To struggle on this salary?

[Unfff]

Or more to the point… think it’s just not worth the hard work anymore?

Had enough. I earn 3,100 a month. My mortgage is 900 and car finance 300. Student loans 300. Nursery is 800 and I get 400 child maintenance. By the time I’ve paid bills… this months heating was 150! Water another 50. Phone bill and Netflix… I’m left with barely anything. My job is really full on and I work late or weekends often… I do t strictly have to but it’s the sort of job where you just do… otherwise things fall apart.

I don’t do expensive things. Can’t actually remember last time I went on holiday! AIBU to find it utterly miserable that taking home this much money means you still can’t just buy a coat or even new jumper etc without having to think twice?!

How long left do you have on student loan. I really noticed the difference when I’d paid that off (although I’m stupidly now using that to make a car payment). Also shift to wraparound from nursery will free up money when that happens.

I am also someone who has a decent salary and can rarely afford holidays. I think it’s a mixture of debt, cheap holidays and family help for those who can afford it - or they’re just massively cutting back elsewhere in the budget.

I think your feelings are valid. Costs of living are outrageous. I echo PPs in that nursery fees aren’t forever, that will be a big chunk back when you don’t have to pay all that. Sending solidarity!

Start putting a bit away each month is you don't already, for holidays, Christmas, treat days, home repairs.

You have £1k disposable income after major bills, what do you need to pay from that...

Food for you and toddler
Insurance
Petrol
Clothes
Haircuts
Toiletries
Any memberships or subscriptions?

Yes it sucks. Will be easier at 3yo when your child gets their 30 free hours, and then easier again when they start school.

I’ve always found it better to buy a second hand car (for say £4k) than pay car payments. It would only have to last just over a year and you’d be better off. They usually last 4 or 5 years. Car payments are a trap I think. I don’t know why people seem to be gravitating towards it more these days.

Claim Uc on 3100 after tax? Are you joking?

If you hadnt had kids you would have more income

otherwise you need to suck it up and spend less turn your heating off eat less go out less

You earn more a lot more than me so you arent trying hard enough to be frugal in my opinion

Agree with this. £3600 on car finance plus tax, insurance etc and yet you can't have a jumper without thinking hard about it? I think you're prioritising the wrong things.

It's a good wage you're on, if there was 2 of you on that salary you would be well off. But you're in a single parent household so it's just scraping by. People wouldn't be jumping on you so hard if you were a double parent household earning £1600 each.

@Unfff see my posts above

You might found this helpful
https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

I don't understand how the student loan is so high? I earn 2700 before tax and my graduate and post graduate repayments come to £99.

Are you on a different type of loan?

This. Your outgoings are enormous OP and childcare costs are a killer. I lived on the edge constantly when my child was younger. I actually think I would have been better off not working and claiming benefits but I didn't want to go down that route. Take care OP, as a single parent, this is all on you

You are paying 7,800 a year for your car.. How many years was your finance for?

How much is your phone bill?

You are left with 1,200 after the expenses you have named in your op. Where does it go? This is some people's whole monthly income.

Have you kept track of all expenses for one month? It will make it clearer where your money is going.

I'm sorry but I make 3500 around what you get with maintenance. This is to support 4 people. Rent of £1700 , childcare £500, bills ,£600, travel £150.
We can pay all our bills have heating on subscriptions etc. I don't count pennies going round supermarkets. I think you are mismanaging or forgetting some bills.

I think she's paying £3,600. 12 x £300.

£3100 per month (after tax, I presume) corresponds to about £47,000pa gross.

Student loan repayments start at £21,000 (for a postgraduate loan, which has the lowest threshold; it's more for a first degree), and are 9% of income above that. So if it's a PG loan, OP should be paying (47k-21k)*0.09 = £2340 per year, or £195 per month. If it's an undergraduate loan, it should be less than that. See https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/what-you-pay

So @Unfff, if the above estimated gross is correct and your employer's payroll system is really taking £300 a month out of your pay for your student loan(s), you should get that checked.

Are you doing anything to change the situation... looking for a different, better paid job perhaps?

That isn't disposable income when you need to buy food, toiletries etc

They changed the threshold for universal credit quite recently, so higher earners can now apply. Was it a recent check you did?

She probably earns too much for chb

I'm suprised no one has suggested a lodger yet

Mumsnet bingo 😉

No, she will be entitled to child benefit on that salary.