I was … until the Poll/Council Tax form landed on the mat. We have been hit with an extortionate increase this year. It totally wipes out any pension increase - and a whole lot more.:twisted:
They are claiming extra money for something called ‘Police’ - I vaguely remember something about these from childhood but thought they had become extinct.
‘Police?’…Yes I remember them…they were tall,wore funny hats,and would give you a clout round the ear if you were misbehaving.
I believe they are still around but you stand a better chance of seeing a bigfoot.
Ello Ello Ello …there’s a large hairy creature just walked past the window …
They will be on the Endangered Species Lists soon. 
Received Council tax increase this morning, up by 4%. I just hope the extra money is going towards some good causes (Yeah right!)
While I really think state pensions should be more liveable amount, wages aren’t exactly whizzing up either, some people still haven’t had a pay rise for over 10 years now. My wage only goes up because it came down to meet NMW about 6 years ago, since then it goes up with that.
Hi
I got my State Pension Increase letter today, along with a revised Tax Code.
I do not get full State Pension, it is reduced because I have contracted out private pensions.
My State Pension increase is wiped out by the Council Tax increase and Sky increase.
As I said earlier, my pension rise will be £3.77.
Had a letter today saying my direct debits for council tax will be going up by just over £7 per month!
My TV licence will also be increasing in April.
There will also be internet useage, gas, electric, water etc etc, all increasing.
The state pension increase won’t be a lot of help with all these other increases. 
The triple lock is a good idea … not … laughs … groan.
My six weekly haircut has just doubled in price. The barber says other customer think that OAPs should be paying more not less. Word gets around that we loaded.
To add insult to injury, it may be only a matter of time before the state pension is means-tested:
https://www.moneyobserver.com/news/controversial-call-state-pension-to-be-means-tested
Hi
Simple fact of life, we have not paid in enough to fund our state pension.
This was known over 20 years ago but both Labour and Conservative kicked it into touch.
Same thing with defined benefit pensions in the public sector.
But to tamper with pensions is dangerous for governments. Older people tend to use their votes more than younger ones, and politicians (of whatever persuasion) do not want chucking out of office.
So the debt piles up.
Hi
My defined Pension Schemes were in Profit until Gordon Brown raided them.
May then abolished overtime, out of hours and hazardous payments and then made people redundant a year and a day later, cutting Pensions by a further 20%.
She now wants people back and what a surprise they are saying get stuffed.
We will go and work for Contractors, which you pay a fortune for, because they are Private Sector.
Tory logic for you.
The Welsh Nurse, ITU, refuses overtime, works for an agency in the next NHS Trust and gets paid four times as much for the same shift.
The ITU Nurses in that NHS Trust refuse overtime and work for an Agency in her NHS Trust for 4 times as much.
How stupid is that?
Two shifts a week doubles her pay.
I hope so Jazzi! I thought pensioners got it. My millionaire sister has been getting hers for years!
Pension Age for women changed from 60 to 65+, changes on a whim, with little or no notice. If anyone’s affected they should consider joining the WASPI campaign.
Sadly all their hard work will be too late for me as I’m nearly there but it is gaining ground, they have legal represention and are challenging the Government.
Don’t know if this will any help, it shows you how to work out when you will be eligible for state pension.
It seems however, that the pension age is under review, and they are going to make us work till we are older soon.
Have a look at this one:
The winter fuel allowance is getting to be a bit of a joke too. Not that we should look a gift horse in the mouth, but once retired we spend most of our time indoors, using more gas, elect.,& water.
When at work we have warmth all day for free, electricity for free, water for free (including bathroom facilities) , and get paid for enjoying it too !
As soon as my heating goes off, this house temperature plummets and basically we have six months a year of cold/damp weather.
It’s just not cricket. 
Anyone interested in reducing their house insurance ? I have just changed mine to Saga, and saved myself £7 per month. Every £ counts.
Puddles, your house insurance, do you think that is just one of these ‘Introductory’ offers to entice you in?
They all seem to do that, same with car insurance, then the following year they whack it up.
I don’t think so Mups. It’s Saga Premium, so pretty much set prices. Have you misunderstood and thought I said £7 per month ? That’s what I have saved. I will be paying £20 per month. I did the same with my car insurance last year, it came down about £12 a month through Saga. So I’m feeling quite pleased.
Going to see about best deal for my electric next.
Do you know about ‘warm home discount’ ? I only found out about it year before last .My quarterly bill which has just arrived is £4.72p for this quarter !! Once a year discount . Most big companies do it.
I just told them I was getting a pension, (not pension credits) and that’s about all they asked.
I am waiting with great excitement for my increase at the end(ish) of March.
It sounds as if you have the same pension review as us - each March and September.
