Anyone else on an incredibly low wage? How do you manage?

Fruitandbarley1 · 2023-04-11T05:09:56+00:00

Luckily I have 2 jobs, one which pays better but my first job in a care home pays £11 an hour, so 58p above minimum wage. I am applying for one better paid full time job rather than having 2 separate ones. I know it's poorly paid because it's seen as unskilled and as a 'women's job'. For that wage I deal with daily sexual, verbal and physical abuse, people who are doubly incontinent, medical emergencies, people who are having psychotic episodes and so on. Often don't get the full (unpaid) break. I know it'll never change so I'm leaving sadly as much as I find it rewarding and love the residents. Luckily my other work pays better so I'm trying to do that full time. I flat share with my partner but if I were to live alone I'd be spending around 65% of my income on a small one bed flat. It's wrong in this day and age. Partner isn't well paid either but is also going for better work. I have £80 per week for food, toiletries, all socialising, any extras. I know it's more than a lot of people have though, and we don't have children. Just interested to see how others cope on a low wage. I usually find with colleagues that they're married to a higher earner or also receiving universal credit.

hattie43 · 11/04/2023 06:26

I would imagine the very low paid are topped up by UC to a basic level . Just like anyone they carefully budget and don't waste money .

CeeJay81 · 11/04/2023 06:30

£10.90ph here. I get topped up by tax credits and live in a council house, so rent is under £500 a month.

Soonenough · 11/04/2023 06:32

I am disgusted that you are paid so little for your job. It is so undervalued. I have had carers in my home helping me with an uncle and I honestly don't know what we would do without them. The work you do is so difficult and to be paid so low is disgraceful. I know you need to look after yourself financially so hope it all works out for you.

HappilyContentTheseDays · 11/04/2023 06:37

My wage is very low, minimum wage job. Industry badly hit by cost of living crisis so lack of shifts.

I live from pay check to pay check each month, but I manage to pay my rent, bills, and feed myself/put petrol in the car. It isn't easy. I only manage because I'm on my own and bills are low...I couldn't cope if I had a family or lived in an expensive area (eg. London/south-east)

I recently asked about UC and found, to my surprise, that I qualified for some. It's an enormous help. I also found that when I retire, even though I will be living on state pension only, I shall be brining in more money than I am now while working!

AllIeveknewonlyou · 11/04/2023 06:38

I'm incredibly low salary. I do the occasional project (well paid but infrequent), study and care for family.

I feel a bit happier this month as I'm slightly up from usual but it can be tricky at times. But yes it is something you have to think about all the time.

It's a shame you have to leave the job.

VanCleefArpels · 11/04/2023 06:44

Do a benefits check - you will have to do it as a couple - on Turn2Us to make sure you are claiming what you are entitled to

Alaimo · 11/04/2023 06:46

Do you work full time hours OP? £11/hr should work out as about £1500/month after tax. If your partner earns slightly more than that then I don't understand how you're left with only £80/week for food and extras?

About 10 years ago DH and I lived on a single £16k salary. We moved to the cheapest place we could find to rent (£500), did not own a car, bought all our food at Lidl, barely used the heating, and had pay as you go mobiles that cost us about £5/month. Any socialising was usually dinner at our/a friend's house rather than going out. Obviously a £16k salary today would not stretch as far as it did, but if you and your partner are both working full time (and don't have kids, at least you don't mention them) then I struggle to see how you're left with only £80/week.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 11/04/2023 06:49

I worked in a job once where once I paid all my bills, I had £100 a month, for the whole month. This included food, travel etc, this was in 2013, my travel was 60 a month alone.

The maths simply didn't work so I asked for a raise, this was declined, so I quit. I was unemployed for 3 days, started in a new role and quickly was earning 10k more than in my previous role.

Is office temping an option for you, it exposes you to a variety of places and people and great for getting a foot in the door?

And for everyone else not aware, if you have no children and aren't disabled, you're entitled to fuck all. Not even council tax help. Childless adults in low pay work are shafted.

HelterSkelter224 · 11/04/2023 06:56

hattie43 · 11/04/2023 06:26

I would imagine the very low paid are topped up by UC to a basic level . Just like anyone they carefully budget and don't waste money .

And yet despite all that still have to feed their families using food banks, keep their heating off as much as possible and make enormous sacrifices every single day.

