Fixed Income living this winter, could be big problems

My Husband became disabled this year at 55, we lost out on his retirement,lost our insurence. Although he is getting disability it is very hard to live from month to month.
We have cut back on almost everything we can. I can what food I can, bake from scratch and try to keep lights down and heat low. But we still can hardly make it. Do to a accident I can't work either so we live on his small income. Even though we did have nice things before this, people don't relize the hardship we live now. We have to pick and choose what to eat now. Food pantrys are a joke in some sence.. They give you ceral but no milk,or powered milk, candy, junk stuff, and very few can goods, and no meat. Maybe other places are better then around here. Then they act like we are beggers. I feel sorry for the ones who really need it. I am greatful for what we have gotten, but come on candy? That to me is not something some one really needs to survive.
Just though I would add my 2 cence to this

sillymom--I grew up WAAAAYYY out in the desert, partly before rea came in.

I never think of using anything BUT powdered milk for cooking, drinking, or for cereal. It is top quality protein, and I certainly never think of it as suffering.

Mix it up a day in advance in a jar or covered pitcher and let it sit in the fridge. Tastes like any other skim milk and is SO very nutritious.

Ours also gives out no meat, but lots of dried beans of various sorts, peanut butter, and cheese and powdered milk. Those are excellent protein sources and might be healthier than meat anyway.

I agree with you candy is dumb. Ours, however, gives out what people donate.

Our pet peeve with local food banks is that they will not accept and give out fresh fruits and veggies that local gardeners are more than happy to supply.

Aren't most of us on a fixed income? I've never understood that. We both work full time and we are most definetly on a fixed income.

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We both also work full time also and our income seems pretty fixed too! Fuel oil is up to $4.57 a gallon. We drive 35 miles to work and not only wouldn't want to move closer, we could never afford a place in the town where we work - and there are no jobs closer to here that pay even close to what we make now. Saving money on the commute would would be great, but losing probably half of our income to work closer to home would kind of defeat the purpose.

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"Don't confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them." - Jackson Browne.

im on disablity and i go to the VA for medical i get help in the winter for heating ive worked all my life and i have paid into all these programs so i dont feel guilty about using them when i need to i am lucky that i own my home and i have 12 acres that i planh on raising chickens and maybe cattle i wish i had a wood burning stove my house is all electric i try not to judge people because i dont want them judging me unfairly thanks for listenting nita

Well maybe one way to explain it is this. When I was healthy and needed extra money I always could work some overtime or get a temp part time job of some sort. Another problem is with our cost of living raise we get maybe xxx dollars and then almost all of that goes for the increase in medicare. Being disabled we can not try to any work as they say if you can do part time you can do full time. That is about as fixed as it can get and yes I also do not quailify for any extra help. Sam

Dh and I are on a fixed income and last winter was rough but we got buy. With kerosene being at $4.99 a gal, there is no way we will pay that price. We are in a better position than most in that we have a wood stove and we have ordered dry wood. Our only problem is storage. When we only used wood in the past we put the wood in the cellar but now neither of us is able to haul wood up the stairs so we are using our porch but can't keep than a cord at a time. The man we are buying from has dry wood all year and will deliver to us as we need it. As far as the cost of groceries we always stock up this time of year and I will be doing some canning. We have wonderful neighbors who keep a check on us in the winter months and are always willing to help us. We will not be driving around just for the fun. Can't afford that anytime soon. I buy extra to give to the food bank, which is really in need of donations as they needy has increased 40% this past year. I know that some elderly are reluctant to seek help but the way things are going I am not sure how much help will be available for them.

RenieB

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The Will of God will never Lead You where the Grace of God cannot Keep You

Dress warm this winter!!

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they need to move in with family

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Years ago (many years ago) this was what I saw happening most of the time with the majority of the seniors I knew well that were of my grandparents generation. Many of them, in fact, continued to live in their own ranch home and the younger generation built another house. The older folks moved into town only if/when they needed to be closer to medical care or required care that couldn't be provided by just family.

With the seniors of my parents generation you saw this solution not being as readily available ... more of the children opted for a career other than ranching and when the parents retired they had to move into town.

In my generation ... now the senior generation ... families are even more scattered and there may not be family close enough, or in a situation where it is possible.

It's not only SENIORS that are on fixed incomes or disability.
Also - judging a book by it's cover (i.e. - "They don't LOOK disabled.....) is wrong, too. That's how rumors and lies get started. It's really none of anyone's business what someone's disability is. Just because they "limp to the store, then are off to the races", means NOTHING. What if their disablity has nothing to do with the limp? You don't know, and if you don't have the kohoonies to ask THEM about it (albeit, it's nunya...), leave it alone.
So what if they drive a nicer new car, or have nice clothes? You have NO IDEA as to their finacial status, disability, or how they live.

I'd forgotten that folks used to do that, but of course they did!

"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
And Ma in her kerchief, and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap."

When I was a kid visiting my grandparents, they NEVER heated the bedrooms, even at night (east TN). The bathroom had an electric floorboard heater, the living room had a fireplace (and later a wood stove), and the kitchen was heated by the wood cook stove (and later the electric stove/oven).

