Is anyone else always always skint?

[emptym]

We budget to an inch of our lives but for years we've always been skint. Everything I buy I always need to check if we have enough money for it. I can't just go out and buy the kids clothes when theyve outgrown them. I can't just get a new front door fitted because it's been leaking for 2 years. There's so many other things we need that are deemed more essential that it will probably stay like that for a further 2 years. We have a household income of £35k gross. We shouldn't be this skint.

@osbertthesyrianhamster

So you're not really skint . FFS. Don't overpay the mortgage then. Bloody hell, that's rich, complaining how affordable housing would lift people out of poverty when you're overpaying your mortgage and going to be mortgage free in a few years. Let's break out the violins.

^This!

This makes no sense, you must earn each about min wage, why are you over paying rh mortgage and then whinging you’re skint?

Because she wants security of housing when redundancy looms bluntness

And I didn’t read it as a whinge personally. It was simply someone talking about their reality.

How much are you overpaying by? Why are you overpaying? If you want rid of your house you will have equity in it anyway I imagine so just get it up for sale. You might get a better mortgage deal on a new house as well

Ah, the Mumsnet definition of skint. The bill for berries looks a little high and your mortgage overpayment isn't as much as you'd like it to be.

I remember a poster who said, in all seriousness on one of those threads about grocery shopping that always brings out the stealth boasters about their DCs prodigious fruit and veg consumption that she 'had' to spend £12 a week on organic blueberries in Waitrose.

If I had a leaky front door I sure as hell would be prioritising fixing that before I got any takeaways (tempting through they are I agree!)

Why on earth are you overpaying the mortgage if it's leaving you skint? It makes no sense.

Well you're not going to feel rich on 35k combined but you don't need to feel skint you just need to re-evaluate your situation. In what world do you over pay your mortgage but can't afford to buy your kids clothing? Come on

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Freudzone* I can't claim housing benefit or universal credit to pay for living here as we are related so my rent / costs for wear and tear come out of my wage* being related doesn’t stop you claiming the rent element of UC.[/quote]
Really??? This is music to my ears 😂 I thought you couldn't claim if you lived with relatives. Thank you very much indeed for letting me know xx

Because she wants security of housing when redundancy looms bluntness

Save the money then, you don't have to put the money straight onto the mortgage that way you can access your savings.

Op the first thing I'd look at is your outgoings such as utilities and insurances. Are you getting the best deals? Could you switch to save?

Leaky doors and clothing the children should come above overpaying the mortgage and treat money unfortunately.

But if your income is insecure, you'd be best saving it rather than overpaying the mortgage, so you can use it as you see fit rather than commit it to the mortgage. If you overpay, you can't usually get it back or miss payments later instead.

If I overpay £100 today, I'm still expected to make my normal mortgage payments going forward, even if I don't have money available in the future to do so.

Tbf a joint income of 35k is fairly low. o

@doomonic

Tbf a joint income of 35k is fairly low. o

It’s as low as it’s possible to be with two full time wages. It’s not the first time I’ve seen it touted as a ‘good income’ on MN. I think people have no idea of minimum wage rates.

@Freudzone as long as it’s not your parents , adult children or siblings then you just need a lodgers agreement.
england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/claiming_benefits_if_you_rent_from_family

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Freudzone* I can't claim housing benefit or universal credit to pay for living here as we are related so my rent / costs for wear and tear come out of my wage* being related doesn’t stop you claiming the rent element of UC.[/quote]
Sorry to derail- but I doubt you will get housing costs whilst living with relatives unless it can be shown that it is a valid a commercial agreement.

@BarbaraofSeville

Ah, the Mumsnet definition of skint. The bill for berries looks a little high and your mortgage overpayment isn't as much as you'd like it to be.

I remember a poster who said, in all seriousness on one of those threads about grocery shopping that always brings out the stealth boasters about their DCs prodigious fruit and veg consumption that she 'had' to spend £12 a week on organic blueberries in Waitrose.

Are you having a laugh? They earn 32 between them.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen it touted as a ‘good income’ on MN. I think people have no idea of minimum wage rates.

Who thinks it's a good income? some who earned that in the 90s?

I mean I don't disagree with the OPs point about affordable housing but a mortgage is one of the cheapest ways to borrow money so why rush to pay it off & deprive yourself?

Same. Our outgoings are just too high compared to our income (which is higher than most circa £70k).
Ironically I’ll be better off retired in terms of cash.
They aren’t things we can change for the foreseeable (old horse that costs the earth, childcare) so it’s just a case of keep on plodding.

I got paid last Friday, all bills paid by 1st. Aside from food budget (separate account for this) we have £2.93 left until payday. Ho hum.

There are people who are truly struggling. It doesn't sound as though you are.

She said ‘skint’ not ‘struggling.’

There is a difference.

@Megan2018 whilst I'm someone who does think a higher income doesn't go as far as one might think if you have £2.93 left over you are clearly enjoying some luxuries with that eg big mortgage, holidays, savings &/or are in that position temporarily because of childcare.

How much is your mortgage a month and how much extra are you paying? How many years have you got left on it? Do you both work full time?

All questions worth thinking about.