Can I survive? Single parent & 2 kids

[Pinkfilofax]

I am teetering on the brink of leaving my partner. After paying the mortgage I would have between £1250 and £1500 to live on for the month ( if the mortgage company allow me to stay on the current mortgage it will be the higher figure, if they make me change - the lower one). I have done a benefits calculator and I qualify for about £150 UC which is included but I don't qualify for any kind of help towards housing. I'd be running a small 2 bed terrace. The kids are 10 and 12. I run a cheap car. Does anyone else live on similar?

£1500 post all bills but before food?

I think that it’s just about doable. Will you get maintenance from your ex?

Would you not need to buy your partner out?

I think after mortgage but before all other bills...

I think you'll need a good budget but if you're good at sticking to it you should have some left over each month to save for xmas / birthday treats and presents.

Yes, that sounds doable. I would absolutely be willing to live on that in order to get out of a shitty relationship.
Good luck OP

Thanks. I can buget and I can cook from scratch, I have no debts or credit cards but am thinking of taking out one now as an insurance if I have any unexpected bills like the car goes wrong. I do not have to buy anyone out. I grew up in a house with no central heating and old wooden windows that had ice in the inside so I can turn off the heating when the kids aren't here if things get that bad.

I wouldn't expect any money from the ex. We would have the kids 50/50. He's a kind generous person so have no doubt he would pay his share or even for all the kids activities and if they need new clothes or shoes though and I can't afford it. He would be in a better financial position than me but he's by no means made if money.

There is so much uncertainty at the moment with the cost of living crisis just ramping up. I am so worried hut I can't continue as I am 😔 I have no close family apart from my kids and I feel very vulnerable and scared.

@unlimiteddilutingjuice
Thanks for the support 😊

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

That's just post mortgage payment. I would have to pay all bills and food costs etc from the £1250 -£1500.

I could possibly increase my income by £200 a month but I don't think it's likely my income will change in the next couple of years.

Manageable with a strict budget

Is the house in joint names? Do you need to buy him out?

Don't make the mistake of skipping maintenance. I would seriously reconsider unless you're going to split custody 50/50

OK sorry just read you do plan to do 50/50!!

your figures and kids' ages are pretty similar to mine - I get maintenance but he doesn't see them much so that probably balances out and I don't get UC. Its doable, but you do have to watch your spending and try to plan ahead for things like Christmas.

I only have 1dc. After rent I have about £800. It's not much fun, but it is doable, so on yours, you should be fine.

Sounds doable as long as you're disciplined with money.

How come you don't need to buy him out?

That's plenty! I live in mid terrace house and all my bills even including old car work out about £400 a month. After that it just food and spends money. I still have one adult son at home and another who eats here most days so my food/drinks/toiletries bill quite high at about £5-600 a month but even at that you still have some money left over for clothes/shoes/fun money👍

If you go down the 50/50 route you'll need very clear rules on sharing all child related costs - either go halves on school uniforms which go between houses or you pay for a set each which stays at your house, mobile phone costs, extra curricular activities, birthday presents for friends parties, every day clothes/shoes/coats, kids passports, school trips, dinner money, bus passes and a million other things you'll be dipping into your purse for.

My ex let me pay for all this stuff whilst telling all and sundry he was having the kids 50/50. He basically fed them 3 times a week.

Thanks for your replies. It's good to know that it's doable and my life won't be miserable. Worst case scenario we live in the centre of a city so I could always air BnB the house for the couple of weekends the kids wouldn't be with me. Not ideal but if it means head above water or a few extra luxuries.

@CamsPaisleyCuffs yes, there will definitely have to be a joint account of some sort for these expenses. Their dad isn't a dick so I'm not envisaging him being difficult money wise and not paying his way for the kids but he's definitely the type who is happy to leave the default to someone else so I could see it definitely going that way but not maliciously if that makes sense. Very clear rules. Got that!

It sounds fine as long as you own the house in your name only.

The house is in joint names, but the house I'm leaving is also in joint names. If the split is permanent we will sort that.