Are you 44, in a graduate career, and also unable to afford basic emergency stuff??

[FeelingPoor]

As new user name and title suggests:
I am middle aged
Middle income
Employed in a fairly specialist field (postgrad, professional membership bla)
Rocked by unexpected bills

We have woodworm. This month it has cost £420 to sort (not done yet). So not a huge amount
Adult son with additional needs has found a better living situation. I will need to lend him £500 for this.
Younger son's birthday party - £140
First payment on child's rugby tour - £75

And that's our meagre savings gone. I thought at this age and this stage in my career I could absorb these things more easily. Its just a bit shit when you have so much responsibility, work so hard, and are still scraping along.

We are lucky - fed, clothed, have lots of nice times... But today feels moan-worthy! Anyone else in a similar position??

@FeelingPoor Ha ha, unfortunately my houseplant addiction is not matched by my ability to keep them alive (non existent) I'd say I buy one every couple of months or so. But even the "easy care" ones don't fare very well.
And strangely, my Hoover has also lost the will to live, but I expect that's probably not helped by the fact I've had it for about 8 years and have never changed the filter. Which now I think about it, is minging. I'll add it to the list of things to do 😩

I am deffo not in this category (1 average O level to my name!!). But it makes me gnash my teeth when the Daily Fail readers amongst us cannot understand when people get into difficulties and tell us we should save at least 1 months salary to cope with 'difficulties'.

Yes there are people that always have to have the latest things and spend like drunken sailors. But but but there are people who are/were fairly comfortable off until.. the roof leaks, washing machine on the blink, car a right off. Very often things happen all at once, especially if you bought your white goods at the same time.

I remember when we had roof problems. Luckily Mum had squirreld away money in the Woolwich building society (remember that?). This was her 'fuck off' money (my words). No way was she a feminist but she believed a woman should have some safety money, plus my Dad was always spending money on books and things. Anyway, luckily she had that money and we could have the roof repaired.

I suggested that because my 10-20k pay rise is going to come from moving from Private to Civil Service or Local government. I also have a similar lifestyle to you but I don’t live in Rural Wales (I’m in the midlands) which makes chasing money infinitely easier. Perhaps that’s the answer? If Your kids are grown up maybe you just need to move closer to a big city for a while?

..and then there are people on here who are looking for a coat to blow £400 on...

I could afford to right now but I simply will not on principle blow money on shit like clothes because who knows what round the corner. Plus I feel its obscene when there are people struggling.