Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Dweetfidilove · 10/12/2021 10:41

Well, the government did pledge to 'make it pay to work', so they're delivering on that promise at least.

They'll also see their UC increase this month, so will have a bit more than £50 at the end of the month.

TheNamelessGirl · 10/12/2021 11:01

Not this again. I am a lone parent. My income is higher than that but I struggle. I get no help from the state but people making out that it's a huge sum seem incapable of understanding that costs are different in different parts of the country and that some people need to stay in the area that they live in despite it being expensive for many different reasons.

Season of goodwill eh? Xmas Hmm

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 12:11

What's the actual point in working then? If childcare took all your wages plus some of DH's, why not just stop working and look after your children, and be financially better off for it? It seems bloody ridiculous to be away from your children just to pay for someone else to take care of your children.

Pension, mental health, likelihood of promotion, keeping current experience in your profession, hard to re-enter labour market at same level, loss of sense of self, like contributing financial, like being financially independent. Doesn't want to be a SAHP.

Loads of reasons. My return to work was not financially motivated in the main.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 12:15

Why are you renting on salaries of 70k + ?
I’m in the SE - computer town to London so I understand prices. Why would you not buy somewhere when it’s half the monthly expenditure and you’re good for it?

Buying and selling costs money beyond the actual cost of the house, and if you know you may move (due to jobs, schools, family etc/ within 3-5 years it can better value renting. For example for me to move right now would cost £14k in early mortgage repayment fees, estate agent fees and stamp duty. I only bought because I knew I'd be here 5years +

julieca · 10/12/2021 12:40

@TheNamelessGirl sorry you struggle. I guess people like me know we have less and manage okay. We both work full time. So I do wonder sorry what people mean when they say they struggle.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 13:01

[quote julieca]@TheNamelessGirl sorry you struggle. I guess people like me know we have less and manage okay. We both work full time. So I do wonder sorry what people mean when they say they struggle.[/quote]
I think the local housing market, age of kids, working patterns and childcare costs means people's cost of living vary massively.

In my area, I can't rent a 3 bed for less than £1100 a month, but 4 miles away, it's £800. BUT if I didn't drive, that 4 miles could be completely insurmountable - there's no buses to and from that area to mine, do if I work in my area, my kids school is in my area and my free childcare is in my area, moving to a cheaper area would cost me more!

julieca · 10/12/2021 13:07

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I understand all that. But having an income of £4k a month and paying £1100 rent still leaves a lot of money.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 13:08

julieca (though I'm not picking on you specifically, just that you asked the question), DH and I both work in carers that are very much 9-5 so need wrap around care, full time child care for the toddler etc. We're both qualified professionals, so whilst I could move to a job that worked around DHs, it would be at the expense of my career, profession and family time. My young kids obviously need childcare, and we have no free childcare available to us. So I can see how others would have fewer outgoings than us but specific circumstances alter how achievable that is for others.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 13:12

[quote julieca]@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I understand all that. But having an income of £4k a month and paying £1100 rent still leaves a lot of money.[/quote]
Not really, when you factor in £1300 in childcare for 2 kids, £185 in council tax, food, commuting, other bills, household expenses. Plus £1100 is the cheapest I can find, i.e. 1 house, most are £1300-£1500 (I don't rent but my mortgage is £1450, which isn't unusual around here). £2750 in house and childcare doesn't leave loads left over.

julieca · 10/12/2021 13:13

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I do understand those circumstances. I am questioning what people mean by struggling?
To me struggling means struggling to pay for heating, food and low-cost outings. I suspect some mean struggling to pay for nice restaurants, etc.
DP and I work full time. We have less than £4k monthly income, and we do not struggle. We go out but cheaply.

julieca · 10/12/2021 13:18

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I didn't understand that your first example was a hypothetical one when you talked about free childcare.
You have £1000 left a month for food, clothes and utility bills. I will be honest, that is not struggling for me. It's not well off. But it is fine. And you know your monies will go up a lot once the kids start school. You are going through the time most do where childcare is high and you are paying a mortgage. And that is assuming you have £4k income with salary and child benefit etc

User378436 · 10/12/2021 14:30

They didn't have £4k though it was just over £3,200 including the UC, that's what the woman said in the programme anyway.

