How skint are you after pay day?

[AllHallowsEatMarshmallows]

I’ve not even been paid yet (tomorrow) and I’m already worrying about money

After all bills including food and fuel have gone out we have the grand total of £30 to last us 7 days until DH gets paid.

Even then , we will have just another £30 to last another 8 days until he’s paid again.

It makes me anxious and snappy because I’m constantly thinking about not spending money.

I was homeless and penniless as a teen and being so close to the breadline again makes me worry .

£30 to last a week after food , fuel and other expenses is fine isn’t it ? Reassure me please

Here’s hoping school don’t send another letter home requesting money for random non uniform days

We are a family of 2 adults and 2 primary aged children and a greedy cat .

tainted Love
What a horrible comment..how do you know the ops situation???? You never know what's around the corner .

OP have you looked into changing days of the month that bills go out? You could try spreading them more evenly over the month. You should be able to specify the day for most direct debits

If you have internet access can you do some surveys? Or enter competitions?

You reap what you sow? Nonsense. While I am now in the fortunate position of having no financial worries I know what it’s like to experience tough times, even homelessness. A little empathy and kindness would go a long way. It’s not easy and nobody would choose to live hand to mouth.

OP, I feel for you. Do ensure that you are accessing any and all benefits to which you and your family are entitled. I wish you well.

Can't believe what I'm reading In my experience people in grinding poverty are working harder than anyone else. For less reward. How dare someone imply that people are poor because they're just not working hard enough?

Thank you for all of the helpful advice .

I’ve not thought about staggering payments throughout the month , this would help greatly as DH is paid weekly - I’ll look in to that .

Hope it all works out op

Ignore the complete idiots

MN Towers are on to this. Fingers crossed.

The two Tories are deleted.

taintedlove I have a job

£30 after food and fuel is low, but it does mean that you have covered the essentials and have a little left so you're doing ok!
the people on some of the forums on Martin's moneysavingexpert site are amazing at suggesting ways of making money go further.

I think most of us have been there at one time or another - one of my low points? Being told to take our baby son from one hospital to another specialist one as a matter of urgency and not having the money to put the petrol in the car to do so. That felt shit.

Hope your PIP appeal is successful

TaintedLove

Certainly tainted by something and it is not empathy, love or support.

I have the same , sometimes less especially the week before payday. I panic about things breaking as I can't afford to buy more. Its not a lot but is doable but doesn't leave any leverage so things like car service/parts/new uniforms /birthdays/school trips really get me anxious .

Tainted, life isn't all sunshine and roses, where if you work hard enough you will always earn enough money, life's a bitch and you might be earning well now but you don't know what the future holds

Oh fuck off Tainted You can have studied hard, have a job and be skint at the same time. I managed it.
I never dreamed that my life would be this hard, or that I would be skint, and honestly a huge amount of people have it worse than me. So take your goadyfuckery elsewhere and stfu.

I feel you op. A lot of our income comes from our child getting dla. If that ever stops we'd be screwed - 2 year award for a lifetime condition. It's so stressful. Really hope your appeal goes well.

£30 is tough but doable x

£30 as “petty cash” for 7 days is just fine. You’ve covered the critical needs (food etc) and you have stocks of medicine so you’re sorted. Totally understandable that you’re anxious but planning ahead like you are doing means you will be just fine.

I'm so sorry you are in such a difficult position. £30 a week for a family really isn't a lot. I think you should be ok given you don't have any more expenses but as you said any unplanned bills would be very difficult to manage. Have you sought any help from citizens advice or a money matters type service that can help with your benefits application? Have you also compared your bills to see if you can make any savings there?

We're OK for money now. But I really appreciate this as this has not always been the case. You're doing what you can to deal with anything that crops up which will help reduce anxiety. I will often get anxious now if my current account is low in case something crops up like what if I need an emergency taxi to the hospital etc. One thing I'd recommend is seeing if you can get a credit card for emergencies. Even if it's higher interest having it there can give peace of mind. But only if you know you won't use it.

After all bills and one big food shop per month etc, I have £24 per month for any extras.

£250 per month after everything's went out. This covers anything fun, kid savings, my phone, gym pass etc (luckily they're both cheap!). I include fuel costs in bills to make it easier to delegate money. It's shit OP and I sympathise.

Our money comes through in five different blocks and we stagger payments here. I'd definetely give it a go. Hope things get easier for you soon, and good luck with PIP- the system is horrible to navigate but the extra £200 a month goes a long way. If it wasn't for PIP we'd have £50 per month leftover so I really am grateful for it. for you

OP £30 "spare" money after you've already budgeted for food, fuel and bills should be fine. Like you say, you're in fear of an expense coming out of the blue, but if something does come along the £30 is there to cover it. Focus on trying to not dip into that amount if you can and keep thinking that you have transport sorted and you and your family will be fed and bills paid. You're doing OK. 

Even though we are OK now, I obsessively check the banking apps to stay ahead of the account, if that makes sense.

When I say obsessively, I mean several times a day.

Being broke, and then not broke the feeling never really goes away.

Hope things feel a bit better this morning.

This doesn't help you right now OP but my DD waited 18 months for her pip tribunal, but she won and is now due a large backdated payment. Apparently nearly 70% of people win their tribunal so you stand a good chance. Just make sure you're fully prepared when the time comes, have all your evidence etc. I hope it goes well for you.