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.

That would be a good income if it was added to another OP. Its been getting more and more obvious that for most ordinary families it takes two incomes to have a standard of living that isn't precarious.

@bahhumbug33 sorry I may have misread something you wrote or took it out of context

Where did I say I have 2k a month??

There is poor and then there is "I have enough but not a penny more" and thats where I am and you are. No we are not techincally poor but sometimes it fucking feels like it.

I cant afford to have savings so if there is a disaster I need to borrow, which is expensive. I make my old clothes last and only buy new for the kids (90% of my wardrobe is made up of stuff my reasonably well off and childless sister passes on to me). I dont have the heating on when the kids are with their dad. I have a car as I need it for work but I use it as little as possible.

If I (or you) take my eye off the ball I would be poor, and it is exhausting trying to make sure that we are always just on the right side of managing.

Minimum wage is £7.83 an hour. To earn £2k on minimum wage you would need to work around 64 hours a week, which I doubt you do.

OP have you thought about saving regularly in a credit union? Maybe a tenner a week then it’s there if you need it or if an appliance breaks down you can apply for a loan as you will have history with them so will be more likely to be accepted for a loan with a smaller level of interest.

You could save the money for new uniforms so it’s not a huge hit on one month’s salary when they start a new school year.

£500 for new uniforms? 🙀

I hope this doesn't come across harshly, but you aren't poor, you're just bad with money (mostly at the start of the month by the sounds of things).

@PyongyangKipperbang that’s a good description. I have enough but not a penny more. By hopefully I can try and look at what I’m spending and squeeze some from somewhere.

where is the £2k/month coming from?? If a council property then rent likely to be around £400ish/month which would mean total income (inc benefits) of around £1,400.

@bahhumbug33 I never said I have 2k a month though.

£500 for new uniforms?

I have three teens who have a "blazer, tie" uniform, everything fucking logo'd. So yes, £500 easily.

I wouldn't say you were poor. You have more than we had when dh was at the top of his career and we had what felt like a lot of money. You have more than we could dream of having now.

Council rent is 650pcm for 2 bed flat. Includes water rates. But I definitely never mentioned the 2k figure. That’s not true at all

sorry OP! was guessing based on my own local area, which is clearly much cheaper...

@PyongyangKipperbang
Yep. Secondary school uniform. Everything logo. Bag, coat, the lot
Primary too butnits a whole lot cheaper. That figure is including everything, pe kit, shoes, and assuming everything will have to be bought new again.

Apologies, I must have got mixed up with another post. But having £1650 (you say you have to spend £650 on rent, and then £1000 on everything else), is still not minimum wage. Minimum wage is around £1200 a month. You have more money than me and I am on much more than minimum wage.

I don't recall op saying she was earning minimum wage?!

@babhumbug33 OP probably gets tax credits! I am on £8.50ph but I get tax credits on top of that.

I earn minimum wage. The total figure is topped up with benefits. Universal credit.

My monthly income is 1700, give or take, with a mortgage of £440. 4 kids at home and 1260 needs to feed us, pay all the bills and run my car (Again, need it for work). It looks a lot but really it isnt.

My dream is to be able to buy something, anything....a coffee or a sandwich, without worrying about the cost. To just pick up a sarnie and be able to buy it without a thought would be wonderful!

I’m in a similar situation op . Work my ass off every day and always chasing my tail with my budget and I earn a good wage just high outgoings on necessities. However I put money away to decorate as I’m in every night and have loads of time to paint . Right now I can nearly afford to buy one new blind and I’ll do the other window next month
I need a car for work and between repayments on my very ordinary car , petrol road tax etc that alone is£450 a month

I would say you are poor OP, although I don't mean to be mean, I just mean that I can understand why you would be feeling it's hard. It would be incredibly hard to live on that with two children. I am not saying that some don't have it worse - yes, it could be worse, but you are by no means comfortably off. By the time you have bought food and cleaning products, etc, there is very little for anything else, including unforeseen repairs etc. I can definitely see why you are struggling. And maybe it's ok for a short time, maybe even a couple of years, but it would be very hard if you can't see an improvement to your situation in the future. I think you are being given a hard time here, maybe by some of the few that are worse off, and maybe by some who have, fortunately for them, never been in your position week in, week out.

Blimey who's on here tonight?! I posted a while back a budget that would leave me with £600 a month for everything other than bills and everyone said it wasn't sustainable long term!! I think its fine to plod along with that until something goes wrong, you need a crown on the NHS, you need new tyres, the washing machine is a right off etc., and a takeaway would be a twice a year spectacular treat. I need a new radiator and I just can't see how that can happen. Of course you can manage it, but its not the easiest and there are many here who have that budget per week!

I think you just do what you can; eBay stuff, take on extra work if possible, cut back on everything. I think its do-able but not a doddle.

@PyongyangKipperbang
Exactly. And when you live like that, it’s very easy, although irresponsible, to splash out a bit around d payday, a coffee or a Tesco meal deal 😂. When you wait for what seems like forever for payday you feel like you can finally ‘afford’ things. Even though you really can’t. Have to have something to look forward to.