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Original poster

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

625 replies

Fashionesta · 27/04/2021 14:19

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!

OP posts:
PenguinIce · 27/04/2021 16:41

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

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.
Completely agree!

What a world we live in where people are fine for benefits to be spent on insane rental costs to make Landlords richer but as long as none is spent on op’s daughter’s swimming lessons 🤦‍♀️

ivfbeenbusy · 27/04/2021 16:41

It isn't hard to survive though when the father is pulling his weight

doomonic · 27/04/2021 16:42

Unfortunately you are a product of the broken housing market & wage stagnation plus it's harder on your own.

I think if you're young, have dc & didn't get on the ladder a decade age so have high rent or high mortgage you need a minimum of 60k to pay for everything, save a bit & enjoy a few treats eg holiday.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
CleanQueen123 · 27/04/2021 16:42

I'd bow out now if I were you @Fashionesta. Didn't you know that all us benefit scroungers should be refusing money we're perfectly entitled to and living in a shed on bread and water?

loveheartss · 27/04/2021 16:42

Some of the responses on here are really quite pathetic.

You have my sympathies OP, like others have said the cost of living has continued to rise whilst wages have not risen to meet this.

So many people are struggling these days, it really is depressing having to work out if you can afford things all the time or not especially when you work hard.

Genuinely, the only thing you can realistically do is try and find somewhere cheaper to live although I do appreciate that is not always as simple as it sounds. Where I live, even a studio flat is hovering around the 6/700 bracket which is extortionate and the demand for housing association/council housing means your average joe is likely to spend years on a waiting list.

If you are just here to rant though then fire away. It boils my piss regularly too when I think that I am paying 995 a month for a 2 bedroom house, although I am with my partner and count myself very fortunate for the fact.

ivfbeenbusy · 27/04/2021 16:43

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Gettingthereslowly2020 · 27/04/2021 16:43

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

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?
It's an absolute bloody disgrace isn't it? Someone's friend works full time and can't even afford to rent a two bedroom property for herself and one child.

People telling OP to get rid of pets, life insurance and her child's swimming lessons. SHE WORKS FULL TIME!!! I could understand it if she was choosing to work part time but a full time wage should be able to pay for the basics. This thread is really winding me up!

GoodnightOwl · 27/04/2021 16:43

Hang on, is your tax code correct? I'm on £27,500 a year and my monthly pay is £1760 odd!

mam0918 · 27/04/2021 16:44

You need to move to a cheaper area... you are making more than me and DH combined but we pay half your rent.

Is it our dream house/location = no, but its WHERE we can afford to live.

for example:

I didnt drive until recently and DH worked the opposit direction, I had to get an hour+ bus ride into the city then walk across the city meaning I had to leave 3 hours early to be on time each day.

I wasnt the only one that did this because the city is too expensive and impractical to live in - I do however have a decent 3 bed terrace in our town for less than a houseshare in the city and live comfortably on our income.

wendz86 · 27/04/2021 16:45

I earn more than you and get help with housing. I pay over £1k a month rent. I am a single parent to two and do get maintenance from their dad which to be honest is only way i manage to get by as otherwise i'd be left with barely anything after everything has gone out.
I know what you mean about feeling you should be ok on that salary but the price of living and high rent costs really does make it difficult.

AbsentmindedWoman · 27/04/2021 16:45

Sorry, benefits are not provided to pay for pets and hobbies.

Oh, fuck this pious bullshit.

The OP is working full time and needs a top up because of the absolute distortion in the economy which means wages have not kept up with inflation. The lifestyle OP describes is in no way profligate.

And you'd seriously encourage taking away a child's swimming lessons and a cat/ dog (I'm going to make the wild assumption it is this kind of pet rather than a moneydrain pony on full livery...) because the OP 'can't afford' them? Do you mean she shouldn't claim the top up benefit? Hmm

The OP can afford them. With a bit of state help which she is entitled to and should absolutely claim, so her and her kid can have a semblance of a normal life.

The social contract is broken. Work doesn't pay an honest living wage.

