Paddling like a swan, to stay afloat financially

My Council tax bill for the new year dropped through my letter box ten minutes ago.
Up by £16 monthly.
Water up by £9 a month.
Expecting house insurance next month, everyone tells me they have had rises.
Even the TV licence is going up along with stamps.
Where will it end and frankly I am lucky that I can absorb those rises but know lots who can’t.

My mother used to be a “landlady” to young police officers. One at a time, until they set themselves up. That brought in a good income.

I considered downsizing my house after my children left home and I now live on my own. But I love my house and want to be able to have children and grandchildren to stay, so the house had to earn its keep!

I now let my first floor area out as a sort of Airbnb, but not through that company, just do it myself on my own website and Facebook. I only do it over the late spring/summer/early autumn around my family's visits, so have the house to myself the rest of the year. It works really well for me and brings in a bit of income.

Could be worth a try?

tanith

Have you shopped around for your insurances or challenged any rises it usually leads to at least a reduction on the rise. If you live alone a water meter can reduce your water bill significantly. It’s not easy on a fixed income.

Our house and contents insurance went up by around 30%.
We have not made a claim, they refused to budge and other companies have put up their charges too.

re those who would have liked savings Petra. They came through lots of hard work, two jobs, minimal spending and an eye to the future of fixed income. No-one ever really thinks about the consequential money hit when a spouse dies but pension reduces drastically

Like others, I was born in the austerity generation, knew how to stretch a penny. Perhaps I should have spent it and become dependent on the state for future care. That is not the way I am, my savings will pay for me, so the younger generation do not have to

I did my council tax calculation just now, 17% of my monthly income, granted I get single person discount and pay over 10 months. That is roughly a sixth

I am not penniless and will not be looking for work but I am prudent and looking ahead, how to safeguard my savings

I also do online surveys for Opinium Research. Interesting subjects, only takes 10-15 minutes and you get paid, not a lot, but it does mount up.

Have you thought of getting a part time job? Here we’ve had a vacancy for a parish clerk for the past year - the pay is £12 an hour, one meeting every couple of months and balancing the accounts, averaging a few hours a week. That’s just an example.

Government help for anyone of pension age, who is eligible and needs it.

I think most people nowadays, dont hesitate much to claim. Not like it used to be.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/

Once again today I will be volunteering with 3 young mothers who paddle to stay afloat financially every month.
But they are used to it, they’ve done it all their married lives as did their parents.
As does my step daughter who works full time but still needs help.
All of them would love to have savings to full back on.

I think I agree with everything Whitewavemark2 has written.

I have written before on here, those on good work pensions, are increasingly faring better than those who are not, amongst the people I know.

I can see a time when those who do not have good work pensions, will need to apply to the government for help with their finances.

I have just posted on the Budget thread about my budget, but I absolutely agree that the cost of living is now having a real bite.

I think that people managed for the first year, but now the accumulation of added expense is really beginning to show.

Do think that post war folk have memory resource to draw on, and can remember how life was lived when things were much tighter. Post war austerity, stands us in good stead.

But saying that, I have quite a lot of pensioner friends of widely varied income - from the wealthy (huge houses, staff help, wide-flung holidays at the drop of a hat etc) to those existing on a single pension with top-up. And my goodness the difference in their lives is like different planets. I do think that those on a single pension, are in real poverty and no amount of cutting back will not make an iota of difference.

Perhaps you should work out hos much income you have available after all bills paid and see if you can keep in budget.
I agree everything is going up and up.

Urms, yes I will downsize in the future, depends where my dd goes, I think dd1 and dd2 will settle close by each other as they share their active lifestyles, always supporting each other. It could be Wales and tbh that would suit me down to the ground, having spent most of my married life in s Wales. I have to tread water for a while longer

The costs of moving and and buying again plus settling-in money. Could well be 20k plus 10-30k

tanith

Have you shopped around for your insurances or challenged any rises it usually leads to at least a reduction on the rise. If you live alone a water meter can reduce your water bill significantly. It’s not easy on a fixed income.

I have done all that, apart from selling my hand made items Tanith, I won`t sell those but I help my ACs and DGC out by also making for them. I know I am doing ok because of my savings cushion but many are not coping. However seeing that cushion deflate is scary for the future

I do have my name down for an allotment and was very successful growing my own veg in past years. That is a chink of light. We all need chinks of light right now

Also I don`t need to buy any more hobby stuff, thanks to stashing over the last decades, better than money in the bank

I am going to turn my thermostats down by 0.5 of a degree, I won`t notice the difference in comfort but the £££ add up. Also I made sure that the input, into my large water butts, is connected. They are now full and I think I have 1000 litres of rainwater held in two water butts, also I have made my garden as drought proof as possible. Therefore less tap water use

Would you consider downsizing again? That would release a sizeable chunk of money, plus you’d save on heating your large house. Maybe move to a town centre with excellent transport so a car would not be essential. Buses, train (especially with a seniors travel pass) costs buttons or is free and an occasional taxi costs far less than annual car maintenance plus tax, insurance etc.

Hi karmalady yes I usually donate all my unwanted clothes and household bits also but I'm thinking of joining Vinted there's a lady on Youtube and she explained how it works re postage and payment and it seemed quite easy to do. Also if you are skilled at making things ie knitting, crochet, sewing have a look at selling on Etsy.

Yes everything has gone up in price hasn't it.

The cost of living crisis seems to be neverending

Have you shopped around for your insurances or challenged any rises it usually leads to at least a reduction on the rise. If you live alone a water meter can reduce your water bill significantly. It’s not easy on a fixed income.

Perhaps I should sell my down-sized things but right now I treat them as charitable donations