I spent a month’s wages yesterday

Wagnest · 2022-04-09T15:27:57+00:00

Had to have some work done on my car which I’d been putting off since January. Had to do a food shop, Gave one of my dc £20 to help out. That’s it - practically a month wages in one day. Most months are pretty tight already but the car issue wiped me out. It’s scary and I don’t know how people manage :(.

LetHimHaveIt · 09/04/2022 16:30

Terrifying, isn't it? I've got a fortnight until payday. Something will bounce, for sure.

NippyWoowoo · 09/04/2022 16:32

I took on a temp weekend job to help with some debt. It changed to permanent and I thought I'd just do it for a couple more months to boost my savings. Now it looks like I'll be staying in that job meaning working 6/7 days a week, and taking extra work to fill in the gaps.

It feels like we need to work 8 days a week to keep up.

tsmainsqueeze · 09/04/2022 16:39

@NippyWoowoo

I took on a temp weekend job to help with some debt. It changed to permanent and I thought I'd just do it for a couple more months to boost my savings. Now it looks like I'll be staying in that job meaning working 6/7 days a week, and taking extra work to fill in the gaps.

It feels like we need to work 8 days a week to keep up.

How on earth can people live like this ? and its just the start ,i have no words to express my utter contempt for this government .

Original poster

Wagnest · 09/04/2022 16:53

I would take on an extra job if I could but current job is shift work. Makes it difficult to find anything to fit. Plus, I know this sounds pathetic, but I’m always tired as it is. I’m in my late 50’s, widowed, have 4 dc (3 of them still at home), volunteer in my spare time. I thought life might have been a bit easier by now but the opposite seems to be true,

OP posts:

Cherry79 · 09/04/2022 16:57

Do your dc contribute or are they too young ? It’s so tough

Original poster

Wagnest · 09/04/2022 17:05

They do help out Cherry where they can but it’s tough for them too. One is in low paid work, one is still at school, and one has an illness which needs lots of hospital appointments (the 4th one lives away). Things are so difficult for me but I do at least have a property. I can’t see them ever affording to have one. At the minute thru can’t afford to buy OR rent :(.

OP posts:

Lightning020 · 09/04/2022 17:10

Wagnest of course you are tired. You are responsible towards 4 children. I have just one ds and the emotional responsibility used to be very tiring and draining. Ds is 17 now so much much easier. Cost of living is a worry instead now yes such a worry for many.

LuluBlakey1 · 09/04/2022 17:10

My car had to have something replaced yesterday. Cost £650. Had to be done to get it through its first MOT- damage caused by vandalism. The part was what cost the money.
I also had a crown replaced on a tooth this week £282

Almost £1000 additional to a typical month.
We can manage it but it is madness.

Lightning020 · 09/04/2022 17:15

Has everybody now noticed car parts are a terrible price these days. Shocking.

Original poster

Wagnest · 09/04/2022 17:26

Yes to the car parts! The mechanic showed me the pipe he was replacing - it looked like a glorified alan key and yet cost so much!

OP posts:

Bootothegoose · 09/04/2022 17:28

How, how is this 2022?

I have nothing to say that can make your situation any fairer, OP. Only my empathy.

We are struggling as a two income household and are cutting down completely to try and save as much as we can for the coming months. We are the privileged few.

All I can offer is that Summer is coming, less money on gas if nothing else. It is shit, it is unfair, it is fucking inhumane and it's soul destroying. WHAT the government expects us to do God only knows.

Original poster

Wagnest · 09/04/2022 17:42

Thank you @Bootothegoose. Mostly that’s how I feel - ie, “How? Just how?”

And yet I know that I am one of the lucky ones with at least a roof over my head and a wage (even if it is a crappy one) to spend.

Solidarity to everyone who is similarly struggling 💐

OP posts:

latriciamcneal · 09/04/2022 17:44

@Bootothegoose

How, how is this 2022?

I have nothing to say that can make your situation any fairer, OP. Only my empathy.

We are struggling as a two income household and are cutting down completely to try and save as much as we can for the coming months. We are the privileged few.

All I can offer is that Summer is coming, less money on gas if nothing else. It is shit, it is unfair, it is fucking inhumane and it's soul destroying. WHAT the government expects us to do God only knows.

Why did you think the fiat currency system could last forever? It makes no sense, it always had to crash and hyperinflation is the first sign.

