Is £350 per week enough to live on (family of 5)?

[DiscontinuedModelHusband]

DW and I are struggling a bit financially.
Over the last few months, we just seem to be treading water - no additional money saved, credit card/overdraft debt not reducing.

I've worked out that after all our normal bills, mortgage, credit cards, regular kids activities, savings etc we should have about £1400 per month to live on (for food, clothes, presents, eating out etc).

DW thinks this is unreasonable, and that I should ask my parents for help (they are fairly well off, but by no means wealthy).

My argument is that asking my parents is not really a sustainable solution in the long-term - I think we need to fix our spending habits.

She's now not speaking to me , because she thinks my pride is the problem.

There is a smidgen of truth to this - DW and my parents have a frosty relationship, meaning we barely see them (perhaps once per fortnight, for a meal - mainly DW's choice).

I feel uncomfortable asking them for financial help when they don't really get many normal grandparent benefits (proper time with GCs, they never get to holiday with us, GCs have never stayed at their house etc).

Our relationship is largely financial as it is (they help with school trips, uniform, have lent us money in the past), and I dislike this very much (I don't think my parents love it either, but have always been happy to help).

Should I just swallow my pride here?

Or should we try and sort things ourselves?
Is this even possible for £350 per month?

£50 is not for all your expenses then ... that's what I was querying. £100 a week for all your expenses except rent still seems quite low. Under UC you'd be on around £730 a month plus rent which may or may not be paid in full depending whether you have 'too many' bedrooms. Not trying to get at you. Just wondering how your figure is lower than benefit figures .... presumably it's the rent that's the problem.

That's pretty much my total income from which I pay everything - mortgage, bills, transport, clothes etc. etc. To be fair, there are few luxuries on that income and I never have holidays so it's not ideal. Nevertheless I'd say you're extremely comfortable indeed if you have that amount of disposable income. Look at everything you spend - even one less meal out or takeaway a month will make a difference. If you make just a couple of cutbacks you should be able to put some by too for paying off debts. What on earth do you need handouts for?!?

Someone early in the thread suggested ringing National Debtline.

If you do don’t be surprised if they laugh so hard they have to hang up.

I live in one of the most expensive parts of the country, in rental, and have nowhere near that sort of money left over every month.

If this is a real post I suggest you get a fucking grip love.

We live on 1800 per month including mortg of £500. We live well. Where do you live, Monaco?

I would look into consolidating your debts with a low rate loan. Stop using credit cards for a start. Try not eating out for 6 months. You have to change your life style if you are broke.

ferrier- the comment about universal credit is null and void as my DH and I both work, but after bills, mortgage and childcare we have between £50/£60 per week for food and fuel. Not everyone is on benefits!