To feel a bit of a failure because I don't have more disposable income.

[Quiddichcup]

I'm a single parent. There were no assets from the marriage so I walked away with just clothes and a few bits of furniture. And a baby.

I've always worked but private rent and had to go for jobs that fit in with childcare and were low paid.

I'm rebuilding my career now and earning ok. However, it's not enough. My daughter has just gone to her dad's for a few weeks and people keep giving me ideas of ways to fill my time- which is great and all except I have no money spare. Everything is paid and I just need food and have money for that but nothing extra- that's already been spent on school uniform and a few treats when school broke up.

But I feel like some sort of failure that I still don't have enough.

Even when on paper we had a good income, it was swallowed up by mortgage, childcare etc, and we didn't have much disposable income. Now ds is finishing uni and we are clearing the last remnants of debt etc, we have disposable income, but there isn't much, apart from paying the mortgage off early, that I want to spend it on.

People who look like they have loads are often juggling credit cards.

It won't help hearing this now, but it does get better, and if you are covering your outgoings without getting into debt, then you are doing really well. I like doing things that don't cost....borrowing books from the library, spending an afternoon looking on Rightmove, having a soak in the bath, going for a walk etc.