7 days until payday - how much spending money do you have in your bank?

[PeeledOranges]

I have £9.66 to cover the next 7 days. I can manage, I have some food in which I can eke out and I can cook and make do. I walk to work so no travel costs. All my bills are paid but there are definitely no extras happening this weekend.

It just feels a bit miserable even though I am trying to be positive. A trip to the library, some tv, knitting and a robust walk Sunday and Saturday will help.

I work full time, single parent to adult children, youngest is unemployed and lives with me, other one is at uni.

Anyone else?

I wish you all the best OP, it is good to hear that you have food. Does your ex pay chid maintenance? Would you be able to get him to bail you out if needed.? Could the Grand Parents help out a little.? It is at times like this that being able to cook is such a worthwhile skill. I do feel sorry for you though. Has your youngest child looked into a job at a care home as there seems to be a shortage of staff and at least the person would be bringing some money in.

Thanks for replying - There is no ex unfortunately, as my DH died a number of years ago. So it's all down to me.
The grandparents do help the older one at uni, and my DB has lent me some money to cover food for the next few days.
Youngest is applying for every job she can right now, including all the seasonal jobs but the market is tough. She has experience at a variety of things but no luck yet.
It's depressing when I know next month will be the same at this point of the month.

Keep reminding myself we have enough and that's okay!

13p and get paid on Monday. Half term so far has been home play dates, the library and park. All perfectly fine but still miserable that I’ve only been able to treat the kids to a hot chocolate out once and that was because I sold some things on FB this week!

£435. Just DD, DDog & I - half term starts tomorrow but I’m working (I WFH so DD(6) just plays in the house/garden and then we head out for a walk/to the park after work). I need to do a small food shop and pop a bit of diesel in, so I reckon after that I’ll be left with £350. This will be used for anything we spend over half term - we may do some baking so it’ll cover ingredients, a coffee or two out (smoothie and treat for DD), we may pop to the local garden centres too as they have their Christmas displays open so we may buy an ornament or something there.

Hasn’t always been this way though OP, and I do feel grateful that I have a little bit leftover at the end of the month. Good luck to your DD with the job hunting.

£40. It’s the same every month. 2 adults, 3 children. 1 at uni and 1 having driving lessons so it doesn’t last long.

That’s awful. Do you have anything you can list for sale on fb marketplace like bundles of clothes, books, etc? Can you register on a babysitters app and babysit on Friday or Saturday night (your daughter should do the same). An experienced mum people would love to pay for.
your dd can also register with a teaching assistant agency if she likes kids they are struggling to recruit. Or care.
do you like pets? Last minute but perhaps the two of you can advertise plant wandering or pet sitting services over half term. Eg a rabbit hutch or two coming to stay?
there are lots of ways to get some cash in

-£611

But I get paid tomorrow.

But also I don’t have the regimented attitude that you have. I just keep spending even when I am in my overdraft.

I have young kids though, maybe I would be more regimented if it were just me. But our schools have been off this week and we’ve done a lot of day trips with their friends. They have also had a lot of birthday party invitations this month which means £10 each time for a present. I’ve also bought a couple of things to put away for Christmas. Also paid deposit for a holiday next Easter.

So on the one hand, I guess I am quite bad for paying out money that I don’t have. On the other, I have no debt except for the overdraft which is cleared each month on payday and I do have money in savings. So I’m comfortable that I can manage the overdraft.

I do also make sure I have a decent amount of tinned / freezer food at all times and at times like now I try to use some of this to keep food shop down.

Play dates, library and park. That’s all my kids ever want to do anyway, really.

We’ve done some expensive days out this week (zoo, farm park etc) and we went because we were invited by friends. But really, the kids just want play dates and park.

I have nothing left. Put petrol in the car and spent £26 in Lidl yesterday so hopefully I can get through six days.

In my spending account just under £268, payday is the 30th. We have a joint account that will cover food and any bills until then so normally I transfer what I have left into a rainy day space on my banking app. Savings for specific things are separate.

£120 until Wednesday but now 178 thanks to a vinted influx after a clear out.
I use the spare change option on my banking app through the month and that gets put aside which helps.

I have £50.38 to last until the 30th. I thought that was bad but I feel rich now

I’ve got about £500 so will hopefully be able to move most of it to savings. We are ok now financially but I remember living in my overdraft especially when the kids were young

@PeeledOranges has your youngest applied for Universal Credit? Jobs market is so tough at the moment.

I have about £350 left (payday tomorrow) but I got some backpay last month so not a typical month's income.

-£141 (as of now)

Though this is a bit better than last month

Which was in turn a bit better than the month before

Paid on the 28th

Me and two teens

No maintenance from ex as they refuse to work and have massive debts

But I have some savings so not all bad, we will not starve

£53 in the joint account and £21 in my personal account. We draw a little from savings most months but might be ok this month if we don't need to buy petrol before the 30th!

Pure spending money I have about £90 but everything is parcelled off into different accounts on payday (mortgage, bills, kids clubs, food, car) so I don't need to buy anything with that money.

92.80 in one current account and 85 in another. Being paid tomorrow.

this excludes savings accounts though

also 30 coming through on my vinted account.

-£81.92 but my child benefit goes in on Monday and payday is Tuesday

I'm always overdrawn at the time in the month 😫

That’s a lovely post. A genuine recognition of however we feel we must remember that our “poor” is always someone else’s “rich”.

£25 but like you my bills are paid and I have food so I don’t need to worry.

I allocate money for various expenses when I’m paid and it’s not unusual to have not a lot left. I have no plans in the next few days.

I really feel for those without food, those who can’t pay their bills and those who wouldn’t have anything in an emergency.

I’m travelling and £50 just me but I know money coming in a few hours so I’m using my left over income
to pay for a glass of wine in the train, and then a meal when I arrive at my destination. This is a rare and sad journey so I want to spend it on that - I have savings and a regular income but I do have to carefully budget as a single empty nester with a limited income.
been poor as a child, comfortable as an adult and poor again as a divorcee and now a bit in between but I am ok, very hard with wee children so I do get it OP. My mum was single when we were kids and cleaned floors on the side just to keep food on the table.

£646 and I get paid tomorrow this is our joint account, we used to be able to save more but cost of living hit, DH gets paid at the end of the month, both work full time, and we get child benefit for DD who is 14

Well at least I know it's not just me! Makes me feel a little better reading your posts.

About £500 in various pots, we are away for half term so will need this for petrol for the drive, lunches out etc. Also have some presents for DD's best friend to get this weekend. DH is self employed so we can pay ourselves from the business account when we need it but we try and make it last until the end of the month. I think we'll get through the first few days of next week then need a payday.