The usual income of State Pension, interest on savings and Suffolk County Council Spouses pension - I'm worried about what happens to this when Local Government Reorganisation makes SCC vanish. I've read that pensions are protected by law so it should be OK, but you never know. Interest on savings seem to have dropped - need to check that out.
As predicted April was an expensive month, and then I bought my new bike. The TV Licence[up by £5.50] and house insurance[down by £3] were the planned large expenses and the bill came for the March boiler repair. Council tax of course [up by £8] and charity plus broad band and phones are all direct debit. I put £71 worth of diesel in the car. Finally I read the electric meter and paid for the month.
I was going to say I'd not needed the tumble dryer all month but when ED and the boys were up after Easter she brought 3 loads of washing with her! - her washing machine was playing up and of course boys get very dirty very quickly. Everything needed getting dry as soon as possible so I tumbled it.
Garden spending was growbags and compost, then the vegetable plants from car boot sales and a tray of leek plants from the garden shop.
There was other spending on two birthday gifts, odd bits for the house, window cleaner, bathroom and kitchen and some sunflower hearts for the birds.
Back in March Aldi were supposed to have some metal plant pot holders that hook over a fence. I was going to get a couple for my sisters birthday but they didn't appear in Stowmarket Aldi until late April. So when I saw them I got two each for both my sister and sister in law - they are ready for Christmas.
When the weather warmed up last week I sorted through the clothes in wardrobe and drawers to see what state summer clothes were in and decided I needed new summer shoes, a second summer skirt and shorts and I really need tee shirts too but will scour charity shops first.
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| image from google freepik |
The only penny savers I can think of...........
- Gift of rhubarb from my sister
- Dishwasher only used every other day
- Filled car up with diesel when visiting YD - saving 6p a litre on garages near me
- Made up a tin of Lemon Home Cook Marmalade, works out at just over £1 a jar
- No alcohol bought as usual, and no lotions, potions etc
- No newspapers and magazines - except for the Puzzler
- Bread made in the bread-machine. 50/50 wholemeal/white flour
- Lights only needed for reading after 8pm now
- Reading library books and from my shelves for free
- Saving apple peels etc into the freezer for making the next batch of 'compost jelly' sometime
- A gift of flowers from my sister for my birthday lasted two weeks
May should be less spendy, as far as I know there is just the car breakdown insurance and EGS birthday. No more bikes or big expenses! [Touching wood]
You do well, the cost of living is having a huge impact on single pensioners, especially those on the threshold of receiving benefits. My car is my biggest worry, 13 years old but we have few buses here so a must have. No tumble drier or dishwasher so my electric is usually below a £1 a day and obviously no heating, as on oil. I do envy retired couples who appear to have no money worries and always off on holidays, but then I do live in a beautiful County so don’t need holidays. Have sown lots of seeds but nothing seems to be appearing, too cold maybe. Sarah Browne.
ReplyDeleteIf Colin was still alive we would have two state pensions and his full County Council pension and he would be doing so many things that I have to pay someone to do!
DeleteI never use the kettle to boil water for tea. I have a little enamel pan and that half full is enough for my cup of tea (which I only have twice a day, first thing and then 3 p.m.) and on the hot ring, it boils very quickly.
ReplyDeleteNo dishwasher here and no tumble drier either. I have an ISA to cover the cost of a replacement car in due course. Biggest worries are increased cost of living of course, especially food which is just being hoiked up ridiculously. Nearly £2 for a can of Heinz soup, Heinz Ravioli over £2.20 a tin, minced beef prohibitively expensive. Good meat in the butchers ditto. I only have roast at Christmas and perhaps a couple of times a year apart from that as I simply cannot afford it.
So yes, for the forseeable future I shall have to continue to sell bits and pieces (and hopefully a good clear out at the two big Fairs a year I do) to bring a little money in to help. £1000+ in vet's bills in 2 months was NOT welcome!!!
The three foods you mention are three that I never buy. I buy Quorn mince for spag bol now, Haven't eaten bought soup for about 30 years and that ravioli I remember from 40 years ago was nasty slimy then!!
DeleteDon't worry about the County Council pension. I worked as a librarian for one local authority which was then swallowed into another which was then abolished several years after I had moved on! My local government pension is still OK.
