Fed up of being skint!

As a home owner with a small mortgage, I too found that I struggled to manage on my pension. I am widowed.
I took out a lifetime mortgage against my property which enabled me to pay off my existing mortgage and gave me a nice lump sum as well which generously subsidises my income. As a skint homeowner, many of us are asset rich and cash poor.
I know that I am eroding my son’s inheritance, but he was totally in favour of the decision.
Why should I have financial worries just so that I can leave him a house was his stance.
If I need care in the future, the house will have to be sold to pay for it, so might as well be free of financial worries now.
Best decision for me, that’s for sure.

Sorry to read this. Like many others have said double check and see if there's any money or help you are entitled to. Definitely think about a water meter if you haven't got one, we moved a few years ago into a house with one and got a shock that it was nearly half our previous bills. Though there is two of us I have the washer on loads, OH waters his vegs and garden and I am partial to deep baths ! Someone else mentioned growing veg, it's a fabulous interest and really does supplement your food nicely, can anyone in your house have a go ? Also never buy anything without googling money off. Hope things get better for you.

StripeyGran

Flutterby345

From Australia, where else.
If it's yellow let it mellow. If it's brown flush it down.
Cuts the water bill.

What a life. Can't flush the toilet, use an electric blanket to keep warm, grow your own food, use a food bank.

Talking of which , OP do you have The Bread and Butter Thing in your area?

Never heard of it StripeyGran, will investigate. Thank you

I believe Age UK also offer help to find out if you are receiving absolutely everything you can.

I do hope your situation improves.

Still working at 72 and just went bankrupt, I can manage now I have no debts to service, just hope I can keep working

But, presumably, those debts will still be there though - I thought "bankrupt" meant one still owes the money and will owe it forever more until it's paid back....

This is 40 years after a friend of mine had an employer go bankrupt and, as far as I know, he is still owed that money to this day.....though the bankruptcy wrote it off "legally speaking - in law" - but the debt to him is still there......and my very good friend his mother still angry about it to this day....

suggestion I can make is as other GNs have suggested is contact CAB. At least they will check out benefit system for you and hopefully also be able to point you to other organisation for support. Yes, there does seem many who you would think are existing off benefits yet seem to have a much grander lifestyle than you. It's an annoying mystery. Hope you find assistance to make life a bit easier for you

HowNowBrownCow
I know you say that you don’t think there are any further benefits that you could claim but you might be surprised what is out there that you don’t know about. Please make an appointment with your local Citizens Advice. They will look at the benefits you are claiming and will give you advice on any others. Also, if you want them to, they will go through your income and expenditure with you and offer advice on areas where you could make changes. Definitely worth a try .

CBBL

I feel your pain HowNowBrownCow!
I am retired, twice widowed, rent a house and claim Attendance Allowance because I have Arthritis and am Partially sighted.
I don’t qualify for anything else because I have a small Private Pension.
My rent is £795 per month, almost half of my income! I do get the single persons reduction in Council Tax, but that’s all. I struggle to save for unexpected costs (repairs/maintenance to my Power Chair etc).
Have already been to CAB, who seemed to think that I had no cause to complain.
Like you, I can’t recall when I last had a holiday and have no nearby relatives.
I buy “pre-loved” clothes when I need something new.
The news is depressing - but it does make you realise that plenty of people are worse off (Gaza/Ukraine etc).
It is hard to stay cheerful these days!

In my London borough people in receipt of Attendance Allowance do not pay Council Tax. Might this be the case in yours?

Have you investigated whether there are any charities which could help, HowNowBrownCow?
People can be eligible for charitable grants for various reasons - locality, occupation, military service, health condition etc.
Turn2Us is a charity that will help you check the various forms of assistance that might be available to you. Do try them.

I hear you—it really does feel like the ground has shifted under so many people’s feet lately, and you’re definitely not alone in this. You’ve been careful with budgeting, cooking from scratch, overpaying the mortgage, and doing all the “right things,” so it makes sense that hitting this wall feels both unfair and overwhelming.

A few thoughts that might help:
Pause overpayments without guilt— you’ve already built in discipline for years, and right now it’s about preserving breathing room.
Food costs— you’re already cooking from scratch , but some find bulk-buying staples with neighbors or using local discount apps like Too Good To Go can stretch the budget further.

