Is anyone else struggling financially?

[Nikkidannih]

It seems like everyone I know is coping fine but we can’t be the only ones struggling.

I just feel so bogged down with life. I feel that it shouldn’t be this hard just to survive 😣. We have enough each month to cover our outgoings (rent, childcare ect), food shopping at aldi and petrol. Then maybe the odd coffee out or bag of chips but that’s it. I try to put a little bit aside for the things we need but that pretty much gets eaten up each month with Christmas, birthdays, haircuts (kids not mine. I haven’t had my hair done in years) ect.

Every time we need something or want something it’s a panic about how we are going to be able to afford it.Even small things like schools trips or new shoes. We have zero savings. My MOT is due and I’m dreading it. I’ve put aside enough for the actual MOT test but anything that needs doing I don’t know where that’s going to come from.

At one time I saw home ownership on the horizon for us. About 6 years ago we were initially approved for a shared ownership house. Then our mortgage was declined so we lost it. Since then houses have completely sky rocketed well beyond what feels like we will ever be able to afford.

The thing that infuriates me the most about this situation is that we both work in demanding jobs. I work part time (because we have 2 kids, one is a baby) and my DH is a teacher who literally never stops! When I was growing up teaching was considered to be a good, well paid profession, certainly not one that needed a universal credit top up to be able to afford to live. I guess that sums up why they are striking.

I say all this with the caveat that I know tonnes of people have it worse and in many ways I’m very lucky.
I am safe and I have a roof over my head and food at the table and family who can help me out In a worst case scenario and in that way am incredibly privileged. I’m just venting as things are hard and there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Last 2 years just my pension,DH 7 years younger,had to stop working following illness. Disabled son I need to help out,,no savings now. Had already downsized to future proof. Last holiday 14 years ago. We don't "do" Christmas or birthdays any more. Stops pressure on the kids feeling obligated to buy us something. Shop in Lidl. Trying to grow my own fruit and veg. I batch cook,oven full,freeze for later (also take food for son) DH kids, home hair cut. I didn't go at one point for 18 months. Clothes, charity shops, undies Primark. Compared to what my son gets, we're rich!!! Days out, walking on the beach or country. Thing is, not to compare yourself with others. Sometimes it gets easier then hard again,I have horrible health issues I would swap!!

Yes my utility bill has gone from £100 to £300 and my my mortgage has gone up £250. It has made things tight.

Sucks the joy.

managing ok but gas and electric is coming in at £80 ish pound a week was £30 till my deal finished

havent really cut back but always give to the food bank but day to day living is ok but 2 out of three kids are adults and flown the nest so the teen does ok generally and mortgage paid of and dont drive so my out goings are low

feel for those having a tough time,it gets better just hang on in there

We don’t even have childcare costs as my mum watches our son but I honestly don’t know how people are doing it all. How are people affording a holiday on top of everything else? I went through our bank statement trying to find any small subscriptions or anything I could cancel. Our electric seems to be extortionate so I’m going to try and move suppliers but my entire wage is gone again and I got paid today 😔

You're in the child care costs phase t by the sound of things. That is financially brutal but they payoff comes as they get older and the costs go down as your careers progress.

Could you look into more hours/making child care costs work more effectively? I worked compressed hours (for instance ) so could get 5 days salary from 4 days childcare

Not had a great impact tbh , we fixed our mortgage for the last five years it had to run when we moved to a new build which had proved to be very efficient and well insulated

I honestly can't wait to get back to work. Maternity is shit

Same here. I feel like I shouldn’t moan because I know there are lots so much worse off but we’ve used half our savings to keep going this past year, and I’m not talking a lot of savings and we can’t seem to build it back up so it’s just getting less and less and less. The energy bills and food prices are just crippling.

You are not alone. I’m part time like yourself with a baby and toddler. Partner in what would have always been considered a good job as is mine in the sense we are secure and it was a good wage until all the increases in cost of living! I don’t mind that I can’t do the nice things I used to like hair cuts ect but I often worry if things keep going up how we will manage essentials. We already buy own brand, don’t drink or smoke or do things with expense attached really where possible so not really room to cut back! No house on the horizon either anymore. I do think things will get better but it’s tough for sure!

I cut back as far as possible some years ago.
No phones, no sky TV, no pay monthly cars, no TV license etc etc etc.
Even now I still go through direct debits every month to see if I can cancel some.
Netflix, prime, Disney we do a month of whichever we want at a time.

My bills now are:
Rent
Gas electric water
Food
£20 BT internet
£10 for a paygo Giffgaff

1 streaming service a month
Council tax
Insurance

And that's about it.
I can't cut any more.

Same here OP - we're fed up of the uphill battle just to keep a roof over our heads. I know I should be more grateful that we're both In work, able to afford the roof, food and to be privileged to have children but I'm so tired of scrimping and saving.

I go to work with shoes that let in the rain, on the bus which still has its windows open, work is scrimping back on the heating so it's cold all day on my feet to come home to a cold house with nothing to look forward too. Even the summer holidays- we once could afford a few days out spread out over the year to farms, museums, zoos but this year we'll have to stop that.

I scroll on the evening to see all these lovely holidays abroad and I'm gutted that we have a two income household (okay one part time!) and we can't even afford a UK break in a static caravan nevermind a week in the sun. I read those twee quotes that children don't need materialist things just love . But my oh my does having spare money make life so much more bareable and enjoyable, at the moment pay day comes and the money is gone within the day.

I think a lot of people are in this situation and it can feel like a lonely place and I also think a lot of people that always seem to be doing stuff must have lots on credit cards etc....

I had to up my hours we had no choice, I was doing 2 and a half days but I now do full time compressed over 4 days it was the only option and we use the government tax free childcare too which helps, we also noticed a massive relief when we got the 30 hours funding.

We also have both done 2nd jobs at night from time to time, sell stuff on vinted and eBay and then carboots etc..... but it has been and is always a struggle.

The only way we have had a deposit for a house is because my Dad died and left some money if he'd not had his own home we wouldn't have had that.

Hang in there it'll get better ❤️

It sounds really hard in the UK at the moment, from reading threads here. You have my sympathy.

They say never offer unsolicited advice, so I will stop there.

Regards, Roger.

*

This next bit is only for anyone who would like to solicit advice, LOL:

1. There is always, always a light at the end of the tunnel. The key thing is to figure out what purposeful steps towards that light, may look like. Then take them, one at a time.

1. My view is that cutting back is rarely the main solution. Assets needs to be acquired and to grow, that is the main solution.

1. Everyone's solution will be different but ours involved retraining, taking on new work and increased responsibilities, and ultimately emigrating.

The solutions are in our hands, but are rarely easy.

Regards, Roger.