Feeling pointless trying to earn more money

[AMie45]

Single parent,Scotland. Really need a new car, especially with needing to travel to a hospital several hours away. Despite earning a tiny bit over 50k, my budget only leaves us about £30 spare at the end of the month. I tried taking on a small amount of extra online work to work towards buying a new car but after tax and child benefit repayments I’m only getting to keep about 40% of it even when I opted out of pension for the extra. HMRC also changed my tax code with my main job so that I am actually worse off than I was before!!! AIBU to think what’s the AF point in trying?

Why did they change anything with your main job? You'd be taxed 42% on your 2nd job anyway wouldn't you, and yeah I can understand pay backs on any benefits given that you'd earn more now. I'd have just look at it as at least I'm getting to see the 40%, it's better than nothing.

2nd jobs aren't taxed at 42% unless it's different in Scotland

How many kids do you have? I'm just surprised it's only £30 left at the end of the month. Will it be more in summer as heating bills go down?

As OP earns more than 43k she will be paying 42%tax in Scotland but national insurance is only 2% on earning over 50k, so total is 45% but she is losing child benefit too. So working more is worth it but you get to keep less.

You'll need to show your outgoing to get help.

It sounds like you have very high housing/ childcare costs?

YANBU, the child benefit payback threshold hasn't moved for so long and it means that earning between £50-60k is subject to a much higher rate of deduction due to this.....awful!

Are you entitled to universal credit? We had a similar conundrum. Only £30 left at the end of the month (to cover shoes and clothing and haircuts etc). Also consider putting the “extra” above £50k into pension as you’ll be taxed less, not sure if it’ll mean more in your pocket each month.
eta Not in Scotland so aware there may be differences.

OP will have already hit the 42% in her first job, so the second job will be fully 42%. Same as in England if your first job has already hit the 40% bracket, your second job would be fully 40%.