(Blog-Off II Entry) How to Survive as a Senior on Limited Income

 

 

How to Survive as a Senior on Limited Income

 

Seniors having fun

Most Senior Citizens have an income based on their three highest earning from a life-time of work. How about women who have always stayed home and raised the children, they only get SSI, which is a very small amount. Also, the disabled folks are really limited in income, not only that, but in every area of their life. The world has changed and it is getting more difficult for seniors to survive.

• Things You'll Need:

A monthly guide for grocery shopping.
Look around for the pharmacy with the best prices for seniors.
limit your use of utilities.


This is hard to explain to most people that have a good job and survive without any help. But, this problem is real and there has been many budget cuts during the last few years, the help that was once available for the seniors and disabled, is drying up. Getting help now is almost impossible.

 

Buying Groceries is not all that much fun when you only have a limited amount to spend. You have medical bills, prescriptions, mortgage or rent payments, not to mention the utility bills, basic cable, gas for your auto or bus, insurance for car and health, life insurance, homeowner associations. ...I think you get the picture. Times have sure changed and being a senior in today economy can be sad and scary, lots of senior live alone, for those that have a long time mate helps by having two incomes coming in. Lots of seniors that meet someone late in life do not marry in fear of losing their social security checks.

 

Walking through a grocery store you will see senior/disabled folks, holding one small shopping carry baskets. They buy such small amounts of food and to organize that into an entire month, can you imagine. Seniors only get paid once a month, when you use that up, that is it. Sometimes you run out of milk, bread and butter and you just have to wait for that next check. 

 

When you shop, look for items that can last and make large amounts, like lentil soup, meat loaf. Make TV dinners and freeze the extra and enjoy it several times during the month. The only problem is; many seniors have special health problems and are told to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. That kind of food last for a week or less and then you end up eating canned and processed foods. Health is a real issue for seniors and food plays such an important role.

 

Gardening is a great way to grow the food you need and to get outside

 

My Mom gets food stamps, she is a low income senior. She got a total of $14.00 a month. You ask why? Um good question. Because, she didn't have any children living at home and she is $25.00 over the poverty level. I wonder if Mom can still have children? Even during the election, seniors and disabled folks were not even mentioned. Seems that the Government is not happy about handing out those social security checks each month.

A peacefull space

 

Most seniors have lots of extra time to enjoy doing the things that they never had time for before. Gardening is a healthy exercise, as well as time to create a wonderful vegetable garden. this helps save a lot of produce from going bad, just walk into you back yard and grab some salad items. If you live in a mobile senior community you can have a common garden that you and your friends can  share food, enjoy the time spent together and eat healthy.

 

Now, for those of you that are shut in' s life is difficult, some can move into a senior apartment where they serve food in the cafe, and the apartment is rent controlled, also you meet others that you can relate to and your not alone anymore. They have a van that takes you to the Senior Community Center, to the doctors, stores and many other places. You have your own small apartment so you have your privacy when you want to be alone.  

 

Most cities and towns have a yellow page book for senior resources. My Mom got help when her heater went out last winter and it was really snowing outside. She looked through her senior resource guide, and ending up with a company coming out and looking at her problem and they put a new motor in the heater for free. There are so many option; you can ask your local Senior Community Center where you can find this resources guide.

Local Senior Centers

 

Another idea, the Senior Centers service a large healthy meal each day. The cost is minimal so if you can get there everyday that could be your main meal each day. At least go when you can. You will meet new friends and share advise with each other. Their are experienced case workers that you can also talk to about problems you might have, they are always helpful. 

 

The Senior Center also has dance classes, computer training classes, exercise programs, painting classes and a place to find a job if you want to work. You can create your own heaven or hell on earth and let's just make lemonade from lemons. There is no choice in this planet, we have to Play the "hand we were dealt." 

 

I feel that having a pet or pets will bring much joy in your life. There are so many pets, good pets, in shelters that you could rescue and show them the love that is in your heart. They pay you back in large royalities, with a love that is simply perfect.  

Start dating again

 

You might even start thinking about dating again, the Senior Center is also a great way to meet that sweet awesome man/women to add more joy to your life. The Center holds dances and parties if that is something you would like. Join groups, help someplace in your community where you can feel needed. Become that person that you want to be, this is your Golden years, forget thinking about the survive issue's and start to have some fun. 

 

Next thing I would like to mention is prescriptions, depending on how much you take and what your co-pays are, this can be another costly expense for seniors. In my research, I found that chain drug stores are the most expensive. Go to your local large hospital pharmacy, they buy in large buck and don't have a lot of costumers from the locals, they service the patients that are in the hospital. The care and advice you receive is beyond reproach and the discount is a large savings all the time and for a three month supply of your generic drugs they are the have the best prices compared to everywhere.

 

Tips & Warnings

• Get your towns Senior Guide.
• Start going to your local Senior Center
• Learn how to buy groceries that will last for the month.
• Get a case worker that you keep in touch with to help you out.
• Always keep your doors locked and make sure you have deadbolt locks.
• Take your time while driving, don't worry about other drivers that want to go faster.
• Stay in contact with you family

Comments

[Darlene Sabella]

Dear Jerry, you are very welcome, it gives me great pleasure to pass along the true facts about what our senior's face in todays world. Seniors will not get the allocated annual raise this year from the Government, I guess it's more important to help the auto and banking industry then real people in need.

[Jerry]

Even though I'm middle aged this wonderful article inspires me to conduct better and a more organized plan in order prepare properly. Having and keeping a relationship healthy through older age will help dissipate lonliness and combined income(s) too. Thanks Darlene for the terrific heads-up.

[Susan Knight Dunn]

I managed on SSI but barely. I'm not looking forward to the possibility of having to go back to those days if/when my husband dies.

[John R Sabella]

Frankly I don't understand how anyone can live on SSI without additional income or help. I know its being done but I don't think you can call it living. Existing Maybe would be a better discription. Unfortunately, given the new economic system we live in where 401ks that can disapear in a monent have replaced pension plans many more retirees will be forced to exist on SSI only.