Half on my monthly income goes just on rent. Unsustainable?

[UnsustainableMum]

Single mum. We live in the south east. 3 bed as two children of different sexes. Half of my monthly income now goes on rent at £1600 per month. The rents just keep rising along with every thing else. Surely rents can’t rise anymore?!

@UnsustainableMum I just wanted to say that I am in a similar situation although I have a mortgage. My mortgage is roughly half my take home pay at £1500 (it wasn't but then it shot up by £700pcm when I had to remortgage 2 years ago). I was worried but actually I manage ok. Have to make some sacrifices but generally it's ok. Our bulls seem similary - the only thing I'd say is that your council tax seems high... are you claiming your 25% discount?

Unless you live bang in town its usually the case. Have you seen how the housebuilding are building new estates. Hardly any of them are walking distance to schools

I'm just outside the town. Move further in and houses cost more

Also part of the issue is the lack of public transport.

I live on the outskirts of a small town, fields one direction town the other. I have the “joy” of 2 primary schools in a 4 minute walk then a further 2 in a 20 minute walk, 1 secondary school 20 minutes walk and a further 2 30 minute walk (2 are selective).

Cannot drive anywhere at certain times of day!

That's fortunate for you then Not everywhere is the same. I'm close to one secondary and a primary but my youngest dd didn't get a place at local primary so allocated one over the other side of town which is a good 15 /20 mins drive.

Even if schools are there no guarantees you get place in local ones ( unless you are in Scotland)

Meh.

Op hasn't commented if she's claiming single person discount. Assuming she is, that puts her full-price council tax bill at over £3000. Looking at the average council tax bands and the only-ever-ball-park nationwide house price calculator, that puts her properly value wayyyyy above average. Add this to a monthly car cost wayyyy exceeding an average small family car, over £20 a day on food/groceries, and it's not making much of a case.

Cut your cloth op. There have been several suggestions.

@RubySquid exactly which is why if you’re renting looking at relocating is worthwhile exploring.

I hear you OP as I am in a similar situation (but not entitled to UC). I rely on family for childcare so can't move as I then couldn't pay wrap around care (several hundred a month!), otherwise I would live somewhere more affordable as it feels unsustainable.

I do feel like your situation might be too unless you have savings you could fall back on for unexpected costs. For me, when I pay things like car costs (which all fall in the same month) it is a big hit and I find myself falling back on savings. I am waiting until kids are old enough and then will move. It will be so hard and quite lonely but I don't have a choice.

It costs a lot more to live in the town near me. Nearer the station higher the prices. Not everyone wants to be in a concrete jungle either

I do find it interesting reading comments on here. So thank you all:

I am not super rural but in a village. School is not walkable as it is simply too far and unsafe. No footpaths, it’s a 10 min drive. I don’t want to upheave my children from the school they love and are thriving at. A few years ago our situation was different, we was in a high earning household. But such is life and things have changed. I’m ok with that. I have no chance of buying a home though.

I do find it sad that people’s answers to the cost of living are you should either move away from your friends, family, job, severely limit money on nutritious food or I shouldn’t drive to work/ schools/ clubs. Regardless of al of this even if I saved £200 a month or so it’s not going to be getting me a mortgage anytime soon it will just get eaten up in other costs.

If your DC are currently primary then moving to coincide with the eldest is going to secondary is something to consider.

I was assuming that they couldn’t walk to school for the reasons you mentioned.

Your car insurance and fuel costs sound incredibly high though. Can you exchange for something both cheaper to insure and run?

I will look into the car thing. I kept this car when we seperated it’s 5 years old and very reliable hence why I haven’t so far! I know nothing about cars. Never been interested in them. I just care about safety.

I do think you should look again at your car insurance OP. I had an accident last month that was my fault and I wrote my car off. Lost all my no claims. I’ve just insured a new car and my monthly insurance is less than yours per month. I got a 2 year old SUV so not a small car.

Also in your list you refer to cleaning, is that a cleaner or cleaning products? If a cleaner then sack that off to save some money. I do think you could get the weekly shop down. There’s 4 of us including two small children and a cat in my house and our shopping averages at £200 a month from Tesco.