Original poster

Fruitandbarley1 · 11/04/2023 06:58

Not entitled to UC sadly, no children.
Partner earns less than me, not more.
I have some debts to pay off and put a small amount in savings, plus our rent between us is still quite high so that's why I'm left with 80.

OP posts:

Endlesssummer2022 · 11/04/2023 07:06

‘And for everyone else not aware, if you have no children and aren't disabled, you're entitled to fuck all. Not even council tax help. Childless adults in low pay work are shafted.’

But how are you shafted if you’re healthy with no kids? Benefits should not be available to people in this situation. They can retrain, do a free online course, move location for better work more easily. It should be easier to get out of a minimum wage job situation if you’re not disabled or have no kids. My friends sister is childfree, in a MW job and constantly complains about it but will do fuck all to change her situation. She’s a native English speaker so has no challenges, even if you send her links to free courses, better paid jobs where they train you up, she says they’re not for her.

AllIeveknewonlyou · 11/04/2023 07:08

I do find food relatively easy to cover as you can get cheap fruit and vegetables, pulses, rice and potatoes etc.

My main expenses are 2 rents, my phone bill is relatively high because I need the data and can tether it to my laptop, but things should improve soon as I'll be able to get back to full time. It can feel a struggle at times but it's doable.

I don't worry about clothes or toiletries as I have things which I like and I don't need more.

Agree with you that the rental market is a bit dicey at present.

TheChoiceIsYours · 11/04/2023 07:35

Endlesssummer2022 · 11/04/2023 07:06

‘And for everyone else not aware, if you have no children and aren't disabled, you're entitled to fuck all. Not even council tax help. Childless adults in low pay work are shafted.’

But how are you shafted if you’re healthy with no kids? Benefits should not be available to people in this situation. They can retrain, do a free online course, move location for better work more easily. It should be easier to get out of a minimum wage job situation if you’re not disabled or have no kids. My friends sister is childfree, in a MW job and constantly complains about it but will do fuck all to change her situation. She’s a native English speaker so has no challenges, even if you send her links to free courses, better paid jobs where they train you up, she says they’re not for her.

Absolutely agree. Pretty much every barrier to earning more money is related to children or ill health. Without those factors then I cannot see any justification to have a full time wage topped up by benefits, even if it is NMW. It’s a fact that if you earn ‘minimum’ wage you won’t have much disposable money for fun. It’s the bare minimum. If you want more than that and you’re not restricted by kids it’s really not that hard to do something with more earning potential. Of course not everyone can get a degree or have a £100k professional career job but even working nights in a warehouse is an example of something that will earn you more but is much harder to do if you have kids. Benefits should be for people who actually need them.

Beezknees · 11/04/2023 07:37

I'm a single mum so I get Universal Credit, also fortunate enough to have a HA property so rent is below market rate.

Beezknees · 11/04/2023 07:39

TheChoiceIsYours · 11/04/2023 07:35

Absolutely agree. Pretty much every barrier to earning more money is related to children or ill health. Without those factors then I cannot see any justification to have a full time wage topped up by benefits, even if it is NMW. It’s a fact that if you earn ‘minimum’ wage you won’t have much disposable money for fun. It’s the bare minimum. If you want more than that and you’re not restricted by kids it’s really not that hard to do something with more earning potential. Of course not everyone can get a degree or have a £100k professional career job but even working nights in a warehouse is an example of something that will earn you more but is much harder to do if you have kids. Benefits should be for people who actually need them.

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So who is going to do all the minimum wage jobs then? We should be fighting for better pay so people don't have to rely on benefits. Do you not think it's disgraceful that people looking after our elderly relatives and our children are paid such a low wage?

AllIeveknewonlyou · 11/04/2023 07:43

TheChoiceIsYours · 11/04/2023 07:35

Absolutely agree. Pretty much every barrier to earning more money is related to children or ill health. Without those factors then I cannot see any justification to have a full time wage topped up by benefits, even if it is NMW. It’s a fact that if you earn ‘minimum’ wage you won’t have much disposable money for fun. It’s the bare minimum. If you want more than that and you’re not restricted by kids it’s really not that hard to do something with more earning potential. Of course not everyone can get a degree or have a £100k professional career job but even working nights in a warehouse is an example of something that will earn you more but is much harder to do if you have kids. Benefits should be for people who actually need them.

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I had to think about what you wrote for a few seconds; you said children/health were the major factors which may constrict income, agree. In my case I have other demands on me which stop me from f/t at present.

I do think NMW should cover the bare essentials. And yes not for fun. Depends what you think of as being fun really.

