Can´t survive on salary without benefits. Doesn´t seem right.

[Fashionesta]

Just wondered if anyone else was in the same boat as feeling a bit miserable. Recently started new job, 31K a year, felt happy with that, potential to grow. Having done all my calculations and bills, if it were not for getting some money towards housing, I would be 300 pounds a month short :(

After pension I get around 1800 per month. Rent is 950 and I have one of the cheaper properties in my area so no ability to find anything cheaper - its me and DD in a 2 bed. No luxuries at all. Basic mobile phone on giff gaff 8 per month, no SKY etc, old car although paying off car loan of 150 month which bumps outgoings up. By the time I have paid all my bills, council tax, loan, after school club for DD and swimming lessons for her which I feel is essential, if it weren´t for the fact that I get some help towards rent, I would be -300 per month.

I generally feel like I earn a decent wage and panicking a bit about the situation. Not asking for a solution really as I think I am quite frugal, also sensible so pay for life insurance, car insurance, pet insurance and house insurance. Pay TV licence and so on. Shop at Tesco.

Anyone else don´t feel like they are getting by on what I actually consider a decent wage (although I realise in MN terms I am probably not earning much at all).'

Argh I just hate feeling poor all the time and I shouldn´t have to rely on benefits when on 31K surely!

Thanks to those who get it. Yes I get the council tax discount. No don't get maintenance as ex DP lives overseas.

I live in the cheapest property in my area, most two beds are over £1000 so I feel thankful for this. Yes I'm South East. Obviously if I lived with a partner who want the same we would be well off. It just seems crazy that as a single person with one DC you can't make ends meet.

For those clutching their pearls at someone getting benefits on 31k. It's UC, everything is baked into one benefit eg childcare and rent. It then subtracts your salary. Due to my area the rental proportion is high. I'm hardly a benefit scrounger!

It's crazy but true....a poster a while ago - her husband was on £70k a year and because they lived in central London were eligible for housing support on universal credit!!!

I was so outraged I checked myself on the government calculator!

So on the one hand they wouldn't be eligible for or would have to pay back child benefit if they claimed it because they're over the threshold but they would be entitled to help with their rent? That's insane. Nobody in the high rate tax bracket should be claiming benefits.

Lol at benefits not for pets and hobbies. I'll just get my hair shirt and go and live in a cage shall I 😂 I'm hardly living the life of Riley.

Prior to this I was in a much lower wage so already in the UC system. I just updated my details according to new salary and it still ended up being a bit each months. I'm not a new claimant. I just think it's sad that it should be so hard to make ends meet in our society. Things like heating and food have really gone up.

Of course it's insane but it's what happens when you simultaneously subsidise landlords who want to charge a lot and employers who don't want to pay much.

I am on 20k. There's no way I could afford to live on that as a single person. I have never been more poor than when I lived alone. Luckily I can split the cost of the rent and bills 50/50 with my partner but without one? No way.

The irony is I'd probably pay less on a mortgage but I will literally never be able to buy as a single earner and therefore pay crazy rentals every month.

@SuziQuatrosFatNan I agree with you about subsidising landlords but I don't think anyone would agree that a £70k wage is 'not a lot' (as per the example given upthread).

You’ve got a car on finance, multiple loans you’ve taken out, multiple after school clubs for your child, and you’ve insured absolutely everything which while sensible is expensive and optional. That’s where your moneys going.
I’m on less money with 3 children. I’ve got admittedly cheaper rent but then childcare for 3 children is expensive. I can’t afford a car, can’t afford to get anything insured, my children only attend free after school clubs, and I shop at Aldi because I can’t afford Tesco. I get no help apart from child benefit.
You’re haemorrhaging money, I’m sure you can cut way down somewhere

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I don't think this is about the OP's budgeting skills : more that we're in a ridiculous situation wrt these top ups.

Plus after school club is childcare which isn't free.

@Fashionesta

Just wondered if anyone else was in the same boat as feeling a bit miserable. Recently started new job, 31K a year, felt happy with that, potential to grow. Having done all my calculations and bills, if it were not for getting some money towards housing, I would be 300 pounds a month short :(

After pension I get around 1800 per month. Rent is 950 and I have one of the cheaper properties in my area so no ability to find anything cheaper - its me and DD in a 2 bed. No luxuries at all. Basic mobile phone on giff gaff 8 per month, no SKY etc, old car although paying off car loan of 150 month which bumps outgoings up. By the time I have paid all my bills, council tax, loan, after school club for DD and swimming lessons for her which I feel is essential, if it weren´t for the fact that I get some help towards rent, I would be -300 per month.

