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?

A concern is avoiding any credit. Admirable living within your means but when you are able to save and then may want to get on the property ladder you'll have very little on your credit file. (Speaking from experience).

Get a credit builder card, spend a hundred pound a month and pay it off in full every time. I used to set a couple of direct debits to my credit card and then pay the credit card off by direct debit too. It goes round the houses but builds your credit file.

I would get some up to date teaching experience too and really make a go of it. It could be a great career with potential to progress.

You say you don't know where it goes... It's very empowering to actually work this out, and all you have to do is look at your bank statement. Look at what you're spending on each thing over a period long enough to get an average, and then work out what it costs per month.

You need weekly/monthly/quarterly/yearly columns, as many rows as you spend money on, a couple of hours, and a calculator. It's well worth doing, and you'll feel much more in control, and see where you need to cut back.

Your income is low. At age 30 the majority of people working full time will be earning more than you. Even earning say, £25k, which is still not a high income at age 30, they would have £3-400 extra a month after tax compared to you.

I earn a lot more than you but only get a haircut twice a year, have no gym membership, and have never had botox .

Every 6 weeks is extremely often to be cutting hair, even at only £25 a go, you are spending over £200 a year on that. Another £100 on botox and probably £350 on gym membership. Really analyse your spending, is there anything you can cut?

You're probably not going wrong on your spending but that's a really low salary.
Not necessary. It depends where she lives and the cost of living in her area. There are some cheap areas around Greater Manchester where she lives. The wage is ok not great but ok and if it is combined with boyfriend's, low rent and no kids and no debt money should be stretching further than the OP is saying.

@Pinkandpink

MostlyMaple Totally agree! If I want to feel totally shit about my min wage job. I just read some of the money matter threads.

There are a lot of fantasists on here I think too. Obviously there will be genuine millionaires (who I am very jealous of!) But some people are just trolls.

I usually avoid the money related threads like the plague - wish I'd avoided this one too! Some mega condescending people on here.

Your income is low.

I think OP is aware of this now- she doesn't need people constantly reminding her!

Just rtft and you have £900 after rent and bills- that's loads? You should be able to manage supermarket shops for 2 adults on 500 between you a month so £250 each, even allowing another £150 on mobile phone, Netflix, bus pass you still have £500 a month of spending money.... you should be ok really.

@gluteustothemaximus

Well, at least now I feel really shit about my low wage.

It's lower than yours OP

Don't be ashamed!!! At least you're working and earning a living

Every 6 weeks is extremely often to be cutting hair, even at only £25 a go,
Depends on hair length and style surely? Mine only costs £13 (plus £2 tip) but I have it cut every 5 weeks or so. Many men go that often.

You should be able to manage supermarket shops for 2 adults on 500 between you a month so £250 each
I doubt I could figure out how to spend that much. I spend £200 for an adult and teen boy.

Your income is low. At age 30 the majority of people working full time will be earning more than you

🙄🙄🙄

You need to feel proud of your careful habits ref money and for not having any debt. You are doing very well.

Oh great!! I have worked hard over the past few years to go from assistant level to manager FT and i am on this income. Didn't realise it was so terrible and looked down upon. Was proud until I read this thread, i thought i'd done alright. I'm in my thirties too and single.

If your friends earn £10k py more than you - that's why they have more spare cash than you

Oh great!! I have worked hard over the past few years to go from assistant level to manager FT and i am on this income. Didn't realise it was so terrible and looked down upon. Was proud until I read this thread, i thought i'd done alright. I'm in my thirties too and single
Keep the faith! You are doing well. Ignore sneering on here.
It's not terrible at all!

I'm 36 and my income is similar. I get commission, without that my wage is about 18k for 40hrs. Then I have uncapped commission which realistically is about 6k a year

Although, I am confused how you suggest you can’t afford anything with £900 left after bills? Surely that’s a decent amount! I know a lot of people who have less, and are fine.

OP, it sounds like you’re really sensible with money, which is something to be hugely proud of!

Do you have some high outgoings somewhere that you’ve not mentioned? If you take home ~1300, and your part of the rent including bills is 450, what are you spending the other £850 on?

I completely understand how you feel though. DP and I both work FT and our combined income is approx £25k. We understand that it’s extremely low and are living within our means at the moment, but sometimes I totally wish we could splash out on a holiday or a new car! We both have plans to train in different things in the future though, so a very plausible light at the end of the tunnel for us!

@WeHaveComeSoFar

Although, I am confused how you suggest you can’t afford anything with £900 left after bills? Surely that’s a decent amount! I know a lot of people who have less, and are fine.

Yes, something doesn’t quite add up (pardon the pun). Even with spending on food at £300 a month that leaves £600. OP forget your income you’re rolling in cash unless there’s something else you’re not telling us about or that you don’t realise you’re spending on…

Some people are being very rude here. I get it OP. If you are, or anyone is, working 40 hours a week it's frustrating to think that you'd need to scrimp and save. It's very disheartening

@kowari

You should be able to manage supermarket shops for 2 adults on 500 between you a month so £250 each I doubt I could figure out how to spend that much. I spend £200 for an adult and teen boy.

You absolutely could figure that out..very easy to spend that. We do and more when we add house stuff like cleaning products. And I drink cheap wine 🙈

I missed the post with outgoings for OP. 450 is pretty small. There should be lot to play with. Not spectacular amount to shop in whatever is super expensive shop nowadays, but plenty to not just "just about afford stuff from primark".
Also be careful, Poundland and such can be false economy. The packaging is often smaller and I remember that some products actually worked out more expensive per grams/ml than in normal shops. Some stuff in there is ok, some isn't. As anywhere

Things are so expensive now though. I just don't go on the nights out as it's easily £100 for a meal, drinks, taxi. Even then I'd not be in the shots/cocktail rounds if I wanted to keep to £100.

My friends would also have a new outfit for the night out and go for breakfast following morning and they're doing this at least once a week.

It's horrible when those around you have so much more disposable income

Thanks for the replies.
450 rent
100 transport
30 phone
18 gym which has just been cancelled
7 Netflix
200 on food, toiletries etc
Medication, etc
Then indeed I have some left over but as pp said a night out could easily be 100
Trying to save for driving lessons/house deposit too, doing that and having much left over for clothes, make up, travel, nights out etc is tough but I just need to try harder

Kitten, what are your thoughts about boosting income rather than trying to control spending?