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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

You know your really skint when......

311 replies

boilingpoint · 24/05/2011 14:28

You go to tescos to get a few bits to last the week before payday but you have to put some of it back as you don't have enough money....

You have pasta every single day for dinner...

You cash in the change pot....

Am i alone?

OP posts:
JsOtherHalf · 24/05/2011 20:30

20 odd years ago: Doing homework by candelight as the electricity was cut off for a week or so. I DID not admit this to anyone, I'm not sure my DH knows even now.

fgaaah · 24/05/2011 20:32

other clues off the top of my head:

  • repairing shoes that leak at work (with their superglue) in the office cupboard, and prentending that they broke on the way to work to the admin girl that walks in on you
  • can't pay for a bus fare to work and walking it come rain or shine instead (45 min each way) and having to pretend to colleagues that you're trying to get fit
  • having to refuse donations for birthday presents, retirement etc at work and then having all your colleagues think you're a complete skinflint
  • refusing to go for lunch at someone's leaving do at work because you can't afford it (not even a bowl of soup and a drink at the restaurant they've chosen) and no one has made it clear if it's being done on the office party budget or not

Yeah, looking back to our lowest point when DH was unemployed for the last half of 2008, and well into 2009 - I think the main indicator of being skint was having to keep up a facade of things being normal. To the kids (you don't want to worry them), to colleagues (shame), to friends (shame and don't want to worry them). having to make excuses about why i couldn't go to this birthday party, or attend that evening do for work, and why you are growing your hair long (can't afford the hairdresser and don't have anyone skillful enough to cut hair).

So, the lies are the worst thing I think!

Sammy1000 · 24/05/2011 20:36

When you are glad when your husband tells you he has to work away for a week. One less mouth to feed when payday is a week away and the food budget has been spent.

jessikart · 24/05/2011 20:40

You spend all your spare time filling in online surveys to eventually earn a £10 voucher/£3 into your Paypal account.
You set up a milk and more account so that when you're flat stony broke skint, you can at least get toilet roll (they give you a months worth of credit, and when your first direct debit bounces, they still deliver for a few weeks).

Suncottage · 24/05/2011 20:44

I worked every minute I could to make sure my parents were okay.

Dad died recently knowing that Mum was financially secure. I will never forget the sacrifices they made for my brothers and sisters.

A coal fire and ice on the inside of the window.
Mum working around the clock
Dad working round the clock

I send a cheque every month to my mum.

Just to make sure she has all the shoes she has ever dreamed of! Smile

LeQueen · 24/05/2011 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kangers · 24/05/2011 20:49

what about the bailiffs and letters demanding money??

MaureenMLove · 24/05/2011 20:57

God, this is really Sad! I've been there too myself and I'm not even sure I want to talk it over - I might need a drink!

I hope we are remembering these things, to share with our children though, when they remember their childhood with warmth and pleasure. When they just didn't have a clue of the sleepless nights or hardship that was going on around them.

Great thread OP. It makes you realise just how lucky you are sometimes. Well done on getting through each day, to those that are still struggling. I'm sure there are many on here, that can give you hope. I know I'm one of them. Smile

bigbumum · 24/05/2011 20:58

you eat tinned tomatoes and the last slice of bread, one night,then a tin of peas the next as thats all you have in the cupourd.

2nd keeping coat on in the house cos canny aford the lecky.

plebshire · 24/05/2011 21:00

ah bailiffs...

double checking that all the windows are tightly locked before going anywhere.

breadandbutterfly · 24/05/2011 21:04

Well done you lot.
My contributions are praying that the pay will come in before various cheques you've written get paid out. That was us last week - didn't quite work. My pay - freelance so on random dates - came through today. Hurray! Only 1 or 2 bank charges. :(

But I know we're not poor like those described on this thread - when I get paid I get well paid - it's just a tad irregular and unpredictable.

overthemill · 24/05/2011 21:06

when i was a child we used to hide under the kitchen table when the rent man called.

meltedchocolate · 24/05/2011 21:07

When you burst into tears after getting home from a hen do and realise the bag the host has sent you home with contains not some but ALL of the left over juice/ crisps/ sweets/ fruit. Some people are too kind to me :( :)

When you put a rare four pounds into your sealed money tin and think 'phew, another 4 quid of Christmas money that I wont need to find.'

