How skint are you ?

[Jbrown76]

Inspired by this thread on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/iR5TPqfSR7

Reading these responses shows how many people live pay day to pay day whilst there are some who have large savings, expensive holidays and yet still describe themselves as skint.

This.

It's a subjective definition. Some people say they are skint because once essentials are paid, they don't have any disposable income, that particular month. Some people say they are skint because they can't pay the essentials, and it's ongoing.

To me, skint is the former, a temporary state/inconvenience which is solved by the next payday. And the latter I would say is living in poverty, which is a whole different level of seriousness.

No point getting cross with posters who are in the former camp, because that's their understanding of the word.

Very true.

I remember when I said to a friend of my DH who is on benefits that we were thinking of going away but couldn't as we were too poor/broke.

A few hours later, she had a huge go at me, telling me that I was a "spoilt and self obsessed" person, who had no true idea of the concept of being poor ie as she was actually a single mum on benefits (who actively chose not to work even though jet DD had been at school so she could quite easily work, no health issues or anything). She was really angry that I was so ignorant about her situation and those who really did live on ghe breadline, and she made me feel so awful that we nearly all went back to our home in Norfolk, even though it was late at night and we were halfway across the country staying with her in Somerset.

I decided to never discuss finances with her ever again, and felt bad/guilty that I'd upset her so much, but equally thought it was slightly unfair that she'd been so angry with me for just a lighthearted comment. It had obviously hit a very raw nerve.😳

I don’t get how those with savings can say I’m skint …..
It really can take one thing like Ill health when you don’t have a company that pays sick leave to wipe out any safety net

Given there are many invisible health conditions and many mental health conditions that aren't going to be obvious I am curious how you can be sure she /her child have no health conditions?

I do, admittedly, still work. But very few people know about my (quite serious) health condition and only my husband and sister know about my (quite crippling at times) PTSD.

Well, true, she may have a health condition that I don't know about. And of course, so she is entitled to claim for benefits and be paid accordingly.

But, I also have an invisible health problem with a past head injury and post concussion syndrome that i had nearly 9 years ago, and a subsequent iatrogenic injury from a prescribed off label antipsychotic after the head injury (which is a neurological involuntary movement disorder that is like Tourette's and Parkinson's disease combined).

I'm not entitled to any benefits because of this, and we earn just over the threshold to be entitled to any UC. So, basically I need to work in spite of my brain not working properly and it giving me cognitive problems. So, in some ways, I find it hard to keep going but I do. It's not clear cut, as you say, but often as you also point out, people need to keep on working regardless.

If my DH's friend had a health problem that stops her from working properly, fair enough. My assumption was that she decided that she'd be better off on benefits than working (and she's actually said this to my DH) so I'm basing my opinion on that.

Hmm, people saying they are skint but then say ‘ oh but I have 3k in savings’ …you’re not skint then are you?!🤣

Yes, technically they aren't since all they need to do is withdraw some of their money from the savings account?

I think we've chatted before on here as my neurological condition is also medication acquired which makes me pretty fed up. Like you, I keep working.

But I really don't tell many people (my choice) and I could see myself making a joke /giving a glib reason if I did stop working, just because I am an intensely private person.

I guess I just reacted because I get so much public judgement from strangers /acquaintances for things I can't do (and for how different I look due to steroids) that I feel a real need to raise awareness that we should never assume someone is healthy or jn control of how their body looks /what it can do

Of course. I understand, honestly i do. ❤️

Sorry if I upset you in any way, that wasn't my intention. Hope you are ok 💕

No it's fine, I'm sorry I snapped as what you have been through/are coping with is truly tough

As others have said there's a big difference between being temporarily without cash flow for a week and it being a long term issue/poor - many are reluctant to use savings- but again as others have said that isn't skint as such- more a self enforced 'skint'

you're describing financial abuse and need to get some help before he lands you in more debt

Who is describing financial abuse?

Get paid in 2 days. £8 in bank account, £8 in purse and £750 in savings and I’ll have a small tax bill to pay. I’ll be okay as I’ve got half a tank of fuel and enough food. It’s especially bad in Jan as one of the DC has a birthday. Had to use my credit card for the food shop at the weekend (Aldi) - I owe about £2500 on that. I’m so bad with money

I’m going to be really careful in Feb - no surplus spending if I can help it.

I would not say that we are skint but are not well off really. We have no debt and about £4000 in bank. Have around £1000 per month surplus but we prioritise holidays, never go out in the UK

£80 to last just over a week, my electric has to be paid out of that and my petrol.

If you put £1000 a month into holidays then you are well off!

😂

Don't have much in my current account but get paid tomorrow.

Would not say I'm skint though as I have money in my savings account and cash in my cash binders at home.

People with savings are really not skint.

Seriously skint 🤣
im on stat mat pay and my OH (he works obscenely hard!!) is on minimum wage.

But they may have that as their job is unstable, therefore they need that but can’t touch it

People with savings locked away might feel skint, but objectively they aren't skint

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/skint

(I'd put myself in that category, I lock a lot of money away in savings/mortgage overpayments),

But it literally uses the example:

"I get paid on Friday, and by Tuesday I am always skint"

So, you wouldn't be skint on Friday again.

I just think it's fairer to say, that it's subjective, as many posters on here have put forward their known version of skint, and they range enormously.

Well that example just confirms the sense of skint meaning a short term lack of money

Someone with savings feels like they have no money because they don't wish to spend it but objectively they do have money