How to live in retirement: ways to survive, tips and revelations of pensioners

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

One can not talk about how people live in retirement once again. The situation in which Russians find themselves with the onset of disability cannot be called enviable. And it seems that the size of social benefits for pensioners is increasing every year, but inflation is growing along with it, which literally eats up all the increases. Why, at the end of their days, people are forced to fight for existence and survive, having decades of work experience?

How to live on a pension if it is hardly enough to live on? Many older people, after entering a well-deserved rest, find themselves practically below the poverty line. In a more advantageous position are those old people who are financially helped by children. But what about single pensioners with a minimum payment, how to live on?

Pension in our country

The size of the minimum old-age payments in the regions of Russia is just over 8,700 rubles. In Moscowthis figure is somewhat higher and reaches almost 12 thousand rubles. Due to the length of service and seniority, many receive an amount in excess of the so-called minimum wage. Their monthly pension can reach 10-15 thousand rubles. But be that as it may, for most people, retirement seems like a terrible nightmare. How to live so that this money is enough until the next payment?

The current generation of pensioners is significantly different from people hardened by Soviet communism. And although even today one can hear lamentations about how well life was in the USSR, it is no secret to anyone that in those conditions, with access to a well-deserved rest, one also had to learn the basics of survival. Modern Russian pensioners have Soviet roots, which means only that they did not grow up in "greenhouse" conditions, they led an active lifestyle. Thanks to constant work, aspirations and perseverance, they have acquired the ability to survive in not the most favorable conditions. The vitality shown by representatives of that generation can be envied by today's youth.

So, how to live on a pension if it is within the living wage? For this amount, it is quite difficult to satisfy even the most necessary, vital needs of any person. Due to poverty, some begin to drink alcohol more often, get sick more often, which only exacerbates an already difficult situation. And besides, there is a type of people who, no matter how much they pay, they still will not be enough. Money, as you know, does not happen much. Therefore, first of all, you need to pull yourself together and do everything so as not tobreak psychologically. Experts urge you to give yourself positive attitudes in order to try to change the circumstances that have arisen for the better or adapt to them. There is no other way.

Privileges and subsidies

Instead of groaning and gasping, endlessly asking yourself the question of how to live on a small pension, you will have to gain optimism and be active. In the end, psychologists always advise to rejoice in a glass that is only half full, than to look at it with despondency and longing, considering it half empty. You need to take advantage of everything and not give up.

Local authorities are striving to implement regional projects, the ultimate goal of which is to improve the standard of living of people of incapacitated age. If the funds provided by the state are barely enough to live on, the pensioner needs to:

• find the addresses and contacts of social security services on the websites of the local administration;
• find out about existing and planned social programs, the provision of humanitarian assistance, holding actions, processing lump-sum payments, usually timed to coincide with public holidays;
• get full information about the conditions for obtaining a subsidy for utility bills;
• make sure all merit and awards that qualify for benefits are accounted for.

So, the right to issue a certificate "Veteran of Labour", which gives good privileges to pensioners, arises for citizens who have a certain laborexperience, as well as those who began their labor activity as a minor during the Second World War. Some pensioners continue to work to fill in the missing years of professional experience required to obtain a preferential title. Here you need to show perseverance and curiosity: rewards and additional payments will not appear on their own.

In addition to the municipal authorities, the charitable organization "Red Cross" is engaged in supporting the elderly. The employees of this society know how people live in retirement. The Red Cross helps people in distress not only morally, but also assists those in need in obtaining expensive medical care, medicines, essentials, food packages.

Favorable change of living space

Since the most significant expense for current pensioners is paying utility bills, it may be worth considering changing your place of residence. Many people solve their material problems in this way. There are several options, and each of them is possible in a specific situation.

The easiest way is to sell your home and buy a smaller square footage, and deposit the rest in the bank. This will make it possible to receive a double benefit every month: on the one hand, the pensioner will have an increase in income due to interest from a bank deposit, and on the other hand, the cost of utility bills will be reduced. So, a one-room apartment is much more economical in terms of maintenance than a two- or three-room apartment.

The second solution is to move from your own apartment or private house to a rented apartment with a smaller area. At the same time, your property will also have to be rented to tenants. The profit is obvious, but it is worth considering all sorts of risks. It is possible that after the tenants will have to make repairs. In this case, all proceeds will be spent on restoring a comfortable environment. The tenant can protect himself and rent out housing with the requirement to maintain the safety and integrity of the property by concluding an agreement and receiving a security deposit. If the condition of the dwelling at the end of the lease is unsatisfactory, the deposit is not returned to the tenants. In addition, when deciding to rent out your own apartment, you need to find out as much as possible about the potential tenant.

“I may just be starting to live, I’m moving on to retirement …”, - who doesn’t remember this phrase from Pechkin’s favorite, probably everyone’s cartoon? And this is exactly what most older people think, because having broken out of the vicious circle of "home-work", they finally get the opportunity to devote more time to family, grandchildren, household chores. The only thing that overshadows the idyll is the lack of finance. What to live on when you retire? This question pushes pensioners to the decision to rent out one of the rooms in their home. This option is suitable for those who do not have a particular desire to settle in a new place. However, in this case, there are significant disadvantages:

• Moral discomfort. It is difficult for many elderly people to put up with the presence of strangers in their own apartment, so you shouldconsider whether you are ready for such a step.
• No guarantee of the tenant's integrity. This issue requires careful study: letting the first person you meet into your house is not a good idea. Ideally, if the tenant turns out to be a good friend.

