Anyone else feel like they can’t afford much?

[Kitten189]

I earn around 19.5k a year which is low, but I have no dependants.
I live with my partner and he earns slightly lower, our rent isn’t that high between us but sometimes I just feel like I can’t afford to live very well.

I used to go shopping with friends and they would be spending hours buying quite high-end things and I could just about afford something from primark.
Virtually all my clothes are from Primark, charity shops, EBay, Tesco etc.

I don’t drink or smoke, I have a basic gym membership, a phone contract and Netflix but that’s it.

I get my hair cut every 6 weeks at £25 and I very occasionally get Botox or a facial, but I get it cut price.

I have zero debt which is good, no overdraft etc. As until last year I was in debt, I paid it off with birthday money from my parents.

I just don’t seem to save anything and don’t know where it all goes. I see people going out to fancy places, wearing nice clothes etc and still managing to save money.

I recently went for a meal with friends. It was at a fancy restaurant one of them had chosen, I just had one main but they were all ordering cocktails, desserts etc like it was nothing.

I shop in Poundland, Wilkos and mainly Aldi etc.

Just don’t know where I’m going wrong, I can’t seem to afford anything and never seem to save. I used to have a friend who was out drinking twice a week yet still managed to save £200 per month.

Anyone else feel like this?

Also don’t drive either.

How old are you, op?
I have found that I've been richer or poorer in different stages of life, but the stuff I do hasn't really changed.
I think a lot of people blow through money like water and live on the edge of debt/overdrafts.
You sound dead sensible.
The big question is: are you happy? No amount of cocktails and high end clothes can make you truly happy.

You're probably not going wrong on your spending but that's a really low salary. Any progression prospects? Training for different career?

I feel similar, but I'm a single parent of 2 teens and my entire household income is lower than your wage alone. I think I'd feel positively loaded if I only had to support myself and only had to pay half the bills.

Have you sat down and done an honest income and expenditure list?

I’d drop the Botox. You don’t need it. Also you can do a facial at home. I never had one ever when I was on a low income.

You probably should sit down and do a proper budget.

I’m 30 years old. I’m determined not to have any more debt so I don’t use credit cards or loans any more.
There’s opportunity for progression in my role maybe in the next few years I suppose.
I’m happy, just frustrating having to count pennies all the time and say no to a lot of stuff. Most of that friendship group earn at least 30k, though I have one or two lower income friends like me.

The Botox only costs me £100 a year so it doesn’t add up to much at all, otherwise I use very cheap moisturisers and make up sometimes.
I do try and stick to a strict budget, it’s just when you go out with these friends and their meal and drinks is what I would spend on food in a week.

Sweetheart you’re 30. You really don’t need it - trust me!

It’s silly, I know. I just have a lot of lines around my eyes which bother me.

I'd recommend that you look for opportunities to earn more money either by promotion or retraining. What education qualifications have you got? People who can afford to buy expensive things sometimes earn more m0mey
So what can you both do to retrain to earn more money?

Same but my friends that do spend a lot are up to their necks in debt for the luxury of it so credit cards and klarna ect!!! I think a lot of people live off credit nowadays giving an impression of false wealth as such!

I am qualified in teaching but I never managed to get a full time teaching role. I’ve done TA work but it’s around minimum wage pro rata. I do supply work but it doesn’t pay during the holidays.
My other job is as a home carer

Your wage is pretty low, do you work part time? What is your rent as a percentage of your salary?

A lot of your friends who are blowing money in high end shops may well be putting it all on credit

Yeah I guess you never really know, maybe some of them do have a lot of debt.

I work 40 hours a week usually. It’s hourly pay so sometimes I can earn more, but it averages out to around that.

Where are you getting Botox for a £100?! I pay £230 for 2 areas.

You are both on low wages. I’m guessing your friends are on higher or their OH are ?

Could you do tutoring on the side ?

The AIBU section of Mumset is probably the worst place you can admit to only earning 19 grand a year.

You'll end up feeling crap OP, I'd back away from this thread if I were you. Mumsnet is full of either millionaire business owners or the wives of very wealthy businessmen.

Hope your tin hat is at the ready.

Where do you live you can't get a full time teaching job?

Dh's school has about 3 vacancies at any one time ((London))

That is quite a low salary for the both of you but I'm so impressed that you're living within your means. Finances are so personal that none of your friends will ever admit being in debt but there's a chance they're spending on credit cards and regretting it at the end of each month. It's very easy to spiral into debt even when living just a little over your means.

My local Mencap are looking for care workers, teaching staff to run their summer activity clubs for SEND children.

My local council has loads of ads for teaching staff on their vacancy pages so maybe worth a look at your council websites. Sometimes you have to approach a problem sideways to solve it.

I get it twice a year in one area through a training academy so it doesn’t cost much.

My friends are on higher yes by the sounds of it, and to be honest it’s putting me off socialising with them a bit as I just can’t relate, I don’t feel in touch with them or that we have the same tastes.

I’ve signed up for tutoring for this summer so hopefully I’ll hear back.

I earn a lot more than you and I've never had botox and never would. Utter waste of money.

There is a saving right there. Never bother with hair cuts either

I'm older than you and at 30 you do not need botox!!!

Can you look for better paid work?

Live in Greater Manchester. I’ve been able to get TA roles which I have enjoyed, but they rarely pay over 20k

Thanks for that, I’ll have a look at Mencap.