I've just experienced another of those shocking things that happen as you get older: I found out that I was entitled to a Concessionary Bus Pass! It was bad enough last year when I found I could have had a Senior Railcard for a year or so, but the Bus Pass as well - what next?
Of course, I now have both these documents, as they save me money. I remember my mother was still paying full price for things like entrance tickets (she never travelled by train or bus!!) when she was 75 or 80 as she didn't want to accept that she was over 60! The Senior Railcard does cost money, but if you are likely to travel by train a couple of times a year, it would pay for itself very quickly as you get 30% off. I paid for the three year one (£70) and that has already paid for itself in less than a year; I was slightly disappointed last year when I got it as I could have saved money on my earlier visits to my brother's hospital had I known. The Bus Pass has yet to be used, but free local bus travel anywhere in the UK really sounds like something that I will use. It irritated me only a week ago to be charged £1.80 on my OysterCard for a short bus journey in London.
Talking of my OysterCard, another little way of saving money is to get your Senior (or any other sort of concession) Railcard linked to your OysterCard, so that you get the 30% discount there as well. They don't always tell you these things clearly and so you do have to look after yourself. It's rather like booking ahead on the trains - if you travel off peak and are happy to get a specific return train as well as outward, you can book on-line and save a lot there as well.
I have to say that I am feeling a bit older since my operation - I don't have quite the same energy levels, and am happy to sit doing nothing sometimes. If I mention this to t'other half, she says "welcome to the real world!"