PowerhouseOfTheCell · 27/04/2021 16:47

Some people won't be happy until OP comes back and says she's living in rags and decided to eat the pet instead of daring to go to Tesco

RandomMess · 27/04/2021 16:49

The only winners are professional landlords tbh. A huge chunk of the cost of benefits goes towards people's rent because it is relatively so expensive to income in most of the country.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/04/2021 16:50

@ivfbeenbusy

It isn't hard to survive though when the father is pulling his weight
So what is OP supposed to do if the father lives overseas and won't pay anything? Be quiet with the unhelpful comments.
Moonpeg · 27/04/2021 16:51

I’m totally gobsmacked at the amount landlords are asking for in rent. How on earth do they get away with this? It’s ridiculous. I’m in a three bedroom detached house with garage and my mortgage is 330 per month. I’m in Scotland mind you but it’s a real eye opener at what other people pay for a roof over their heads. It’s so unfair

teraculum29 · 27/04/2021 16:52

OP, as you are on UC, I think you should have help with afterschool club too (unless you are already claiming it).
Don't beat yourself up and if you were paying mortgage you wouldn't have help from UC at all.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/04/2021 16:53

Housing costs are the problem. My income including tax credits and child maintenance is about £7k less than yours, I'm also a single parent of one child and I don't struggle because I live in a cheap ish area. It's a difficult situation because moving to a cheaper area may mean moving away from your support network and job opportunities.

HerRoyalNotness · 27/04/2021 16:53

@ivfbeenbusy

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

Irrelevant. Maintenance isn’t taken into account as income
doomonic · 27/04/2021 16:53

So what is OP supposed to do if the father lives overseas and won't pay anything? Be quiet with the unhelpful comments.

Exactly

Original poster
Fashionesta · 27/04/2021 16:53

Firstly I did not ask am I being unreasonable so there's that.

Secondly moving to a cheaper area doesn't really matter. At this level rent UC sees me eligible for top up. If I moved to another area where rent was £300 less and I didn't get top up I would have roughly the same each month.

Like I've said. I was merely reflecting on the way society works and am surprised to see that the amount of people who think someone who works in a decent job 9-5 should not do anything, have a pet or allow their kids an activity. I did not actively seek benefits. I was in the system as was previously in a training position on a much lower income. I was also surprised to see that I still got a top up when I informed them of my new as salary

The problem isn't me or the life style I wish to adopt. It's what pp say, we live in a world where salary hasn't risen with inflation so the state has to go in and top up. I agree it is as crazy as many of you seem to think.

Wether we sell the dog or not I will still get UC at this income level so that is a moot point.

OP posts:
LowlandLucky · 27/04/2021 16:54

ivfbeenbusy, tax payers pick up the slack for a lot of things that they shouldn't be paying for ! This lady's ex partner is now overseas, should we punish his child for that ?

BrightYellowDaffodil · 27/04/2021 16:54

For those saying you're paying insurance/you have a car/you should be in a one-bed/your daughter shouldn't have a hobby, Jesus fucking wept. Must everything be a race to the bottom? Must everyone who struggles to get by in life be downgraded to gruel and rags in a hovel in case they accidentally have some joy in their lives?

Good for you on your new job @Fashionesta, I hope things ease for you soon. And as a PP said, unfortunately you're at the shitty end of the housing market stick and it's only right that there's assistance for those that need it so they can have a decent standard of living.

Fizzywaterinabottle · 27/04/2021 16:55

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Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/04/2021 16:55

@teraculum29

OP, as you are on UC, I think you should have help with afterschool club too (unless you are already claiming it). Don't beat yourself up and if you were paying mortgage you wouldn't have help from UC at all.
That's incorrect, I have a mortgage and I get top up benefits - you get no help towards housing costs but I still get working tax credits and child tax credits.
doomonic · 27/04/2021 16:55

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

I don't either which is why I'm sick of the fact that my taxes which could be spent on the NHS or social care goes to landlords!

There should be much higher levies on them imo as it's not a level playing field and I say that as a homeowner.