To have frugality fatigue. (Cost of living.)

[KnopkaPixie]

Just that really. To do so well with finances for nearly a month then get an unexpected expense out of left field, pretending that lentil dahl is absolutely delicious, to have signed up to do surveys on YouGov and the rest and have made sod all, can't work any more hours, can't cut costs any more, can't claim anything off the state and to be kicking myself for not saving more when I had the chance. Just a moan really.

I never wanted to be that kind of miserable gît that resents every penny or knows, "The cost of everything but the value of nothing" But that's the way the value brand cookie is not crumbling right now.

Perhaps a bit woo but sometimes I wonder whether a real poverty mindset becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and perhaps a more speculate to accumulate mentality might do me better? Not any manifesting flapdoodle but just an idle thought.

https://moneysoft.co.uk/support/paying-employees-early-at-christmas/

If this is happening, your payroll department has screwed up (or doesn’t understand the law).

Thank you. I will ask my manager about that.

@greenday16B they are appalling honestly just wish I could get more hours so I could tell them to shove it, but i've been looking for 6months and there is nothing around me that fits in with the hours I already have and around my caring responsibilities.

I totally understand how you’re feeling OP. I don’t like daal either! I’ve had a tough time financially in the last ten months & I hate constantly checking my bank account and calculating how many days left until the end of the month etc. that feels like a poor mindset! There’s definitely something to be said for making a gratitude list & focusing on that more - such as, I live in a lovely place. The beach is free. I am healthy. My DDs are happy. This too shall pass etc. I’m incredibly grateful that this has somewhat passed for me now but it’s hard going. Sending a hug x

" Caring responsibilities" I hear you.

It's tough isn't it, people don't realise how hard it is mentally.

This is the best post on the thread.

Yes it is! Funnily enough I'm having a breaded chicken breast sort of cheat's Weiner Schnitzel tonight with some real live pigeon heart mini tomatoes in the raw that have never been in a tin.
I can feel the protein and vitamin c coursing through my veins.
I have to put the oxygen mask on myself before trying to help other passengers sometimes.
Thanks Mumsnet collective. X.

.

I just walked round the supermarket and thought €2.84 for some actual meat with real breadcrumbs and herbs. Sod it, I'm having that. €1 packet of tomatoes. And why not?

Suggest you write a blog and make money.

Teach Chinese students on line.

Eat protein

Step away from the Dahl/ dahl.

Good for you OP, hope you enjoyed it 🍻

Thank you @Autumnweddingguest I think we are singing from the same page.
It's not wrong to want better, to imagine a life which doesn't revolve around lentils. It's OK to say 'I want to earn money. To live my life rather than scrape through it.'
Use the best crockery, wear your favourite clothes. Because even Dahl can be a little better when served in your favourite bowl.

Goodness yes, long term frugality, particularly that has no apparent end, only worsening, is wearing, depressing and miserable.

I think we are heading back that way after a few years of easier times and I'm hurting already.

I think there are two types of people on this thread. It’s very interesting.

I'm getting scared about the budget. I know it's a massive luxury but I don't want to get rid of the car. It keeps me sane.
What a shit show really.

Yes, it does feel like everyone is on tenterhooks. I'm really worried about what it means for my dm if there are any other swipes at pensioners. It puts knots in my stomach.

I'm worried about them going on the middle earners (the 35-55k bracket) . 2 middle earners in a home will manage, but 1 on their own will soon run the risk of losing their home if squeezed much more.

I think I can just about understand the pressures on people but 70K or 110 K coming into a household?

It seems an unbelievable amount of money to me. ( pensioner)

You'll see I said my concern is towards single income households in that bracket. Dual income will manage.

OK probably not thinking straight. Thanks

70k keeps our family of 5 (nearly 6) and I get dla and Carers allowance so more like 78. But our rent is really high and we live rurally so have to drive (my husband works an hours drive away) but I thank my lucky stars every day that we have his job.

@Katemax82 That's interesting. The last thing I want is an on line scrap but that seems an absolutely huge amount of money.
Maybe I'm just hopelessly out of date, quite possibly.
Granted our home is paid for ( Thank God) but there's nothing surplus.

Yes our rent is 1600 a month

@greenday16B I'm afraid that it depends where they live - a family in London say a nurse and a retail worker or a nurse and a teacher - might well fall into that bracket. But after tax they won't be seeing anything like that amount of money and then they need to find rent transport etc and they'd be lucky to find anything to rent for a family that's less than £2500. Then there's probably wrap around care for the children (or nursery that can easily equal rent for 2 children), school uniform, etc

It's not a race to the bottom but I suspect that with your mortgage paid off and presumably grown up children you may well have a similar amount in the kitty at the end of the month.

@Londonmummy66 No. it's not a competition for sure. Things have changed so much, so quickly.
Until fairly recently somebody saying , " Look your house is paid for and you have XXX per month extra" would have seemed pretty decent.
It goes nowhere.

Thanks for your incites, I am horribly out of date.

insights.