When we asked Money Mail readers for their tips for living on the state pension last week, we were overwhelmed by the response. Scores of readers wrote in to share ideas for budgeting and savvy tricks to enjoy life without overspending.
Reporter Toby Walne described his sobering experience of living on the state pension alone.
He might have fared better on his £230.25-a-week budget if he had known the clever tactics shared by readers here after they read his seven-day diary.
Millions of us are under-saving for retirement and face relying almost solely on the state pension for income in older age. So lessons in making your money go further will become increasingly valuable. Here are your top tips...
Heating
You can borrow 20 books for free at my local library. I can sit there reading whatever I want without anyone bothering me and it saves on the heating bill at home.
There is also free internet access for those who cannot afford to go online at home. My only gripe is they do not allow dogs in the library. My elderly pooch doesn’t like being left alone.
Lucia Dolan, Brixham, Devon
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Consider making your bedroom into a sitting room during winter – as heat rises and you can hide under the blankets if it just gets too cold. It is handy for a daytime nap, too.
Always wear plenty of layers inside the house and turn off radiators in unused rooms. To make this easier ensure each radiator is fitted with a thermostatic valve.
Consider not using some rooms over the winter to keep heating bills down.
Elise Knox-Thomas, 81, Nottingham
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You might visit a local pub such as a JD Wetherspoon for warmth, where you can get unlimited coffees or cups of tea for as little as £1.81.
There is also often a choice of ales for under £2 a pint. Also use public libraries for warmth.
Don’t just stick to one but try two or three in your area over time as this offers welcome variety. Libraries have the benefit of free internet and newspapers to read.
Ian Campbell by email
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I have a multi-fuel stove and so far have not had to buy any wood for fuel as I have old trees that have been taken down in the garden and had other wood from neighbours.
I close off two rooms in winter to make a smaller home.
Helen Bratton, 70, Burntwood, Staffordshire
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A 1,000 or 2,000-watt oscillating electric heater can warm a sitting room and might only add about 28p an hour to energy bills.
They cost from as little as £20 on websites such as Amazon. A 2,000-watt Russell Hobbs one costs £32 and uses just over 50p of electricity in an hour.
Stuart Charles, 77, Great Dunmow, Essex
Meals
Buy ‘wonky’ vegetables as these are cheaper – and get enough to make a soup. Carrot, leek and potato, butternut squash and even courgette soup is delicious.
A bowl of soup plus bread and a piece of cheese makes a filling and healthy lunch. Leek and potato soup costs pennies rather than pounds. You can’t go wrong.
If you buy a chicken, don’t forget to boil the carcass with an onion and a few carrots for another soup treat. Add vermicelli to make bigger servings.
Get a Costco card – for the wholesale shop – for bulk buying. Ideally, go with a friend and divide the savings on dry goods, tinned goods, fresh fruit and meat.
Barbara Michaels, 92, Cardiff
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Shop in the evenings if possible because supermarkets tend to make reductions on groceries at around 7pm, where you often see them put yellow sales stickers on.
Check with charities if there might be food being given away by retailers, such as Sainsbury’s, at a local civic centre. You might also consider visiting a food bank.
Sign up to supermarkets’ points systems, as these provide discounts on foods. Buy cheaper supermarket own brands.
Elise Knox-Thomas
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Batch-cook meals, including with rice and pasta, and freeze them in portions.
It enables you to buy larger packs in the supermarket, which works out cheaper and you only cook once so save on energy bills.
You can save on having to buy butter or margarine if you use natural yoghurt or cream cheese as a spread.
Cutting down on meat saves money – but you can still get lots of nutrition and vital proteins by eating more seeds, nuts and eggs.
Liz Stuart, 66, Fife, Scotland
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Use a slow cooker to batch-cook meals – and then freeze them.
Grow vegetables yourself if possible or buy wonky, blanch and freeze.
Make meat last. I got eight meals from the last chicken I bought. In the summer, you can grow your own salad for pennies.
Helen Bratton
Transport
The bus is free for pensioners – and it is important to make the most of this.
The main bus stop is just two minutes’ walk away from my house and they run every 15 minutes into Bedford, taking a quarter of an hour.
It is great having the freedom to travel, not just for shopping and GP appointments, but getting out and enjoying life.
Sandra Wrench, 74, Kempston, Bedfordshire
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At the bus stop, if you have a smartphone, open the Google Maps app, and it should allow you to click on your bus stop and provide you with live updates on when buses arrive.
It not only saves you time but means you will not be stuck waiting, often in the rain, hoping a bus turns up in the next few minutes.
Paul Elwell, 75, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
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My wife is not yet of pensionable age so we have found the Two Together Railcard for £35 useful.
It provides a third off off-peak rail fares for adults of all ages provided we travel together.
There is now also the £35 Senior Railcard for those aged 60 or over to consider that can offer the same discount. Londoners who are aged 60 and over can also get a free Underground pass.
David Butcher, 74, Mary, 62, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Other tips
Don’t feel you need to spend lots of money redecorating the home – just rotating furniture around different rooms can make a big, refreshing difference.
You save a fortune by not buying new furniture, wallpaper and paint.
Rosemary Adams, 76, Bangor, Northern Ireland
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You might no longer be able to afford a holiday in the sun, but during those long, miserable cold days of winter, surf the internet and view lovely warm beaches using Google Earth.
Save money by cutting your own hair with a decent pair of scissors rather than going to the hairdresser. Be teetotal and drink fizzy water with cordial.
Jayne Wolpe by email
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Voluntary groups that offer retirement activities can provide a great opportunity to socialise – which is great for your mental health, especially if living alone and potentially lonely.
They can also help arrange free outings to enjoy a variety of events such as craftwork exhibitions and ramblers’ associations walks.
We are signed up to the membership group u3a that provides a host of activities across Britain and welcomes new members.
Also visit your local library and ask about local events and groups that may offer activities for the elderly.
Julie Flynn, 69, Sidcup, south-east London
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Cancel the TV Licence and save £174.50 a year. Those with internet access can still watch other streaming services, catch-up and YouTube for free – although you will not be able to use BBC iPlayer.
Honestly, I do not miss it at all – though still get plenty of pleasure from the radio.
You no longer need a TV Licence to listen to the radio, including BBC programmes and catch-up using BBC Sounds but few people know about it. You will get more enjoyment reading the Daily Mail.
Jane Lawrence, 79, Brockley, south-east London
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Consider accessing the Household Support Fund, where extra help from your local council could be provided if you are surviving on just the state pension.
They might help with utility bills, groceries and other essentials.
Not all local authorities are willing to help but you have nothing to lose by asking.
David Butcher
