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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why does life seem so unaffordable?

67 replies

NotEnjoyingThis · 28/09/2023 12:21

Does anyone else feel like it’s a never ending battle?
I’m a single mum to 2, I’ve been on my own for about a year now and I just can’t seem to catch a break.
I claim UC and I’m self employed, working full time.
It just seems to be one thing after another, So far this month my fridge broke and needed replacing, my kitchen tap broke and a plumber charged me £220 to replace it, he also told me my heating had broke and would cost around £500 to replace, my cars just been in the garage and the repair is going to cost around £600, I’ve got £200 in school trips to pay plus another £50 for gymnastics competitions.
feeling really disheartened today and just want to give up 😩

OP posts:
Toastandheinz · 28/09/2023 12:48

I totally get it OP. I feel the same way. There is always an unexpected cost that pops up. It is never ending. At one point I was so caught up growing my savings until I had to keep going into it to pay for stuff, and now there's not much left of it. By the time it grows again it will be time to pay car insurance etc. It's very disheartening

Sparklesocks · 28/09/2023 12:50

It’s not just you - goods and services have all shot up faster than wages so most people are feeling the strain. And in my experience things breaking like that always seem to happen in groups - the boiler will go, then your clutch, then the washing machine…😫 no advice unfortunately but solidarity

malificent7 · 28/09/2023 12:56

I agree but try to reframe it so you get less disheartened. I guess you have your own home...a big plus. Your girls have gym lessons which are also brilliant for them.
I don't mean to sound preachy and if you really want a laugh this year i got the nhs bonus but in the same month reversed into another car costing me £500! Then 2 weeks before my very budget wedding this year my front wheel got a puncture and i had to pay £70 for a new tyre just when i needed the cash the most!

1stworldissues · 28/09/2023 12:56

@NotEnjoyingThis

If you claim UC your kids are 'pupil premium' kids and therefore school should help with costs of trips etc

HeffyAgain · 28/09/2023 13:18

Its just too much! Everything has gone up at once....except wages.
Both my husband and I work full time but our household income is less than 50k a year.
We allegedly live in one of the cheapest parts of the country and we simply cannot keep up with our outgoings.
My children have relatively expensive hobbies but I am not going to sacrifice them if I can help it, they have worked hard for years to get where they are, it's just a shame that working families are suffering and kids lifestyles are being impacted by useless people in government.

supermamio · 28/09/2023 13:24

1stworldissues · 28/09/2023 12:56

@NotEnjoyingThis

If you claim UC your kids are 'pupil premium' kids and therefore school should help with costs of trips etc

Im sure this has now changed, to be a pupil premium child you need to be entitled to free school meals and to be entitled need to earn less than £7400 per year. OP says she works full time so im assuming will bring home more than that.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 28/09/2023 13:31

1stworldissues · 28/09/2023 12:56

@NotEnjoyingThis

If you claim UC your kids are 'pupil premium' kids and therefore school should help with costs of trips etc

Depends on income. Just claiming UC doesn't automatically entitle you to these things.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 28/09/2023 13:31

supermamio · 28/09/2023 13:24

Im sure this has now changed, to be a pupil premium child you need to be entitled to free school meals and to be entitled need to earn less than £7400 per year. OP says she works full time so im assuming will bring home more than that.

Show quote history

You are correct.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 28/09/2023 13:33

It seems unaffordable because it is 😭🙈. Like someone else said, everything has gone up except wages.

ACertainKindOfLight · 28/09/2023 13:42

It is really hard, l am working six sometimes seven days a week, my employer gets around it. I am just grateful for the overtime otherwise l would sink. I'm also grateful not to be living with someone creating a load more hassle. At least that part of my life has much improved. My mantra is "keep going" that's all you can do.

cocksstrideintheevening · 28/09/2023 13:59

1stworldissues · 28/09/2023 12:56

@NotEnjoyingThis

If you claim UC your kids are 'pupil premium' kids and therefore school should help with costs of trips etc

That is not correct. Pupil premium is FSM

harrisaar · 28/09/2023 14:06

I’m sorry to hear this OP, it’s utter shit

CaramelicedLatte · 28/09/2023 14:09

It's so hard at the moment, OP, it's not you.

I won't say what our income is, because I'll be told it's completely ridiculous to be struggling on it, but we really are. Our outgoings - which we can't negotiate/control/reduce, such as rent, council tax etc are huge. But they're 'cheap' for the area/size of property etc. We have discounts on council tax due to circumstances, we don't have an extravagant lifestyle. I still genuinely don't know how we're going to get through October, I honestly don't think we have enough to pay all the bills. It's quite terrifying!