We'd get our long flannel nightgowns real warm by standing close to the fire, then run jump in bed under quilts piled so thick we could scarcely breathe (the cold air contributed, too, I bet). We'd tuck our heads under the covers and our feet up into the skirts of our nightgowns, and when we had a little warm spot, we'd fall asleep.

Takes some getting used to, sleeping with your face and nose out in the cold, but that's some GOOD sleeping.

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Eating the dream

I don't LOOK disabled either, but i'll bet some of those seniors could beat me in a foot race. *grins*

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Yeah, I would say anyone planning on using coal should get it NOW!!!!!! In case you don't know, the coal company stocks have been skyrocketing as the price of coal has gone up - it seems that other countries can't keep up with production and are buying our coal. The coal business has been booming for several years and predictions are that coal prices are expected to go up quite a bit for the next 2 years.

(So, if you have the storage area and have the money, you may want to go ahead and get extra coal at today's prices because I can almost guarantee you, that next year you will be wishing you had bought extra this year when you call about the price!)

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Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania

"Everything happens for a reason."

I have been thinking that the elder may have to move in with family members and I think it may be the other way around. If an older parent has a home with a small of no mortgage it wouls seem the adult children may have to move in with them. Older farms and homes here, in ME, have the option of wood heat and with younger family members moving into the larger older home there would be enough help to keep the place warm and help with the others needs of country living. We do not have family nearby that might need to move in with us, but of course we would let them if the need arises. We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors that will send down their children to do any work we need. They are going to give our produce from their large garden and eggs when their chickens start laying. No matter what happens I believe the Lord will supply all our needs not our wants. We help others when we can and others help us.

RenieB

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The Will of God will never Lead You where the Grace of God cannot Keep You

Thank you Shazza for posting those links....I have emailed them to our seniors plus program as a suggestion....I am not a senior but my husband is VERY likely to be unemployed around Christmas time. But we are preparing with food and heat....and minimizing electric use. The kids will all get physicals before our health ins. is cancelled.

No, I would say you could work more or start a business or move up the pay scale ladder.

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Robert Frost

Neighborhood granny could be wrong about the phrase "fixed income" but here is what she says:

The phrase refers to old style pensions, much like our purchased fixed annuities of today. It guaranteed x amount of dollars monthly for life. So 20 years into the "retirement", if you lived that long, inflation had made you pretty much toast if that income was all you had.

Today, most pensions and virtually all govt. disability and age related (social security) pensions have cola clauses meaning benefits rise with inflation.

Problem for some folks is there is a lag time between the rise of inflation and rise of the benefit. Solution to that is to live slightly below your means and put back savings for the lag time.

Another problem is that our PERSONAL cost of living may rise without being considered inflation--an example is a healthy senior getting ill and needing to hire out lawn care. No cola to cover that. The solution there is to again maintain a healthy savings account, and to be prepared to make lifestyle changes, such as giving up a house for an apartment, etc.

So truth is in the USA there are not many seniors or disabled on "fixed incomes." There ARE many on LIMITED incomes.

And for them, if they qualify as truly poor, there are safety nets. (Would be another whole thread if those nets are adequate.)

The loudest beef comes (myself included) when those safety nets do not protect our ASSETS and LIFESTYLE CHOICES.

As has been said before, living in town, or with kin, or with friends are nothing we need protecting from. Homelessness is.

Using powdered milk, or cooking from scratch commodities, or having to wear long johns are nothing we need protecting from. Starvation and freezing to death are.

Peace and get prepared whatever your age or income!

Personally, I think we are all in a world of hurt before too long. The government is in no condition to raise SS to compensate for the huge increase of the cost of living, nor are employers able to pay wages to compensate for the same increases. If you are completely paraplegic and need someone to care for you, that is fixed income. The rest of us have hope of making a dime or two if we put our mind to it. In fact, Johnnie Ericson-Tada makes a pretty good income painting with her brush in her teeth (she is quadraplegic). I am a "if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger" sort of person.

I think it has been a big disappointment for many of us who planned on our 401Ks to suppliment our SS. Then with inflation I see my savings being of less and less value. Travel plans have fallen by the wayside and survival planning is at the forefront. I refuse to fall into the "victim" role even thought I am fighting angry over the whole thing. I do have a home. I can eat and with some extra effort I can stay warm. In today's world that is a real blessing.

Ok let me explain what I meant. I see people parking in disabled spots and the making like they are disabled. If you follow them around they handle big bags of feed and such as if there is nothing wrong with them. I also sometimes limp when I first start to walk but I can not walk far because of mt breathing and I had to have both hips replaced and am not susposed to lift more than t 10 pounds. Before I got my lung problems I would not park in the disabled unless there was no parking place except far away. Any of you that are disabled most likely don't throw a 50 pound bag of dog food or cattle feed over your shoulder and carry it to your car. I do not look disabled myself except for my O2 tank and hose so I don't judge a book by it's cover. Before I make that judgement I do watch as I love to study people. Sam