To just be really fucking fucked off with being so broke all the time!

[SharkiraSharkira]

I will admit, this is really just a rant as there isn't much anyone can do about it.

But I am SO SICK of being SO fucking poor! It's SO humiliating having to admit to my boss and co workers that I am so broke I can't afford to pay my rent, that I am so broke I have to raid my penny jar for money for the fucking bus to work, just generally playing catch up ALL THE FUCKING TIME and never being able to actually get there.

Aibu to just be fucking fed up? To make matters worse I had to get an advance last month because otherwise I would have only had 2 weeks worth of money to live on for a month, so now I am going to get about £500 for this month. A whole month of working so hard, virtually full time hours and that is all I've got to show for it? Feel like just fucking giving up. So I know it's not going to get better any time soon.

Also doesn't help that a member of staff turned up today showing off their shiny new car that they just bought on a credit card. Makes me want to scream!

I know that isn't fair as my finances are not their problem but everyone was rushing out to look at the lovely new car and I just wanted them to fuck off because I'm stuck relying on free lifts and the bus because I can't even afford to fix my fucked bike. Just want to cry

Things are bleak right now but after you've finished your degree higher waged jobs will be out there.

Try CAB, MSE for advice and see what benefits you may have open to you. Speak to Student Welfare at your Uni or maybe NUS and see if they'll help.

Does your DP work? Could they take on another job? If you have time could you do online surveys as a student they were okay for me, would give me an extra £5 or so.

Would it be cheaper for you to take a room in a shared house than live in a house of your own with DP?

Thank you for all the encouragement

I know it will pass. It will get better. I'm normally such a positive person and can usually see the good in most situations but I'm just tired and stressed and just want things to be better now!

Iflyaway clearly I meant move in with parents , with a friend etc not saving up a huge depisit.
No need to be so rude.

I'm in the same position sweet. No matter how much I work, it goes in one hand and straight out the other. I have two children and are entitled to tax credits, but the more I earn the more they take off me, and it becomes pointless. What's the point in working 40 hours a week if I can work 25 and get the same money? There's no incentive to try harder. My dp has been the sahp and I'm hoping once our youngest is in preschool he'll find a suitable job. But right now every time I feel like my money situation is starting to settle, another debt chases me. I have bailiffs threatening because the company won't accept my offer. According to my expenditure form I have £200 disposable income a month and they want £110 a month for a £300 debt! Its just nuts. There's no compassion in the world these days. I'm a student too, and it's so hard juggling it all. We would be in no position to move, you need money for That!

Sorry looks like I'm joining the ranting 😂

It is shit having no money. I remember when I first left home 20 years ago and lived on tinned tomatoes and spaghetti for a month because I couldn't afford anything else.
It feels unrelenting when you have to watch every penny and you can't even treat yourself to a chocolate bar because it means you can't afford bus fare.
It will get better though. You are not a failure, you are working towards a better life and you have an end in sight even though it feels far away now.
Ignore what your co-workers are spending, it's stupid to buy a car on a credit card anyway . They don't have anymore money than you it's just that they are being irresponsible and building up a load of debt while you are building a secure future.

If DP isn't a student, make sure that he claims the single person discount on Council Tax- it is usually 25% as students are exempt even if you are working. Not much but a help to your joint income.
You probably don't have time but doing some ofthe paid on line opinion surveys might get a small amount of cash. I think MSE mentioned above has links.
Also suggestion about waitressing in a retaurant or gastro pub may be a good one if they pass on the tips.
Does today's increase in minimum wage help?

and
It's shit shit shit being a student and trying to work isn't it.

Stupidly obvious questions but have you been able to arrange a monthly travel pass to take the pressure off getting to work/uni etc?

Definitely agree with a meal plan - do you and DP pool your money? That can often work out much better than both trying to muddle along separately.

I'm not even going to cyber slap your wrist about the payday loan, been there, done that. But please please don't.

Have you been and had a chat to someone at your bank? It's often worth making an appointment.
DH did this as a student and they managed to consolidate a load of things and also sorted an account which had insurances included which saved him loads each month. Especially as you're studying, they tend to see the bigger pic these days.

Oh and that brand new car - they'll have already lost thousands on it

Remember, comparison is the thief of joy.
You've had children, have a (hopefully lovely) DP, are studying towards a goal. Lots of people may envy you without you even realising!
You rant away in the meantime though.

You are certainly not a failure, you are working very hard and getting the shitty stick at the moment due to the disgusting zero hour crap! I can't believe that zero hours are legal, it's fucking outrageous. Keep your eyes on the prize OP.

Are you paying for your DC? You say they don't live with you. Sounds like you qualify for full maintenance loan and student loan and you're also working 32 hours, so it SHOULD be enough. Not for a life of luxury, but just getting by, temporarily for a couple of years. Is your money going towards the Dc's care? I don't really understand why your money situation is so bad when other students seem to scrape by.

Or is this more of letting out the jealousy at the colleague getting the new car? You're entitled to feel jealous. But remember that they don't own that car, in effect. The credit card company does.

the greater issue is political.
but we're supposed to look the other way, the gutter press urging us to locate convenient scapegoats, such as blaming immigrants, job seekers, etc.

