To think some people don't realise

[CybermanAshad]

A few years ago we were a surviving on 30k as a household. It was tight but fine. That was one wage. I was a SAHP as it was cheaper than nursery fees.

We're a family of three with two cats. That's 2 adults and a 4 year old.

Now we have an income of just over 40k and things are harder than ever and we've never struggled so much. That's one wage, child benefit and a student maintenance loan.

We have £5 in the bank to last until 25th of the month. Some food but not much. Both cars need fuel. Before if things were tight there was always some way to get by. Small savings pot (under 1k) we also overpay into our bills account every month not much but would mean if things got tight there might be a spare £100 in there we could use.

Now we have no savings, no spare in the bills account. A combined over draft of £2000 now maxed.

Never thought I'd be wishing DC was back at school to benefit from the school dinner every day.

Desperately trying to get a job. Looking for something that pays about 20k. Would replace maintenance loan and give us 11k extra a year. So far all rejections.

Partner has also managed to get a job paying 8k more a year but doesn't start until May so won't see the benefit until the end of May.

Just feels relentless at the moment.

Saw a thread on here recently with lots of posters saying 85k was nothing in London and people on benefits had a ton of money and had no idea what it was like trying to survive on 85k with no help. I know it's bloody expensive in London but from my own perspective, 85k would be a dream. We don't qualify for benefits beside child benefit which is £87.20 every four weeks.

As I said, a few years ago we got by on 30k and now we're struggling on 40k.

AIBU to think some people don't understand that there's a huge middle section of people who don't recieve benefits but earn under 50k?

I imagine struggling a lot more than those on 85k.

I work in a fast food resturant!! It was a quick job and we needed the extra income. There are jobs out there. Maybe a bit crap and not big money but extra income is extra income and shifts can be flexible if you're studying. Think out of the box!!!

There are so many jobs out there at the moment. Cannot believe you cannot find a job!

re. The London thing......we have a 200 k household income in London, don’t have a car, no kids.....and we are feeling the pinch! Don’t live beyond means, re- mortgaged and of course it went up lots. Have no idea how people can afford cars and luxury holidays......totally squeezed middle as we have carer bills and medical bills (3 k a mth). Too rich for help and not rich enough to buy it all in!

Only one tax free allowance rather than two, also pay 40% tax on earnings over £50000 so higher tax for a single person. Two people on 43k would take home £ 32500 approx each after tax/NI so £65000 combined. Single person is approx £58000. rent/mortgage the same if you have one or two people living there, electric /gas/ internet ect cost the same for one as it does for two. Water might be cheaper if they're on a meter, but not massively so. Food and travel expenses are the main things that are cheaper as a single rather than couple, and the 25% discount on council tax.

If you read the thread you'll see that I am.

Well I guess you are willing to let your child starve as you say at the start of the post you wish they were back at school so they could have a hot meal. Rather than sell your car, cats or get a job Or give up your study. Really sad.

Can you read? Honestly.

1. I'm looking for a job.

1. I need my car for the school run and to look after my elderly parent.

1. Yes, I wish he was back at school having a hot lunch every day so I don't have to worry financially about feeding him at lunch time. Am I letting him starve? No. Am I making sure he has three meals a day? Yes.

Today he had Weetabix and a fruit salad for breakfast. Lunchtime he had a chicken salad. Dinner he had a homemade pizza which he helped me make. Included homemade dough, homemade sauce, carrots, tomatoes, sweetcorn, spinach, and tuna. That good enough or no?

If you have a £500 a month mortgage then you either have a cheap house in a bad area, bought a couple of decades ago or bought recently with a huge deposit. Poor form to be crowing on this thread. No way it's any other way on a £40k income FFS. Fact.

Igbore the idiots telling you to get rid of your car

Not all rent is bad. But UC pays all my rent as I'm Part time at work.

We moved away from the SE due to the ridiculously high cost of housing. £40k anywhere else in the country would be a decent income.

I do believe op when she says she’s not had any job offers. I got made redundant and it took me awhile of applying to get a job. Op is properly trying to find a job that fits around school hours/ husbands hours so someone is there for the children. Just keep applying it does pay off in the end. I think job market is picking up now. Lots of schools crying out for LSAs , the pay is crap but it’s school hours and will fit around your kids. Also I think most people ,if they could afford it ,would like to be stay at home parents so I don’t blame op for that either as she could afford it at the time. It seems mumsnet looks down on SAHP and that is wrong. I always worked part time after having mine but was lucky my company were very good with school hours and grandparents helped with childcare but not everyone has that luxury. It is a crap time at the moment for most people, I certainly feel poorer than pre covid and work more hours than I used to so yanb.

