The council for your reduced council tax. They are sympathetic in these instances..
If your husband was in a private pension scheme contact the provider they too may need a death certificate.
Did your husband have a will.? If so you need to get in touch with a solicitor
Like you I did not know which way to turn How would I cope..I did and so will you.

So Sorry for your loss.
Take some gentle time out. When you feel up to it work out your incomings and outgoings.
Could Citizen's Advice help? When my DH died I got a bereavement allowance for one year - its purpose is to help with the transition of going from two wages to one. It was a tremendous help at the time.

Hi I know the stress of sorting things out, so sorry for your loss. I helped my mum get pension credits after my father died and fuel payments, you may be entitled to extra help, don't suffer alone, talk to someone before it becomes a problem, age U.K. Are brilliant

Did your husband belong to any 'organisation'.....if so, it might be worth seeing if they have someone who assists 'the one left behind' in this situation. Do take one day at a time, please, for your own peace of mind. My sister-in-law found herself in you situation in March this year and, even though I see her twice a week and helped her re basic finance planning, she is only just getting her head around things. We had: mortgage, council tax, (rent if applicable), house insurances, private pension, car insurance, car tax, car repairs, petrol/diesel costs, gas, electricity, tv, telephone, Internet, be aware of any insurance contracts that may be due to run out, food, birthday and Christmas presents, going out, clothes, hair.... I know the last few may sound odd but they are part of living/life. Then we put against each one, exact costs where possible and approximate costs on the others. This was then added up and set against her income. The difference was a bonus! Bless you, don't be too hard on yourself if you forget ... You've just received a huge emotional shock. Take care of yourself. X

I have a computer program which I use daily and have done for the past 15 years. It used to be Microsoft Money but now one called Accountz. You put in all of your recurring expenses and log your incomings and outgoings. It calculates what you have at any time. I can see what is coming out and when and it can project annual forecasts.
Since using this and you have to be very disciplined to make sure that you log everything in, including the occasional tenner from the cash machine.....it has saved me thousands of pounds. I’ve never been overspent and can budget well...i thoroughly recommend this type of program.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's still a very short time since your husband died. It took six months to sort out my late DH's finances after he died, even though he didn't have much. I would make sure everything is organised there first (any tax refund, life insurance claim etc.) so you are certain what you have before future financial planning. It's best not to make long term plans/changes at such an early stage of bereavement.

I only have a state pension, like yourself, so still work a bit. My house is mortgage free but I still find I need about £1,000 a month to be comfortable as I live in an expensive area. That is made up of just over £600 pension, working (casual hours) about £270 and the rest comes from some intermittent shares dividend, taking paid surveys online and small premium bond and pub quiz wins etc. I do have substantial savings though so can dip into those for a holiday, house improvements and so on. I am careful with my money so don't spend extravagantly and pay most bills by DD monthly and a few in one go annually.

If you have under £16,000 in savings I believe you can get additional help if your income falls below a certain amount ( not sure what it is). You may find yourself better off just working p/t as your pension and income will be added together for tax purposes with the first £11,500 tax free. You won't pay National Insurance if you are pensionable age.