To think a family of 5 can’t survive on 25k take home?

[Backpainagain]

Just that really. We are f**ed.

I’m just about managing on 23k take home. There is me and 3 kids. I don’t have a car or petrol to think about anymore, get some help with my council tax and kids dad pays for the wrap around care. Even without those expenses I’m barely making it. I don’t pay into a pension anymore either.

You could do it but it would be difficult and bleak!

In Lithuania yes
In the U.K. no

Why is your combined income so low when you have 3 dc to provide for?

It's never going to be lavish, but the housing and childcare costs (if applicable) are going to be the thing that tells us whether survival is possible or not.

But while there are more mouths two feed with 1 adult x 3 kids, potentially it could be less expensive with 2 adults and 3 children, if that second adult is free to do the childcare and had the time to minimize food costs and what-not.

We could probably survive but there would be no contingency. But our fixed costs are fairly low due to a small mortgage (£350 pm) and no childcare to pay for. Housing and childcare are the two crucial factors.

30k just for you and you can only buy clothes once a year?!
Do you live somewhere expensive like London or the south east of England?
In south Wales on 23k a couple of years go I could rent a small flat, have modest holidays like you and pay for the dentist, but also went out at least twice a week and bought clothes probably every month. Obviously depends where you live...
(My problem was saving).

It will be very very hard

1 adult 4 DC? 2 adults 3 DC? Can both adults work? Have you checked benefit entitlement? What's your housing situation? Are you paying for any childcare? What are the ages of the DC? Is this a temporary situation eg whilst on mat leave or longer term?

Are you thinking that the £25k is post tax? Pre tax that would only give you around £1750 per month and that doesn’t include pension.

Always nice to have a couple of delusional posters talking about being unsatisfied with comfortable lifestyles in situations completely irrelevant to the OP to entertain us while we wait for the OP to come back and clarify what they actually wanted from their post and to give the rest of the relevant information.

Just in case this is one of those threads where the OP just wanted to moan and we all say 'it's the Government's fault' I'll throw that in 'it's the Government's fault'.

Sorry my post above was for this quote

£25k pre tax and with 5 kids is incredibly tight! I’d look into benefits aswell unless that includes benefits?

I do hate posts that have insufficient information.

If you live in London then yes you are f*cked.

If you live in a rental in the North East then £25k (plus child benefit plus benefits) is more than enough.

Is that one persons income or two?

Choosing to have 3 kids is expensive. We have 3 children (albeit 2nd baby was twins) and it has meant changing lots of things.

OP seems to say joint take home income from work after tax/NI/Pension, whether one of you is a SAHP or not, is £25,000 pa. On that basis, as a couple with 2 kids then unless savings, residence or something else disqualify you'd get around £325/month in UC.

That assumes you don't pay rent. If you do then UC would add a Housing Cost Element as well. There might also be more if one of the adults or one or more of your kids has a long term health condition or if you're a carer.

A proper answer need the OP to add detail....

Impossible to answer this without all of the relevant information.

Are you claiming all of the benefits you may be entitled to, including UC, child benefit and marriage allowance, other benefits….?

Are there any unnecessary costs that you can get rid off completely?

Are there any ways you can reduce your outgoings?

Are there any ways you can boost your income?

I get less than £25k including salary and all
benefits and there is 2 of us, me and my DD.
We obviously can’t afford holidays but we manage ok.

Op say that’s the take-home amount.

Is uc - inclusive or exclusive of child benefit?

🤣🤣🤣 thanks. I am definitely one of those that needs to hear it's the government's fault.

Totally pointless to write unless you give more detail of your curcumstances. Someone mortgage/rent free could survive off that (unlikely thats the case obviously).

Can you breakdown your outgoings and what (if any) benefits you get?

It hugely depends on circumstances.

Pretty stupid opening post OP.

1/10

@Backpainagain that depends on what rent you pay so will get some uc help

• or mortgage where you don't get help

Same with childcare costs

Can one of you do extra hours whether in a pub /supermarket to earn extra income

Well, we live on much less than that. But we don’t have a mortgage or any childcare costs. We don’t get any benefits either. Over £2,000 a month for a household of pure income is OK. Surely most pensioners live on less than that - admittedly not supporting three children.

Tell us more, OP. There are so many things to consider.

Yes, it sounds awful, but give us more details.