To wonder how poor I am??

[Imustbemad00]

I know there will be varied responses from really well off, or ridiculously poor. I sort of class myself as low paid but not in poverty but would like opinions.

I have around 1000pcm after paying rent. 2 children. Out of this 1000 by the time I pay bills (council tax, car insurance, broadband, tv, car tax, parking permit, gas and electric) I probably have around 600 left.

That 600 is then for food, after school clubs, day to day stuff, clothes, shoes, and anything else that might come up such as school trips. Also obviously the odd luxury, cinema trips, days out, treats for the kids, birthdays, Xmas, maybe a holiday.

Do I sound really poor? I get by, pay the bills ect. But I really struggle with clothes and stuff, obviously prioritise kids, struggle to get all their bits and then end up never getting anything for myself. Going for a meal or a day out always has to be planned and saved for and obviously I have no savings.

I guess a lot of people are in the same boat.

OP I sympathise, I've been in pretty much identical situation but with a private rent rather than council. I found it really disheartening to work so hard and still have so little. It was easier for me because I didn't have a car which gave me more free money, although bus pass for work was still £50 a month, but no surprise costs.

I gave teenager an allowance which included budgeting for her own clothes and always bought second hand for the younger one and myself.

I saved a small amount each month with park Christmas savings which gave me a bit extra for presents.

I used top cash back website for various things and got around £100 back 2 years in a row

Have you opened a government help to save account? If not have a look, it's a good scheme

Another who agrees that op has had a really rough ride on here. People telling her that she is in fact quite well off compared to them. Only the top 1% couldn't say that.
There will always be someone better off ( and worse off of course ) as that's life but this is op's life and she is finding it hard.

I don't think you have a lot op. Our grocery bill is easily £600 per month for various reasons so we would massively struggle on your budget but compared to some of our family we are like the poor relations, it's all relative.

I have a primary age child and a secondary ahe child and totally understand what you mean over your dd. It's bloody hard enough being a teenager without all of the extra stuff that we didn't have back in the day. Instagram for one. Everyone looking perfect all of the time. New clothes all of the time.
My teen is a boy so he's not as bothered about clothes but his expensive hobby is premier league football so i feel your pain and can't always afford what he wants ( an away trip costs approx £75 ) twice a month.

We live in a seemingly disposable society and the old "make do and mend" mentality has long gone. I would like to see schools teach dc some of the traditional things like sewing/more cookery and even finance.
My ds hasn't a clue about money and thinks i have a tree in the garden

You're doing your absolute best and your dc will grow up knowing how hard you worked and appreciate what you have done for them. Lots of luck for the future

@Gnomesofthegalaxy I’ve loved solely off benefits too. No maintenance, help from family, just normal benefits (not disability allowance ect) and I find it unbelievable that you save £200pm out of that. Sorry.
When I was on benefits with 2 kids I had £70pw income support, and I think it was around £140 every fortnight in tax credits. So that’s arpund £560 plus £120 child benefit. I find it really hard to believe anybody can pay bills, feed and clothe their children, budget for things like school holidays, birthdays, Xmas and still have £200 left over to save. Unless I’ve misunderstood something I think that’s bullshit. Sorry.

It wasn't me that saved £200, I was (badly) quoting another poster I find it hard to believe too and was just pointing out she additional benefits such as free prescriptions etc

No £600 is not a lot of money to support a family of 3, the fact some people have less is neither here nor there. I had a similar income as a LP until around 12 months ago and it's adding up your shopping on the way round the supermarket territory. Your 1 paycheck away from disaster. If your LL decided to end your tenancy you'll have to magically find 2k to move or end up homeless. It's getting by but it's far from comfortable. I now have around £200 per month more and the difference is amazing, not foreign holiday amazing but it allows me a small cusion for emergencies. This race to the bottom rhetoric is tiresome, you see it on the maintenance threads all the time 'count yourself lucky you get £50 per month I only get 50p' Yawn .

Why thank you for your opinion that my budgeting is bollocks. Your figures are pretty acurate, I have £71 per week income support, child benefit for 2 children and £470 every 4 weeks tax credits. I also have £200 pm maintenance.

I save the maintenance. The whole of tax credits pays for the house. The rest (i/s and c/b) we live on. Anual bills come out of savings, food is £30 per week. The 13th tax credit payment pays for christmas.

I was actually saying that no, you don't have a lot, but if you budget well you don't feel poor. I don't feel poor.

But cheers.

And actually. Just for your disbelief in my budgeting. When my ex was not paying maintenance, I still saved £200 per month. I value savings more than spending and I will budget down anything to have them.

If annual bills come out of savings then whatever is used for those bills isn't actually savings. Whatever is left is your savings, which is probably a lot less than the original £200 per month.

@Herj well it’s more believable that you save maintenance. I thought you was saying you saved £200 out of benefits which is practically impossible.

£600 is not a lot if includes after school,clubs . I would include that in bills as it’s necessary to cover your working hours!

Some of the comments on this thread are just awful. It's really bringing home to me what a vile place mn is! There does seem to be a race to the bottom here and some of the things that seem to be considered luxuries are just sad.