@PerfectYear321 Are you talking to me?

Telling you to ignore the trolls, yes

Although studying is an investment in the future. I took a massive drop in salary to study knowing that my earning capacity would increase considerably once qualified. However, what I didn't know was that every possible bill would double/triple whilst I was studying and if I'd known this then sadly studying would never have been a possibility. I'm managing to scrape through on food donations until things improve but I'm really glad that at leady my salary will increase.

Without sounding harsh, I think studying comes with knowing things will be super tight. I went back to uni last year having been a carer for my son for 2 years. Money was incredibly tight, but short term pain for long term gain.
I am now earning a good wage again and things are much easier. I'm also a single parent and a homeowner. I get a top up from universal credit which helps hugely. When I was at uni, I did very strict meal plans and stuck to them. Days out with the children were either cheap or free. It can be done.
Possibly a mortgage payment holiday may help, scale back on everything unnecessary. I also still only do a click and collect food shop, otherwise I get distracted by clothes and nik naks in the shops which bumps the price of my shopping up.

I agree this may be a good thing to consider.

I did this 1.5 years ago, initial investment is relatively low if you already have a car (about £300 depending on what supplies you buy exactly, for disclosures, key holder certificates, liability insurance etc) I was fully booked within 4 weeks (with boundaries in place because we don't want to be working full time anymore) and have been having to turn jobs down ever since...the demand far exceeds the supply in my area and I'm sure that will also be the case in other areas. Now, me and my partner did have 18 years of experience between us but that is evidently not a necessity, as my friends sister set up too in November and is now also fully booked and she is not from the cleaning industry originally and had little experience, as did an ex colleague who was from the care industry. The local Facebook groups are full of people starting up cleaning companies and scores of people still can't get a cleaner.

My partner works with me now, we are both part time and earn £2800-£3400 (before tax) a month between us from doing a combination of domestic homes, commercial offices and Air B&Bs, which suits us very well as about half of that is disposable income. If you can do full time (even at flexible times if you're limited in that way) like my friends sister is (she's doing longer days and 6 days a week) earnings can be very high, particularly working with estate agents and those types of cleans can be done at any times/days of the week/at night etc. There's most money in those types, but we've paused doing them right now as we don't want to be too busy.

An option to look into and think about!

Ah thanks :)

Can you find some evening cleaning work? (when your partner is home) or cleaning freelance when your DC is at school?
Or childminding alongside your little one?
Or weekends at Lidl?
May not be career building in your chosen line, but could make all the difference in challenging times.
Good luck xx

I think you’re being slightly unreasonable. Firstly do you need 2 cars? If one is at home as a student. That will save a huge amount of money.
Secondly, I know it’s not ideal but sell the cats. If you’re that poorly off you wouldn’t have the cats. Vet costs, pet insurance, food etc all adds to your outgoings.
Look at your monthly outgoings & see what you can cut back on. Put money aside from what you’ll save. Do you smoke? Drink? you can’t compare London to you. London prices are extortionate. A 2 bed flat in London can cost £2000 rent per month. Petrol is more. Parking is more. Costs are way higher in London that you would be paying so hence the salary. Could you get a job towards London & travel by train?

How many times does the OP have to state she needs both cars? Grrr. The OP has also repeatedly stated that she is looking for a job!

Cars are not even that expensive. They have potential if things go wtonof course.

Mine costs approximately £40 this is so worth it for the convenience. A bus doesn't even go on my route to work and if did £2 a day is a lot more.

There are many comments on here if you haven’t seen. No need for a car to do school run - walk. If school is not within walking distance then it’s out of catchment. Jobs - there are many many around. Nhs advertise all the time. Many nhs jobs for porters, cleaners. Op is joy thinking outside the box & is expecting tax payers to subsidise their living costs.

There are many comments on here if you haven’t seen. No need for a car to do school run - walk. If school is not within walking distance then it’s out of catchment. Jobs - there are many many around. Nhs advertise all the time. Many nhs jobs for porters, cleaners. Op is joy thinking outside the box & is expecting tax payers to subsidise their living costs.

That’s an extra £40 a month they need. It’s not about luxury, it’s about necessity. Walking is so good for you, cheaper too. Cars cost in insurance, tax, maintenance, services, mot. It’s an unnecessary cost if they can get rid of one car. I walk 30 mins each way to work, kids walk to school, we have 1 car. It can be done.

But public transport could be way more than £40.
Do they need to carry equipment for their job etc