Original poster

Fruitandbarley1 · 11/04/2023 07:59

So people who do care work/childcare etc don't deserve any sort of fun because NMW should only cover the bare essentials? Wtf...

OP posts:

Mademetoxic · 11/04/2023 08:05

TheChoiceIsYours · 11/04/2023 07:35

Absolutely agree. Pretty much every barrier to earning more money is related to children or ill health. Without those factors then I cannot see any justification to have a full time wage topped up by benefits, even if it is NMW. It’s a fact that if you earn ‘minimum’ wage you won’t have much disposable money for fun. It’s the bare minimum. If you want more than that and you’re not restricted by kids it’s really not that hard to do something with more earning potential. Of course not everyone can get a degree or have a £100k professional career job but even working nights in a warehouse is an example of something that will earn you more but is much harder to do if you have kids. Benefits should be for people who actually need them.

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What a load of bullshit you wrote.

Having children is a lifestyle choice.

AllIeveknewonlyou · 11/04/2023 08:07

Fruitandbarley1 · 11/04/2023 07:59

So people who do care work/childcare etc don't deserve any sort of fun because NMW should only cover the bare essentials? Wtf...

I didn't mean to upset you.

What would you like to spend more on at present?

I probably have a different mindset as although low income I don't miss restaurants or bars and no expensive activities.

It sounds like you are trying to change your financial situation so what is it you need more money for?

mycatsanutter · 11/04/2023 08:11

My dd is on a bit more than minimum wage and pays £600 a month in rent then bills and food on top . No dc so no benefits , she does gel nails and baby sitting to top up her income . I'm still lending her money every month thou .

shivawn · 11/04/2023 08:16

I worked as a carer in a private nursing home during college and it was tough unappreciated work for very little pay. I ended up leaving after a year and working for an agency covering hospitals for far far better money and better working conditions. Would this be an option for you?

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 11/04/2023 08:18

So who is going to do all the minimum wage jobs then? We should be fighting for better pay so people don't have to rely on benefits. Do you not think it's disgraceful that people looking after our elderly relatives and our children are paid such a low wage?

I was just about to say exactly the same thing. These are essential jobs. You can’t just tell everyone doing them that they need to get a different job and earn more otherwise who will do those jobs? I’m a TA working with SEN children. I earn minimum wage. I can only afford to do that job because dh earns good money. It would not be possible if he earnt less or if I was single.

AllIeveknewonlyou · 11/04/2023 08:30

I had to go back to your original post.

OK so you're asking how other people cope low income. I don't rely on a boyfriend (absolutely don't mean you do, I'm trying to explain that I have to take care of myself and I can't imagine falling in love again). It's a bit of a struggle but I'm lucky in the case of an emergency I would be helped out. And I have things to sell if I really needed to.

Only options for you are to cut cloth, increase income or sell whatever you have. Sounds a bit stark but it's the reality of incomings and outgoings. Increase your credit rating and take any advantage of discounts.

Things will improve though, don't be despondent.

Mademetoxic · 11/04/2023 08:31

Endlesssummer2022 · 11/04/2023 07:06

‘And for everyone else not aware, if you have no children and aren't disabled, you're entitled to fuck all. Not even council tax help. Childless adults in low pay work are shafted.’

But how are you shafted if you’re healthy with no kids? Benefits should not be available to people in this situation. They can retrain, do a free online course, move location for better work more easily. It should be easier to get out of a minimum wage job situation if you’re not disabled or have no kids. My friends sister is childfree, in a MW job and constantly complains about it but will do fuck all to change her situation. She’s a native English speaker so has no challenges, even if you send her links to free courses, better paid jobs where they train you up, she says they’re not for her.

So much snobbery in your post.

Tell that to your precious kids childcare workers, who earn pittance to pay for your kids who are in childcare.

Tell that to your elderly parents, who earn pittance to care for your parents.

Tell that to the supermarket workers, NHS porters, teaching assistants who teach your children at school.

What a snob you are.

Timspam · 11/04/2023 08:33

Hi.

I think the simple answer here is, it totally depends on the other costs in your life and not the actual wage.

I'm earning half what I was ten years ago but we bought our house over 20 years ago so our mortgage is relatively small, we have no debts other than our mortgage. I could not actually afford my own house today on my current wage at its current value.

I do often wonder if we didn't have a minimum wage would companies still be trying to pay lots of people £5 per hour ?