Totally agree!

Op you are getting a hard time. I am totally with you. You have not once said you are in poverty or unappreciative of people in third world countries or people in true poverty.

The guardian calculator shows you are in the bottom 30 percent. Obviously then life style, debt, area you live, any capital, family or inheritance is not included. It's just a raw income guide.

I don't see swimming as a luxury. It's a life skill and can save lives. Gymnastics, taekwondo etc are possibly a luxury but brownies, guides etc should not be as it builds a sense of community.

Working hard and not being able to have a co op sandwich on your lunch as you are watching the pennies isn't a nice feeling when you can't see an end to it.

Hisaishi Yes, and maybe people (including me) have different perceptions than you do. What was your point there?

Thanks for saying it's ok to have different viewpoints. I never said you were being horrible. Bit lost on your post to me tbh.

@Herja

A couple months ago you pushed you had £192 a week after housing...

Fuck me. I (me and 2 children) have £107 per week after housing costs. I actually save as much as I can, so it could be £157, but I choose for it not to be. I also get full council tax rebate, so if you give it a cash value £35 per week (now £192 per week). I don't feel that badly off, poor but not dreadful - we're still going on holiday camping this year. We still go out for the day, everyone is well clothed and I can afford the kids wierd food whims.

Bit more than what you’re saying on this thread!

I have 1100 before my rent. That is what I earn. You are not by any means poor.

Why do people find it so hard to understand there are different degrees of poor such as different degrees of well-off?

Talk of people in third world countries, whist sad, has no relevance on the OP's life whatsoever.

When the OP is talking about kids clubs, clothes, treats and luxuries and posters are saying if she's doing these things she's not poor - are they not getting that if she has £600 per month to cover all of these things plus her food she's not exactly buying designer clothes and going on cruises. I understand that there are people who have less than this but that doesn't take away from the fact that OPs life isn't easy. People are saying holidays being a luxury, but I don't think that a week in a caravan should be considered a luxury. Families should have time away to relax and bond. That was a benefit of the discretionary term time holiday that schools used to be able to grant.

@Imustbemad00 I think you've had a really hard time on this thread. What might be helpful for you is to have a look at the frugaleers thread on credit crunch where people are supportive of each other. It's an interesting thread as you can see that the different posters are in very different financial circumstances but all are trying to make the most of what they've got without being judgemental of each other.

You at nowhere near poor. You have a LOT of money left after rent

@didyouseetheflaresinthesky do you have children because if you do you will be entitled to some help with that wage.

@user1483387154. Okay. If you say so.
So take my £600, by the time I pay for clubs, the odd extra top up on the gas and electric and food (if I say £60 pw for food) I probably should have £230 left over for absolutely everything else. That is not a lot. Think of kids asking for a chocolate from the shop, grabbing a sandwich from Tesco, an ice cream in the school holidays, friends birthdays, Xmas, the list is endless. It’s not a lot of spare money in a year it really isn’t. If you think about it over a year, and then all the extra expenses we have over a year that are not part of the monthly bills.

So many years ago, once all was paid I had £18 a week for shopping. I had my mum try to work my budget out to see if I was missing some help, or if it was easier to not work as nursery fees drained my wage. Buying bday presents or clubs were out of the question.
I was better off not working. I was a single Mum to 1 child and wanted to prove to the world I could manage. I couldn't work any more hours as nursery fees went up.
Bless my mum, she started making my lunch for me for work (we worked in same company)

Having £600 a month left, you are in a good position! I used to feed myself of my daughters left overs. I refused to ever let her go without!

Now I thank my lucky stars as my hard work paid off and now can afford a little luxury. Not much but I know I can put food on the table without counting pennies, I can donate a bag of food a week to local food bank and take my family out on day trips occasionally. I now have a partner and 2 more little additions to my family.

So your saying you are left with
£230 each month after all bills, food and odd luxury are paid.

That's £230 each month you can put into savings, that's a tidy sum over a year. Any unexpected bills would be covered.

I think people underestimate how often 'extras' crop up and how expensive they are - stuff like needing a new pair of glasses as your lens is scratched, getting a prescription with a couple of medications on, hair cuts, needing some dental treatment.

Imustbemad00 Some folk will never get it, or they're much worse off. IMO you have it hard, you are working and struggling, So much of a good life is wasted worrying about money and not able to do things. If swimming makes your DC happy you prioritise it.

There are many people worse off who prioritise fags and booze, your DC deserve to go swimming and feel like they are worth it.

@AllDriedOut how could I save that £230? Are we not to leave the house ever? What about the children need shoes, or trousers, I need a new frying pan, we meet up with friends the list is endless. Do people really think it’s pissible to go 30 days without spending a penny, 12 months a year.

Can you honestly imagine getting the food shop at £60 per week and not spending another penny any day of the week? That’s not realistic. Even without clothes, household items ect that’s still not realistic

No, you're no poor, but you really need to think about saving at least £50 a month. Straight out of your payslip into something that will take ages to get hold of, maybe a 30 day notice account?