ReplyDeletePhew! Thank you. My SCC own pension was so small after just a few years in the library that I took it all at once years ago.
DeleteMoving into the less expensive summer months is a relief for many.
ReplyDeletePaid my electric bill - it wasn't down much on March despite the weather being warm this last week - think I'm watching too much snooker on TV!
DeleteI make a large pot of tea, with loose leaf tea, and top up the pot with boiling water for a second cup. I strain it into a clean, warmed vacuum flask for a hot drink later. I take a flask of tea or coffee in the car when I go out anywhere.
ReplyDeleteWe always took a flask for all our married life - even to hospital when Colin was so ill and when we would be sitting around for hours. Now a coffee out is a proper treat for me.
DeleteTea has to be fresh made for me I only drink a mug full it once a day at most.
Hello! This post is helpful. Thank you for sharing all your tips. I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteAs always I admire your frugality. The biggest saving we’ve made at the moment is only sending cards for family birthdays/Christmas. It’s not meant to be mean spirited but pensions aren’t generous and we have to prioritise bills etc.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Three children, two partners, 5 Grandchildren - it all adds up!
DeleteCertain months are more expensive -- I know mine are. It's nice knowing that may looks to be a bit better on that front. Also, I wanted to thank you for stopping by my blog this morning! Always lovely to see you!
ReplyDeleteMarch, April and Christmas are my expensive times, thankfully the dentist has moved to different months this year as that was April and December for a while too.
DeleteThe interest on my savings is plummeting too, but that is mostly because I am now paying for our renovations out of my savings, Alan's are all gone. I am now limping towards receiving my first State Pension pay out with just my small work pension of £77 keeping me going. Seemingly I get a half pay out in May and then my full amount from June onwards. It cannot come soon enough ... I have run out of things to sell.
ReplyDeleteYou will get there Sue... And all that scrimping will be worth it!
DeleteHang on in there - renovations don't last forever - hopefully!
DeleteNope they don't ... it just feels like it. ;-)
DeleteWe're heading into our most expensive season. With our hot dry summers the AC is a must with over 100+ temperatures as well as watering since we have dry summers with no rain. My husband is putting in rocks in some areas and drip lines for the pots. Hopefully have all that completed before.
ReplyDeleteIt's always something.
We've had several weeks of dry weather here - wondering just what our summer will be like
DeleteYou do amazingly well with money and your marmalade looks delicious :)
ReplyDeleteI only had orange marmalade left so now I have variety again
Delete"Compost jelly" -- ha!
ReplyDeleteMixed fruit jelly would be it's better name! (That's jelly as in jam without bits!)
DeleteLemon jelly is a favorite and your jelly look delicious.
ReplyDeleteFood prices are getting more ridiculous. Yesterday I paid $3 for a small head of lettice. I like lettice and tomato on sandwiches.
It is finally a bit warmer at 52 degrees F. Today the light rain showers are wonderful, and we need rain because despite having lots of snow we still have drought conditions.
My costs overall are increasing slightly in everything except oil and gas which is increased by 30-45%.
Wish I could say my Council Tax went up by £8! More like £28 pcm here. Daylight Robbery, then today they reject my garden waste bin for being too heavy. It's only got lawn mowings in it, so what did they send to pick it up? Babies?
ReplyDeleteDespite all the price increases, I am overwhelmed at the generosity of everyone supporting my fundraising for Parkinson's
The month of May will be one of our more expensive months as that is when gardening starts up here. I am going to try starting more from direct seeding, but I am not too sure how that will go.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that soup is really expensive.
God bless.
This has been a bad month for us as well. Next month will be as well. It will be a wedding reception for the eldest daughter
ReplyDeleteI admire your frugality! The state pension and changes must be worrying with unexpected expenses cropping up. My nice big saver has been that the school raised beds are full of chard/perpetual spinach and I am the only one that really uses it so that fed us for quite a few meals. Your mention of rhubard reminded me that I made a big batch of stewed rhubarb with bramley apples and honey plus homegrown raspberries from the freezer and it has been marvellous. I also somehow managed to spend virtually nothing on lunches this week by somehow missing lunch for two days, making a salad, eating leftovers and then having frozen peas, sweet corn and toast which I keep for emergencies or just general lunch in the staff room freezer!
ReplyDelete