Running out of cash before payday

[Buttonmoons]

Is it just me, or does anyone else become short of money half way through the minth. My bills are paid and the fridge, freezer and cupboards are quite full, but it’s 2 weeks till payday and I’ve got £400 left. I really need to budget better!

aibu to be worrying about this?

This is hilarious. I have £2000 to start with each month. To pay all my bills and feed us and pay for extras. i maybe put £50 away some months. Some weeks i am struggling for my bus fare to work and there will be people here much worse off than i am. Consider yourself blessed to be in such a financially secure bubble but at least have the decency to recognise not everyone has the same life you do.

I think this is just a goading post and it isn’t even original!

I have less than £400 after all bills! For the month, including food

If you’ve paid your bills, and have food in, is £400 not enough for 2 weeks?

You haven't run out, you have £400 to play with to last you 2 weeks which is probably more than what a lot of people have right now.

@DinosaurMunch, some people don't even earn that per month.

Money goes nowhere these days but I don’t run out. Most goes into my savings but in January I’m aiming to do no spend days as I waste so much by ‘popping out’.

This is a forum where we are all going to be in different situations. It’s unfair to have a go at people who want to have a safety buffer or a certain amount left over each month.

I would worry if I only had £400 left. What if something breaks? A couple of top up shops to get you through the two weeks and maybe buying a few Christmas presents and it would be swallowed up.

I have currently 5k in savings, but my current account is only £2k odd at the beginning of the month, then it goes on CC statement, and other bills, standing orders to two saving accounts, and I pay for carriage driving lessons via bank transfer (not every week, but its usually £22.50) I have £200 left at the end of the month.

I don't have 400 left over after everything paid but I don't mind the op has..

If you don't like the thread why not ignore it rather than writing vitriol responses.
Or is mn just for the lowest paid in society.

Op try aksing over in money, you may get better responses.

I've never had much money but now I suppose I'm poor.
However,I was invited to a friends " posh" do and had only my one going out dress . I was so pleased when I found a cropped fluffy cardigan I had never worn ( a gift ,many years ago) added new sparkly buttons and it looks great. I find it really satisfying finding ways to manage.more so than if I could just buy something. I've got basic food . I realise that I'm on my own /no dependant kids / don't need to travel so I'm lucky . I really don't begrudge these people who have ££££ to fall back on and they probably can't imagine being really poor. But please don't make people feel worse when they are struggling . Just be glad you are OK , for now. Things change .

I’m sorry and mortified if I’ve upset or offended anyone. I’m a single parent so my income is the only income. I worry constantly about the cooker/ washing machine breaking etc. I appreciate that my post might have come across as out of touch, and I am sorry ♥️

Last month I had no money to get to work with 2 days to go to payday. I found a few Oyster cards in a drawer and cashed them in for £5 each. That’s literally how tight it gets. I have a little boy and he always has everything he needs, but that’s where every spare penny goes. I know it won’t be forever (childcare 3 days a week and mortgage rate going up are absolutely crippling me at present but he qualifies for the 30 hours soon) but if everything hadn’t gone up so bloody much it wouldn’t be this hard.

It's horrible to never be able to relax ,just waiting for the next thing to go wrong. I bet a lot of people are in the same position. In fact ,I have friends who appear very comfortably off but I know they are in a difficult position . Hope you are OK and that nothing breaks . The car used to be the worst for me. MoT time was awful .

@Buttonmoons - I don't think there's any need to apologise. Everyone's incomes are different and we spend money on different things after the bills are paid if budgets allow. £400 spare May seem a lot but we don't know if you run a car or have things to pay for your child such as clothes and hobbies etc

After I've paid bills and food I have £350 left for the month to cover fuel, any extra expenses (including a fast growing 2 year old), socialising etc. I'm massively over drawn and this month have my sister's birthday, an MOT, tax and car insurance (which I pay monthly but the first Direct debit is always bigger). I'll probably hit my £1000 overdraft limit this month

2 weeks to go here and I have £19.72 in my account.

Luckily everything is stocked up and I shouldn't need that 19 but in this day and age it's ridiculous to have nothing left to save.

Savings accounts surely would be separate?

I have £0 left. I would love to have £400. What were you planning on spending it on? Repairs etc need to be included in budgeting and money kept separate. Does this mean £400 with zero savings for emergencies? If so whack £300 in a savings account to stop worrying about unexpected repairs and don't spend more than £100 in the next few weeks. If you have full cupboards and all bills are covered that should be very manageable.

Yep. Often get very low or run out just before pay day. Sometimes food for the last few days is bought with a credit card.

We earn enough but in all honesty we don’t budget well. Or rather, don’t stick to our budget well.

Tbf a lot of people are, is that not one of the reasons why so many people are in debt? Money management is a skill, that has to be learned. Maybe the Government has a reason for this not being taught in schools!

Completely depends on how much you’re paid? If you’re not well paid then it’s excellent to have 400 left. If you’re a high earner then it’s rather crap and you should look up mse or Dave Ramsey for budgeting tips.

To be honest me too. I get worried if I go under £1000. I like to have a buffer in case of unexpected expenses. I don't like to be caught out. I'd be very nervous with £400 in my account until pay day, just in case.

No need to apologise at all - I think you've taken a very unfair bashing on this thread. Given how much everything cost these days, it's perfectly reasonable to feel nervous when you are getting low in your bank account! Different people will have different definition of 'low' and that's fine too. ❤️