Depressed about salary

[Porcupinesky]

I’m feeling pretty down at the stories today around the national average wage now being £35k.

I only earn just above this amount. I had been offered a better paid role about 4 months ago but found out I was pregnant so turned it down, as I get a good maternity package in this role (25 weeks full pay) so it made better financial sense to stay. I’m waiting for a promotion but the company is tightening finances so I’m uncertain when this can be processed. I’ll probably get a small payrise in April before I start mat leave.

Is anyone else feeling this way? It’s what I think about most of the day. Luckily DH earns a decent salary and pays more bills but it’s a real knock to my self worth as I thought I would achieve more in life.

That's true. But are graduate jobs less competitive than apprenticeships?
@Blah12345678999 All employers with turnover above a certain amount have to pay the apprenticeship levy. As a result, many try to make full use, offering excellent apprenticeships alongside graduate schemes. The latter more often than not is a 'degree' apprenticeship as well, so the apprentice and graduates as part of 'early career' schemes end up in the same place.

Large companies where I worked - grad schemes were more competitive. Because you only need a 2:1 which is easy if you choose the right uni/course for your abilities. Add in international students and that's a LOT of competition.
But apprenticeships require good A-level grades and (usually) the right to work in the UK which narrows the pool of applicants considerably.

However there's still a large number of 'apprenticeships' that are cheap labour, especially non-degree (Higher or Foundation) apprentices as they can legally be paid less. This is what gives them a bad name! Some catering apprenticeships for example where you do the same job as a fully paid member of staff.. Yes you are supposed to be working towards a qualification but a lot of them can be just documenting what you're doing, not any specialised training for you.

Yeah from what I’ve seen in the workplace the people doing apprenticeships are getting paid (a lower salary yes, but they could be at uni paying crazy fees and not earning anything), earning work experience, getting a degree they’re not paying for and then start the graduate schemes with other graduates but without the debt, with money, with work experience and at a younger age as well! Perhaps they’re getting more competitive now people are realising this but I didn’t get that impression they were because I think there is still that stigma with the word ‘apprenticeship’, but yeah, there are still bad ones out there too I imagine!

The flexibility and benefits are part of your overall package - your salary is only one part of your remuneration package; flexible working, maternity benefits, sick pay, pension - all of these put together would probably equate to a much larger cash "salary". Comparison is the thief of joy - you are on more than the "average" worker, you have a great maternity package and you are so close to meeting your long awaited beautiful baby - congratulations, and I hope you find your joy x

I think pretty much any workplace is nicer than education...

If a new starter would earn more than you do, you need to raise this with your line manager and push hard for a pay rise to reflect your experience. I had similar circumstances in 2012, found out new grads would start on 25k (I started on 23k two years before), and got increased to 30k to reflect experience. I've argued salary quite a bit over the years (in a positive light). If you don't push you don't get.

It's not forever. The age/stage when you have young children may likely be the poorest time for you. As mine grew up and needed less after-school care, no care, left home , I gradually built up my hours and roles. Now they're adult, I'm flying.

im in a similar position, zero hours. how do you make ends meet without work?

Universal Credit tops it up but if it's too long I have to sign on. Basically we live very frugally. I'm hoping at some point I'll be taken on permanently. Also when I do get paid I put it into different pots so it builds up - I also have a rainy day pot.

How much is in the rainy day pot? Im trying to build mine up now for this reason.

I've got a £1000 in mine at the moment but our roof is leaking so I'm hoping that will be enough. I've not had much work since the week before Christmas but I put £10 for every day I work in my Help to Save account (very worthwhile setting up) up to max of £50 a month. I always pay into this first as I'm hoping to give it all to dd3 when she goes to university. Then I have another pot, it was Christmas but I have to change the name now and put £10 for every day I worked in that. I'll probably call it piano exam as dd3 has her grade 8 this year. I had to buy glasses in December as my bag with them in was stolen from work and I paid on my credit card (£199). I also pay £10 for every day I worked off that so almost paid that off. I get paid weekly so if it looks like there's a lot in my current account I move surplus into my rainy day.
It can be stressful but that's how I manage it. Good luck. I have an account with Chase and it's very easy to set up pots on it. They also give interest on the pots (about 5%) and 1% cashback - and I also do round up with them.

I do have a chase account. I havent got a help to save so will check that out. Chase give a good amount of interest per month. I just wonder if there are some other kind of ways to make my money work for me instead of the other way round. i know investing/stocks is meant to good but i have no idea where to start on it.

im not trying to be greedy either, if there are any other avenues you know of please let me know

I think with regard to stocks etc you need to be able to afford to lose money and I can't. I know ds (20) has put some money into a share tracker but I think that is for a more long term investment. He also has a lifetime ISA to help him buy a house in future but you have to be under 40.
I do think it is important to save small amounts regularly and name their purpose (I won't add rainy day money to holiday money) as they do add up. I am 60 next year so I'm just trying to muddle through to dd3 leaves school and ds finishes university.
Good luck on your journey.

I earn 28k. Dh 30k. If you're on more than this then YABU, you've got plenty

@Friarclose it's not about whether OP earns plenty, an incidentally it's expensive being single, it's about whether the investment in her career and education in terms of the time and money was worth it.