User378436 · 10/12/2021 14:32

Maybe I misheard, did anyone else watch it, I'm sure thread title is misleading

julieca · 10/12/2021 14:36

@User378436 okay the OP is a goady fucker then. Because if the UC makes it up to £32k, then income earned is lower.

Skyll · 10/12/2021 14:36

@User378436

They didn't have £4k though it was just over £3,200 including the UC, that's what the woman said in the programme anyway.
I’m sure that’s what she said. I’ve it recorded so I’ll look later.
User378436 · 10/12/2021 14:44

I had to wind it back, it was quite difficult to understand what she said, I wouldn't say that OP is a goady fucker though, just maybe didn't check before posting, would be interested to hear what others hear as it is the point of the thread. People might think they can earn that much and get UC.

User378436 · 10/12/2021 14:47

[quote julieca]@User378436 okay the OP is a goady fucker then. Because if the UC makes it up to £32k, then income earned is lower.[/quote]
Not £32k, just over £3200 a month, see how easy to make an error.

Bluesheep8 · 10/12/2021 15:26

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

Eh? Confused

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 17:19

[quote julieca]@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I didn't understand that your first example was a hypothetical one when you talked about free childcare.
You have £1000 left a month for food, clothes and utility bills. I will be honest, that is not struggling for me. It's not well off. But it is fine. And you know your monies will go up a lot once the kids start school. You are going through the time most do where childcare is high and you are paying a mortgage. And that is assuming you have £4k income with salary and child benefit etc[/quote]
No they won't. That's childcare costs until eldest is at secondary. we need full wrap around care, and holiday clubs. So it costs the same as nursery when we get the 30 free hours! And £1000 to cover DHs commute (£100 rail card), my car (£90 running costs & £75 petrol), council tax -£185, gas & electric £238, supermarket shop (so cleaning stuff, food, toiletries) £400, broadband £30, mobile phones - me £15, DH £20, home insurance, contents insurance, school uniform, school shoes. Etc etc etc.

julieca · 10/12/2021 17:49

Your DP pays a £1000 a month in commuting costs? He must earn a fair bit to make that worth doing. In my job that would leave me leave me about £600 a month left.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 10/12/2021 19:40

@julieca

Your DP pays a £1000 a month in commuting costs? He must earn a fair bit to make that worth doing. In my job that would leave me leave me about £600 a month left.
No, the £1000 left after mortgage and childcare has to cover the stuff listed afterwards:

DHs commute (£100 rail card), my car (£90 running costs & £75 petrol), council tax -£185, gas & electric £238, supermarket shop (so cleaning stuff, food, toiletries) £400, broadband £30, mobile phones - me £15, DH £20, home insurance, contents insurance, school uniform, school shoes. Etc etc etc.

TheNamelessGirl · 10/12/2021 19:53

[quote julieca]@TheNamelessGirl sorry you struggle. I guess people like me know we have less and manage okay. We both work full time. So I do wonder sorry what people mean when they say they struggle.[/quote]
I've lived in absolute poverty when younger. So yes, it is possible to survive. But to work I have to live here and it's expensive. The alternative is to leave and live on benefits. That doesn't mean it's easy to make ends meet with very high fixed costs for housing and childcare.

3WildOnes · 11/12/2021 10:49

@DeepaBeesKit you are deluded if you think most of the families where you live are all earning 70k+ and no one earning 70-190k is hard up. I live in an expensive borough of SW London. We lived comfortably for years with incomes less than 70k. Replies like this are so insulting to the millions of people who do live in London and the south east who earn less than this. Do you really think there are no shop workers or nurses or teachers or social workers or support workers who live in these areas.

ClumpyMascara · 12/12/2021 19:10

Well I’d love to know how they qualify because our combined income is £3,200ish a month and we live in one of the most expensive areas in the UK - we get shit all

lockdownalli · 12/12/2021 19:13

@ClumpyMascara

Well I’d love to know how they qualify because our combined income is £3,200ish a month and we live in one of the most expensive areas in the UK - we get shit all
Their income was £3200 including the benefits.

And they have four DC.

Swipe left for the next trending thread