How much do I need to live on

Like all the others, so sorry to hear of your sad loss. I have with DH and disabled DS with income of £40 weekly from DS, a state pension of £120, weekly, a work pension of £38 monthly and DH has ESA of just over £200 fortnightly. We are all disabled, I've got AA and he's got DLA. We get Housing and Council Tax benefit, so our housing is about £50 monthly, Fuel bills about £80 monthly, food and other bills around £500 monthly. We cope beautifully, DS and I go out once a week for a drink, taking it in turns to pay and fortnightly a pub lunch (£8 for 2 meals), I buy cheap clothes when I need them and manage to save about £50 monthly. Hope that helps.

In Scotland you get 25% off your council tax if you're the sole occupant. I hope you get some good advice, it's a terrible time for a family. Look after yourself.

Totally - echoing everyone's good counsel about getting advice from CAB etc. I'm so sorry that you find yourself in this position without your husband's pension. I have been widowed twice, once at 44 and again at 63, and I can completely identify with your bewilderment about the financial side when you are so emotionally vulnerable! Just one thing occurs to me which I did to boost my income when my husband went into a care home and I had to pay some of his fees. I took in a student through the local university scheme to place foreign students with families. You can earn up to £7,250 per annum tax free under HMRC Rent a Room scheme (to anybody, not just a student). I was lucky enough to get a lovely Chinese girl who was studying Architecture, and she stayed with me for 4 years. I provided breakfast and tea each day, and if I was going to be out, I left her something. It was company for me and she became part of the family. Worth a thought if you are anywhere near a university or language school. Wishing you strength to get through this difficult time. You never stop missing them, but gradually, the painful thoughts are replaced by memories of happier times

Totallylost, first of all, my utter sympathies for your awful experience. I had the same many years ago but, happily, not without some pension and I was employed. My saving grace was a spreadsheet. I did a mini daily one for actual income and outlay at first and also a monthly one for regular income and outgoings. This was a huge help to me as it drew a picture of the necessary/unnecessary stuff and the same with essentials both monthly and annually. The great and awful unknown (I read you own your house) is ongoing maintenance. If this sounds pedantic, boring and unthinkable, it certainly was both a distraction and challenge for me in the early days. It's still a challenge but a manageable one in my case. You are in a terrible and confusing place at the moment. There is help out there aplenty....... friends, family and recognised establishments. Please do not feel alone. I wish you well and......eventual calm happiness in your dramatically changed circumstances

Useful information here: www.dailymail.co.uk/money/experts/article-5036909/ASK-TONY-wife-inherit-state-pension-die.html

I’m in the same situation regauardung finances
I have no pension
Just a small amount coming in a month
I thank god I have my own home and feel safe.
Spk to Age concern or CAB for advice
I also got my fuel bills right down by searching cheaper companies
Sky are also very good when dealing with this kind of situation. I pay £8 a month and that includes Broad band tv and Phone
Martin Lewis online is full of great advice and links
Good luck and look after your self and don’t forget don’t panic it will be alright.

Two of us live well on £800 per month in our bungalow with enough money to run a car and go for days out and holidays. We have a 10k contingency fund but no other income.

So sorry for your loss @TotallyLost

I think keeping your job for now is a lifeline. It gets you out of the house and interacting with people at least, and that helps.

I think you need to speak to CAB, or AgeUK, as some have already said. Only you will know how much you need to live on.

Good luck

So sorry for your loss, totally.
I agree with so much that has been said already but I endorse completely what Synonymous said. Once you have made a desision it’s not yours to make anymore. Go slowly, if you are not sure about something then the world probably won’t end if you put it on hold for a while.
?

Living perfectly happily on £200 a week if that helps, No mortgage, nice little modern house so low outgoings, good public transport for the bus pass, shops doctors etc in walking distance. It really depends on how you want to live how much you can manage on.

I found taking control of the money helped with my grief oddly enough. for you.

So sorry for your loss, Totallylost. Lots of good advice here. What a huge shock. My thoughts are with you,

So sorry to hear of your loss Totallylost
Lots of good advice on here not least to take your time, not make any hasty decisions and get lots of advice. One thing I will tell you is don't reject any help whether it is practical or financial. An aunt was so disgusted with the 5 pence offered to her that she rejected it and thereby lost a whole raft of other helps which were available to anyone on even a minute benefit. Once rejected it was no longer open to her and sadly she could have done with all that could have been on offer.
Keep posting and looking on here and if you need help this is the place to ask as there is always someone on here with the relevant knowledge and experience. Hope that life settles down for you and you come to terms with your new way of life soon. Just remember when in doubt do nothing - wait until it feels right. Best wishes.