Just a couple of suggestions, not trying to have a go.

Agree with this. Hear all the time if there were less landlords there would be more houses available for 1st time buyers, but what about the ones which are not in a position to buy, where else could they live. There isn't enough social housing to replace them and in Ireland they are being replaced with banks buying and renting properties. Would rather the income from rentals be split amongst many than big companies taking the lot while renters are no better off.

Inflation has obviously had a lot to do with the rent rises, but alongside that there is the change in tax rules that mortgage interest is not tax deductible, landlords won't swallow that cost so it is passed on to the renter to make it worth the landlords risk. On to risk they make it harder to evict bad tenants so they will be adding a contingency on for that. They even advise good tenants to stay put until bailifs come in to be eligible for social housing. So this adds even more risk to landlords even with the best tenants. These rules and others have pushed some landlords to sell, which adding to supply and demand costs. Not a landlord myself but can see this shit storm building and I am so grateful I was in a position to buy before this as I privately rented for 12 years before I bought, and my life would not be what it is now if I was faced with the same rental market of today.

It is not right that anyone working their arse off in a full time role is scraping by each month as half their salary is gone before bills & food. Full time workers should feel rewarded for their labour by having a better quality of life than those which don't. OP I really feel for you, it's not right

You know people don’t care about the poor. The wealthy are in control and they pull the strings.

Whilst the poor exist and the non-wealthy are on fighting and struggling no one is looking at them.

Look at Trump and his ballroom. Paid for my wealthy donors - the ones he has given tax breaks to. Meanwhile the working are suffering due to shut down.

Housing benefit is funding landlords to own property outright, changes are now making that difficult on an individual benefitting, instead the wealthy who run or own banks or corporations are going to earn profits paid for by housing benefit paid by those who pay tax.

The best tax breaks are for the wealthy.

Those earning high salaries often get better mortgage rates etc etc etc.

Are we going to see the return of the workhouse?

£200 a month for everything? I did not know that was even possible. Impressive. Breakfast lunches and dinner and no eating out. Wow!

I would never be able to get it that low as I do make choices where I only buy free range ethical meat etc. I also buy a local veg box. Good food is the highlight of my day 😅

No cleaner, I have never had one. Even before seperating. Thankfully I am a very naturally tidy and organised person!

I will investigate about the car insurance. It’s nearly due to renew anyway. Thank you!

Why is there this assumption that a single parent must be on welfare? I haven't touched a penny of benefits in all my years as a single mother (which is since birth). It is a bit offensive, don't you think?

The fuel and car insurance seems steep for comparison I pay £300 a year car insurance and around £60 a month fuel (driving is part of my job.)

I drive a cheap and cheerful Hyundai i10, I have always gone for cheap but reliable cars.

Im a single parent and I feel your pain, that rent is so high. How old are your kids? Would it be worth applying for council housing? When my dd was young we had a council flat, the low ish rent meant I could save and eventually got a shared ownership house.

Try a veggie diet a few days a week…..far cheaper than free range ethical meat

We do have 3 nights a week with no meat. Usually things like baked potatoes, bean chilli, falafels. veggie curries etc, DD does not eat meat.

Well not sure where your money is going then🤷‍♀️
we are veggies ….2 of us plus the dog …we spend 50 quid a week on food including cleaning stuff and that includes meals/snacks for 3 GC who visit twice a week…. We eat well on that

That all sounds healthy and sensible, but I was wondering whether it would be possible for you to make some very small tweaks - just to reduce your food/toiletries/household bill from £550 to £500 per month. Saving that £50 each month certainly wouldn’t help towards a housing deposit but would be useful for a few days away/days out/other treats.

Then how the actual fuck are you spending £20 a day on food op?

Seriously it sounds like you literally have no financial clue. Your money is going somewhere and you either have no idea where or are leading the thread on by claiming your reasonable car costs £800 a year to insure and £250 a month to fuel.

Are your veggie boxes grown by elves?

Try having £600 left after rent. That’s not even enough to cover council tax and utilities let alone, oh I don’t know, food.

I’m a pensioner, paying tax, and my social housing rent (London) takes virtually half of my income, and I don't get any top up help.

That’s life now. 🤷‍♀️