Squeeze panel: Mary Ann Day

Age: 61 Job: Pensioner Income: State pension

Mary Ann Day is 61 and a pensioner from Leeds in West Yorkshire.

She is divorced and has lived on her own for 25 years.

She retired and moved to a new flat in Southport to be closer to her son.

This month, Mary has been feeling outraged by the MPs' expense claims scandal and the plans outlined on the Budget for pensioners.

Her food an petrol prices have also increased.

I have had a very expensive month as my car broke down on the motorway a couple of weeks ago and, although not too expensive to repair, it was money I had not budgeted for.

My food bills have crept up slightly and of course the petrol prices are increasing week by week

The news is dominated by the MPs expense claims at the moment and I must comment that I feel betrayed by these people when the rest of the population is struggling to keep their heads above water.

The Budget was a big let down and in view of the above I think an insult especially when we were told that we could keep the Fuel Allowance for another year (the wording was quite patronising to my mind), and we would receive a pathetic increase in the pension.

I feel like I have been verbally patted on the head given a small biscuit and told to behave.

My food bills have crept up slightly and of course the petrol prices are increasing week by week. I have taken note this time of when the next fuel tax rise is so I will fill up my car before it goes up again.

I have received my first energy bill which was larger than I thought but hopefully not using the heating now and the longer days should reduce this over the summer months. I won't really know until the end of the year if I am paying enough to cover my energy bills but I am sure I will need the Fuel Allowance.

I also read in my newspaper that a transport executive had complained about the National Bus Pass for pensioners, saying that travel should be limited as it is expensive to run.

Well I was quite incensed by this as I understand my council tax and tax pay for this, both of which I still pay and have been paying since I was 15 when I started work, with a short break of six years while I was at home with my children. I rely greatly on my bus pass and so do thousands of others, we have earned this small concession.

Although I felt more upbeat last month I must say this month I feel quite the opposite. I know MP's are people and people are by nature opportunists but these people are in a position of trust, is it a case of do as I say not as I do.

I don't agree with people claiming benefits when they are not entitled and I understand they are jailed for that, which I agree with but I cannot see much difference between them and our MPs. It is even more despicable when they try and justify it.

Not a positive month at all.

My supermarket shopping has been on the whole much the same. I have, however shopped around which I am able to do as I do not work.

But I was thinking how difficult it is for working people and people with children to do this.

My biggest gripe this month is the increase in petrol prices, which has gone up by almost four pence per litre

Their bills must be increasing as they do not have the time to go from supermarket to supermarket for bargains as I do.

My biggest gripe this month is the increase in petrol prices, which has gone up by almost four pence per litre.

I know this measure was announced ages ago but who remembers and there were no reminders in the media the week before or even the day before.

I have tried to cut down my car journeys again and have either walked or used public transport. The new rules regarding senior bus passes fortunately has not affected me as I only use regular buses and trains.

On a positive note I had a letter from my energy provider to say electricity prices are going down so hopefully that will bring some relief.

Southport has been very busy recently with hoards of visitors, so there must be some money around. I am sure local retailers will be pleased as it will bring welcome money into the town.

On the whole I think people are coping well with the economic situation, maybe they spend a little less but they still want some fun out of life and it doesn't have to cost the earth.

It's a case of not what I can't do but what I can do. I think we are a resilient nation and we will come through this ok.

My, how the months are flying by.

I am still uncertain as to how my utility bills are working out as I have not had any bills yet. My water provider has not even started taking payments and I am on a meter, which is a bit of a worry.

The weather is improving, so I can now turn the heating down, which is a relief.

Only time will tell if things pan out for me and I will have to keep my options open as emergencies can happen

Petrol prices started to rise, but seem to have stabilised which is good news as I plan to explore and drive around the countryside round here to enjoy the weather.

My flat renovations have cost more than I planned and I will be using all my savings. I find this very upsetting but after my last bank state telling me how much interest I had earned I was tempted to take it back to the bank and say "here, I think your bosses might need it more than I". I didn't.

I really feel for the pensioners who rely on their interest to live, it must be a nightmare for them.

Fortunately I started to pull in the purse strings after Christmas and I can just about manage so far.

I have also had my granddaughter's birthday and my MOT on my car which unfortunately needed work done to it and proved very expensive. Of course the money I had would have paid for things like that.

My food bills are not too bad, but I did notice a big jump in the price of the cereal I buy last month, which frankly I don't understand. It's hard to keep track of what's going up and down.

I now take sandwiches if I go out for the day and limit my morning trips for a coffee, which is something I used to enjoy. I still buy my newspaper, I consider that an essential.

Only time will tell if things pan out for me and I will have to keep my options open as emergencies can happen, and this is the biggest fear for me and millions of other pensioners.

After years of being self sufficient and being in charge it seems it is all being taken away from us.

I have started back in a kind of routine with all my household bills. As I am new to this area, I will not know for some time how much my utility bills will be.

I pay monthly and I have had to estimate what my monthly payments should be. Time will tell.

My £60 Christmas bonus will buy some paint for my lounge and a few other items. How times change… a year ago I would have bought a new pair of shoes or an outfit.

It has been a bitterly cold winter but I try to keep the heating on for only relatively short periods in the morning and evening, although on one particularly cold day I had to give in and turn it on through the day.

I go out every day, whether for a bus ride or walk or in my car, but I do use public transport more here as I am even able to go on the trains free of charge, which is fantastic for a day out.

I have been buying in regular shops and the food prices seem steady, except for fresh produce which is of course seasonal, and things I like particularly like grapes and strawberries cost more.

I shop around and usually find offers. My food bill only differs by about £5 either way of my budget and that is when I have to buy things like washing liquid, paper towels, etc.

The price of petrol has gone down again, but seems to be static at the moment. I still need to travel back to Leeds every two weeks, so that is a bit of a drain.

Thank you Gordon Brown for my £60 Christmas bonus that will buy some paint for my lounge and a few other items. How times change… a year ago I would have bought a new pair of shoes or an outfit.

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