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!

Excel is your friend. Get thee to a spreadsheet, pronto. And budget, like a demon. Write down every penny you spend. Make sure you meal plan and batch cook. Take a packed lunch to work. Use some of the very good money saving/budgeting websites around.

From what you describe, it's imperative you get a second job, as quickly as possible. Get in touch with an employment agency and see what they can offer you. Earlier this year, I saw an ad for work in a University library via an agency in the evenings and on weekends - it worked out brilliantly and I've ended up with a permanent part time job there. Gumtree often has ads for people wanting help with children over summer or Easter holidays. Is there tutoring work you can do?

Do you have other marketable skills? Can you be a tutor for evening classes? Are there things you can make and sell?

Things will improve but it will take some juggling. A second job can at least mean a quicker time to pay off the OD or ensure you don't have to go to your parents again. Good luck.

YANBU
Everything from holidays to monthly outgoings are more. I remember feeling exactly the same way when I was your age and older although I was earning a good salary and had no problems with money I noticed how much more everything cost being single.

I'm sorry but I haven't read all your thread, I just want to say that like the colleague you mention, I work part time on the same salary as you OP (pro rata) & there is no way that with tax credits & child benefit that I bring home anywhere near the same amount as my counterparts. I think your colleague is winding you up.

Not wanting to kick you when you're down, but YABU!
My partner works full time and I'm on ESA. Our gross income for the year is £28k (including CTC & CB, we're not entitled to HB), we have two young children and our rent is £550pcm. It's a struggle at times, but we manage to live within our means.
I know that it's easy to allow your spending to increase to match what funds are available to you, but if you have £450 a month to spend on food and lovely nice things, you shouldn't be struggling. Agree with what everyone else has said about budgets, money saving expert website (he has tips on everything!) and really being honest with yourself about every penny that you spend. Can you afford to pay off slightly more on your debts each month to clear them faster, for example?
Also, I agree with cherryteat.Your colleague wouldn't be getting that much in benefits, and in any case her 'lifestyle choice' of having children means that her outgoings will be higher than yours.

YANBU that there is so little help out there for single people struggling to cope with living costs on their own and single people without kids undoubtedly put way more in than they take out over the years. (And don't get me started on "But who will pay your pension?" arguments - for that to happen, the children involved would have to rise above 3rd generation unemployment and actually get jobs which pay into the system, rather than taking out thru benefits!!)

But it doesn't sound outrageously difficult to live off £400/month for feeding yourself and entertainment. I'd agree you need to go looking for savings... The money is going somewhere! Part of the problem I found during my 20s was tat everyone sort of sells you this lifestyle - that you should have foreign holidays and big nights out and new clothes etc. It's simply not true if you can't afford it - cut your cloth to suit!

To all those suggesting a flat share - I actually found this way more expensive than living on my own because the shared costs would spiral. E.g. one flatmate decided to get Sky TV and expect everyone to chip in, the groceries always seemed to get mysteriously eaten and I was forever buying more, no one ever bought any loo roll except for me, one of the flatmates worked from home so should have been paying a bigger % of electricity etc. At least on your own, you control the costs.

You live alone. I know others have said it and you denied it, but - I started as a graduate trainee in London on 28k a year. I couldn't have contemplated my own place. You just obviously haven't found the right flatmate. Oh and I used public transport - a car was out of the question. Help is available for families with kids because it is intended to ensure the children are able to live out of poverty - not so the parents have enough for personal luxuries.

YANBU the govt doesn't care about single people. We pay alot into the system, are eligible for nothing and take next to nothing out.

I am single, no children, I see a GP about once a year, I don't use the schools, the hospitals, NOTHING. But I get fuck all.

When I split up with my DP (because he got cold feet about TTC, chokes back tears) I had no option but to go home to my mum at my age. My salary is pretty good compared to some peoples as I am a solicitor but I have my university loans to pay back and also two professional studies loans that I took out to pay for my law conversion and also my LPC. Without those, I couldn't have become a solicitor. The repayments for three loans are crippling and while I could afford to split expenses with a DP, NO WAY can I afford rent, bills, food, CT, travel card, 3 loan payments alone. It's absolutely pathetic at my age. But what am I supposed to do? When i et the loans paid off I'll be ok but that wont be for a while.

I don't have a rip roaring social life either. I have dinner with a friend about once or twice a month and maybe have a pay day lunch with colleagues once a month. It's sad.

I was fully expecting to agree with you but I earn less than £10, 000 a year, the most I've ever earned is £14k a year. And I've managed. Struggled, sometimes. My housemate lives on £4k a year. Imagine that. It's simple things like you can't afford to buy a cup of coffee out ever for me, or having to limit my food spending. In his case he goes further into his (interest-heavy)overdraft each month just to eat.

Going back to the original post, and as someone a page ago said,

Single women working over a certain number of hours and under a certain income level are able to claim working tax.

Therefore the Single people have not been overlooked and should claim if they need to.

But what exactly are people with children eligible for do you think?
£18 per week for a child? That might pay for 2 packets of nappies or some baby food/milk - That (as someone quoted above) is for the child NOT for me or DH. DH pays nearly half his salary into the system too - you are not the only ones just because you are single. Why should single people get more if married/partners with children don't get anything?

We don't get anything else at all, we live solely off DH's income.

Mrs weatherwax, I can understand your situation must be difficult and I do have sympathy with those people who are really finding it hard to make ends meet but the OP earns as much as a lot of families do with children.
It is tough - its tough for everyone but 26K is really not something to be moaning about if you are living on your own.

I earn less than you and have a baby, in fact the last few months I have had even less than usual. You have a good wage and should just learn how to make cuts in your spending. It is easier with someone sharing the bills so why not look into a flat share?

If you are single, with no kids then you are entitled to Tax credits (£18k for a couple).

When DH and I had our first baby(9yrs ago) we were on a joint income of £22k and we managed just fine.

You need to learn how to budget and with the greatest will in the World try and find the positives in your life. You are 26 and already earning more than the national average, so stop whining.

You also get council tax reductions which those in couples don't!

Ivortheengine8 - yes, but you only pay 1 council tax bill per household so it's still cheaper, per person, for a couple.

Get a 2nd job?

House share? I did and thats how I met my husband, not sure if thats a good thing?!?! Seriously, if you cant afford to live by yourself do something about it.