If permanent cohabitation with a stranger is not possible, you can try to rent a room by the day (for example, for people on a business trip). Many retirees have found this income source to be suitable for them.

Other budget accommodation options

Very often for the elderly, the acute question is not where it is better to live in retirement, but with whom. It is no secret that it is much easier to survive together than alone. Consequently, many come to the conclusion that it is necessary to create a profitable union on a semi-commercial basis. People in old age often find kindred spirits and decide to live together. This allows you to combine pensions and receive income from renting out a vacant apartment.

Living in the city for retirement is difficult due to high food prices. Whether it's in the countryside: in rural conditions, you can buy food at a relatively low cost or grow vegetables and fruits on your own. Do not neglect the opportunity to go to live in the village for the summer. In retirement, you can pay more attention to the country garden, and harvest in the fall.

The modest diet of a pensioner

Most old people see the only way out for themselves - to save on food. Russian pensioners are alienextravagance. However, a limited diet is not only a way to save the budget, but also one of the secrets of caring for your he alth in old age. When forming a daily grocery basket, it is important to take into account the needs of the body. It is advisable for pensioners not to overdo it with sweets, the use of fatty, smoked foods, mayonnaise, etc. In order to live longer and get sick less, it is better to focus on natural, he althy and light food.

Menu example

Understand how pensioners live in retirement and at the same time lead a he althy lifestyle, one of the daily menu options will help:

• Breakfast. Rice or oatmeal on the water, seasoned with a spoonful of butter. In the absence of the latter, vegetable is quite suitable. Tea black, green or herbal. Loose is cheaper, but you should always pour boiling water over it before using it.
• Second breakfast. You can eat a banana or drink a glass of low-fat kefir. It is better to completely refuse flour products, but if you really want sweets, it is better to eat a piece of dark chocolate. Good coffee, unfortunately, not everyone can afford, but there are good budget varieties of this drink.
• Lunch. A simple and inexpensive soup made from chicken offal (muscular stomachs, hearts, liver, necks). To make a rich broth, meat ingredients can be used individually or all together. First, the giblets are boiled, after which the water is drained and the broth is boiled again. Before adding potatoes, offal must be finely chopped or passed throughmeat grinder. Then cook the soup as usual, adding rice, cabbage, other vegetables, dressing.
• Dinner. Potatoes, beans or peas, lentils, rice or buckwheat porridge, durum wheat pasta are suitable as a side dish. Any vegetables, as well as baked or stewed meat, fish, go well with the side dish. However, you should not combine legumes with meat dishes - an overabundance of proteins does not have the best effect on the he alth of older people.

How and where to buy cheap groceries

A great way to constantly save on food is to periodically monitor prices, follow promotions held in supermarkets, which are accompanied by great deals on certain categories of goods. Buying products during the promotion period, you can save up to 50% of the budget. Most chain stores constantly offer discounts. It is profitable to buy goods in large hypermarkets, where promotional programs "1 + 1" operate: the buyer pays only for one product, and the second, the same, gets free of charge.

Many appreciated the benefits of bulk purchases. Not everyone has the opportunity to immediately spend an impressive amount on products. However, such purchases are more than justified. In big cities, grocery stores and wholesale stores are within walking distance. If you buy goods in such places, their cost is an order of magnitude cheaper.

For example, in a retail store a pack of tea will cost 50 rubles. The same is in the wholesale, but if the buyer takes 3 packs at once, he will pay 120 rubles for them. Thus, one pack of tea at a wholesale price will no longer cost 50 rubles, but 10 rubles. less. In addition, the quality of products at wholesale bases is in no way inferior to retail. Over time, people adapt to this type of shopping, choose the most suitable commodity items for themselves, give preference to brands of individual manufacturers. The only downside to buying in bulk to save money is that it's hard to resist the temptation to overstock in the hypermarket.

Many pensioners are advised to shop at the market. To ensure that every penny counts, you should write down your every spending. Even the purchase of penny onions or beets should go under the record - this will allow you to track all the gaps in spending. You can find fairly affordable price tags on the market, especially when it comes to spoiled fruits and vegetables. So, in winter, many sellers give away slightly frozen apples almost for free, but they can make an excellent tea pie.

To live on a pension in Russia, you need to prepare for winter in advance. Once again, the market comes to the rescue: elderly people often bring goods of their own production here for sale at a low price. Experienced housewives know how to live on a pension. Women buy berries and vegetables at the market, freeze them, make jam, compotes, pickle them, pickle them.

Can I work in retirement

The benefits are those pensioners who, upon reaching the age of incapacity for work, still remain in the ranks. If the state of he alth allows you to continue working in the same position, that's fine. The safety of the workplace for a pensioner largely depends on the loy alty and understanding of the employer. Undoubtedly, the opportunity to continue working cannot be missed. But at the same time, in no case should you work to the detriment of your he alth. In old age, stress on the body is much more dangerous than poverty.