Safxxx · 28/09/2023 14:30

Same girl 😔 we are all mostly in the same boat
Never ending spend and not getting much out of it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Somanycats · 28/09/2023 14:34

Im not saying you should have to do this, but we get all our white goods from Freecycle or marketplace. It is also quite easy to replace a tap yourself. I'm not practical at all but I can just about do this.

DragonFly98 · 28/09/2023 14:35

1stworldissues · 28/09/2023 12:56

@NotEnjoyingThis

If you claim UC your kids are 'pupil premium' kids and therefore school should help with costs of trips etc

No you are confusing UC with FSM.

Weedoormatnomore · 28/09/2023 15:28

I just look at it differently yippee kids are still able to do their clubs. Food bill has doubled thanks to food prices and kids being teenagers now just grateful I can still get couple of treats or a takeway once a month and pay the bills. Gets too depressing too look at it any other way.

Original poster
NotEnjoyingThis · 28/09/2023 15:33

I’m trying to be positive and think next week is a new start…yet something else always seems to go wrong.
I am speechless at some of the prices of things in supermarkets at the moment, I don’t know how people can afford it.
Today has just been another blow and I can’t help thinking why do I even bother.

I am putting all my efforts into growing my business, which seems to be a massive struggle also. My one positive this week is that I have managed to take on someone to help me out with my business…only 3 hours a week but it’s a start.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotEnjoyingThis · 28/09/2023 15:35

Weedoormatnomore · 28/09/2023 15:28

I just look at it differently yippee kids are still able to do their clubs. Food bill has doubled thanks to food prices and kids being teenagers now just grateful I can still get couple of treats or a takeway once a month and pay the bills. Gets too depressing too look at it any other way.

I’m having to pick which bills get paid and which don’t each month at the moment.
I should think myself lucky that I have my kids and they are fed, clothed and happy

OP posts:
Weedoormatnomore · 28/09/2023 15:49

NotEnjoyingThis · 28/09/2023 15:35

I’m having to pick which bills get paid and which don’t each month at the moment.
I should think myself lucky that I have my kids and they are fed, clothed and happy

Show quote history

Sorry to hear that op I thought your bills where covered as well as managing to pay the other stuff. Just read it as fed up to have nothing left. Can you contact school re the school trip to see if there is any help of if you can delay payment ? my kids have only done the £20 or less school trips thankfully.

pompomdaisy · 28/09/2023 16:25

I sometimes feel we get totally scammed by plumbers, electricians etc. it's funny how when we had lots more polish working here they could do the jobs a lot cheaper. Next door are getting a house extension so have lots of different workmen. They all drive Audis, bmw, you name it.

Lovemusic82 · 28/09/2023 16:32

Totally agree OP, I’m single parent and carer so on UC doing a bit of work when I can. The price of everything has just gone up so much. I have nightmares about things breaking that I can’t afford to replace, I hate doing the foods shop and I dread the cat getting sick (he’s getting old). I need my guttering cleared as birds have destroyed it but I can’t afford to pay £100+ to get it done, my house needs carpeting, DD’s room has no carpet at all but I can’t afford to get it done. I know people need to cover costs for the services they offer but it means my house is slowly falling apart and if I can’t fix it myself it has to stay broken.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 28/09/2023 17:02

I went to buy my six year old new school shoes in Tesco. £22! I am sure children's clothes and shoes have gone up hugely.

stayathomer · 28/09/2023 17:05

I think when you get hit you get battered with costs- car broke down, new part needed, ended up being nearly a grand! Pump went- 500euro, it’s never ever something small and they always all come at once! Hope it eases up for you soon op x

ConsuelaHammock · 28/09/2023 17:14

pompomdaisy · 28/09/2023 16:25

I sometimes feel we get totally scammed by plumbers, electricians etc. it's funny how when we had lots more polish working here they could do the jobs a lot cheaper. Next door are getting a house extension so have lots of different workmen. They all drive Audis, bmw, you name it.

You’re not getting scammed! What a suggestion! You’re paying for their skill and expertise. It takes several years to train to be a plumber/builder/electrician. Of course they’re well paid jobs. They should be well paid jobs. I can’t believe you noticed their cars too. My niece is dating a plumber. He’s 22 and drives a new BMW. He leaves home at 5.30am every weekday and also does extra work at the weekends. He deserves every penny he earns.