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.

Similar position (a bit worse) I wouldn't say poor but I definitely get how exhausting it can be having to think about literally everything in case you land yourself in a mess.

As for savings, have you looked in to Plum? It's like a bot version of chucking loose change in a pot, and will only take amounts you can actually afford (worked out via algorithms from your bank account). The money is placed in a Barclays account so as secure as any, and you can request to withdraw it at any time. Not quite as accessible as just having another account with your bank that's too easy to transfer over for any old reason, or a pot on the bookcase that gets raided similarly. I really like it :)

Oh yes, I totally get the payday "FUCK IT!" thing. I am guilty of that too.

I dont think that people who have a decent disposable income realise how hard it is to only just scrape by. Its as if they only see the world in black and white, either you are well off or you have the bailiffs at the door. In reality there is the middle ground that I think most of us live in, just about managing but not having any spare. I took the kids on holiday last year because my parents paid. Christmas makes me cry, I dont even want to think about it. But they get as a gift what other kids get as standard.

And....... here comes the race to the bottom....... hmm

This!

we should not, as a society, get used to thinking that sport and activities for children are a luxury, every child has a right to these, families that work full time should not be counting pennies, and people who can't work should equally be supported.

Anything different should be unacceptable

Op you're not on you are poor but I wouldn't say that you are comfortable.

£600 to feed you all plus other stuff isn't much at all. I can see why you feel hard up.

You're not destitute but I can see it's very very tight.

I'd say you are poor. You don't have spare money floating around to save. You rent, so your costs could go up. You have to consider what will take priority between food, bills and clothes. Yes, you are not destitute, but you are relatively poor.

On another thread, the OP is considering buying a bigger house, and is advised not to as less than hundreds spare each month is not sustainable.

Do those of you sneering at OP do not see that there is something very wrong about the fact that a person in full time work can't have a holiday, or get a takeaway on a whim, or buy their kids some chocolate without stressing about the fact that 'that's a tenner gone'?

The economy is fucked because of inequality, and the only thing which will fix it is diverting more money to poor people - and away from those who are already massively wealthy. We need a raise in the living wage and universal basic income. We need to fund this by a higher top tax rate and by enforcing taxes on corporations which currently duck them. It would actually be a good idea to offer tax incentives to corporations which pay their staff a decent salary.

Everyone should be able to afford treats, not just subsistence living.

I wouldnt mind so much if I sat on my arse all day but I work. I work fucking hard and I am on more than minimum wage. My employers are wonderful, when my husband beat the shit out of me and so I ended our marriage they upped my hours as much as they could afford. They send me on as many courses as they can so I can move on. I do not have a set holiday allowance, if I want a week off then I get it and I am paid for it. And yet I am still struggling. I am still on tax credits.

Poor is poor op, you sound like your actually very well off. If love £600 disposable incomes but I don't have anything literally. Nothing

Really, * Do you work? What about benefits??

Nothing?!

we should not, as a society, get used to thinking that sport and activities for children are a luxury

I agree.

On a different thread ages ago, there were posters arguing that taking your kids to a cafe for a piece of cake and a juice was a ridiculous luxury.

This year I want to take my DC to a pantomime...it's over £100 for a family of four to go to our local one. I'm not sure if we'll be able to afford it. Ok, I'm not heading off to the foodbanks or sitting here hungry every night but surely taking your DC to a panto shouldn't be a treat reserved for very well off people?

surely taking your DC to a panto shouldn't be a treat reserved for very well off people?

It shouldnt be, but it is.

They charge what people are prepared to pay and that means that 10% of the people have the fun and the rest of us have the grind.

Op, i sympathise. I’d say you are poor if you have to budget for things like a takeaway. Maybe you could cut kids’ extra-curricular activities, but that’s part of life - parents should be able to afford swimming lessons. I’d keep a list of everything you spend for a month and see if you can make savings anywhere.

@formerbabe these are the things I beat myself up about. I’m determined for my children not to feel like we don’t have a lot. So I become determined, book the pantomime, then have to miss a bill which has a knock on effect next month. I’m not saying I always do this as that would be massively irresponsible. But I have to fight the urge.

Are you kidding OP? This is classic Am I poor by 2018's entitled I should be able to afford new clothes, beauty treatments and nights out every month and a holiday every year.

Poor is not being able to pay your rent and bills on time without struggling. Poor is worrying how you can provide everything your children need and often going without yourself. Poor is eating cheap food/meals and skipping meals yourself so your children eat. Poor is wearing extra layers of clothing rather than putting the heating on.

Try working with people living in poverty and you will see what poor really looks like.

Do those of you sneering at OP do not see that there is something very wrong about the fact that a person in full time work can't have a holiday, or get a takeaway on a whim, or buy their kids some chocolate without stressing about the fact that 'that's a tenner gone'?

I do agree with this. MN is funny at times.

Things that are out of the question are: cinema, eating out, holidays, after school activities, swimming lessons, any lessons, nice clothes, takeaways, theme parks, farms, any days out, anything other than food and bills.

But have been told many times on MN, that none of those things are essential, or necessary, and therefore not poor they say as they book their third holiday that year

£500 on school uniform?? Are you buying it from Harrods??

It sounds quite manageable, so long as nothing expensive breaks.

Holidays are a luxury, anyone who argues otherwise is living in another world.

@Foreverexhausted I don’t go on nights out. I haven’t left the country in 20 years. I do struggle to pay bills because sometimes I have to borrow bill money for food or clothing. I do eat cheap food, I do worry, I do go without. And don’t even get me started on the heating.
I’m not saying I’m in dire straits, but don’t makenout I have it easy.

Uniforms are expensive yes. Explained that further up. Crap quality too 🙄

But, to be helpful, it actually sounds like you need to track your spending. You seem to have ballpark figures for spending.

Just write it all down.

Find out how much you are spending on “just a” items. Ie just a coffee, just a magazine....just a meal deal.
I’ll bet it adds up more quickly than you think.

Track it for a month and see where that money goes.

Then look at what you want to cut out. Eg you might think you’re spending £10 a month on coffee, meal deal and magazines. But you don’t seem to know.

Add it up and see. Then budget. And stick to it.

Big expenses like new clothes (not the odd top obviously, but the kids winter wardrobe, or needing to decorate or buy new bedroom furniture) are where it really hits home. Yes I can get by day to day. Just about. But I never get a chance to breathe. I never feel like I’m ahead.

How many kids are you buying unifirm for each year?

Are you buying new every year?

Takeaway coffees are one of the biggest cons out there. Not saying a treat does anyone any harm, but people buying one every morning are spending around £15 a week!

You could buy a travel mug and take a hot drink with you....I know it's not quite the same but it will save a bit.

@00100001 I will do that, I think it will be helpful and quite insightful. I’ll probably wait until after Xmas when spending patterns return to normal.