Running out of cash before payday

I think you are exactly proving OPs point that £400 isn’t enough for 2 weeks as well as peace of mind if your car breaks.

OP hasn’t mentioned Xmas savings so depending on the amount in your piggy bank you could have very similar amounts of money and you are proving that yes it is stressful.

Everyone that is saying that OPs £400 is £200 each week - that will land OP in the exact same situation next month. If possible it would be much better if OP could manage on £100 each week or less and have a little to put aside for that car repair or broken washing machine.

I hope things get better for you OP and everyone in tough times.

I usually hover between +£300 and - £400 every week as a supply teacher. I can't seem to shift that overdraft. £400 is ok for 2 weeks. For our family, it would pay for food /petrol and school expenses (lunches/snacks /clubs). I'd still have to be careful though so no outings or takeaways.

my error was overspending ect then trying to balance the books till payday

Oh I am so so sorry!!! I misread your comment as smug gloating from someone having 1972£ left and not being happy about it. I went back and saw it was 19,72£!!! That kind of makes a difference and I'm so sorry to have talked to you in such a vile way when you are actually one of the people I was trying to defend with my post.😳🤐🙏🌺

I have way less than that and I work full time and run a business on the side and have a lodger so I literally can't do any more to bring in more money!

I took out a zero % interest on spending credit card, left my salary in my account to zero off the overdraft, used the card that month for my spending, cut it up and paid it off. Being out of my overdraft was such a mental lift and the 0% period was lengthy which meant payments could be small.

@Maria1979 what? It is ridiculous that the current situation means more and more people can't save, or run out of money before the end of the month. I'm in that boat so your comment and its undertone was uncalled for.

Oh and I've never been able to get out of my overdraft for longer than 3 days

I understand how you feel OP. I get edgy if my current account goes below a certain amount. It is getting harder and harder to maintain an emergency fund too (even a small one) and that also puts me on edge.

I'd be thinking I was quids in if I had £200 LEFT
Living on disability benefits I barely get that in a week.. including bills!
Know your privilege and keep it to yourself

I've got less than £400 for a month after rent & utilities.
Most people don't have that amount of disposable income for a month let alone 2 weeks!

It’s not wealthy, but if you have that left after paying bills, it’s not exactly destitute. 🙄

Such humour doesn't go down well on MN. Tongue in cheek generally doesn't.

Some people don’t have overdraft facilities…I don’t have one, nor do I have a credit card.

Surely that's what an overdraft is for? I always hope to have enough by budgeting but sometimes unforeseen expenses take you over/xmas/splash out on something you shouldn't have.... and I might go overdrawn. Next month means you start on the back foot but such is life of an average/low wage earner IMO.

My point was that previous poster was boasting about having so much in her current account when actually it’s not a sign of being good with money.
Completely agree about money management being taught in schools. I’ve said previously that we should get rid of RE lessons and replace with money management. RE could be spread across other subjects like history and PSE. Money management would be a much more valuable life skill.

Oh no, poor you!
I get paid in around 10 days and I have about £50 of my OVERDRAFT left.

Well thank you for your input. Extremely valuable to all people struggling and who have lived hand to mouth there whole lives.

I had to replace 2 car tyres due to a rogue screw puncturing one last week - that 200 quid is my commuting budget for the month ergo commuting now goes on credit as there is NO spare money (single mum here on one income) You really are clueless.

This is how we budget as well, everything from holidays to Christmas to emergency car repairs and vets bills has a pot (Monzo account).

We don't always have loads in our main joint account, but plenty to cover expected or unexpected bills, and can always shuffle things around if we're short.

It sounds like you might have a bit of anxiety going on. It must be harder if you alone are responsible for everything.

At least OP has filled her freezer and cupboards full of food for the month. An obvious thing to do is to pay all bills as soon as you get paid, do as OP did and stock up freezer and cupboards with food then split remaining money into 4 as it's easier to manage on a weekly budget. OP can simply split her money into 2 so should easily manage to the next payday unless she's got some big expense she hasn't mentioned.

I'd consider myself a failure if I had views like them.

Indeed. Let's hope you're never in a position to find out what that actually feels like. Situations can change so suddenly I'd hate for you to find yourself with so little and then to top it off someone comes along and calls you a failure...

Wow.

What a fucking shitty thing to say. Vile.