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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Could you survive on 1k?

485 replies

coffeeanteac · 06/04/2023 08:55

If you had £1000 left after the main bills.

Could you survive on £1000 for food amd petrol and everything else takeaways, gifts, fun.

DH thinks most families couldn't. I think it should be ok. There are only 3 of us and we all live about three miles away from work and school.

OP posts:
IncessantNameChanger · 10/04/2023 23:55

I think it's easier to do when you have less choice about it. I can live on £250 a month for food as sometimes I have no choice. everytime I have money come in, it goes into my Monzo account so it's out of reach in pots. It's totally changed my finances and I have stopped going over drawn finally. You would be amazed what you cope on when you have zero choice. Like paying £450 pm fuel bills? We did not have that money coming in, we couldn't do it. Yes it was bloody cold. 15 max at best some days. But there was no other choice. Not ideal by far but life is sometimes like that. With Monzo I will be saving to service my heating this Autumn.

RoyGBivisacolorfulman · 11/04/2023 08:22

HungryMum101 · 10/04/2023 22:13

Yes, and for me, cutting commuting was an active choice. After years of driving an hour each way, five days a week, I’d had enough.

I would agree with this. I resented my commute time so founya job eventually closeish to home. Some colleagues travel up to an hour each way.

verdantverdure · 11/04/2023 12:42

I found out recently that Universal Credit or Jobseekers claimants have to agree to take jobs with a 90 minute commute each way!

What the hell use is that? Won't they just be taking jobs from people who live 90 minutes away from them?

It's not very environmental of the government to force people to do that either.

Sometimes I think the world's gone mad. (Maybe just our bit of it.)

Couldntgive2hoots · 11/04/2023 15:45

verdantverdure · 11/04/2023 12:42

I found out recently that Universal Credit or Jobseekers claimants have to agree to take jobs with a 90 minute commute each way!

What the hell use is that? Won't they just be taking jobs from people who live 90 minutes away from them?

It's not very environmental of the government to force people to do that either.

Sometimes I think the world's gone mad. (Maybe just our bit of it.)

If they're fit for work...then there's absolutely no reason they should be out of work long enough to have to worry about being required to accept jobs 90 mins away. Anyone who wants to work...Will find a job quickly.
Its the people that can't be bothered working or think they're above certain jobs that end up in a situation where they're being told to accept 90 mins commute.

Badbudgeter · 11/04/2023 17:04

Couldntgive2hoots · 11/04/2023 15:45

If they're fit for work...then there's absolutely no reason they should be out of work long enough to have to worry about being required to accept jobs 90 mins away. Anyone who wants to work...Will find a job quickly.
Its the people that can't be bothered working or think they're above certain jobs that end up in a situation where they're being told to accept 90 mins commute.

Show quote history

I’d agree with this . I started claiming UC a couple of years ago after separating from Ex. We agreed I’d look for jobs with up to a 45 minute commute (which is reasonable). They get you to expand search area if you can’t find a job after 3 months (I think).

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 11/04/2023 18:04

HungryMum101 · 10/04/2023 22:13

Yes, and for me, cutting commuting was an active choice. After years of driving an hour each way, five days a week, I’d had enough.

It was for me too. I was lucky in that my skillset let me work remotely, which pre 2020 was harder to come by, and I took a pay cut to do it. Still one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Mumof1hopingfor2nd · 13/04/2023 22:52

Couldntgive2hoots · 08/04/2023 21:04

Please don't try for a second baby until you can afford it. 1500 between 2 working adults is pittance..don't be a drain on society

Show quote history

Well that's RUDE how am i a drain on society
When me and my fiance both work?
We have a mortgage on a private house not a council house I have a car its not new but it does the job!
We are all fed and warm and my son does trampolining and drama club every week so he doesn't miss out! I assume you are pertaining to the fact we receive £300 as a top up as a drain on society!
Maybe it's the state of wages etc that's the problem 🤔

HungryMum101 · 14/04/2023 00:21

The drain on society ( taxpayers) are companies who pay their staff too little to live on whilst continuing to provide generous shareholder dividends and inflation busting executive pay. Not a working couple who have the temerity to aspire to a second child.

BarbaraofSeville · 14/04/2023 07:31

@Mumof1hopingfor2nd if you're only earning £1500 pm between you, it's as much that you're both working part time as much as wages are low. If either of you worked full time, you'd take home that amount alone, even if you were on NMW.

SeeWhatYouGetWhenYouAskAStupidQuestion · 14/04/2023 07:36

My husband and I have got not much more than that coming in before bills - he's been on SSP (99 a week) for 3 months, still waiting to see a Cardiologist and get treatment for his heart complaint. I'm registered disabled, on £360 a month PIP, and he gets about 300 a month from a private pension. Luckily, we haven't got a mortgage/rent t pay. we're in our 60s. Not old enough for a state pension, not fit to work, and not entitled to UC.

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