To struggle on this salary?

So?

I get wanting your money to go further, and being frustrated that our parents seemed better off.

But I don’t understand the logic of saying you shouldn’t bother / should have got an entry level job. Then you’d have even less money?

The student loan repayment is high and you must have financed that yourself otherwise it would come out with your tax. Was it for 9k fees? If so at that monthly payment surely you won’t be paying it for long. Like nursery fees. When both those are done you’ll be £1100 a month better off - surely that’s something to look forward to?

£300 on a car lease?! Expensive choice! I had a car on hire purchase in 2021. Second hand Skoda fabia. Cost me £53 a month 😂 but then I don’t care about fancy cars!

I don’t know why everyone is giving you a hard time over this?! I’m in a similar situation but with a partner and 2 lots of nursery fees almost £1000 month and car finance etc and we spend £600 month minimum on food and that’s with being careful and mortgage repayments. There’s nothing left! I go without clothes etc and worry about covering food for the last week of every month. I think lots of people are struggling atm that are on what used to be considered ‘decent’ salaries. I’d ask for a bit more maintenance and you literally just got to ride this out until little one starts school. I’m sorry it’s such a miserable time for you. One thing I will say is that I changed my job as it was stressful like yours and managed to find same salary with reasonable hours. At least it’s helped to alleviate some stress and I’d recommend you try and do the same. Money stress is horrible and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone! Everyone is feeling the pinch

…. And you’ll get told to fuck off and stop pushing house prices up with your londoner money

No, the MN brigade will be along telling her that she’s failing to mention her designer bags or something and that people on 5k/year living in zone 1 London are going to spain in august for £300 flights inc so she has a problem and should stop whinging.

I don't understand how you have no money left with that salary and outgoings, have you done a budget?

I totally agree. A contribution of £400 per month from the father means it is not even covering nursery charges… that seems so grossly unfair. Especially since it is the mother that is taking full responsibility for their child. Why should the mother be shouldering all the responsibility?

I've had similar earnings at one time and another and I'd never dream of spending 300 a month on a car.

You can get a decent secondhand car in decent condition that will last a good few years for not a huge sum of money, and the cost averages over the long term will be well under 100 per month.

It’s a salary of £47k if no pension taken off and is net. It’s a good salary.

If after food, insurance, gas and electric and other now essentials she has to budget for a trip to the hairdresser, yeah I can see why she’d be pee’d off.

i have no designer stuff, just a healthy amazon habit of £5/10/20 max items. I spend a lot. It is shocking how much on a monthly basis.

Life is now very expensive. My bf is on over £50k with a low-ish mortgage and lives hand to mouth half the month after loan payment. It’s very hard.

I know what you mean, you want to see some tangible reward for the effort you're putting in, not just purely surviving.

I would begin by questioning why you're working quite so hard. Are you doing too much? You shouldn't really be working late into the evening on a regular basis.

Hi. Your student loan seems high per month. So I can only assume you have a post grad loan as well as undergrad. Because if you just have just an undergraduate loan you only pay the 9% on amount over £2274 per month in your salary. Which works out as £74 per month. Double check you are repaying the correct amount and if not get a refund on all the overpayments. If you have a postgrad loan though repayment kicks in at a lower salary at 6% excess on top of your undergrad loan. Still seems excessive ! Do not overpay a student loan , not worth it. It only lasts a fixed number if years then is written off! So no need
to overpay

This.

Check all expenditure. Money can add ip from takeaways, coffees, clothes, etc. Check where savings can be made.

We swapped to netflix with ads

brave little soldier

Can I clarify, you mean £3100 before or after tax? For us, the childcare was the most expensive item (for two kids). When they started going to school, things literally change dramatically over night. I knew two women who stopped working from our office, as it was financially not worth it while the kids were in nursery. They started working again when the kids went to school. It looks bleak, but I have to say it is impressive that you do work and try your hardest for yourself and kid. The only thing I can say, when your kid goes into reception, you will see how much better finance will look like. The first years are the hardest, without doubt.

unlikely on that wage, it is above average so I don’t think will be eligible for UC

You need to write down everything your spending. Look at what your outgoings are, what you can cut, and really budget hard. Cancel anything that's not essential like netflix, write lists for shopping so you don't over buy.
Also don't forget you get child benefit which is over £100 now.
Also a single parent with very similar income and outgoings to you and I'm still saving about £500 a month.

I get £1600 a month! I'd love to be on £3100

Wow. Never a truer comment on Mumsnet. You have hit the nail on the head of how lots of us feel. It's shit.

I'm late to the party and risking everyone piling on me here, but @Unfff I think you have a really good point. I think it is perfectly understandable to occasionally have the hump about this!
I am in my early 40s and grew up in a household where my Mum barely worked whilst I was at primary school, only occasional very part time roles for "pocket money", my Dad was not a high-flyer and more like middle management. They had a mortgage on a very decent house, we went on overseas holidays when I was a child, then later they bought a (new) caravan, before upgrading to a holiday home in France. We didn't have the top end of everything, but did have lots of treats (takeaway once a week, decent food the rest of the time, regularly got new furniture / decorated the house). They ran two cars. They went to gigs, concerts, days at the races etc and entertained friends regularly. Nice bottles of wine etc were bought and consumed as a matter of course every week.
I EXPECTED THIS LIFE. I worked hard and ticked all of the boxes, went to uni, applied myself at work, got promotions etc. but I have nowhere near this life.

That's the problem with high mortgage/rent, it takes a huge part of your income so a non negotiable, unless you can move.

Car lease seems to be typical now, I used to and still do try to buy a good one and pay off, but those 0pc interest rares rarely exist anymore. As with everything, few bargains seem to be available.

The support with childcae is good, but still high, this won't last forever once at school.

It comes down to just cutting back a bit in every area possible. Using community shops, buying second hand, lowest tv package deal, water metre etc, it all adds up. Still able to live comfortably on your salary with a few tweaks. Yes, many will agree it's a great income, it is, going on benefits wouldn't pay as much, plus pensions, opportunities for progression, self worth. Xx

@saffy2 I get you are on Mat leave at the moment but surely when working /last winter you had the heating on for the kids you mind