How to live without a pension? This question does not concern a person who continues to work. But what about those who gave their best years and he alth, earning seniority, and now have to be content with an amount that hardly reaches the subsistence level? Even if you feel like you don't have the strength to work anymore, don't dismiss the idea of working from home.

Some people don't even think about how to live without a pension. With proper activity, you can always find a way and improve your financial situation. In addition, these days there are many directions for self-realization, so you need not give up and take the following tips into service.

Make money from home

Is it possible to live on a pension without additional income? Today, the elderly have a lot of opportunities to get a good increase, without even leaving the apartment. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with several options for part-time work and choose the one that suits your abilities:

• Earnings on the Internet. People who have minimal computer and typing skills can earn extra money by creating articles to order. To understand whether the work of a copywriter suits you or not, it is enough to remember if there were any difficulties when writing school essays. Today you can earn good money on this.
• Call center operator, taxi dispatcher. These are in-demand jobs. Work is carried out remotely, that is, at home. The worker's task is to receive phone calls.
• Network marketing. Distributors are individuals who distribute the company's products and receive a percentage of the sales. For people who have experience in trading, this job is suitable. It is important to remain vigilant, as it is easy to fall for scams in the field of network marketing, who profit from gullible pensioners.
• Floriculture. Growing houseplants and growing seedlings during planting season can provide a decent income. For sale, goods can be given to flower shops, greenhouses. This option of part-time work is suitable for pensioners living in a private house.
• Homemade cakes. The products of good chefs are always in demand. Pies, all kinds of pretzels, buns, cheesecakes - this is within the power of every housewife. Why not make money on it?
• Small repair of clothes at home (sew on a button, hem or shorten trousers, reshape a dress, iron a shirt, etc.). The main thing is to do quality work so that demand does not take long.

Farming

It is impossible to predict how much time each of us has. But regardless of how long people live in retirement, everyone tries to spend their final stage of life in abundance, doing what they love. Not surprisingly, for some, the onset of disability marksthe beginning of a new life - quiet, measured and calm. Many retired people start farming when they retire, they start ducks, chickens, pigs, cows and other livestock. Keeping livestock requires a lot of effort and time, but even the smallest farm will provide pensioners with year-round natural products: eggs, milk, cottage cheese, butter, meat, etc.

Home staff

A good option for people of age is an informal part-time job. In the category of "home staff" vacancies are always in demand. It is not clear how pensioners live on pension without any additional income, but one thing is clear: by getting a job as a nanny, housekeeper, governess, watchman or gardener, a person does not lose anything:

• Firstly, such work differs little from running a regular household, and therefore no special skills are required for employment (with the exception of babysitting - employers prefer applicants with a pedagogical education).
• Secondly, employers often allow service personnel to live on the territory of their home, provide workers with food. Thus, the pensioner not only saves his salary and pension, but also saves on utility bills, food purchases, etc.

Internal migration

How to live on a pension, which is about 25 thousand rubles? One answer suggests itself: without much difficulty. Such an amount seems solid, especially for residents of the European part of Russia. But in Siberia and the Far East to live onthis money is absolutely unrealistic. The thing is that food prices in stores are extremely high due to the costly transportation of goods - they are delivered only by plane. In addition, most of the land in these areas is unsuitable for farming. Utility bills account for the majority of pension benefits. How to live on a pension with such prices? Therefore, northerners either continue to work after reaching the age limit, or leave for the regions of Central Russia. There, on their pension, you can live quite comfortably, practically without denying yourself anything.

Learning to plan expenses correctly

In fact, there is no universal way how to live on a pension. In whatever country a person lives, whatever his income, he will always have difficulties with prosperity due to the inability to plan a budget.

It is advisable to describe in detail the upcoming expenses before each month. Set aside part for food, the other part for medicines, rent, clothes, gifts for grandchildren, for a rainy day, etc. When shopping in a supermarket, you must always pre-calculate the amount - this rule will help protect yourself from unscrupulous sellers.

Since older people often get sick, it is important to learn how to save money on medicines. And we are not talking about refusing treatment. Some pensioners have found for themselves an easy way not to overpay for foreign medicines: they have purchased a pharmaceutical guide that lists analogues of modern medicines. Oneand the same drug with the same active ingredient can cost several times cheaper just because it has a different name and is produced at a domestic pharmaceutical company. Why pay extra for advertising and branding?

Retiring in Russia is not easy, but those who plan their expenses wisely manage to save and even make a profit by creating bank deposits. If you want, then even with a minimum pension you can provide yourself with cultural leisure, periodically visit theaters, museums, philharmonic societies and lead a rich social life. Despite the high cost of tickets, someone manages to buy them at a low price with the help of friends, someone attends performances and exhibitions with free invitations and freebies.

A huge role in the well-being of pensioners is played by their own adult children, who either actively participate in the life of their parents and help them financially, or, conversely, are indifferent and indifferent to the problems of their fathers and mothers. Do not forget about your parents for a minute, take care of them while they are around…