You’re absolutely right that many people thought life at 60 would be steadier. Truth is, lots of folks are in the same boat—still supporting adult kids, watching bills spiral, and trying to hold on to dignity. You’re not failing; the system around you has just gotten harder.

Joan72, I am interested in the solution you came up with.

I'd be very careful switching to a water meter as general advice from water companies is that there's definitely a saving for a 2 person household but not if more than 2. Also, I don't know if this applies elsewhere but once a water meter has been installed and you later find it's not right for you, you only have x months to have it removed. I understand that you've been overpaying your mortgage to help clear it sooner but one option to consider to reduce your mortgage commitment would be to extend the years it's to be repaid over - not ideal I know as this goes against what you've been trying to do. Again, maybe not ideal for you but you could also consider switching to an interest only mortgage to reduce your monthly payments but I'd recommend you sought advice from your mortgage lender. Like others have said - CAB or even your local authority can guide you to helpful places not just for you but also advice for your carer partner eg carers budget support if you've not already looked into this. My heart goes out to you.

StripeyGran

Joan72, I am interested in the solution you came up with.

I think it’s also known as equity release, there have been threads on here about it.

You don’t have to answer but what is your income?

Re water meters.

Everyone should have one, and pay for their own usage.

Why is water any different to gas, electric….?

This might not be relevant to you, but I get almost all my clothes, mostly good quality and sometimes. New from eBay now. I am 70 and also retired. We rarely eat meat ant more but still eat well. I cook from scratch.

I don't think a lifetime mortgage and equity release is the same thing?

Must do some research.

Jaxjacky

StripeyGran

Joan72, I am interested in the solution you came up with.

I think it’s also known as equity release, there have been threads on here about it.

Bear in mind that sex discrimination still applies with equity release - ie one can have an identical age man in an identical value house and the man will get more than the woman - STILL!!!!

The excuse for that is that they look at the actuarial tables about lifespan and those tables are still divided into "men" and "women" at present and they go "Ah well - the average man doesn't live as long as the average woman" and they say "We won't really be paying the woman less than the man - as we expect her to live longer". That's their excuse and they're sticking to it - when it would be so easy to just say "Right we'll amalgamate the two sexes and then pick the average figure there" and start paying women as much per month as men.

I know personally I won't ever be taking out equity release on my house - because I refuse to be discriminated against.

The only thing that will improve your life is to up your income. Your husband is a carer, is there something he could do in between times? Dog walking? Gardening, lawn mowing ? People with dogs will also pay for someone to pop in and do some care in the middle of the day. If he's active of course. Anything to sell on eBay? Just some ideas. Hope things get easier for you soon.

If you feel comfortable to do so it may be helpful for you to post your income and outgoings to see if anyone has some suggestions of where you could trim your budget or potentially increase income / benefit entitlement.

CariadAgain

But, presumably, those debts will still be there though - I thought "bankrupt" meant one still owes the money and will owe it forever more until it's paid back....

This is 40 years after a friend of mine had an employer go bankrupt and, as far as I know, he is still owed that money to this day.....though the bankruptcy wrote it off "legally speaking - in law" - but the debt to him is still there......and my very good friend his mother still angry about it to this day....

Bankruptcy means that once discharged by the official receiver the bankrupt person is free of the debt. So no it wont get “paid back”

Primrose53

Have you spoken to your Diabetes nurse? My friend who has not long retired was a Diabetes Nurse Specialist with decades of experience. She helped and supported her patients very much.

You shouldn’t have to, but could you use a foodbank? I know it’s nearly all tins and packets which may not be ideal for your diabetes diet but there are also Community Fridges which also have fresh items.

I really feel for you so do try and talk to your nurse. Are you claiming Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is for people over state pension age.

Pensioners should be entitled to free BBC licences I thought we had to pay because it has no adverts now you can't put BBC on without BBC adverts about the BBC Free BBC licences for pensioners should be possible maybe Reform will do that it's such a big waste of money for people who would happily live without the BBC on their telly

I agree that retirement should be easy street.

Is there anything you could do on a cash in hand basis? Have you got any stuff you could sell at car boot sales? Can your OH do any small handyperson jobs like putting up shelves, assombling flatpacks or little jobs that people are always advertising for online.