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AIBU?

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Original poster

What is your household income, how much is benefits, and how are you coping?

814 replies

Gabrilla · 19/03/2025 11:16

Genuinely curious after so many threads on here about benefit changes. Please feel free to name change!

I’ll start:

Salaries for both of us total 90k. Only benefits are £102 month child benefit, though we also get tax-free childcare and 15hrs free at nursery.

Total income is about 6k a month, mortgage and bills 3k, nursery 1k, commuting costs £500, groceries cost £500, husband pays CMS and other bits to his children totalling about £500 leaving us about £500 for everything else.

Feels like we’re constantly penny-pinching.

OP posts:
SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 19/03/2025 11:48

But is not as if you can't see where your money is going

At a time when you don't pay childcare/CMS you will be 1500 a month better off. That should sort your haircuts out.

Life is tough at this stage but it's no different to the choices that everyone else has made and has got to endure.

Dearg · 19/03/2025 11:46

Your mortgage/ bills are high so I assume you live in an expensive area, as are your commuting costs.
But your husband has multiple children, living in at least two households ( guessing here) , so that is going to cut into your lifestyle

Not judging here, but the reality is you have significant outgoings, so until the DC are grown, it’s going to be expensive.

Doggymummar · 19/03/2025 11:46

Income of £120k, combined rent and bills £3000 a month zero benefits.

BeHere · 19/03/2025 11:45

Bit less than OP, child benefit and DLA come to about 5k a year, and we're fine. I'm keenly aware how much of that is luck though. That our child's condition hasn't prevented one of us from working. The DLA doesn't cover the costs!

MellowPinkDeer · 19/03/2025 11:44

Katemax82 · 19/03/2025 11:41

If both are under the high income threshold they can easily get child benefit

Show quote history

yes i know that, but one household income over 80k can't, really rubbish system for lots.

( i don't get a penny in benefits so it' s not about me , rather how everyone will respond!)

Togglebullets · 19/03/2025 11:43

Gabrilla · 19/03/2025 11:41

Not looking for sympathy, but I’d have expected a better lifestyle on 90k.

We get by but can’t afford holidays or to get my hair dyed at a salon. MOT months are very stressful (car is seven years old). Clothes are mostly second hand from Vinted.

Oh. Really? Why would you have a 'better lifestyle' when you have made choices that result in large outgoings?

Ph3 · 19/03/2025 11:43

Gabrilla · 19/03/2025 11:41

Not looking for sympathy, but I’d have expected a better lifestyle on 90k.

We get by but can’t afford holidays or to get my hair dyed at a salon. MOT months are very stressful (car is seven years old). Clothes are mostly second hand from Vinted.

Kindly - I would delete your post! This is going to attract a lot of unpleasant posts.

JessieLongleg · 19/03/2025 11:43

10k disabled mother on legacy benefits no money for my son, only child benefit. I don't really cope just exist. Get child benefit just pays for fresh fruit, bead, cheese milk. Birthday Friday doing nothing can't afford it........last job 50k a year. Husband separated earns high wage but not as high as yours, he gets nappies, takes son out etc.

Loveduppenguin · 19/03/2025 11:42

I’m in Ireland. Single parent. I rent and it’s quite a bit.
my salary is 50k
child benefit is 280 per month
i also get 40 per week from our benefits but I’m assuming as my salary has increased that this will stop in October when it is due for renewal
I don’t feel like I’m penny pinching but i watch my money, I save a bit but it gets used eventually like this month my car broke down 🤦🏻‍♀️ anyway it could be worse, we’re not cold or hungry and we don’t go without.

Togglebullets · 19/03/2025 11:42

To be fair to the op here, she isn't saying that the income she has is a problem - it looks like her outgoings are huge. Nursery fees plus CMS plus commuting.. I'm guessing the mortgage is pretty hefty too at a combined £3k for that plus bills.

We're on a similar combined income and don't have anywhere near those outgoings and feel very well off.

Original poster
Gabrilla · 19/03/2025 11:41

Not looking for sympathy, but I’d have expected a better lifestyle on 90k.

We get by but can’t afford holidays or to get my hair dyed at a salon. MOT months are very stressful (car is seven years old). Clothes are mostly second hand from Vinted.

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 19/03/2025 11:41

MellowPinkDeer · 19/03/2025 11:38

Oh OP. I would be standing by for a bashing. 90K ( plus STILL being able to get child benefit) is not going to get you ANY sympathy here!!

If both are under the high income threshold they can easily get child benefit

MellowPinkDeer · 19/03/2025 11:38

Oh OP. I would be standing by for a bashing. 90K ( plus STILL being able to get child benefit) is not going to get you ANY sympathy here!!

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 19/03/2025 11:36

A penny pinching thread at 90k income never goes down well