Page 6 | Single mum 45k a year in south east but just scraping by?

Plantball · 2025-02-13T20:05:57+00:00

There was a time I once thought a household income after tax of 45k meant a comfortable life. I am a single mum of two young kids in the south east. Rent alone is 18k of the money gone. I feel like I’m merely existing. Running a car, council tax, gas, electricity, food, kids clothes, shoes, clubs… The money just doesn't go far. I know I am fortunate compared so many and I’m not pleading poverty. Just feeling very flat at never being able to better our life.

spikefaithbuffy · 14/02/2025 01:12

@BeChicLimeCat because there's loads of topics which have nothing to do with children? Health, style and beauty, AIBU, pets...

Meadowfinch · 14/02/2025 01:06

£3750 - £1500 leave you £2250.

My income minus housing is the same as yours, I'm in the SE, one teen and spend
£220 Council tax
£ 100 utilities
£ 250 food
£ 70 insurance
£55 tv/phone/bb
£45 water
£85 car
£70 petrol
£150 clothes/shoes
£70 hair cuts

We have holidays, and ds does some sports. I don't drink or smoke, Don't have gym membership. Cook from scratch. Save up and buy a second hand car once a decade.

I don't struggle. Not rich but comfortable. Even with an extra child you should be ok. Do you have childcare fees?

iamnotalemon · 14/02/2025 00:59

It's a free world isn't it?

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:58

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iamnotalemon · 14/02/2025 00:58

@BeChicLimeCat

I don't have children 🤣🤣 but thanks for the poor attempt at an insult.

iamnotalemon · 14/02/2025 00:57

@BeChicLimeCat

Also, there is little financial assistance/benefits available to those without children so your taxes are actually paying for the benefits parents receive, rather than for funding my care when I'm old. (I have my own money to pay for my care thank you!)

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:57

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iamnotalemon · 14/02/2025 00:55

@BeChicLimeCat

Wow! You sound like awful parents. Yet, the child free are the selfish ones. Right.

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:53

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BettyBardMacDonald · 14/02/2025 00:48

What hogwash, @BeChicLimeCat

A) i have saved £1.2 million after 45 nonstop years in the workforce, and paid at least that in taxes to sub shiftless procreation. My savings, not somebody's offspring, will care for me. And I never benefited from any tax breaks or top ups.

B) Immigrants are more likely than imprudently produced domestic offspring to become productive workers and taxpayers.

Half or more of today's youth won't be net taxpayers. Spare us the sanctimony.

iamnotalemon · 14/02/2025 00:47

@BeChicLimeCat

Deciding not to have children is not selfish and just because you have children, it does not mean they will, or even should be expected to look after you when you're old - that's selfish.

Also, look at the state of the world, why bring a child into it?

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:43

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BettyBardMacDonald · 14/02/2025 00:40

Themoononline · 14/02/2025 00:21

If things are tight, I don’t think £400 a term on swimming lessons is essential. You work part time, take them both swimming after school (paying entrance fee) and teach them! Unless you are a complete non swimmer it’s not necessary all. Your ratio would be 1:2 much better than classes!

Well said!

BettyBardMacDonald · 14/02/2025 00:39

House prices are the result of supply and demand.

People popping out additional humans are those who've created the demand. Don't blame childfree like me.

BettyBardMacDonald · 14/02/2025 00:37

Themoononline · 14/02/2025 00:29

Also understand if your income is low enough to need topping up with benefits you are basically saying, I don’t earn enough to support myself and need help clothing and feeding my children (which is why the system is there quite rightly) Don’t then expect it to then cover middle class pursuits.

Exactly. People on benefits who complain their lifestyle isn't cushy enough are beyond the pale.

Especially to those of us who take nothing (and never have) but get up and go to work every day to finance the imprudent. Beyond tiresome.

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:36

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BettyBardMacDonald · 14/02/2025 00:34

toomuchfaff · 13/02/2025 20:15

£18k a year on rent is criminal. It actually should be a crime.

(unless it's a mansion and you're living it large)

Nonsense!

Do you think flats exist on their own? The owners have mortgages, insurance, maintenance expenses, marketing expenses, and more.

Honestly the naïveté and entitlement of people these days is off the freaking charts.

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:31

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Themoononline · 14/02/2025 00:29

Also understand if your income is low enough to need topping up with benefits you are basically saying, I don’t earn enough to support myself and need help clothing and feeding my children (which is why the system is there quite rightly) Don’t then expect it to then cover middle class pursuits.

Themoononline · 14/02/2025 00:21

If things are tight, I don’t think £400 a term on swimming lessons is essential. You work part time, take them both swimming after school (paying entrance fee) and teach them! Unless you are a complete non swimmer it’s not necessary all. Your ratio would be 1:2 much better than classes!

76evie · 14/02/2025 00:18

MidnightMeltdown · 14/02/2025 00:16

Tbh, I'm surprised that someone already on 2.5k a month (including child maintenance) is able to claim as much as 1.2k universal credit on top.

We keep seeing headlines about kids in poverty, but UC seems pretty generous to me.

the child maintenance is not counted for benefit. The amount of UC will be based on the wages of 1.5k

BeChicLimeCat · 14/02/2025 00:17

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76evie · 14/02/2025 00:16

ToKittyornottoKitty · 13/02/2025 20:53

OP is on UC and isn’t expected to live on that…

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They are expected to live on £333. That is the single person amount per month for UC. Then you get money per child, plus money for/towards rent.

MidnightMeltdown · 14/02/2025 00:16

Tbh, I'm surprised that someone already on 2.5k a month (including child maintenance) is able to claim as much as 1.2k universal credit on top.

We keep seeing headlines about kids in poverty, but UC seems pretty generous to me.

ConsuelaHammock · 14/02/2025 00:05

I think you sound very comfortably off tbh. How much do you think you need? Especially if not working full time !