Monthly income

The other thing you could do is rent a room out or Air BnB. Cash you get from a lodger is usually not taxable.

So many good suggestions, just try to treat it as a challenge and make it a positive experience rather than getting down hearted.

I have a council allotment which costs about thirty pounds a year for 265 square metres. I bought fruit trees and bushes from aldi, which I planted around the edges, which provides all the fruit I eat, berries can be frozen to go on winter porridge, and I make a years worth of jams and chutneys. A whole load of veg can be grown from cheap seed germinated on windowcills. It's hard work, but I can have heaps of lovely fresh veg, companionship of other allotment holders, also trade surplus veg and seeds with other folks on site.

If your health and mobility permit could you have a bicycle instead of a car? If you have a car get rid of it if it's not an absolute priority.

Have you a hobby that an earn you a few pounds?
My neighbour sews together others peoples finished knitted jumpers for a small charge. Also knits lovely xmas decorations and cushion covers!

Also if you live in town, take a rucksack to do your shopping, you will not spend too much if you have to carry it all on your back, back home. Or a shopping trolley thingy?

Cheap moisturiser can be upgraded by the addition of a squeeze of evening primrose oil from a broken open capsule.

Rent a room as the previous poster suggested might be a goer. I did once rent to a female student in term time, which was lovely, and I missed her when she went.

Good luck, and stay positive. Me and my fella live on about seventeen thousand a year. We have three hounds, he has a Harley, and we have a 'dog cottage' once a year out of season for a holiday with the hounds.

If I was left in your situation hopefull (God forbid) the first thing I would do is to go to the CAB to find out what benefits, reductions etc I was entitled to. As others have said.
Do you still live in the same house? If so you really need to downsize.
I grew up with the principle that you can live on next to nothing if you have to. Though these days expected standards have changed a lot.
Much good advice on here - Bon courage .

This is such an interesting thread and has given me food for thought. I'm on my own with a daughter at uni. My mortgage is paid off and I work four days a week. I suppose I'm comfortably off on £21k gross annually and have recently taken out a pension from my previous job which gives me some more (which I'm saving). I'd always thought I was careful with money but I can see now that I'm over-spending, It's not that I buy lots of clothes and want the latest gadgets or go on holiday, but somehow the money isn't going far enough.

I shop at Sainsbury's and am amazed at the cost of my weekly food bill (just for me most of the time). I know I should go to Aldi or Lidl - it would mean a longer drive but it would be worth it. I want to reduce my work hours (I'm very stressed by my job in the NHS) and reading this thread has inspired me to do so. I could easily cope with the reduction in salary if I'm more careful with how I spend. I wish you all the best OP. It's not easy adjusting after a break-up (been there) but it can help you re-evaluate and build a life for yourself that's really rewarding.

MaggieTulliver Also be aware that if you choose to work less hours your NI contributions and tax will be less per month and you will benefit from less travelling costs so overall you will not be too far away from your original income tbh.

Someone up thread made an excellent point....it depends if you are mortgage/rent free or not. If you already own your home then you can live very frugally.

I do recommend doing a budget, there is a fantastic one called You Need A Budget, YNAB for short. I started the free trial and let it drop, I'm going to pay for it as I'm just so hopeless with money.

I've just had to put lots of shopping back because I didn't have enough in my account. I'm 62 and have always been bad with money but it scared me tonight - I hadn't been keeping an eye on my bank account at all this month and it's all gone Pension isn't in until 5 June.

I understand you very much, seven months ago I lost my job because of covid. I still submit applications to different companies, but everywhere they fire people and do not hire new employees.

Another very old thread resurrected, there have been a few of these lately.

Zombie thread. Spam posting to follow

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Blossoming

Zombie thread. Spam posting to follow

Yep- right again!