To wonder what’s the point when I’m left with this after bills?

OP could you divide your money into pots so for example £20 per month goes into a days out pot and £20 for Christmas and birthdays, £30 for clothes etc? Then you will be able to afford some treats and hopefully your expenses will even out each month.

There’s this bizarre dichotomy on MN whereby if somebody on benefits says they only have £120 a week left after their rent and bills to cover absolutely everything else the household needs and they daren’t even think about Christmas because the idea of not being able to treat their DC makes them cry, everyone rages about disgusting the Tories are for thinking anyone can live on such a pittance and how awful life is for them; yet when somebody not on benefits says they only have the same amount to do the same, everyone rages about them not knowing they’re born and tells them how lucky they are to eat more than beans on toast.

Your DC must be young for you to be paying that much per month, but it will go down when you get funded hours, and again when they are at school. In the meantime you are increasing your earning potential, building a pension, paying towards a property you'll one day own, and you do have plenty to feed the two of you.

I've been single since nursery years and had to pay for everything on a far smaller salary. I've always shopped carefully and generally always managed to have a little to spare.

Lots of people are struggling and many much more than you OP.

Seriously, people’s expectations are ridiculous. When I had my dc I earned 18k and dh £32k, our mortgage was £850 a month (in 2008). Yes, it was tight but we budgeted and I went back to full time once dc were in juniors to get my career back on track. Nursery is such a small part of life but it’s expensive short term. I don’t think you realise how lucky you are.

@TeenLifeMum But 50k in 2008 is more like 80k in todays money so more than the OP and take home would be higher as it was two earners vs one.

You're on a decent salary.

You won't be paying nursery fees for ever. When they stop you'll be pretty comfortable.

Many people have to get by on far less.

Exactly

and this
"The point" is that we work to pay our bills, put a roof over the family's heads and food on the table.

If you are on £70K, you are doing very well indeed.
Presumably there is also contributions from the dc's father to be added to that, plus child benefit ?
If you are able to pay a mortgage that will give you a long term asset that will increase in value, will give you security of tenure and will give you and your child a roof over your head, you are doing very well indeed.

Nursery years will be over very soon and look how much you will have then.

Perhaps have a little consideration for all the mere mortals who will never earn £70K, despite being senior in their careers.

When we bought our first house in 1985 the interest rate was 15%, after bills, mortgage and food we had £5 left each week. It was about 2 years later that we could start going out and go on cheap holidays and another few years before we could consider starting a family.

Bloody hell. I'm on 26k with a first class degree, Masters and PhD to my name, and felt bad for moaning I was struggling.

70k?! Poor dab.

Seriously, people’s expectations are ridiculous. When I had my dc I earned 18k and dh £32k, our mortgage was £850 a month (in 2008). Yes, it was tight but we budgeted and I went back to full time once dc were in juniors to get my career back on track. Nursery is such a small part of life but it’s expensive short term. I don’t think you realise how lucky you are.

Unsurprisingly the nursery fees are your biggest bill. Luckily that one wont be for ever.
Once your LO starts school you'll find things get a lot easier.

Honestly @ReLOa you do realise many millions of people are managing at the moment on much lower wages than you?

£4200 take home pay

it’s likely the OP pays more than £50 into her pension

"The point" is that we work to pay our bills, put a roof over the family's heads and food on the table.

What's the alternative - to give up and let those who carry on working pay taxes so that you don't have to?

So when nursery finishes you’ll have at least £1k more a month even if wrap around is £600 (likely to be less). You’re in a very good position.

How old is your child? Nursery should go down with funded hours or end altogether at school age. Are you planning on state education or independent for your child? If state, this is a short term issue as wraparound care will be considerably cheaper than nursery fees.

70k is a good dual income so I can't see why you can't afford any treats on that salary

£570 for food and fun isn't a lot at all.. it's about £140 a week. Also being a single parent you have to pay for EVERYTHING on your own...
I completely see and hear you OP. I am a single parent, albeit much lower earner but I too have a very low weekly budget. I'm trying my best to be happy doing less... but it's tough. Just know you aren't alone ❤️

£4200 take home pay

£1600 nursery (which will end soon)
£900 mortgage (which gives you an expensive asset)

Leaves £1700 for bills and food. Which is most people's take home pay.

This. Not really a problem.

Except that it’s not really just food and fun: it’s that plus laundry and cleaning products, nappies, birthday and Christmas presents, clothing and shoes, the odd haircut, replacing odds and ends in the home, occasional travel to visit family. And having less than than £150 a week for all of that doesn’t then leave much in the way for saving anything for emergencies. Just because somebody isn’t going to be knocking at the doors of the food bank doesn’t mean they’re deserving of mockery.

You must have quite significant out goings to have so little left at the end of the month? Debt?

You have a car, mortgage and job paying well over most people's, can cover gas, electricity, council tax, phone, internet, repairs, insurance, pension, food, clothing and everything else (except overpriced theme park visits and expensive holidays).

It'll be fine - and you'll be sitting on a significant asset at the end of it.

Just two of them though so good can be a lot less than £100 a week, we spend that for a family of 4 including a fussy toddler and a baby on formula plus all the nappies.

£570 gets nibbled away pretty easily between food and birthdays and unavoidable stuff, but it is just for a few years.

She's already included petrol. It's £570 for food and fun for two people. If child is in nursery full time, it's basically teas and weekends.

I'm just looking for my violin.