Making Ends Meet: Kim's Journey Through Pensioner Life
“ I can't believe they've done this to the pensioners. I’ve got the blankets out already and will resist putting the heating on for as long as possible.”
Meet member Kim. Kim is a proud grandma to four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She also works as a nanny to two autistic children and is happy to share that “children are her life”.
A 9 to 5 retirement
Divorced and single, Kim lives alone in Sale with her family close by. At 68, she thought she’d be enjoying her retirement by now but simply cannot afford to give up work and live how she’d like on just the state pension. The end of her current work contract is looming which is obviously the cause of much concern, especially with Christmas around the corner.
Kim is keen to express that, she actively seeks out an extra income so that she can enjoy spending time with her friends and family. So whilst she could get by penny-pinching on the state pension, she chooses to work so she can spoil her grandkids.
Cold times incoming
“There’s no help for people like me, who are just above pension credits threshold. And now we’ve lost the winter warmth fund too which was a great help last year. As you can see I’ve got the blankets out already! And I will resist it for as long as I can. But I will turn the heating on when the children come round.”
Kim continues; “I can’t believe they’ve done this to pensioners but given massive raises to train drivers and even backdated them to those that have left. If you were to just live on the state pension, its less than the 16 year olds minimum wage. Why hit the pensioners? I am regretting voting for labour.”
“We’ve all heard about those pensioners who will be on the bus all day and going libraries to keep warm. I do actually have a bus pass, that’s one benefit I can actually get but I do have a very old car that gets me from A to B.”
Always looking on the bright side
Kim found out about Bread and Butter through Slimming World and their encouragement to eat fresh fruit and vegetable as part of their plans, so she came along to see what its all about. “It’s brilliant,” says Kim, “Especially for the treats or cereal for the grandkids which is stuff I wouldn’t normally buy.”
Despite being badly advised on financial matters previously, Kim always tries to remain positive; “I try not to worry too much and just think something will turn up. I’ve never had a plan and usually just manage with the help of people like you.”
“There are so many people far worse off then me. Sometimes there’s people who haven’t registered that week at the hub and I see them standing there hoping and praying for a cancellation. They’re really in need and that’s why I don’t go if I don’t have to. I won’t starve, there’s food in the cupboards. I’m not destitute.”
Childhood memories
When asked about her parents and growing up, Kim says, “My parents were definitely worse off. They had six kids, my mum didn’t work and my dad was a station manager and there was a group of them that used to go round and get all the reduced food from the supermarkets.”
Kim has just inherited a bag of her mum’s diaries and there’s entries about not being able to attend her U3A classes as she couldn’t afford the bus fare. “We had no idea as kids that they were in that situation.”
Kim is now a member of the U3A (University of the Third Age) too, just like her mum and is enjoying studying Italian.
Listen to Kim’s podcast right here