Lovinglife45 · 09/04/2022 17:48

I am so sorry OP. It is disheartening that many including me are having to cut back any which way we can.

I have to laugh that several months ago I was contemplating a family break. I even started a thread on whether we should push for 4 nights in Europe or have a stay cation!

This has gone right out of the window. For now breaks or holidays are not on our radar. I smile sweetly as my colleagues discuss their planned long haul holidays.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 09/04/2022 17:50

It's just shit isn't it.
It's the relentless slog of ever rising costs.

Babyroobs · 09/04/2022 17:51

@LuluBlakey1

My car had to have something replaced yesterday. Cost £650. Had to be done to get it through its first MOT- damage caused by vandalism. The part was what cost the money. I also had a crown replaced on a tooth this week £282

Almost £1000 additional to a typical month.
We can manage it but it is madness.

We are trying to maintain 3 cars currently to help ds out but this year so far we must have paid out 2k in getting cars through MOT's etc and now my car needs cam belt replacing. It's never ending and the bills are huge. I can understand why people lease cars although still expensive.

AdoraBell · 09/04/2022 17:51

Do you any family who can help? Do you have enough food to last?

It’s horrendous. I was skint during my early twenties and got into debt but I didn’t have DC then.

Babyroobs · 09/04/2022 17:53

@Wagnest

Yes to the car parts! The mechanic showed me the pipe he was replacing - it looked like a glorified alan key and yet cost so much!

We recently paid £250 to have a couple of liquids in the car topped up. mechanic just said one was very expensive .

Bootothegoose · 09/04/2022 17:54

@latriciamcneal

I'm going to assume the condescension is not intentional in your post.

But I thought, as has EVERYONE ELSE has, that whilst we are working full time, paying our dues and living well within our means that I wouldn't have to tell my primary school aged children that if their hands are cold during the day they need to put fucking gloves on because we've already had the heating on that morning and it's not due back on until bedtime.

That's in addition to the multiple layers of clothing, socks, slippers and dressing gown we've been wearing round the house this last week and again we, we are in positions of privilege. It is so much worse up and down the country.

It's insanity and Rishi Sunak has the audacity to sit in parliament and smirk when his peers are informing him of the suffering of the people of this country.

ThatsGoingToHurt · 09/04/2022 17:54

I earnt decent money (well I did until I lost my job). However due to childcare fee and if feels like something breaking or I have an unexpected bill every month so any spare is soon gobbled up.

I would just like a run of 6 months where I earn decent money and nothing essential breaks on the car or in the house!

Original poster

Wagnest · 09/04/2022 18:05

I’m sorry that so many of us are struggling.

I do have enough food thank you - I have enough of everything except peace of mind. It’s just exhausting anticipating what the next unaccounted for expense will be and living from day to day being careful and sometimes uncomfortable.

As @jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey said up thread it’s just the relentless slog. Can’t ever let your guard down because, sure as eggs, something will come along to trip you up.

OP posts:

lightand · 09/04/2022 18:10

Be wary of any poster who ever comes on and says get rid of fiat money.
There are certain people and sections of society who would love nothing better than digital currency so they can control us all.

I am sorry op for you and people like you.
If things go really bad, and yes, there are people who would like that to happen, many people in the Uk will all be struggling, or worse.

incompetentcervix · 09/04/2022 18:11

We gave up heating in February so we could still eat. It's horrific. I have pre school children and they got bed under a pile of blankets to be warm. Most of our friends don't seem to be so affected but we have to make some very basic choices in life now. My DH and I are both in work and in professional public sector roles - our quality of life has deteriorated markedly recently

incompetentcervix · 09/04/2022 18:12

I think your latest post sums it up - it's exhausting having to be so careful and I have no peace of mind

Lightning020 · 09/04/2022 18:36

I am self employed but income quite reduced at the moment as people just do not have the money to spend. I am mortgage free and ds will be getting a shop job as he is free summer onwards so he can contribute but like many need a car for work and other commitments. Can only afford an old banger and cost of living disgusting. A friend of mine had to get food vouchers as he cannot afford to live as he has genuine mental health problems so cannot work.

Where will all this end. Another friend her son and wife and grandchildren are moving to Dubai they are sick of renting and losing money. Good for them.

All families/households just want to make it after all. Keep a roof over their heads and pay their way. Have something to look forward to.