In the context of the ongoing reduction of pensions and social benefits, growing expectations and demands for an adequate minimum income in old age are coinciding with the pressing question of what will help older people - continue to live in dignity and contribute to society for as long as possible. At all stages of poverty and poverty prevention, a key role is played by private households and the individual ability to manage on a low income. In this context the use of “Reference budgets” (expenditure patterns for different types of households to live at a designated level of well-being) can play an important role. Developed in various countries across Europe in the last few years for a variety of aims “reference budgets” have been successfully used in the fields of social services, debt counseling/-prevention and consumer education.* New approaches for the development of budgets for senior households involve older people in defining the basket of goods and services for decent living at older age. From the perspective of senior-organisations these experiences with seniors themselves need to be shared and transferred into strategies and specific recommendations about coping better with everyday life.The main purpose of the project is to promote the self confidence and self determination of older vulnerable people to enable them to continue to live in dignity. A series of transnational workshops and a final “Round Table” created new opportunities for a better cooperation between senior-organisations and all actors in the field of social inclusion, debt prevention and consumer education, looking at innovative initiatives and learning methods and checking how to effectively use “reference budgets” for the benefit of older people.Website: www.dignity-in-old-age.eu