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Subject Topic: Cheaper ways to live? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonBill the Bus
08/7/2018 at 1:25pm
 Location: Norwich
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Fed up of the rat race working hard for minimum wage there must be cheaper ways of living.

We currently rent our flat having sold up 4 years ago to take a 12 month sabatical due to my ill health. With just over 8 years left to official retirement, wife is 7 years, we are trying to find a cheaper way to live to be able to do less hours and make the retirement date not seem so far away.

We are luckier than a lot with some savings from the house sale and both have a couple of small pensions that we could cash in but prefer not to yet. We have looked into living in a tourer, did it for 12 months but brought so many problems with insurances etc that it was very stressful, looked at mobile homes and even a live aboard boat. All have their own problems and added costs and cannot seem to get much less than the £560 monthly rental we currently pay. Even looked at buying again as where we live now, on outskirts of Blackpool is fairly cheap but that would mean settling in 1 place again and not sure we ready for that lol.

We live a very modest lifestyle but everything is so expensive when your on minimum wage and travel a 40 mile round trip each day.

Has anyone out there managed to find a cheaper way of living, talking accommodation not saving on food etc as we are pretty shrewd that way lol.

Living in hope haha.


Personromany girl
09/7/2018 at 6:40am
 Location: Derbyshire
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House sitting, or working in a job that involves free accomodation, site wardens ect, elderly companionship roles, country estate worker maybe?

Julia

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Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife

Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!


PersonBob61
09/7/2018 at 1:47pm
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Have you tried claiming Housing Benefit and a Council Tax reduction. If you are struggling on minimum wage you may be entitled to lots of help. Speak with your local Citizens Advice Bureau who will tell you if you are entitled to anything and point you in the right direction.


PersonBill the Bus
09/7/2018 at 3:09pm
 Location: Norwich
 Outfit: 57 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi . View Bill the Bus's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bill the Bus Reply   Quote Bill the Bus Quote  
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Despite the fact that we paid into the 'system' for over 40 years each we not entitled to a penny. Could not claim when we were not working as we are over the threshold so no chance now we are earning. As i said we are not destitute,our savings came from the little profit we made on the last house and being frugal, but the idea was as we got older was to be able to work less hours and enjoy some us time. As the only work we can get these days is minimum wage and living costs continue to rise steeply it seems we having to work harder now than we did when younger. There don't seem to be the easy low paid jobs of years ago, everyone wants a pound and a half of flesh lol.

Must be a cheaper way to live but am buggered if I can find it lol.


Personjaiash
09/7/2018 at 3:25pm
 Location: nr Derby
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Dog walking can be very lucrative.... our son is charged £19 an hour for an individual walk OR £12 for a'group walk which I understand is 4 dogs at a time. There are some drawbacks.... .
I know someone who does it for a pastime job - he has seven dogs ( I think on his permanent list and rakes in £700 a week!!

-------------
Grahame


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PersonBob61
09/7/2018 at 3:47pm
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I think Bill the Bus wants to work less and get paid more, rather than take on extra work

If it was just down to me I would sell up and buy a decent motorhome and travel the country. I do realise there are issues re insurance etc; but they are not insurmountable. Unfortunately I have a wife who doesn't like camping and wants to live in permanent bricks and mortar so we have to pay through the nose like everyone else.

Post last edited on 09/07/2018 16:05:49


PersonBill the Bus
09/7/2018 at 5:21pm
 Location: Norwich
 Outfit: 57 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi . View Bill the Bus's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bill the Bus Reply   Quote Bill the Bus Quote  
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Bob61. Your almost right. Don't mind getting paid lower wages but the problem these days is what is now a minimum wage job used to pay £10-£11+ hourly, not being the easy stress free jobs we remember the older end doing. Do you think my wife n yours could keep a house going while we tour in the motorhome haha.

Jaiash, that's amazing money, would really enjoy that job, working for someone else though, would be perfect as I live on Blackpool prom.

Sorry folks, just having a moan as this easy life we worked hard for seems to be getting further away and not getting closer. As I said, there are lots worse off than us, but thought if I asked there may be suggestions we had not thought of.


PersonBob61
09/7/2018 at 7:31pm
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When I retired I lasted about 8 months before I decided I needed to get a job. My pension paid the bills but not much else and, as I was told before I retired, the bills keep coming in and rising but the pension doesn't keep up with them.

I took up gardening and ended up with a full week's work. I could have started a business but got wise and whittled it down to just three half days a week which paid for my camping. When I lost the sight in one eye and found it difficult to pull out a weed without also grabbing M'lady's prize flowers I decided to pack up working and had to go on benefits. I am still on a small amount of benefit but if my pension rises again next year I will no doubt cease to be eligible.

I worked long and unsociable hours every day of my working life and never thought I would ever end up on benefits but it just goes to show doesn't it. I had all sorts of plans of what I was going to do with my huge pension when I retired but inflation put paid to those...camping was the compromise


Personminicamper2001
10/7/2018 at 8:30am
 Location: West country
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So there are two issues, it would seem. You work hard, for not much reward, and money is tight.
Do you enjoy what you do? If not, do you have a hobby or interest which would allow you to earn money without the downside of travelling every day? Like the gardening, small diy handyman, companionship type of thing.
Work is never so bad if you enjoy what you do.


Persondaveyjp
10/7/2018 at 9:28am
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Whilst we don't know or want to know the full details of your finances, if you have the money to buy a property do so.

Working to earn money to then use this (or your savings) to pay the mortgage of your landlord is never cost effective. If you are in a position to live mortgage free do so. What you earn is then yours.

If you don't want to settle you do at least have the option of renting your property out and using rental income to fund your lifestyle.


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Personromany
10/7/2018 at 12:56pm
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Just as discussion point we were looking to retire next year 65.5 (although I have been medically retired for last 15 years) with the idea of selling up and touring for a year.

But then we thought perhaps it would be better to rent the house, following on from that a friend suggested there were reasonable flats to buy even 2 bed terrace for around 130,000 in Weymouth area which could be an ideal downsize or even a buy to rent possibility.

You could easily cover a mortgage on present day fixed rate mortgage and have some earnings left over, just an idea     


PersonBeenie
13/7/2018 at 8:23pm
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our gardener charges £15 an hour and is fully occupied all week. Loads of elderly people who want their weeds pulled, lawns mowed and shrubs trimmed. Not exactly taxing work, and guaranteed all week. Worth a thought?

-------------
Beenie xxx


PersonRachael33
15/7/2018 at 7:32pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Beenie on 13/7/2018
our gardener charges £15 an hour and is fully occupied all week. Loads of elderly people who want their weeds pulled, lawns mowed and shrubs trimmed. Not exactly taxing work, and guaranteed all week. Worth a thought?


My MIL pays her two gardeners (husband and wife team) £15 per hour that is £15 for the two of them together. I don't know how they manage on that hourly rate. They do a great job and deserve more I think.
You paying £15 an hour is great!
You are right though that elderly people want gardeners for hedge trimming, weeding, planting etc, easy enough stuff to learn and to do if you are fit and active enough.

-------------
Rachaelknits


PersonBob61
16/7/2018 at 1:16pm
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I was cheap at a tenner an hour

...but that was about 10 years ago now


PersonThe 2 Tops
16/7/2018 at 5:22pm
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We like the open road way of life, but having a permanent base (house) to come back to is an essential commodity.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops



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