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.

I'd like to be poor like that

This ^^

I'm literally waiting for the bailiffs to show up, as my LL is evicting me, as wants to sell and I have nowhere to go. LLs don't accept people on HB at all any more. The council has said I'm extremely unlikely to get council housing. So, when the bailiffs do show up, My young DDs and I will literally be out on the street. For christmas I'm buying them each a warm cardigan, as that's all I can afford. I go hungry so they can eat.

You are not poor OP. I'd live like a bloody queen on that!

You say the kids “winter wardrobe” it’s not like you have to buy every child brand new items every winter though.

Surely there are hand me downs. Charity shops. Jumble sales. Car boots etc near you where you can buy good clothes for not as much. Or get next years winter coats in the spring sales ( I did that) etc.

Poor is wearing extra layers of clothing rather than putting the heating on

Similar budget to the op and I only put the heating on for the kids. If I'm home alone, I stick my dressing gown over my clothes and wrap up.

2 kids uniforms. Secondary school is expensive and absolutely everything has to be school logo. Generally all needs to be new as it’s falling apart by the end of the year or has gotten too small.
Primary school one is less expensive but it all adds up especially with shoes, and pe kits too.

Why wait?

Just add up anything that isn’t christmas spending

There is absolutely something wrong with the fact someone working can't get by without benefits.

Primary uniform, supermarkets have cheap uniform.
Secondary. Second hand uniform shop? Or do you use that already?

@Uniquack that is truly awful. I’m sorry you are going through that especially at this time of year and I can’t imahine how you feel, nor am I comparing my situation to one like yours. I’m clearly in a much better position and I’m grateful.

But I can assure you you wouldn’t live like a queen on my money, honestly.

People telling me I’m well off or loving like a queen is quite dismissive and slightly ... (can’t think of the word)

Looks like I’m in the minority but I’d consider myself poor if I only had £600 left after all bills and groceries

Primary uniform is mostly asda except for the stuff that has to have logo.
No second hand secondary stuff available. But to be honest, I’d rather live off beans on toast for a few months than do that to my self conscious teenager. Sorry if that’s shallow. I save for months for school uniforms.

@WeirdHandDryers I have to buy groceries out of that too.

I have three teens who have a "blazer, tie" uniform, everything fucking logo'd. So yes, £500 easily Thanks God I don't live where you live, luckily our school uniform is nowhere near as expensive...

I'm not sure if you are just looking for people to agree with you or whether you want advice. If it's the latter, I'd say you need to write down everything you're spending for a month and see what you can cut down, and then shop for the best deals for literally everything. Don't just stick with the same car insurer, shop around, and shop around for the best deals for food each week. Even Aldi can be false economy, as the big chains run half price/BOGOF offers so stock up on the necessities when they do. Try and shop in the evening and pick up reduced foods sometimes. Get loyalty cards for literally everywhere - Tesco has a good scheme where you can exchange for days or meals out so they're good treats.

Try and hold out buying clothes until sales or when the shops are running 25% events (or similar). Sign up to Quidco and get cashback for online purchases. Sign up to YouGov and get paid for surveys. All little things but they add up.

All school uniforms should be available at supermarket prices. The fact that many families are having to pay hundreds of pounds to kit their children out for state education is fucking out of order and should be stopped.
OP I second the suggestion about popping onto moneysaving expert.com, have a good read and maybe post a SOA. People will go through it with a fine tooth and make suggestions how you can save money, even the odd pound here and there.
Also instead of Matalan jeans, try Primark especially if you're able to fit into the biggest kid sizes (average height and around a size 10-12)

@Imustbemad00 - But I can assure you you wouldn’t live like a queen on my money, honestly.

On £600 a month left over, I could actually have a meal with my DDs instead of eating their leftovers. I could let them go to Cubs again, which I had to cancel because I can't afford the subs. So yes, I could live very well on that a month. I'm not saying you shouldn't be unhappy with what you have, but seriously, that amount to me seems a like a lot.

Thanks God I don't live where you live, luckily our school uniform is nowhere near as expensive...

I live in a cheap area....East/Weds Mids border. But the headteacher has pretensions.

Yes you could love well in terms of eating, having a roof over your head and the basics that all humans deserve. But honestly I dont feel like I love very well off of it. After food and other necessities and things that come up I have nowhere near £600 to live off. My teenage daughter gets embarrassed that she always has to wear the same clothes and her friends might notice. So of course I go without to try and get her clothes.

Thank you @bahhumbug33 for the advice. I will definitely do those things. And to answer your question I think deep down I was looking for both advice and people to agree/confirm what I’m feeling. But I’m aware it’s not as bad as it seems to me.

There was that term coined a few years ago. JAM - just about managing. That probably sums up your situation the best.

Wouldnt say i was poor, as we have a roof over our heads and bills get paid, food on the table, heating, electric and water, car to get to work and back.

I have about the same disposable income (no clubs though).
Everything else is reduced as far as it will go.I put 200 into savings each month and the 400 is for everything else for me and dd.
We meal plan as I spend far too much if not.We get by and can afford a few treats.
The savings are used for car repairs, clothes (my dd doesn't mind her friends seeing her in the same clothes and she hasn't grown much in the last few years which has helped)I have also just spent quite a bit on revision books for her GCSEs.
I'm lucky in thatI can work extra when I really need atm.
I don't feel that poor just a little anxious sometimes towards the end of the month but we have a roof 9ver our heads,are warm,clothed and healthy so it could be worse.

How many hours do you work?

You could get help with breakfast club & after school fees.

I think that sounds plenty.

When we were starting off, OH and I had £180 a month between us after paying bills and food etc. We had one son, and we never ever felt poor. There were times when we struggled and our Christmas presents we limited to £20 etc but now we have a disposable income nearly 10 times that much and I don’t feel particularly miles better off. We struggle less but we have more bills, more responsibilities.

I think you are about average op-certainly similar to me.

I feel like this thread is a race to the bottom as to who can survive on the leaat amount.
I think OP has every right to feel hard up and fed up with only £600 to live on including food.

Of course she can get clothes in charity shops buy second hand uniform but surelly having to do that makes you feel hard up. Also how see she want to buy a magazine or have a takeaway. fFS

Ok so she can buy food and is housed but that is existing/surviving surely.

It disgraceful that anyone is having to survive like some of the people who have commented on this thread.

Much more than me. I have £450 a month before anything comes out of it!