I generally feel like I earn a decent wage and panicking a bit about the situation. Not asking for a solution really as I think I am quite frugal, also sensible so pay for life insurance, car insurance, pet insurance and house insurance. Pay TV licence and so on. Shop at Tesco.

Anyone else don´t feel like they are getting by on what I actually consider a decent wage (although I realise in MN terms I am probably not earning much at all).'

Argh I just hate feeling poor all the time and I shouldn´t have to rely on benefits when on 31K surely!

On broadly your salary (33k) in London with a DD and never able to claim for benefits, my friend downsized to a 1 bed flat. Her DD gets the bedroom and she sleeps on the sofa. But it allows her to have extra money for savings / emergencies

@Mydarlingmyhamburger

You’ve got a car on finance, multiple loans you’ve taken out, multiple after school clubs for your child, and you’ve insured absolutely everything which while sensible is expensive and optional. That’s where your moneys going. I’m on less money with 3 children. I’ve got admittedly cheaper rent but then childcare for 3 children is expensive. I can’t afford a car, can’t afford to get anything insured, my children only attend free after school clubs, and I shop at Aldi because I can’t afford Tesco. I get no help apart from child benefit. You’re haemorrhaging money, I’m sure you can cut way down somewhere

Doing that may mean there was no need to claim. It seems bizarre that a salary of £31k is topped up.

OP btw as you're on UC you do know that your pension contributions don't count as income? Bung everything you can into your pension while you can because once the top up stops it will be harder.

My friend doesn’t pay for swimming lessons because her DD’s school does them at primary, and she switched catchments to make this happen because she loves sports but they can’t afford to pay for anything. Might be worth exploring if you’re not attached to this area / school

Ffs is this what counts as financial advice for working people on median average wage now? Walk to work and sleep on the frigging sofa?

No don't get maintenance as ex DP lives overseas.

I don't see why that means the taxpayer should
Pick up the slack?!

So yes you can absolutely survive in your wage without benefits had the father been paying what he should

Maybe have that conversation with him? And all the other thousands of men who fail to support their children.

Sort of related. But my salary was £41,000, which I think is good. However, I have three children- two in school. Factoring in the childcare (I’d need wrap around care), at the moment it doesn’t make financial sense for me to go back to work, as it would cost me around £20,000 to do so and, obviously, I’d pay tax on my salary.

That, to me, seems crazy. Just picking up a little bit of freelance here and there brings my salary up to what I’d have lost in childcare.

@Mydarlingmyhamburger are you suggesting that OP shouldn’t have house, car or pet insurance? Maybe she could manage without life insurance but everything else she lists is essential. The problem is that basic living costs, especially rent in the south east, is too high.

@Fashionesta YANBU

A single parent absolutely does need life insurance imo.

@Mydarlingmyhamburger

You’ve got a car on finance, multiple loans you’ve taken out, multiple after school clubs for your child, and you’ve insured absolutely everything which while sensible is expensive and optional. That’s where your moneys going. I’m on less money with 3 children. I’ve got admittedly cheaper rent but then childcare for 3 children is expensive. I can’t afford a car, can’t afford to get anything insured, my children only attend free after school clubs, and I shop at Aldi because I can’t afford Tesco. I get no help apart from child benefit. You’re haemorrhaging money, I’m sure you can cut way down somewhere

You must be eligible for Universal Credit; you'd get help with childcare costs and possibly rent too.

@Mydarlingmyhamburger are you suggesting after school club, meaning the OP can work, is not essential? And what should she not insure?

@FuckyouCovid21

You're on more than me and I struggle, but I don't get any help with rent and mine is only £50 less than yours

If you have children you should get housing support.

I don't understand why your daughter's father can't pay towards her needs just because he lives overseas. It's a moral issue surely, not one of politics? Why doesn't he pay for his child?

And yes, sorry, but pets are expensive and if you are really struggling, they ought to go.

Multiple after school activity that pp mentioned is in fact wrap around care to allow me to do my job. Otherwise I guess I could give it up and claim more benefits. I do not have multiple loans. I took a small loan so I could buy a car which I need to get to work (before lockdown obviously).

My question was not on budgeting but actually that there is something wrong when you can't afford to have a decent like on 30 grand. I don't see why, after years of education and hard work, I should resort to sleeping on the sofa, walking to work and not allow my child to learn the basic skill of swimming.

Financially I am Ok. I can do stuff. Even if I lost the top up I would manage. My post is an observation on how hard it is to survive on what I feel is actually a decent wage.