In our How I Manage My Money series we aim to find out how people in the UK are spending, saving and investing money to meet their costs and achieve their goals.
This week we speak to Robert Parker-Jones, 73, who lives in Telford, Shropshire, with his civil partner, Christopher, 72. Robert, a retired teacher, now works as an equestrian judge on an ad-hoc basis. He has £300,000 in savings bonds and does not think people can live comfortably on the state pension alone in later life.
Monthly budget
My monthly income: I get £1,689 a month from my teacher’s pension. I also receive £817 via the state pension each month and £975 via interest from various investments. Christopher has a state pension and money from interest on investments.
Our monthly outgoings: Our property is owned outright. Groceries, £300; council tax, £217; gas and electric, £85; water, £26; broadband and TV, £26; mobile, £8; estate fees for property, £22; TV licence, £15; eating out, £200; Netflix, £6, lottery, £9. I try to add £1,500 a month to savings each month.
