We usually say that a fool and his money are soon parted. This can so often be the cry when young folk first go out to work and get that exciting first pap packet. They are giddy with joy that their hard work has paid off! However, some realism must be entertained if the house and home is going to be maintained and services supplied 24/7.

Sometimes we don’t realise just how much things cost us until we have the year end reckoning. That point when you all write down how much your personal peer existence costs you. This should be the point when a good Dad looks up the house value, with all costs added to match what the local county council charges annually for the poorer doesn’t wish to pay an agency to find out these very questions.

These rates pay for the schools; fire services and great chunks go to the police and ambulance services on a purely pound in the rateable value basis. The local rates seem to pay for so many things that the schools budget looks to be in jeopardy every time. It is quite a struggle for the schools to get their own identity sorted and not rely on state funding that is allocated through the offices of the main parent company. For a person living alone in any property has a 25% discount called the solo living allowance. It is only a small amount of discount and sometimes it feels as if widows and widowers have a lot to pay out for.

The utilities are easier to manage when the property they are visiting has a gold seal contract. i.e. 5 or more services are covered by one utility supply company and thus the payment his reduced substantially over those customers who are paying for electricity; town gas; home telephone line; mobile telephone services etc. I have one of those dear little smart meters which collects and shares how much my gas and electricity usage is per month in real time. Very helpful in keeping an eye on how much it costs me when I use the washing machine and drier for example.