This is my main food cupboard, over the years I have called it many things, but these days it's just known as 'the food cupboard'. (See HERE for when I acquired it in 2016.)
It's always been one of the most useful parts of our home as it holds such a lot, and over the past day or so I have been finding out just how much food there has been stashed away in the bottom cupboard.
Over the past year or so I have been eating through all the tins in the top part of the food cupboard, alongside the few fresh things I was buying each week. Finally, last week this shelf just had a few tins of salmon and a couple of very out of date green lentils, so it was time to start moving things up from the bottom cupboard and having a good sort out.
I was amazed at how much was in there, so much so that I am still in the process of sorting through them all. Last year I moved all out of date food upwards and left the things dated 2026 and after in the bottom cupboard. Doing this worked really well and it has meant that I could use things up in chronological order and therefore nothing has been wasted. It also meant that anything that I bought and didn't use straight away was added to the lower cupboard if their dates were post-2026. Gifts of food were added, things that I brought home from Mum's bungalow were added. All added ... and then forgotten about until there wasn't even a tiny bit of space after Christmas.
Now obviously it is 2026 and with all this space in the top cupboard I am currently in the process of pulling out most of the foods with these best before dates to move them upwards ... and there is a lot more than I thought.
So I decided to move up what I could and then make an inventory of what will still be in the bottom cupboard, so that I don't go out and buy any duplicates of what I already have. I am on an extremely low budget until May of this year, so this brilliant stock of food alongside my Riverford veg boxes, that I wrote about yesterday, are really going to see me though nicely.
I'm hoping to finish off the sorting today, so if you are interested I will take a photo of my nicely restocked top cupboard and show it soon.
Talking about being on a super strict budget until May ... look what arrived on Saturday morning.
I can assure you that I was on the computer and applying for my State Pension within minutes of this invitation landing on my doormat. To be going from £77.45, plus the interest from my savings account, to £1001.18 a month is an amazing thought.
What will I be doing with all that money?
Well I can assure you I will not be wasting a penny of it and frugality will always be the name of the game in day to day life. Just so that once our renovations on the bungalow are complete we will be able to afford some lovely little holidays.
Sue xx
That's a nice pension amount. I look forward to a bit of a rise in April but still not to that full amount and they'll just tax my spouses pension more anyway!
ReplyDeleteYes, this amount is the full state pension after the April rise. Alan was interested in knowing what his rise would be, so I did another forecast. I've paid a full stamp for 49 years so it's the maximum you can get.
DeleteWowsers, those extra £££ will make a difference! We're in the process of a major redesign to put in a new kitchen and replace the original with a loo and walkin shower room, and utility area. That lovely little cupboard of yours has given me the idea for moving cans and packets into utility area into a similar one to free up kitchen space.... hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteA HUGE difference. 😄 If we can make it fit, the cupboard will be our main larder in the bungalow. I would hate to have to part with it.
DeleteI remember when you purchased that beautiful cupboard so useful I hope it will fit ok in your new home, your pension will make life a bit easier. Heather
ReplyDeleteYes, it's been with me for over ten years now, she was worth every penny. ❤️
DeleteKeeping check of the dates on food packets is a very good idea, presumably you'll have a new kitchen and design it around your cupboard?
ReplyDeleteThe cupboard will have to be free standing away from the run of units we need, but fingers crossed she will fit in. 🤞
DeleteDouble WOW! Wow at the amount of food which can be safely stashed in such an innocent looking cupboard.
ReplyDeleteSecond wow because you are only three weeks older than me {🤣🤪😘} so I might be getting a similar letter soon, x
My two star pieces of furniture, the food cupboard and the tall bookcase cupboard in the living room, both hold an amazing amount of food and books. It's almost imperative that I eat most of this food before we move house and have to package everything up ... again!! ;-)
DeleteOoh exciting, we will both be pensioners ... at last. :-)
It is paid four weeks in arrears, a very long four weeks, and then the day depends on your NI number, not 28 days after your birthday.
ReplyDeleteFrugal habits are so ingrained it is quite a challenge to choose the better cut of meat and the better quality ingredients. The vegetable box looks very good, though nothing beats freshly picked from the garden.
I understand that you can arrange to have it paid weekly but that you have to contact them and specifically request that. The default, and the one they prefer, is 4 weekly but you can ask to change to weekly.
DeleteNelliegrace: Alan says the one good side to this is that there are a couple of five week months in the year, so it feels good to get two pension payments in one month. :-)
DeleteJane: Yes you can, and I guess for some people that would be better. For instance my son has nearly always been paid weekly, so continuing that when he retires might be a good option.
DeleteI too remember when you bought that beautiful cupboard 🙂
ReplyDeleteIt's just over ten years ago now, where does the time go to?
