To be worried?

[RollonBed]

New to mumsnet, just joined purely because its all i can think about. Love reading other threads though.

Ok, so the cap comes into place tomorrow 384 pound a week. Im a single psrent 2ith 4 children. How on earth an i expected to pay rent out of this and live? I will have to pay £104 pound rent a week! Thats 280 to buy food, petrol, gas, electric, water... yes i pay monthly for these but each week i make sure i set aside 50 pound... its said some 300,000 children will be pushed into poverty and people may loose there home over it. Im so worried i cant eat or sleep!! Should i be worried. aibu to think this is such an unecessary thing gor goverment to do?

[RollonBed]

Ok for the sarcastic faces of mumsnet. 380 a week. 100 on rent. 80 food shop. 30 petrol 50 for gas and electric and water. 25 a week to the side for car insurance 10 a week for tax. I pay off a debt of other halfs 20 a week. Milk money 12 pound a week. Give or take.

[TeacherBob]

Ok, so the cap comes into place tomorrow 384 pound a week. Im a single psrent 2ith 4 children. How on earth an i expected to pay rent out of this and live? I will have to pay £104 pound rent a week!

I am a qualified teacher taking home less than that after tax. My rent is £200 a week.
And we don't get any of the other stuff you likely get, such as help with nhs bills etc.

I am in the wrong job

[SheldonCRules]

So you work a few hours because it would mean more benefits ... says everything doesn't it.

How about working lots of hours as you chose to have four children and have a responsibility to provide for them.

The government aren't to blame for your choices, you are.

[ItShouldHaveBeenJess]

Is this thread for real or just someone hoping to start a benefits bashing fight? Sorry, not buying it.

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

Work from home 16 hours a week. I have 5 dc and I do this and study also. There are lots of things you can do from home. Phone line work. Do you have any talents? Make things to sell. Have a look online there are lots of things you can do.

You also have to be really good at budgeting, it is doable, but if you can work 16 hours a week it won't have to be.

[StealthPolarBear]

So what is the issue? Is it dropping below what you can afford

[ThePinkOcelot]

That's over £1600 per month OP. I get that a month, but mine is taxed so get less. I also work 37.5 hours per week.

[Piehunter]

Even with what you've written you have £60 a week left, I'm not quite seeing what the problem is?

[Freezingwinter]

I'm genuinely not being sarcastic, I apologise if I come across that way. Can you not get your costs down? 80 is a lot for a weekly food shop. We do ours at Aldi with top ups from Asda or sainsburys for branded stuff.

[ReallyConfusedDotCom]

You will be free of the benefit cap if you work a minimum of 16 hrs. Why isn't it an option for you? Lots of single parents are able to work and many parents return to work while the children are very young.

People now have to learn that working isn't an option and you have to do it to survive.

[Redglitter]

Your outgoings still only total £325 a week as you've listed them. That sill leaves £55 a week spare

[Seekingadvice123]

Talk about drip feeding.
What is milk money?
You are just looking for reasons to whinge rather than looking at ways to budget.

[baconandeggies]

Why is your car insurance £1300 per year and why do you repay over £1000 of your partner's debt?

[Conniedescending]

Your budget is already off.... 25 a week for car insurance equates to £1300 a year and tax is 520 - what are you driving!!!

You have to work to accurate figures for budgeting as this is where you'll slip. If rent is 104 then use that figure

[Emmageddon]

You pay £200 a month for gas and electricity? As for £80 a week on food, go to Lidl or Aldi, that'll get your food bills down.

Maybe you don't realise how well off you are. Or maybe you do and you started this thread to cause a bunfight.

[formerbabe]

OK then op, you're right. It's absolutely disgusting that you are having to live on a budget. Poor you. The government is disgraceful to put a limit on your benefits and not completely facilitate your lifestyle.

[Isitlunchtimeyet]

£80 seems a lot for food, I shop at lidl and feed 4 adults and one teenager for £60

[Freezingwinter]

Also I probably come across a bit sarcastic because I'm jealous. I would love to have 55 a week spare. I would love another baby but can't yet because my maternity leave pay won't cover my outgoings unless I save to top it up!

[Redglitter]

beautiful bizarre

A food bank? Are you serious? Have you seen the OPs breakdown of expenses. Her children are far from being in poverty

[perditalost]

25 a week to the side for car insurance

get rid of the car - thats £1200 just for insurance. Add in the other costs and thats a lot of money.

[StealthPolarBear]

Presumably the op pays for her children to have milk at school. That said I pay annually and i think it's £40 so 12 per week seems very high

[Conniedescending]

I've just done a food shop for 6 at Aldi - £83

2 children 2 teens 2 adults - meals and lunch boxes for a week as well as wine. It is easily doable

[Spookle]

Did you post this a few weeks ago?

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

It isn't easy. I had the kids we could afford when I was married, he was abusive and we had to leave and also get no maintenence.

The op has now got used to a certain amount of money and is worrying that she has to live on less now. Everyone would worry in that situation. No need to be nasty to her.

[Seekingadvice123]

I suspect the OP has been living beyond her means for a while.
The amount you are spending just on the car while on benefits is beyond the pale. I had to give up my car years ago when I was on a low income because I had to prioritise where my income was spent. It just wasn't sustainable.