To struggle on this salary?

I'm very similar position with income and nursery. I have been harassing my ex for months for more money to contribute to nursery. He has finally agreed to pay a tiny bit of the bill. I had to write lots of tables, really shame him with the numbers, remind him we are both responsible the child, ask him what he would think of a friend doing the same thing, tell him it's abnormal, provide case law where private fdr have ordered nursery and extra curricular lesson payment on top of child maintenance etc.

I meant extra “benefit” (as in time benefit if you’re not working full time) benefits. I know you are better off working more but there comes a point where childcare costs outweigh what some people earn. The bottom line is that the minimum wage isn’t enough for people to have even a minimum standard of living.

You don't get extra benefits by not working full time on UC. You are better off the more you earn, it's not like the old style tax credits where there is a big drop off.

Your situation is particularly tough though. You work full-time and it sucks that you’re not paid a living wage. The minimum wage is not enough to live on! It is extra unfair that you get no maintenance. Some people can make UC work for them in that they don’t work full-time so get extra benefits out of it. Sounds like you work hard though and I hope karma gets to your ex.

I really hate this. I’m on UC. I work full time in a minimum wage role and take home £1600 after tax. UC tops me up to £2300. I have zero disposable income and high housing costs. I am also a single parent. I receive no maintenance because he hides his earnings. I pay half the wrap around care though as I’ve been telling them to bill him for the other half.

I appreciate yes the state is filling in for a man’s failings but it’s still not fun and games just because I’m on UC.

Just because someone is on UC doesn’t mean they have loads of disposable income. I wish I had any sort of subscription 😂.

it should be the default that if a parent isn’t willing to do 50:50, they should pay half of childcare as well as CMS

This is the issue.

When I first read your post I thought why can't you manage. But adding it up yes I can see it. Bills as you say like council tax, car expenses all have to come out too. Car loan is very high. But folk do need a reliable car.

tbf there are probably people who don’t work full-time and live in rented accommodation that are on UC and other benefits with a similar or greater disposable income than OP and can definitely heat their home and have Netflix.

Obviously OP has the benefit of owning her home but there’s also financial implications to that eg. Having to Pay to fix things if they break down.

Yes she will be better off in the long term but it’s understandable she is feeling the pinch now. I think one issue as I’ve stated upthread is a lot of single parents don’t get as much financial or childcare contribution as they should.

If her partner split the childcare costs with her AND gave £400 maintainance she’d be better off instantly. So often the state - or in this case a single woman earning a decent salary - is paying to compensate for a man who isn’t paying enough.

I gave my examples as there are loads of knobs on here saying that 1k is a fortune when in fact it’s not with petrol, food, insurance etc

I don't think £1k is a 'fortune' at all @TheSpoonyNavyReader. I'm well aware of what things cost and how quickly money can drip away on seemingly 'nothing'. Dh popped into town to take the 3 dc (and himself) for a haircut yesterday. On the way home he stopped and bought ds2 and 3 new football skins (pretty essential given the weather turning and last years are outgrown). Boom...£140 gone in the blink of an eye.

Life is expensive, people get that.

However, your posts are saying 'Life is expensive with food, insurance, petrol. £1k doesn't go far. I mean, I had to spend £500 on bedding. I'm just showing what things cost'.

It's just senseless drivel. You're not demonstrating what things cost at all. Because bedding doesn't have to cost £500, nowhere near. You've chosen to purchase very expensive items because you have plenty of spare income...good for you. But it's irrelevant when talking about £1k not going far on essentials!

£500 on bedding is not essential. It's not a price that even many who are comfortable would be willing to pay Imo (me included).

well they aren't costing you £1k per month.

This is a lovely way of looking at things

What am I reading? Is this sarcasm?

£500 on new bedding and £350 on hair / beauty appointment?!?

That's literally 80% of my monthly income.

-Sell car buy a cheaper one that is economical
-remortgage

• check your using tax free childcare entitlement

Sorry spending £500 on a few new bedding sets is extravagant!

I know you're getting a roasting on here op so I wanted to sympathise with you.
I've a similar salary, and outgoings (not the same ones but they add up to a very similar amount) and yes it's hard.
Monthly bills are covered but then you get a dental bill & child needs new shoes etc etc.
There's no wriggle room at all. I've bought most of my child's Christmas presents (less than £50) on vinted and that's all I can justify because it's really scary using up savings all the time.
I earn £50k which I thought was a good wage and actually a wage I'd never think I would earn. But the COL has taken my pay rise away and I don't even go to cafes with my child for a quick bite or soft play etc let alone a meal or night out with a babysitter (I don't have anyone who can babysit for free, & child's dad is awol so I am the only one who looks after my child apart from nursery)
It's depressing and I think the school yers are going to be bad too because I'll have to pay for wraparound & holiday care.
Taxfree childcare helps, but doesn't cover the whole amount eg I think you get £10k allowed to be topped up, but I pay out about £13k on nursery (I'm not in London, not even near to London).

It's shit to just work to live. I was brought up assuming life wouldn't be this depressing

How is working pointless??? Working is the reason you can afford to hear your home and have Netflix. Working gives you the ability to live your life. If you didn't work, you'd have a lot LESS!!

Hey OP. When you stop paying child care, you can get yourself to M&S and buy 3 sets of bedding. Something to look forward to.

Hope the people who have said, 'Some of things that you pay for now won't last forever', have given you a bit of hope.

Why on earth would they be eligible for UC when they earn over £3k per month... net?!?!!!

(that's double what I earn!!!)

Pointless? You can afford your own gift me, car, all your bills, nursery, and money left over. You think you could do all that within working?

@TheSpoonyNavyReader

I used to take packed lunch and my drink to work and now eat at home . I rarely buy any food out. Its a luxury not necessary.

If the car was sent back the op could by a cheaper low milage car for £3500 ( mine cost that and it is used all day every day. ) It also only costs £60 to fill and does almost a week of lessons.
Childcare is expensive but generally CM is cheaper than nursery.
Also TEMU actually do lots of very inexpensive items with free shipping including bedding. Yes it might not fit with peoples ideals but when times are hard it could help.

Mobile hairdressers / beauticians are also cheaper than salons and many equally good.

It is very possible to stretch the £££

I love my cooling seats, also my car is the safest car for pedestrians, with all the safety features. It also has airbags in the bonnet.

Why is it your concern, it does not affect you. I am not asking you to fund my car. I have explained that it’s big enough for all my children, I live in a rural area and I like it.

Why do you drive your car? What make is it? How many children do you have?

She gets less from maintenance than nursery fees cost. Never mind all the other costs of bringing up a child.

That's really 💩 and hence why you would wonder why bother working!

Bu I do think the car costs can reduce, Netflix etc

You have my sympathies just from the burden of being a single parent

How does it affect you? How do you travel, because I want to have an opinion about that, thank you. I took drive a large SUV (not ugly or awful in my opinion FYI) and it is a miriad of safety systems that make it very safe for pedestrians, ensuring a collision is unlikely to occur and if it does, a breaking and bonet mechanism designed to reduce injury. It's also hybrid so around town, it drives without emissions. What exactly do you object to? It also wafts cool air up my smug ass on warm days.