I mean who the fuck benefits really from zero hour contracts? why the hell is this shit even legal?

It's like when the press report how badly the NHS is performing: no one ever mentions that there is enough money to fund it, but government cuts are throttling the entire system. Look away and blame the victim is the usual spiel.

I feel for you. You are definitely not being unreasonable.

Nobody who works full time should struggle to pay rent, buy food, treat themselves, fund travel or simply exist.

Why as a country we settle for this I have no idea. The rich grow richer and we all go the hell biting at and blaming each other. A sad state for the uk to be in.

I may be being very naive though. I was a student YEARS ago inthe 90s and it was possible to live off a tenner a week for food if you pooled with someone else, and have a good night out with change from 20 quid including a shared taxi at the end of the night. I do realise that life has got hellishly more expensive.

But I've got teenaged kids and am starting to wonder if uni is even an option for them if they want to move away from home to do it. If ordinRy people can't manage on full tuition and maintenance loan AND 32 hours a week (albeit low-) paid employment, then will it end up being only the toffs who go to uni, as was the case in the old days?

OP is ignoring the questions about DP though. What contribution are they making to things?

Yes curly, some of the money does go towards the dcs. Last month and the month before were particularly bad due to both of their birthdays - I didn't get anything fancy but I couldn't not get them anything for their birthdays.

A lot of it is travel. I live rurally and travel is a huge expense. It would be SO much better financially if my bike (motorbike) wasn't broken but we have to deal with the hand we are dealt don't we!

to anyone else going through this rubbish. We will all get there in the end *paints on happy face!

The increase in minimum wage may help the OP a little-extra 30p an hour x 30 hours = £9 more a week.

Housing benefit have already told me they will be reducing the help I get from them by £7.65 pw "due to my increased earnings" No doubt tax credits will be docking something too from the £1.35 I'm left with. Prices for food, gas, electric and water have all gone up too so tbh I won't notice any difference.

There is a hardship fund at your university that you could access?

Also you can go to a food bank

What are you studying at uni?

DP works very hard, full time. His earnings are much higher than mine but his outgoings are also much higher, car insurance, maintenance, etc etc. We don't pool our money but we have roughly the same disposable income. He unfortunately isn't in a position to help me money wise, although he has in the past, as he has recently changed jobs.

There's one thing that really jumps out at me...

Why are you making debt repayments if you cannot afford your rent?!?!? Your rent comes first, if you cannot afford your current debt repayments then default and offer a token payment.

How much does your DP contribute to your household?

Are you paying half of the bills/rent OP?

Feel for op and you guys in similar situations.
I'm by no means well off but am just at a stage in life where I have a little (literally)left in my account come pay day.
I don't own a property and I don't even own my car yet(a dad loan bless him)but to get here we have had a really hard ten or so years.
I was a single parent at 19 renting a flat and trying to rob peter to pay Paul all the time.
I started with absolutely nothing and remember not eating sometimes for two or three days at a time so I could get the bus to work and buy nappies for my ds. It was real hardship.
Living in the coldest flat with no heating and going to bed in a coat was one of my worst memories of that period in my life.

Things got slightly better and I met my now dh and we had a dd 11 years ago but he got made redundant when she was very little and it threw us back into that awful hardship again.
I remember sitting on my doorstep early one morning thinking that I could never see an end to the vicious circle.

I used to see friends similar ages to me with an actual disposable income rather than a dodge ball account like mine and would feel immense anger at life.

Dc 3 is 6 now and we've had two wages coming in for a couple of years and I can look back and think how the hell did we do it BUT we just did.

When friends tell me I'm so lucky to have a lovely home and holidays and the opportunity to save etc I tell them it's not luck that's got me here,it's sheer grit shit and determination and il never forget it.

I'm really meticulous with budgeting and saving and am always on the look out for getting things at a cheaper price.
Them worst moments for me are etched in my memory and act as a good reminder of how far I have come and I take nothing for granted ever.

You will look back in time and see that all your hard work has got you where you would like to be and you won't ever forget it or take it for granted.

Where about s in the country are studying you op ?
And are you getting a student loan ?

32 hrs per week @ £7.50 x 52 = 12480 pa (approx - understand it's zero hour contract
Max Student loan approx £8400 pa
Plus you also don't pay council tax and get other concessions.

Circa £20,000 pa - not a fortune, but people live on a lot less !
Don't understand why you are strugglng unless you don't qualify for a loan, or you have a lot of debt ?

car share? bung em a few quid for a lift?

On line monthly shop?

Other than that I cannot believe what you are doing and you should be massively proud of yourself

Have you thought about being a support worker/carer. If you're prepared to sleep in the pay is quite good. My sister-in-law works as a carer, where she lives with her ladies for two weeks at a time, doing everything for them, and she makes really good money. Plus she doesn't have to pay for food etc, as it's all included.

If it's any consolation, I know how you feel. Last years this time my DC and I were going to be out on the street, literally. Thanks to a friend who is letting me rent his flat for a reasonable amount I'm just about managing to feed the DC. Can't find a job because I've been out of the workplace for 8 years, and apparently that means you don't have a brain any more and nobody will give you a chance .