Hubby is due to retire in June next year

[BAKERS DOZEN]

So we decided that while we are both working we would try to live for the next 12 months on what would be our pension money next year - just to see if we can manage. Any excess money from our salaries would go into the savings pot for our retirement. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Eve]

Depending on your age I know my parents got quite a few discounts such as bus and rail fares and such.

[boxtops]

I think that's a wonderful plan, but until I finish paying off my mortgage in 18 months time, I need to live off my salary!

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Have worked out a tight budget and would still like to run the car and have a holiday if at all possible. Have warned the son, daughter and grandson not to expect big presents in the future but will I be strong enough to keep to it as I am a softie where they are concerned.

[Maydup]

Quite a bit of money is spent occupying your time when you are retired. If you are both working you'll need to think about what you'd be doing with your day if you were free as birds. But on a budget.

[nicolab6]

Cook food from scratch - much better for you and a heck of a lot cheaper than ready meals and take aways. Also, get in to baking - your sweet treats can be homemade cakes, plus sausage rolls are much better home made.

[welshlibranr]

I find it quite sad that after years and years of working we have to now resort to finding ways of saving cash because we are retired!...........we should be able to retire and enjoy!...............

[bednobs]

my mum and dad used to buy hoardes of stuff (like deodorant/shampoo/toothpaste) if it was on special offer before they retired. Or if they saw special offers on say t shirts, they would get those and put them away, as they thought they wouldn't be able to buy stuff. There are books you can get telling you how to make the most of it

[sherrardk]

Hi - expect you have already sorted the cheapest gas/electricity suppliers. This is quite good (apparently) but I haven't got the patience to trawl through it - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/. When we found ourselves in 'reduced circumstances' it took me ages to get a grip on things but I now do things like buy basic brand fruit and veg (the veg is just the same, just a funny shape), Aldi is brilliant for some things (juice, ketchup, beans, fruit and veg, etc). I don't buy ready-made meals and always shop at Asda (it is loads cheaper for us). I can feed everyone proper food (meat, vegetables, fruit, etc) and get treats (for seven of us) for around £100 a week.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Nicola - we already do that. Very rarely buy packaged food. Hubby is a baker and has done all the cooking ever since we got married. He drew me a map to the kitchen so I could put the washing machine on (lol). He spends hours in there preparing stuff. Last year he took up the lawn in the back garden and it is now all vegetables.

[welshlibranr]

I know what you mean Sher, I do the same, but it annoys me that after folk have worked hard all their lives, they have to scrimp and save in retirement!.............makes me sad, shouldn't be!.......they should be able to enjoy life without worrying about making ends meet!.............

[bednobs]

again, my parents seem to spend most of their cash on having coffee out. They go out walking everyday, and make a cafe their destination, have coffe then come back. I always tell them they would save so much if they invested in a flask!

[stokemaveric]

sounds a bit like ''the good life'' bakers dozen lol

[welshlibranr]

bednobs!........credit to them, as long as they are enjoying retirement!...........why worry!...........

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Stoke - as long as he doesn't want pigs and chickens that's fine by me. Much as I love him he's not under my feet all the time. He's in HIS kitchen, HIS garden or he's out fishing.

[albaqwerty]

A birthday card for son and daughter, maybe £5 in it. (Each obviously). Something a little more generous for the grandson for his birthday, nothing for your children at Christmas (I presume they are both adults) and a reasonable present for grandson.

Btw, BD, can we please swap husbands?

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Sorry Alba he's mine. I spotted his potential when I was 14 and have hung on to him since then.

[albaqwerty]

Women in their teens can have good taste. Met mine when I was 16.

He starts a garden, work took over so who had to look after his pride and joy and do it completely wrong?!!!

I hope you both have a long, healthy and happy retirement. x

[BAKERS DOZEN]

If we can't manage then I will stay on at work and save some more but at least we will have an idea of what we need. I am lucky that I love my job and he is a much better housekeeper than I am. I do all the cleaning, washing, ironing and most of the shopping. He will be at work, get an idea for dinner and shop for it on the way home. Drives me mad sometimes as we duplicate things. That will have to stop!

[boxtops]

Due to straitened circumstances for several of us, we now only buy a nice card for Christmas and birthdays for several relatives - only the under 18s get token gifts. Nobody seems to mind!
We make full use of over-60s passes - I even got into the banger racing this afternoon on a concessionary ticket, I saved £3. Free prescriptions save £7.40 a time too! Free bus travel, £22 buys a senior rail pass which saves even more. B&Q 10% discount on a Wednesday....

[tamborine]

Retirement can be a blessing for entrepreneurs. Think of supplementing your incomes doing what you really enjoy.