Totallylost I can only repeat what others have said on here.
One thing I would say is "keep posting, keep asking questions" lots of, not only advice on here but also a lot of very kind people with broad shoulder and good listening ears.

One thing to be aware of though as some gransnetters shave found out is! Just be aware of posting anything too private or personal as what ever you post can be seen on social media. You can always send a Private message to anyone if you don't wish to ask in the main forum.

Hope that you may find a little comfort on here...I know I did.

So sorry to read of your sudden loss, you must be devasted and it's not an ideal time to have to deal with practical matters, but they do need dealing with.
The advice already given is brilliant, but to add that I run a home, no mortgage and all costs paid by monthly direct debit. It is a standard 3 bed semi, not in London, my DP pays for food and car expenses. My outgoings amount to£400 a month approximately. You will receive a reduction in Council Tax so this will help a little.

I am sorry to hear of your loss. As others have said, find an Age Concern advice centre and ask for some help.

Rewind; [hugs]

[flowers ][hugs]

Totally lost, there is a charity called Cruise Bereavement Care that may be able to help you. I really feel for you as you say it happened very quickly. I think you really need to talk it through with someone. How are you finding work? I hope it's a job you enjoy.
What is your worst time during the week? Do you have a cat or a dog?
Really feel for you.

Thanks again everyone I really do appreciate your thoughts and kind wishes, think I now need to do as you say, look at all my options but not make any hasty decisions xx

Thinking of you totally

Lots of good advice here, as there always is on GN. I just want to send my condolences at this very sad time. I wish you well .

Adding my sympathies, totallylost. As others have said, could you carry on for just a little while longer without making a decision? In essence, decide not to decide just yet which is different to avoiding. Just give yourself some space.

Once you feel you can face it then ask Age UK or the CAB for a benefits check of your current position and your financial position if you give up work. They will do it easily. Once you know if any extra is possible either ask your daughter for a day of her time, ask a trusted friend or other family member to help or involve the CAB. Then sit down with all the bills, details of your income, including any benefits you are entitled to, and do some sums. Again I agree with others, it will be so much easier with someone there to help you.

If you'd like to keep working but find full time too much then why not ask if its possible to reduce your hours to give some income? If you enjoy your job and are well then you can continue for as long as you want to but knowing your position should you decide to stop will stop the worry.

Your outgoings will change a little now its just you. I'm hoping you have applied to have your council tax reduced as a single occupant and even considered a water meter if you don't have one already.

Just be kind to yourself, accept any help that's offered.

Sending a virtual hug. Please let us know how you get along. The GN community can be a good source of support.

Totallylost, All my sympathies at this sad time. As you have your job I would keep it for at least a while. Every thing seems totally black now, but gradually you will find your ability to cope with life will return

When that happens get in contact with Age UK (used to be Age Concern). Online they have a whole range of Fact Sheets, some of which will help you. Ring your local office They can help you by doing a benefit check. When you stop work and only have your pension, you could qualify for more a benefit called Pension Credit that will bring your pension up to about £160 a week, plus possible help with paying your Council tax. As you own your own house, however small, you could also release some of that money through something called equity release. It needs to be investigated carefully, but Age UK and the CAB will be able to advise you.

My sympathies as well. I would agree that, as long as you remain well and enjoy your job, then keep working.
That gives you a space to do as others have suggested and work out your finances.
I am a great fan of Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert website, and it is well worth a look for ideas on everything from managing savings to making day-to-day economies.

When we retired we did quite a careful plan. In the current climate, savings won't give much of an income, but we worked out, for instance, major gifts for family weddings, replacing a car, rainy day fund. We made a decision about whether holidays would come out of savings or be saved up for out of income.

We are fortunate to live in an area with a nice lot of community events, and can have pleasant evenings without going far or spending much.

Some of our friends do volunteer work at local National Trust places, or community theatres, in return for free membership or tickets. A nice way to keep active and stretch finances.

Take your time, don't rush into anything; do some calculations, then let them sit in your head for a while as you think over the implications, then maybe do some more.

Good luck.