to be fed up of always feeling poor even though my husband earns above the national average?

[alwayspoor]

I am a SAHM, live in east anglia. HOuse prices are massive, we have a house up north that we can't sell (need to be near London for DHs job) and a mortgage. We've got 3 dc's. Struggling to by decent food on top of all the bills.

I know. I am a bit evangelical about smoke alarms. Brother's account is horrendous. He couldn't see or breathe and lost all sense of direction in his own house. He had taken the batteries out of the smoke alarm because it kept going off when he cooked. It can happen.

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I thought I'd reply to the last messages.

I'm still not planning to get contents insurance, but it doesn't mean I don't have a smoke alarm or that I am lax about my family's safety! I don't doubt fires and burglaries happen, but we don't have anything very valuable and in the unlikely scenario that we lost our stuff we could replace it.

Didn't reply before as I thought people were sick of my posting, but the suggestion of prison officer was priceless! Actually, I fancy a change of career...

No, my DH will hopefully be accepted for training to become a priest.

A priest, does that pay?

A priest.

Sorry, that sounded flippant. I know someone who was a priest and know a bit about his finances so am now starting to grasp how MarianneM makes things work, that's all.

you get a house as well dont you as a priest?

£19k plus generally a good sized house.

(but they do a thankless job and unless you DH/DW can fund a BTL house for your retirement, you are in a tough place)

it is very different existance from everyone else......Also a tad low on Christian generousity there MarrianeM!

Thereal I was actually shocked to here that as I too felt you weren't being ver christian. Anyway (excuse my ignorance) but aren't priests celebet (sp?).

not CofE ones alwayspoor only catholic!

Ahh ok thought they were called something else.

@Marriane, I had him down as an undertaker.

@Jajas, the one thing that you need not worry about are oven gloves. DH and I walked through the shell of db's house, looking at the sky through the open burnt out roof, everything soaking after the fire service had done their best, looking at the crater which used to be the boiler/immersion heater, trying to work out how on earth the fire service had got the four of them out (and for one of the fire officers it was his first ever shift) I was unnaturally struck by the all in one oven glove. It was so bizarre to see it so pristine amongst all of the unholy chaos. Never insure your oven gloves. I guess I was /we were in a bit of shock at the time but the utterly pristine oven glove seemed like a practical joke. Yes, I am sure that fire officers make sure to do a practical joke after saving 4 lives. Perfect sense.

Alwayspoor, 20 mins walk to school is nothing! Save the petrol costs and walk.
My dad walked 4 miles to school and 4 miles home again from the age of 5. In rural Wales, during the war, through deep snow in winter.

There are always little savings that can be made. IMO, it matters little how much you actually earn, because it is never quite enough!

My friend is earning extra money for Christmas by making and selling "arrangements" of sweets - done so the whole ensemble looks like a Christmas tree, with ribbons and bows etc. She also does funeral flowers etc, doesn't get much but every little counts when your partner's an idle fecker

"Also a tad low on Christian generousity there MarrianeM!"

It's not my calling, it's his calling (though of course I'm supportive)!

And this is all very recently decided so my views as expressed before on this thread were there before my DH decided to enter into the acceptance process. I still think you can make it work on less money.

By the way, I'd love to work as an undertaker!

J, was 4 years ago, and all are fighting fit and healthy now. I have recovered from just about everything except my unholy zeal for smoke alarms. Massive thanks not just for the technology, but for the ongoing humanty (brushing their hair, and doing their teeth, etc, in ITUp; and massive thanks to the fire service. especially the dear soul on his first shift.

Sorry to derail, op.

(puts on sandwich board and parades up and down Oxford Street)

Fireproof oven glove does mean fireproof oven glove. We can laugh now.

Anyone like the simpsons? It was deeply Christian Ned flanders who saw insurance as a form of gambling. ;)

alpine

You are not allowed to use the "poor" tag unless you are sleeping in a bin, well that's the rule according to mumsnet.

When I was a sahm I was told that I couldn't complain because I didn't work, now I work I pay more out in childcare than I actually earn!

It was deeply Christian Ned flanders who saw insurance as a form of gambling.
Its more like inverse gambling. You pay your stake but hope to never 'win'.

My brother won a whole new kitchen, replacement as new everything, free temporary accommodation, and all the neighbour got their houses repainted. Nationwide bingo!