To think there should be some form of financial support for single people?

[ButWhyIsTheGinGone]

It's the last week before pay day and yet again I am almost penniless. I am in the early stages of a decent career - I earn 25k at the mo, soon to go up to 27k. Due to deductions (pension, student loan, NI, tax, etc) I only take home £1450/month. Not terrible.

I just can't believe how little my pay stretches. I live in a small one bed house, don't have any expensive hobbies, children or drug habits. Yet most months I seem to have to borrow £30 or so from my mum to get through the last week. I appreciate this so much, but it's kind of shameful at the age of 26 to go cap in hand to your mum...

It seems that people with children get at least some kind of support for their lifestyle choices, and I'm certainly not saying they don't deserve it, but I genuinely think people who live alone get overlooked when it comes to this kind of help.

If I had a partner who lived with me, I could instantly halve rent, CT, utilities... I would be rolling in it! But the fact I choose to be alone means I have to struggle. I am probably BU, but sometimes it feels like so much help is available for parents - I have a friend who works about a third of the hours I do and earns significantly less... but does to her tax credits, child benefit, etc she's better off than me. It's just a bit depressing some times.

I know I obviously don't have the massive expenses that having children incurs.... oh and I hope I'm not offending anyone. Although I don't have or want kids I'm not trying to sound "childfree so I'm superior to you" kind of thing. Just feeling a bit morose.

If you've successfully struggled through my ramblings, thank you!

You do realise children cost money though don't you? So you have far more disposable income than someone with children (on average?)

We currently bring home around £2500 a monthbetween us. Add on child benefit and a bit of tax credits and we probably have around £3000 a month to start. Great yes?

However we then pay out £1500 a month in childcare costs. Yes £1500. Taking us down to £1000 a month.

To house, feed, clothe etc etc five of us.

I too used to take home around £750 as a single person and existed just fine

Why shouldn't she moan, activate? It's not exclusively for parents, we have no bouncers here.

Aren't you left with £1,500 then peppapig?

No OP said £1450 after deductions, and rent is £450. that leaves £1000 for everything else.
I worked 3 jobs over 7 days a week when I was a similar age its possible when you're young without getting burnt out.
You need to account for every penny for a month, then you'll be in a much better position to see where economies can be made.
Assuming £100 council tax, 100 gas &electric, £50 car insurance... I'm still struggling to see what you're spending on. Union fees are c.£17 p.c.m!

then why are you moaning on a parenting forum?
Oh, are childless people banned from mumsnet? I didn't realise. I'm on this website because as a teacher I do have an interest in parenting as it directly affects my job. Is that quite ok with you?

Have had some really helpful and (brutally honest!) advice from people and I don't see why you had to make that comment.

having no children and coming on a website "by parents for parents" to moan that you don't get enough in benefits and can't manage to live within your means - make up your own mind as to why I asked that question

Do you use price comparison sites? Your budget has massive anomalies in it.

No Nerf She said this

My fixed expenses are about £1000 - Rent, CT, utilities, Car insurance, Union fees, TV licence, diesel.

and this

I only take home £1450/month

I too used to take home around £750 as a single person and existed just fine
Peppapig - if you don't mind me asking, how did you manage? TIA

activate, Mumsnet may be a parenting forum and I am a parent, but I didn't come here because I'm a parent, I came for the entertainment/hand-holding/bunfights . Maybe the OP did the same? (Love the name btw, OP.)

Yes,2nd jobs were rife at that stage in life, Saturday jobs in shops or bar work at nights. I loved my Saturday job, completely different from my main job so it strangely didn't feel like work. My sister said the same about her barmaiding, considered it her social life.

You dont pay tv license feed monthly do you? Do you pay all the bills each month by direct debit? I only pay some of your fixed fees yearly or quarterly.

"don't see why you had to make that comment"

Really?

We all had to budget and have to continue to in order to live through tough times and yet you can't seem to as a mid-20s professional?

And as a teacher surely you have experience of true poverty - at least if you work in a state school you will - that surely should shame you into being able to budget

Is your car really expensive OP?

altinkum, why aren't children a lifestyle choice?

I know not everyone is able to have children and I accept the OP could perhaps have been more sensitive ... but otherwise, yes, being a parent is usually a choice, isn't it? An important one, which the govt. recognizes by giving benefits to parents for bringing up teh next generation of taxx payers who will look after our old age.

practically - you have 6 weeks holiday stretching ahead of you - get a waitressing or bar job for a month of it and save it to make ends meet through the year - use the next 2 weeks for planning and preparation

lyingwitch erm yep

How did I manage? I flatshared so something like

Rent: £200
Utilities: £50
Council tax: £30

Walked everywhere
Ate cheaply

tbh, it is a bit off, and incredibly rude I feel, that you have said our children are our lifestyle choice, in a derogatory attitude I personally feel.

Altinkum, I am sorry you feel this way, but I said on more than one occasion I was not trying to be derogatory towards people with children - why the hell would I be when people with children keep me in a job?!

When I realised I was clearly being unreasonable wrt my situation I simply thanked the people who had given constructive advice and re-iterated that it was ME who was going to have to change MY situation. I have not been rude, derogatory or impolite.

activate I dont believe you can get a job during annual leave time ...isnt that er, illegal?

yes get yourself over to money saving expert and fill in one of their budget planners. With that level of outgoings you are goiung wrong somewhere.

You left phone and internet off your list OP. Id really recommend having a cloes look at it all.

I have often had second jobs to make ends meet as a teacher.

I never said children aren't a life style choice, LRD. I was speaking off the tone in which the OP has made. Will you please find an example where my tone has been inapproprate? You may not like what I said, but I spoke politely.