DeleteI remember the cupboard too and wish I could find one similar for my kitchen here. It's so useful to have extra storage space isn't it, Sue :) I'd like to be more organised with dates.
ReplyDeleteWow, you'll find the extra money will make things easier. My current pension is £166.70 per week (or £666.80) per 4 weeks which is why I might have to move if Graham dies first. The amount I receive will leave very little once the rent is paid. Our monthly outgoings are currently around £900 per month and that doesn't include food either :0/ I dare not think about the implications.
Angie
Hopefully you won't have to worry about this too much. However, should the worst happen then it would be worth exploring pension credit. Depending on savings etc the amount that they currently top up to is a weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single. Plus if you qualify there is usually more help for council tax, and possibly rent.
DeleteThank you , Jane, but even that amount would leave me struggling as our rent alone is currently £500 per month. I dread trying to claim benefits of any kind. I have never done it, we've always managed to stay afloat without help. I know how my mum used to worry about the constant letters from the benefits office when she was in her 80's. She was often in tears about it.
DeleteI would rather move to a smaller place and ditch the rent element, I think.
Angie: I understand exactly what you are saying, but if you did want to try the looking into benefits route I'm sure you could get some excellent advice from Citizens Advice Bureau and help from them in doing it. Could you both move into a smaller property now and future-proof yourselves for whichever of you remains alone?
DeleteI have always really liked your food cupboard and hopefully it will go to the new house with you. I remember being surprised when the pension application came in-I had assumed it came automatically on your 60th birthday (in my case). I receive my pension weekly on a Friday but I’m not sure you can do this now. Norrie gets his every four weeks so 13 times a year which we then divide into monthly amounts to keep the budget right. I hope you may also receive some compensation for the missing years.Catriona
ReplyDeleteI have my fingers crossed it will fit, hopefully in the kitchen. You can still get it weekly if you specifically ask for it that way. I very much doubt I will get any compensation, I'm just glad I was born when I was, a couple of months later and I would be waiting until my 67th birthday.
DeleteLove that cupboard. I have a thing for pieces like that. We received a huge bump to my husband's military pension as well as his disability last year at this time. We pretty much live the,same way, and save most if it. I'm a compulsive $aver! But we have peace of mind more now and that is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with it as soon as I saw it but the original price tag was much too high for me to consider it. When the lovely guy that owned the antique shop had his big closing down sale ... unusually, a genuine one ... everything was half price, so it was mine.
DeletePeace of mind is truly priceless isn't it.
Hooray for state pension and for any type of pension! It might be worth looking into deferring it as you might get a larger amount. Whatever you do, enjoy it Sue!
ReplyDeleteNo, deferring it is not an option. For one thing I need it now, and for the second with a decreased life expectancy it makes sense to get it as soon as I am able to.
DeleteThat lovely cupboard has always been a favourite of mine, glad its survived your frequent declutters!
ReplyDeleteHooray for the pension and for your plans to spend it on living! xxx
I would probably declutter Alan before I would part with my cupboard!! ;-)
DeleteThat is a beautiful cupboard. Perfect for storing food in. Congrats on your pension invitation.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's held such a lot over the years, and is very dear to me.
DeleteThat is a lovely cupboard. I, too, need to sort through my food stores and use up some of the items. Glad you have been invited to apply for your pension. :)
ReplyDeleteEverything has now gone through and I've had a letter back explaining how the payment process will begin. Exciting times ahead. :-)
DeleteFinally getting my state pension a couple of years ago was wonderful. All we need now is for the Govt to pay us some compensation for 'moving the goal posts' for women of a certain age group. I believe we lost about 60k each. Of course the Govt says it hasn't got any money to pay us even a small sum. I don't believe them. Not long to wait now Sue for your pension, very exciting.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been terrible for those women on the verge of 60 to have the goalposts moved so suddenly. I am only just in the 66 years age group, my brother will have to work until he is 67.
DeleteSue - please delete this if not appropriate.🫶
ReplyDeleteFor anyone thinking about deferring, please "do the math". We did so when my OH was due his State Pension and if we deferred one year, even with the "enhanced" subsequent pension, it would have been over 15 years before we had recouped the amount of money deferred. It is not a good option for everyone, as Sue replied above, particularly if you have an existing health issue.
Completely appropriate, don't worry.
DeleteI looked at the deferral system a long time ago and took advice from my brother, who works for the Inland Revenue. He says that in the majority of cases deferring shouldn't even be considered. Better to claim your pension even if you are still working, and invest it in a high interest savings account. That way if something should happen to you, at least you have been getting the money to pass onto your loved ones.
In the USA we get what they call social security that one can start taking at 62 but at very reduced rate. I opted to wait till I was 65. Could I of waited till 70 yes but the catch up was not worth it rather have the funds now.
ReplyDeleteIt's always best to sit down and carefully do the calculations isn't it. 🙂
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