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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Family on 'Saving money at Christmas' nearly 4k a month and UC?

126 replies

clockingoffcloud · 09/12/2021 19:48

Did I mishear? Had it on in the background, both parents working, their current income was not much under 4k a month and they are getting universal credit, and moaning only have £50 left after paying everything.... wtf?!

Yes IABU if I should not be shocked at how much they earn AND claim benefits

OP posts:
Skyll · 09/12/2021 19:50

How many kids did they have and were any of them disabled? What was their rent ?

RussianSpy101 · 09/12/2021 19:51

2 full time wages coming to less than 4K isn’t good. If they need the top ups then they need them.

luverlybubberly · 09/12/2021 19:51

Don't know about the programme but 2 parents can earn 49k each and get Child Benefit.

WoodenReindeer · 09/12/2021 19:53

Russian how is 48k a year not good?!

Unihorn · 09/12/2021 19:54

Two full time wages just under £4k is about £60k isn't it? Pretty decent, if not in the south east presumably.

normanthegonk · 09/12/2021 19:54

@RussianSpy101

2 full time wages coming to less than 4K isn’t good. If they need the top ups then they need them.
Hmm
LeroyJenkinssss · 09/12/2021 19:55

Take home pay at £4k is each person earning near £30k. That’s pretty good!

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 09/12/2021 19:59

I love stuff like this, which channel is it on?!

Original poster
clockingoffcloud · 09/12/2021 20:00

I'm just shocked at it. I'm a single parent and that money seems huge to me. I work full time. Even if rent is expensive like, £1500 (that would be expensive where I am) what are they doing with the other over 2k per month... I can't get my head round it

OP posts:
Starcaller · 09/12/2021 20:01

If their net income is around £4k then that's equivalent to each earning roughly £30k, surely? Hardly terrible. How are they getting UC on those wages, though? Confused

Hankunamatata · 09/12/2021 20:01

Suppose depends if one persons wages are wiped out by childcare. My childcare used to be my entire wage plus some of dh

Cuck00soup · 09/12/2021 20:04

@LeroyJenkinssss

Take home pay at £4k is each person earning near £30k. That’s pretty good!

I wish it were. £30k is £2.5k per month before deductions.

CurbsideProphet · 09/12/2021 20:04

Our monthly income is less than £4000 and we manage fine with mortgage and bills etc. We're definitely not entitled to any benefits. Surely you misheard? Unless they are on 0 hour contracts with pay fluctuating throughout the year I can't work out how they would be entitled to Universal Credit.

Hospedia · 09/12/2021 20:04

Is it £4k including the UC? What's their rent and council tax? How many children? Are either of them or any of the children disabled? Childcare costs?

There are far too many variables and these sorts of programmes don't give you the ins and outs of how the payments have been calculated, they just want to give you the headline figure of £4k so that you point and pass judgement about the deserving poor vs the undeserving poor.

It's the modern day equivalent of paying a penny to go stare at the lunatics in Bedlam.

Whitefire · 09/12/2021 20:10

Yes it possibly could be things like childcare element, disabled child, carers allowance etc.

To spend like that is likely due to lots of takeaways high housing and childcare costs.

Skyll · 09/12/2021 20:10

Childcare costs. I missed that. Yes if they have high childcare costs they’ll possibly be entitled to help.

Iggly · 09/12/2021 20:11

Where did you hear this….

maa32 · 09/12/2021 20:14

If they lived north west, that's an okay income

Libertaire · 09/12/2021 20:15

I don’t vote Tory, but I imagine those who do would be seriously pissed off that the party are presiding over a welfare system which allows households earning £4k per month to claim state handouts. Thatcher must be turning in her grave.

Unihorn · 09/12/2021 20:15

Cuck00soup
Take home pay at £4k is each person earning near £30k. That’s pretty good!

I wish it were. £30k is £2.5k per month before deductions.

Which is about £2k after deductions ie. £4k for two?

Original poster
clockingoffcloud · 09/12/2021 20:15

It was on an ITV programme just now called 'Saving Money at Christmas'. It was on in background so I didn't catch all of it, only saw a couple of kids, mother was crying as she didn't want her children to be envious of other kids christmas presents at school and some tears about not going to paris or something........

I work with people that are seriously on a low income and this would be like winning the lottery to them

OP posts:
Spoldge45 · 09/12/2021 20:19

I saw the programme. It was one F/T wage & one P/T, but I was shocked at their £3000+ a month outgoings. It didn't say where they live, but I can only assume London or Surrey to have rent/outgoings that high.

A lot of people I know are paying £40/50 a month on mobile contracts which seems mad when you can get a Sim only deal for around £5-£10 a month You just have to live with not having the latest phone.

FitAt50 · 09/12/2021 20:22

I watched this show and was rather shocked at how she said they only had £50 a month left out of their £4000 a month income. I would love to know what they spend their money on as they claimed to only spend £70 a week on food. Also said they could afford a proper christmas this year.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 09/12/2021 20:29

@clockingoffcloud

I'm just shocked at it. I'm a single parent and that money seems huge to me. I work full time. Even if rent is expensive like, £1500 (that would be expensive where I am) what are they doing with the other over 2k per month... I can't get my head round it
£1500 is fairly average rent around here. Childcare for 2 kids is £1300 minimum (I have 1 in nursery and 1 in wrap around at £1400). So that leaves £1200 for absolutely everything - commuting costs, all bills, council tax insurance, food, household items, mobile phones, clothes, school.shoes, school uniform, Christmas and birthday presents, leisure activities, swimming lessons, pets etc etc.

I'm surprised they're getting UC but not surprised they're struggling to save.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 09/12/2021 20:30

And I'm not London/ South East.

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