To think saving on Universal Credit is extremely difficult?

[FirmGreyMember]

It feels like Universal Credit doesn’t really leave much room for saving once basic living costs are covered. I know in theory people say to put even small amounts aside but in practice it seems very difficult when most of the money goes on essentials.

AIBU to think there’s very little opportunity to build savings on UC?

That’s a genuinely helpful suggestion for anyone with even a little room to save. My point was more that for many people on Universal Credit, finding even that little bit of room can be the challenge.

Maybe budgeting should be taught in schools.
The people I know on UC who save are fucking amazing at budgeting.

No what some mumsnetters don't understand is circumstances change

If it weren't enough to live on why would so many people be happy to take UC than work? Oh right.

Sorry. Maybe a few sheets of kitchen roll then?

Circumstances like what? Having a baby when you aren't married, don't have a job or house then being left in the shit when your not-husband leaves? That's not a change in circumstances those are just poor life choices and financial planning.

Pretty sick of my tax money funding people who use children as financial benefit pawns and make poor life decisions and expect to be bailed out and then come here to complain that the lifestyle I provide them through my charity via taxation isn't enough.

Should people slaughter their children if their husband’s leave?

No having a child with a disability, becoming disabled, your partner dying people don't expect these things but they happen every day to people

Yes it is, unfortunately we live in a very unequal society. One that is becoming horribly divisive. There really is enough for people, it is just not being distributed fairly, in my humble opinion. And it is not the people in receipt of benefits who are to blame for that.

I can't believe you're even allowed to sleep inside.

My partner died and I never used UC I just got on with it.

Why are you posting vile stuff like this on MN

UC is there to help you survive and not save.

Any thread about UC on MN always gets a bashing and being in UC for me makes me feel like a failure and an embarrassment (due to how people judge me).

I don’t like being on it, I don’t save money (my outgoings are still more than what I get from UC), I feel trapped in the system, I feel violated that I can’t do anything without telling them, I am on edge constantly incase they over pay me and I get a letter saying I owe them.

Despite what people think, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t have sky TV or go on fancy holidays. The only way people on UC can have these things is by borrowing and getting into more debt. It’s pretty impossible to save money on UC and I wouldn’t expect too.

One day I hope I don’t have to rely on UC but that will likely be when my disabled daughter leaves home (into supported living) or she dies before I do. I would love to be able to have a career and to have my own home, living in UC is awful.

Well a lot of people wouldn't be able to suddenly survive with their income cut in half and traumatised children to care for.

What would ‘distributed fairly’ look like?

Have you not seen the stuff posted about disabled people on UC, on MN?

No merely your dirty clothes because you cannot afford to replace your washing machine.

Wasting money on kitchen roll smh

I picked up a second job, took in a lodger, sobbed in my bathroom into a pillow every night for 2 years and just got on with it. It was awful I wanted to die every day living in the place I found my 23 year old loves corpse but never used my tragedy as an excuse to give up and live on bennies forever.

Ffs. I wish I’d stayed on tax credits instead of training for 3 years to get a professional job. Maybe I could have paid off my mortgage by now.

Kitchen roll? Benefits are clearly TOO GENEROUS!! Plenty of hardworking people work 190 hours a week and can only dream of being able to afford kitchen roll.

I think the criticism to people on UC isn't towards genuinely cases of needs like you described its more directed at tone deaf people like OP who complain its not enough to go on holiday ....like.... yeah its not for luxuries.

Hope things get better for you one day <3

Do you think you would of been able to just pick up a 2nd job if you had children at the time who needed you more then ever.

If I had children I would have qualified for quite generous UC.

But now that poster doesn't require housing costs so will get less UC. They will have a secure roof in old age and the possibility of paying for at least some of their elderly care if they need it or their kids eventually getting a boost on the housing ladder. There is a much bigger picture than just person on tax credits got a mortgage. Maybe they used their pay from work for the mortgage.

My kitchen roll is Regina Blitz too. I guess that is too expensive for me to buy.
Sorry, but kitchen roll is not something I will go cheap on.