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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a whinge about money

52 replies

Ummofumbridge · 25/11/2012 23:45

We're skint and its not looking likely that ill get anything this year for christmas or my birthday.
Normally I'm not that bothered as I get bits for myself year round but this year every penny has gone on dc - rightly so but I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. My roots are down to my ears, my split ends are insane, I'm using teenage dds make up as mine has all gone Blush and I recently dropped a dress size which was great but now all my jeans are too big and I can't afford to replace.

Oh and the screen is cracked to death on my phone.

I am very grateful for everything I have and I know there are millions worse off...

Tell me iabu but I needed a bit of a moan. Sorry. Thanks. Feel free to join in shameless moaning.

OP posts:
McChristmasPants2012 · 25/11/2012 23:46

feel free and i hope someone comes along to offer advice

NervousAt20 · 25/11/2012 23:47

Sad no you aren't BU. could you not maybe buy a cheap home hair dye kit that you could put in yourself? That might help make you feel abit better

Mabelface · 25/11/2012 23:50

I hear you. I'm not sure how we are going to buy presents for the miss this year.

BackforGood · 25/11/2012 23:52

Of course YANBU. I think we all need to have a bit of a moan every now and them. Good for the sole.

bedmonster · 25/11/2012 23:52

YANBU Sad but echo nervous, could you afford a DIY job for your hair? Might lift your spirits a little. Even if it means a treat less for the DC, sometimes you need to put yourself first.
And congrats on the weightloss!! (if you were trying that is, not just if it's because food has been tight Sad)

Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 25/11/2012 23:55

No I do dye my hair myself but can't justify £6 when I'm struggling with dinner money :(
It's that bad.
We used to be ok but we got into debt when DH went a bit depressed a few years ago following a bereavement. Now we're paying it off but it leaves is with nothing else.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 25/11/2012 23:56

Ill use some of my cb to buy a hair dye this week I think. A birthday treat. Jeez that's sad!!!

OP posts:
bedmonster · 26/11/2012 00:00

Sorry to hear that, I hope things improve for you soon. And have you had a look at some of the threads on here offering stuff? People are being very generous and you might be able to pick something up for the DC to lighten the burden a little.

McChristmasPants2012 · 26/11/2012 00:00

i belive that a happy mum makes a happy child.

just off on my drunken head, but have you compared energy prices to see if you are getting the best price, have you phoned the debt company and explained you are struggling. Have you been to the CAB to get some advice how to manage this better.

Fiendishlie · 26/11/2012 00:01

I get my hair dye in the 99p store. And it's very good, too, I wouldn't settle for cheap if it wasn't any good.

Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 26/11/2012 00:02

Thanks all for being lovely. I've done well for the little ones with second hand sites.
Teenagers will be fine as we have something put aside for them. It's just us!
I'm a student so this time next year I will hopefully have a degree and a job! Maybe ill be even getting malt hair done at a salon :)

OP posts:
Aspiemum2 · 26/11/2012 00:06

Are you on a dmp? It's worth checking your debt repayment arrangements to see you are being left enough to live on.

Local colleges can be good for hair, they are very cheap and it sounds like you deserve that one special treat.

McChristmasPants2012 · 26/11/2012 00:07

you could alway be a model and have your hair done for free, local salons normally offer these.

Since struggling myself, i have had my hair done for free in tony and guy :) it was by an appentice who are desperate for experience

Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 26/11/2012 00:08

Thanks mcChristmas. DH handles the money (leave the bastard? :))
So ill get him to have a look at energy prices.

I hate this. I blame FB for my misery. Everyone seems to be our partying and Christmas shopping and I'm sitting freezing because the hearing is temperamental!

The dc are happy enough. The teens know we are struggling but I think it's good for them in a way to understand the value of money. They are lovely children and very grateful for what we have so they make me happy.

Actually my dc make me very happy. I'm going to wake up on my birthday and just enjoy them. I think my frame if mind tonight is very negative which isn't me at all normally. I have healthy dc and a lovely family.

:)

OP posts:
Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 26/11/2012 00:10

And yes maybe I'll offer up my hair to the local comp and blame you when it goes orange

OP posts:
SkipTheLightFanjango · 26/11/2012 00:10

I embraced natural hair colour recently as hair dye is too much to pay for. It's not so bad really. I dropped 2 sizes..real pain for clothes but charity shops came to my rescue, jeans for £1.99?? What's to complain about?
For me thew broken back door and toilet we can't flush are more of an issue. Hey ho..we'll all gwt there in the end.

McChristmasPants2012 · 26/11/2012 00:11

they have the tutor watching over :)

cloggs142 · 26/11/2012 00:12

i dont know if this will be any good......but if u really trawl around on the net a bit, you can get free samples of alot of make up and hair dye....not great i know but may give u a little boost!!! Also try some swap sites for clothes.....i did that after i lost some of my baby weight....swapped 2 pairs of jeans.....worn condition, for another 2 jeans, 3 tops and a skirt!!! always a bargain to be had :) i know its crap, been there. My partner is doing 70 hours a week and its still hard......but whoever said about energy prices too....give it a go. i saved so much money when i switched. oh god i sound like an advert!! hahaha

NatashaBee · 26/11/2012 00:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Ummofumbridge · 26/11/2012 00:20

Skip :) I'm definitely considering going dark again but it's the inbetweeny phase. My hair is quite long. I've also developed adult acne which I've never had in my life!! Way to kick someone when they're down!

I know lots of people are in the same boat. It's reassuring although I wish none of us were iykwim.

Thanks so much for the replies. I fully expected to be told to eff off with my misery when there are starving children in Africa. I never create posts on here as I'm scared not sure how ill cone across but I do reply a lot!

:)

OP posts:
McChristmasPants2012 · 26/11/2012 00:23

perhaps get your hair dyed closer to the colour to your roots

Sagelynodding · 26/11/2012 01:03

:( It sucks, doesn't it? Nothing but Thanks / Wine / Brew and sympathy from me!

Money just seems to be getting tighter and tighter. Car repairs, petrol, food bills, everything...I take all the overtime I can get, but we still struggle.

DP and I don't usually give each other Christmas/birthday presents-the DC take priority, and even then we don't go crazy.

I cut my own hair the other day following a YouTube tutorial-it isn't too bad and saved me money, I will do it again in future.

FB gets me down sometimes too-seeing other people's lavish weddings, fab holidays, new houses-I'm not exactly jealous, but it does make me question my life choices and compare myself to others. But that said, few people actually post the crappy stuff that is happening in their lives on FB, so it gives a very skewed image. Best not to look really :)

liptherapy · 26/11/2012 01:19

Agree with McChristmasPants' suggestion - contact the debt company and also debt advice charities to see what you can arrange. You should have enough left after paying your debts for a reasonable standard of living - if your debt repayments are too high for that, then you can arrange for them to be reduced. It really is worth discussing your options. Stepchange or National Debtline are two charities I'd recommend speaking to - both have online support where you can enter your debt details and see what sort of solution is recommended.

I was really struggling to pay a third of my income into debt repayments, but have had them written off now as my income was deemed too low to be able to sustain them. So it's been really worthwhile for me to seek help. My credit rating is shot to pieces, but I actually have more disposable income now than I've had for years.

youngermother1 · 26/11/2012 01:20

Realise most of these people are building up debt. You are paying off. It will getr better. Lots of unmumnetty hugs

decktheballs · 26/11/2012 01:33

Ummo can I be cheeky and ask what size you are now? I have jeans in a cupboard I planned to slim into but forgot about. If they'd be any good to you you'd be welcome to them.