I'm still in this stage of life. Weekly food (and toiletries/ activities/ everything else) shop can not go over 28 quid atm for me and DS but I have actually found this to be Ok as long as I make a menu plan, shop for ONLY the stuff on the list and have a good look to see what is the best priced things for the quality I am willing to stoop to. Freeze left overs. Take my own coffee and pack lunches to anything I go to etc etc etc.

MaureenMLove · 24/05/2011 21:10

I've just remembered something rather sad! DH and I went to France 'for the day' for our honeymoon. We walked around Bologne, didn't buy or eat anything and got back on the ferry. We bought 1 crate of beer and didn't even have enough money for a cup of coffee on the way back. Ahhhh! Sad Wink

SkipToTheEnd · 24/05/2011 21:10

Yes to ice on the insides of your windows - we grew up with that and having the towels put on our beds to try and keep us warm. This was whilst wearing hats and clothes to bed. I used to sneak downstairs to refill a hot water bottle.

We used to get sent out to nick milk off neighbours doorsteps too.

Recently I ate a jar of peanut butter when there was nothing else in - made it last all day.

Sometimes I feel like I'm broke but I try and remember these times to remind myself it could be worse. As soon as I have a good week I fill up my cupboards - it makes me feel much safer,

plebshire · 24/05/2011 21:12

you have to move your one working lightbulb from room to room. So glad the evenings are lighter now.

BooyHoo · 24/05/2011 21:15

maureenMlove you have just reminded me of my mum and dad's first xmas as a married couple. mum's bag got stolen when she was out getting the food in for xmas so they shared a box of fish fingers between them on xmas day.

thebestisyettocome · 24/05/2011 21:17

I've 'borrowed' supermarket food vouchers from my dsis in times of dire need.

I think the saddest thing is that people think DH and I work hard because we love our careers when in fact we're driven by the fear of being poor again Sad

thebestisyettocome · 24/05/2011 21:18

Mentile. I hope things are better for you now Smile

plebshire · 24/05/2011 21:19

My Dbrother was behind a woman in the supermarket on christmas eve when her card was declined. She didn't have anything fancy, some sherry, a turkey crown, a christmas pud. He bought her shopping for her. Makes me want to cry even now!

ThisIsMyLogIn · 24/05/2011 21:20

you desperately wish the money from Paypal ebay sales would bloody well clear as availbale funds in your bank account!

upahill · 24/05/2011 21:22

When the taxman hand delivers a brown envelope Sad

EverSoLagom · 24/05/2011 21:24

We have lovely lovely friends who never say a word but always "accidentally" leave our fridge full when they pop in for a cup of tea. And ask if we want to meet up for a picnic "since you'd be doing us a favour by eating up these leftovers, we'll never manage ourselves". Some weeks they are really a godsend.

NestaFiesta · 24/05/2011 21:24

When you walk past Poundland sniffily saying "I'm not paying that, they're only 85p in Home Bargains".

smokinaces · 24/05/2011 21:24

Having your car breakdown by a petrol station, presuming its run out of petrol (been riding on the red for a week) so you put your last £5 in your car petrol wise, hoping you can swing by someone's house for food/drink on the way home. Only for said car to be actually dead and so cry for having lost that £5 so you're now stranded and hungry Sad.

I have borrowed from the kids birthday funds and money boxes. They're 4 and 3 so dont seem to notice yet.

I've pulled up the carpets in the car looking for odd change before, in the vague hope the guy who owned it before me had more money than me!