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Original poster

So fed up of being skint!

39 replies

MyNameIsFartacus · 10/02/2019 12:58

The car needs to go into the garage.

The dog needs to go to the vet.

Despite working as many extra shifts as possible just fed up of never getting ahead, always being poor - always something cropping up that needs paying for. Feels like a constant treadmill! Trying to save up for things (like a holiday, haven't been on holiday for years!) but something always scuppers the plans and the money needs to be used for that.

If worth anything myself and DH both work full time too!! Just barely scraping by it feels like ☹️

OP posts:
Beechview · 10/02/2019 13:02

It’s crap.

Have you done all the usual of checking energy, broadband and phone suppliers for the best deals?
Is it worth doing some kind of budget?

Frostyapples · 10/02/2019 13:11

@MyNameIsFartacus I feel your pain. I am in the same situation and it sucks. Finally got myself a new job with a slight wage increase only for my car to die on the same day so that it has to go in the garage and the small wage increase will be paying for that!! Tired of being stressed all the time

Original poster
MyNameIsFartacus · 10/02/2019 13:13

I suppose we could do with a bills/budget overhaul, although generally running on cheap bills as it is. Don't go out, hardly drink, don't buy new clothes, don't buy takeaways!

OP posts:
blackcat86 · 10/02/2019 13:21

If You don't have an expenditure problem then you have an income problem. Could you look at getting a new job or a side gig? Could you have a clear out at home and sell unwanted items to jump start your savings? I do sympathise as we are still somewhat in this position due to debt and a new baby. It's frustrating to work so hard and not be able to treat yourself even to little things.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 10/02/2019 13:38

I hear you op. Just this week in the news it say tv licence,,EE mobile, gas, electric,pension contributions and council tax all to raise this year.. my salary remains the same and I can't cutback anymore other than actually going without utilities or food. It's grim.

BarbaraofSevillle · 10/02/2019 13:53

Is your rent/mortgage very high? Do you have DCs/childcare expenses? Debts?

Even if you're on low wages, if you are both working full time you have quite a bit coming in so you must be spending your money on something. Do you know where your money goes? What does DH spend on?

Have a look at the Moneysavingexpert money makeover to try and identify the problem.

confusedofengland · 10/02/2019 14:01

I totally hear you OP Sad We are beyond skint at the moment. Last year we were doing OK, as DH had plenty of work contracts. This year, he has had a total of 5 days, since about mid-December. He also does work for my parents' business when he doesn't have contracts, but this is about 3 days a week & not enough to cover the bills.

I got offered a part-time job shortly before Christmas, but only started last week due to all the checks/admin they had to carry out. I will get paid on 23rd February, which seems like a long way off!

I'm trying to sell stuff on Facebook but not having much luck & any money I get in soon goes.

I am so fed up of having to count every penny & it not being enough. We can't even afford the smallest treats & I'm sure the DC notice. Luckily, we still have chocolate in the cupboards from Christmas & lots of free stuff to do, but I do always have to say no to the kids. I'm currently trying to eke out the contents of the freezer for meals.

To make matters worse it's half term coming up in a week & DS3's 5th birthday during half term (just before payday, obviously Hmm)

confusedofengland · 10/02/2019 14:02

I am doing some surveys on Qmee, which is useful. I get around £2-£3 per day & it pays out to Paypal straight away.

fatoneatthegym · 10/02/2019 14:38

@confusedofengland How long do the surveys take, and how intrusive are the questions? I'd do it for a few extra quid as long as it wasn't too time consuming.

goldenpombear · 10/02/2019 14:51

Matched betting which despite its name isn’t gambling but a pretty simply way to earn ££ every month

There’s a video that explains it here and there’s a long running thread in money on this site here

Have a look at the 10 pound a day thread also in money- loads of ways to boost your income

PepperSteak · 10/02/2019 15:09

Amuses me how people always say sell things on FB. I’ve tried to sell my travel system (with £1000+) for £150 and not even a bite!

Alienspaceship · 10/02/2019 15:11

But you knew just how much vets fees are when you planned and budgeted for getting a dog...?

confusedofengland · 10/02/2019 15:19

The Qmee surveys are anything from 2 mins to 25 mins & not intrusive. They do ask age, income etc to get an idea of their demographic, but you don't have to answer.

I have sold lots of things on Facebook in the past, just not doing very well at the moment. Even selling things (clothes, toys etc) for £1-£2 adds up, particularly when you don't have any money at all...

Iggly · 10/02/2019 15:21

@PepperSteak I’ve had better luck on eBay for higher value things like travel systems. Facebook is a much smaller pool in my experience.

HotChocolateLover · 10/02/2019 16:20

We’re skint too 😥 and feeling rather depressed about it. DH has just got a new job with a £4K payrise which will help but tbh, with all the credit cards and other bills going up, it won’t go far. We may also have to pay for a court order to fight off some ridiculous claims that are being made against us, but that’s another story 🤦‍♀️

MortyVicar · 10/02/2019 17:04

It's an obvious one, but are you getting all the benefits you're entitled to?

stayathomer · 10/02/2019 17:11

Went imto the money advice beaurea and they told me it wasnt sustainable that we didmt buy clothes for ourselves and so little on kids. They also said we needed to spend more on socialising ( we told them we got out of weddings etc, didn't go out, get takeaways and that the kid's only go out places when someone has gifted us the money) We told them we'd been living like that for 6 years and she said ' I'm so sorry but you're doing great.' That sank me into a bit of a hole but a year later we're actually starting to live a bit more but it means bills are being fiddled all the time ... Flowers OP, its a tough one ( our car is breaking down monthly now and we're panicing-we need about two more years out of it!!!)

HoraceCope · 10/02/2019 17:12

do you do lots of veggie meals, ie beans and lentils?

EverybodyLovesRaymond · 10/02/2019 17:20

But you knew just how much vets fees are when you planned and budgeted for getting a dog...?

Not helpful.

Alienspaceship · 10/02/2019 19:42

Evetybody - everyday my son asks for a dog. No way, we can’t afford it. But the same reason didn’t seem to stop other people getting one. Everyone had to be responsible for their decisions. A dog is a luxury (unless it’s an assistance dog) not a necessity.

WeeTinkerMonkey · 10/02/2019 19:47

I can bet you a pound to a penny very few people in Mumsnet that say their skint are actually skint.

"Dog to vets... Car to garage.. mortgage to pay.."

Some of us can't afford a car, or a dog, or a mortgage to begin with.

"I only earn £40k a year.."
Fuck off..
Try living on less than £800 a month.

You're not skint or poor, you've just chosen to spend money on non essentials.

Skint and poor can't even afford the essentials.

EverybodyLovesRaymond · 10/02/2019 22:54

Why do people post here? Get judged for having a dog and being skint or not saving 20% of their salary? I don't get why people would share this for people to judge them.

stayathomer · 11/02/2019 08:43

Weetinkermonkey they may be on a good wage, they may have things you don't have, they may still be getting threatening letters from the electricity company, and be standing in Aldi with small change trying to figure out how to make a few days worth of meals for a large family. And Flowers

Kismetjayn · 11/02/2019 09:07

Perhaps they could afford the dog when they got the dog, then one lost their job and had to take something out of necessity, or they had to move suddenly and rent was higher, etc etc

stayathomer · 11/02/2019 09:48

By the way on the dog thing, we had one for q short amount of time and the cost was crippling so when mil and family got two ( all on social welfare)we were a bit Confused but they are totally their family. People do totally deserve to have dogs, they spread not and people who don't get them due to cost t hats their choice but you can't judge others for it, they give them everything when they go without so much themselves