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Original poster

Would you consider 25k a year a low income for a single person?

65 replies

Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:19

Outside of London.
It's not even 25, it's 24.8k.

This is for a single person living alone.

OP posts:
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Waitformetoarrive · 03/08/2024 18:43

ruby1957 · 03/08/2024 13:27

It is more than the single persons state pension!

Good and so it should be. If someone is claiming state pension then they have the opportunity to plan for their retirement for a number of years.

quockerwodger · 03/08/2024 15:29

That's about 6k lower than the average.
So yes, I'd say it's on the lower end, not far off minimum wage as PP pointed out.

But it's still Vastly more than some in this country have to exist on which is terrible really.
Carers allowance and unemployment for example.

Dishwashersaurous · 03/08/2024 15:26

It's less than median income. So yes it is lower than average

1offnamechange · 03/08/2024 15:18

ruby1957 · 03/08/2024 13:27

It is more than the single persons state pension!

several people have said this but I don't get the relevance

If you're old enough to be on state pension you have had 40-50 years to build up some savings, and ideally pay off a mortgage, an opportunity a 20/30 year old will not have had.
If you have no other income than state pension you will usually be entitled to various other benefits as well as the pension.
You won't have many of the necessary expenditures often associated with working.
You won't be paying tax or NI if the state pension is your only income.
You won't have to consider how you might afford future dependants on that income.

It's not comparing like for like.

TubeScreamer · 03/08/2024 14:32

Yes. It’s less than I earn and I consider myself a low earner.

pinacollateral · 03/08/2024 14:15

sanogo · 03/08/2024 13:31

On MN it's very low, nearly every post I see people claim to be earning six figures

It's objectively a low salary - it's only just above minimum wage.

pinacollateral · 03/08/2024 14:14

It's not that much more than minimum wage so yes it's quite low if you're working full time.

PenelopeHofstadter · 03/08/2024 13:57

@LoneHydrangea you aren't paying your 'admin team' a living wage!

SmartyFace · 03/08/2024 13:53

Until recently our family of four lived on £25k and it was tight, but manageable. We did it for four years. We even had a couple of holidays and ran two cars. No benefits as we had too much in savings (which we very rarely dipped into). The mortgage on our 3-bed semi is only £500 a month though.

AgnesX · 03/08/2024 13:46

It's the civil service AO salary isn't it? It never was that well paid by standards but the pension was the plus point.

If I'm wrong sorry, it's been a long time.

Girasoli · 03/08/2024 13:45

I think it would be hard to live on in the SE unless it was in a houseshare.

GingerPirate · 03/08/2024 13:38

Yes, very low.

IMeanYes · 03/08/2024 13:31

To be honest. Yes. I'd assume that's a starting/early careers salary. My DS is a new entrant to the workforce. His outside of London contract is £27k.

sanogo · 03/08/2024 13:31

On MN it's very low, nearly every post I see people claim to be earning six figures

Willmafrockfit · 03/08/2024 13:31

depends on the job and your qualifications.

Calamitousness · 03/08/2024 13:27

It’s fine for a first job, but by 30’s I’d expect
to be earning more.

ruby1957 · 03/08/2024 13:27

It is more than the single persons state pension!

VividQuoter · 03/08/2024 13:25

These are the salaries unfortunately for many people. I just looked at a bank clerk job in Surrey! - same or similar salary. You can say; wtf on steroids and they still will find someone working for that sort of money, single and all

LoneHydrangea · 03/08/2024 13:24

It’s very low, but standard for an unskilled job. My admin team earn about 25k.

LizzeyBenett · 03/08/2024 13:23

Yes I would consider it a very low wage

Waitformetoarrive · 03/08/2024 13:23

Yes, very low. If you are working 40 hours a week for this then you are only slightly above minimum wage.

Zusammen · 03/08/2024 13:21

Prawncow · 03/08/2024 10:52

As someone has said, minimum wage on a 40 hour week is £23,795 so you’re on £1k pa more than minimum wage.

This. It’s about £20 a week more than min wage.

Sdpbody · 03/08/2024 13:21

Depends on the age and responsibilities of the person.

I earned £25k back in 2008 and took home £1600 pcm. I lived in a flat share for £380pcm with my friends and had no responsibilities. I literally had £1200 a month to buy clothes, holidays and go out drinking.

My mortgage is currently £1,680.

ThinWomansBrain · 03/08/2024 13:14

so mortgage and bills are around 50% of your take home pay
not great, but doable - unless you have huge transport costs

That it's below the student loan threshold signifies lowish

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 03/08/2024 13:12

Whilst you may feel it is low, does it depend on any qualifications you have.

you have achieved a property, which with all the bills for it is just under 50% of your income.