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!

Swimming lessons are not a luxury, ffs! Do people really think that the OP's DD should be put at greater risk of drowning on a school or family trip to a lake or water-park (or just walking near water and accidentally falling in) because the OP is on a stretched income?

All children should have taxpayer-funded swimming lessons. I thought they did anyway, but obviously I'm wrong .

@BrightYellowDaffodil

I’m totally gobsmacked at the amount landlords are asking for in rent. How on earth do they get away with this?

In part at least, blame the mortgage companies. I looked at the terms of my mortgage when I was thinking about options if my job went tits up, and they demand that a property is rented out at 145% of the mortgage payment. So a house with a mortgage payment of £500 a month has to be let for a minimum of £725 a month.

I never understand why this doesn't get more publicity.

Is that true? That’s fucking outrageous. I’ve sort of naively thought that landlords could just charge what they like and the majority of them were just bastards!

I know it is not a lot, but do you pay for childcare with vouchers via the government? I believe you can save 20% as it makes it tax free x

@AbsentmindedWoman

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?

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.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

I agree that you should be able to live on £31K a year and it is quite crazy that landlords are making so much money out of the taxpayer (yet some MNers would have us believe that second/third/multiple home owners are benefiting society - yeah right).

However, how come the OP's ex-partner gets to bugger off, yet if she went out for the day and left her dd on her own she'd get done for neglect? Personally I'd be doing rather more to make him pay for his child, although I don't know what country he is in, which makes a difference. But if in an EU member state there should be something you can do.

And given I don't like dogs, I'm never going to think they're a good use of limited funds.

@Rhythmisadancer

who on earth thinks that someone working full time should not be able to afford a pet and swimming lessons for their child?! There are some real monsters around

Well said. This isn’t about a layabout scrounger. It’s a single mum who works full time to single handedly provide for her daughter. Some of these responses to her attempt at an intelligent discussion are embarrassing.

I’ve sort of naively thought that landlords could just charge what they like and the majority of them were just bastards

Me too. Are the lenders demanding that in case there are fallow periods when the property is untenanted?

You have my sympathy, Fashionista. I've been there, almost.

It feels as though you are working for nothing and it will go on forever.

However it will not go on forever! It will have its place in your history. You can afford more things and good times.

Your daughter is thriving because she had a really good upbringing, and went without nothing!

Right now you deserve a treat.

@ivfbeenbusy the way you have worded your posts suggests that you believe it is the OP's fault that her DD's father doesn't pay toward her upkeep 

Agree with everything @SuziQuatrosFatNan says .

It sounds difficult @Fashionesta
I think £31k sounds a decent wage but, to me. £950 is really expensive rent for a 2 bed flat. You would be able to rent a 2 bed flat here for £600. Obviously you wouldn't want to move from where your family and friends are but I can see why it's difficult.

@mam0918

so if the op followed your example and lived somewhere cheaper but had a three hour commute, what do you suggest she does with her daughter at 6 in the morning until school starts and till 8/9 at night after school?

For all those slating landlords (I'm not one BTW!) Do you not recognise the additional costs associated with owning a second/third property? As well as it is an investment and actually sometimes their income. They can charge the moon if they want, but realistically it is all driven by house prices. If an area is expensive, it is a given that rent will be expensive.

I'm on 31k I get 2000 pee month

I don't understand how you're only taking home £1800 monthly if you earn £31000.
Why are almost £10K of annual, almost £800 monthly deductions been taken off you?

The OP has already pointed out that if she moved somewhere cheaper then the rental support she gets through UC would be removed so she’d be in the same place financially. No amount of these ‘helpful solutions’ detracts from the wider point that there are parts of the country where rents are so insane that someone on an above average salary can’t pay it without the state propping up the payments.

Shop at aldi

@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

Have you checked your not entitled to any help? UC?

@Fashionesta

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.

Thatsounds stressful.

Just wnderd if you are dong verything you can towards your credit rating? That rent could be used towards it if you can arrange to pay it through CreditLadder. It made a huge difference to a friend who was in a similar situation. Many people have never heard of it!

www.creditladder.co.uk/

Firstly the OP herself said she isn't "asking for a solution" she's asking why her wage of £31k isn't "enough" and she needs to rely on benefits.

The answer as per my posts is that her wage is enough had the father been on the scene - I'm not blaming her (unless she knew he was a wholly unsuitable father but ploughed on regardless anyway and of course there is the question as to why she hasn't pursued him to financially support his child??? 🤔)

This isn't about low wages or the economy or any of that. The OP requires financial support because she is raising her child as a single parent and the majority of housing costs etc require a 2 person income

Your rent is so high OP. Are you on the old system still? UC often works out better for the rent element. What about CT benefit? You could apply.

@AlohaMolly and @poppycat10

It's definitely been true for both the mortgage providers I've used. I'd love to think that it's different for Buy To Let mortgages but I doubt it; if anything they'd be more stringent I should imagine.

It is an absolute travesty that if I needed/wanted to rent out my flat because, say, I was going travelling for a year or had a job secondment elsewhere for a while, I'd have to charge someone way over the odds of what I'm paying. Why escapes me.

I don't understand how you're only taking home £1800 monthly if you earn £31000.

Take home of £31k is about £2060, she said she had pension contributions which could very reasonably be in the region of £200.

@MayorGoodwaysChicken

The OP has already pointed out that if she moved somewhere cheaper then the rental support she gets through UC would be removed so she’d be in the same place financially. No amount of these ‘helpful solutions’ detracts from the wider point that there are parts of the country where rents are so insane that someone on an above average salary can’t pay it without the state propping up the payments.

This isn’t true at all. I’m a single person and I am assuming I live in a much cheaper part of the Country but OP shouldn’t be struggling on that salary it’s her rent costs.

I’m not suggesting she should leave her home town btw I’m just saying as a single parent as well.

@Bul21ia that poster said "some parts of the country"

It is so hard. I struggled for years as a lone parent. But eventually your childcare costs will reduce.

I'm so angry at the moment at the cost of houses.

As mentioned previously work deducts pension. Also as mentioned previously moving to a place with lower rent doesn't matter as I'll have the same amount, just not the top up plus be away from my entire support network including family.

The point I'm trying to make, and thank you to those who got it, is that there is something inherently wrong in a country where rents are so high that someone working full-time struggles to put a roof over their head. I actually have a lovely life and love my home, work hard to make things nice for us and honestly, on 31k I should be able to do that.

The government deems it necessary to top up those who need it for rent which is great, however, it shouldn't have to be like that.