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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pay day today

56 replies

Janeerr · 18/04/2025 08:41

£2761.92 has hit my account today, which had the staggering sum of £30 odd quid in it. After I take out £300 from my current account to put into my isa, I’ll have nothing left in a month’s time.

Yeah!!!!! What a nice feeling, working 40 hours a week, dealing with office politics, so you can put away £300 a month for a rainy day.

I honestly expected more from life…. I know there are people in worse situations but it’s depressing just having to get by on what is a decent salary.

OP posts:
skippy67 · 18/04/2025 08:42

Ok.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 18/04/2025 08:43

That is really demoralising. What are your outgoings? High mortgage/rent?

Whyx · 18/04/2025 08:43

Yeah but if you had more than £300 left you'd be putting more into your ISA.

If you can't afford to save £300 then reduce what you're saving.

If you can afford that then think yourself very lucky.

Sofiewoo · 18/04/2025 08:44

Yeah!!!!! What a nice feeling, working 40 hours a week, dealing with office politics, so you can put away £300 a month for a rainy day.

Only because you’re spending the rest.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/04/2025 08:45

It’s the best part of £4k a year. It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick…

PinataHeeHaw · 18/04/2025 08:46

Janeerr · 18/04/2025 08:41

£2761.92 has hit my account today, which had the staggering sum of £30 odd quid in it. After I take out £300 from my current account to put into my isa, I’ll have nothing left in a month’s time.

Yeah!!!!! What a nice feeling, working 40 hours a week, dealing with office politics, so you can put away £300 a month for a rainy day.

I honestly expected more from life…. I know there are people in worse situations but it’s depressing just having to get by on what is a decent salary.

It's your choice to put that £300 into an isa though when you could spend it on nice stuff throughout the month.

Summertimeblahness · 18/04/2025 08:47

Isn’t it a good thing that you can put £300 a month away for a rainy day?

Where’s the rest going?

Overthebow · 18/04/2025 08:47

Where is the rest going? I don’t think £300 savings a month is too bad really if yours is the only salary and you have a mortgage and childcare costs.

Oblomov25 · 18/04/2025 08:48

Oh come on, I see her point. This rat race, we have to ask : is this IT?

Jennaveeve · 18/04/2025 08:48

So you are able to save more than 10% of your take home salary? Not sure I can really see the problem.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 18/04/2025 08:48

If you can’t afford to save £300, then don’t.

Dueanamechange2025 · 18/04/2025 08:48

I’m sure you know this but lots of people are unable to save even £30.00 so £300.00 is not all that bad.

If you really want suggestions you need to list all your outgoings or reduce the ISA to £250.00 and have £50.00 fun money.

JoyousEagle · 18/04/2025 08:49

How can anyone comment with no idea where the money is going? Surely a fair few people have no money at the end of the month if they always put what’s left into savings?

UrinalCake · 18/04/2025 08:50

Oblomov25 · 18/04/2025 08:48

Oh come on, I see her point. This rat race, we have to ask : is this IT?

Particularly when the money you get from the rat race is buying less in real terms than it did 5, 10, 15 years ago!

OlderYearsIsBest · 18/04/2025 08:50

I know you are needing to rant but posts like this are pointless as there are so many variables which you haven't told us.

As a comparison I've recently retired but I was working a 58 hour week, with residential night duties, pay was annualised (education) but took home £2250 per month. I was able to put £1000 a month away in savings for retirement and live on the rest, including paying my rent every month.

My point is, your problem is your outgoings are too high rather than salary per se. If you can't increase incomings, you need to tackle the outgoings instead.

lazyarse123 · 18/04/2025 08:51

A lot of people don't have anything like £300 available to save even with working full time. Count your blessings or go on these mythical benefits that enable people to apparently live the high life.

mjf981 · 18/04/2025 08:51

The squeezed middle.
Wages just have not kept up. You'll be on about 40,000 which used to be a good salary...its not now. The billionaires have instead been hoovering it up for a few decades now.

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/04/2025 08:53

I assume all the rest of the money went on keeping you housed, fed, warm and clean? I mean that is the main reason most of us work - to be able to pay for the things we need to live and be comfortable.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 18/04/2025 08:57

That's just life though. We work as best we can to earn as much as we can and hope to cover at least the basics. And many can't do that much.

Limeandbasil90 · 18/04/2025 09:00

I’m confused - you can save £300 a month, that’s a great amount compared to many many people

ElChapo · 18/04/2025 09:07

Everything is so expensive now. We’ve just built a brick wall at the front of our house and had to massively scale back what we could do as the cost of building materials have shot up since Covid. Tbh I think if you’re still saving you’re doing ok. I can’t afford to save anything currently

Devonmaid1844 · 18/04/2025 09:07

So I totally feel your pain, over the last 10 years minimum wage has risen massively and so has exec pay. So although everyone is suffering with the cost of living, the middle earners are the ones who have seen the largest impact in their lifestyle.

So jobs that previously were supposed to be 'good' jobs where you wouldn't struggle and people would think they've 'made it' no longer give the type of life they did 10 years ago.

Over the last ten years minimum wage used to be 50% of the median earner and is now 2/3rds instead. CEO pay used to be 50x the average worker and is now 150x.

So people in the middle may not be poor, they may not be struggling, but are likely to be thinking WTF

GB81 · 18/04/2025 09:08

It’s irrelevant without seeing your outgoings. I earn slightly less but can save significantly more. It is about being financially savvy on every item that leaves your account.

I generally have what I want but will absolutely not pay for something if I don’t think it is worth it.

PinkyFlamingo · 18/04/2025 09:09

At least you can save £300! I know it's not a case of top trumps when it comes to survival but I can't help feeling that at least you can save!! I'm a full time Nurse similar income, and I can't save a penny.

Laszlomydarling · 18/04/2025 09:15

You are actually incredibly lucky to be able to save a little. There is a cost of living crisis and many people cannot afford to feed their families, let alone open an ISA. Your post will read like bragging to them.