I honestly cannot afford to live

[Inkdrinker]

I work 40 hour weeks, yet I was paid 6 days ago and I'm already completely out of money. My rent is more than half of my pay, council tax is a further 250 pounds, my energy bills are ridiculous despite trying to cut down on using so much.

I have 3 kids to look after. How are people going survive this? This is by no means a ploy to ask others for money, I do not want anyone's money. I just want to know I'm not alone in this situation

The huge common denominator in most if not all of these posts are fuel and housing costs.

I think the wage issue is a red herring, what we have in this country is a lack of affordable housing and fuel poverty and that is what is tipping people over. You would weather the rise in food prices, possibly transport costs if people wrent paying half of their income on rent or mortgage.

Sadly, both major parties are signed up to the Ponzi scheme to import cheap labour so they can claim GDP is growing. It isn't true. The numbers sound impressive if you still think the UK's population is 60m or thereabouts, but the spend is actually being spread across a population that Tesco Clubcard suggests is closer to 70 million. I know Tesco is a business, but frankly I trust their figures are probably more robust than our government's figures.

I'm that person who never gets help, who the government never helps in budgets, I don't qualify for benefits. I'm single, no children, I earn too much for additional help/benefits but my wages aren't rising in line with my bills.

The HA wrote to me saying they're putting my rent up by 9% (because that's what the government says they can do), my mortgage went up from 3.5% to 5.4% in November and yet according to the bank I couldn't afford to keep the mortgage on the old marital home which was less than I'm paying now on my shared ownership flat. My car insurance went up by £12 a month and yet 2 of my claims dropped off. My pet insurance is going up each year as they're getting older.

I'm constantly using credit cards to pay my monthly bills. I have no money left and I'm sick of it.

If the tories get in again I will actually give up and move abroad, although since Brexit even that isn't easy.

You would have benefitted a little by the recent cut to NI. My wages went up by a whole £14 a month !

On what planet? Most people I know are considering whether they can afford one child, let alone three.

I feel you on this. I get no government help with anything as I "earn too much". That "too much" barely covers rent, council tax and essential outgoings. I haven't been able to sleep for months for worrying about money.

Wow. How is it unfair for a single person household to pay less than a household with the cushioning of two incomes? It should be a 50% discount for single households, in my opinion. Stop whining.

This country sucks. Most of us are existing not living. Food, bills, mortgage, rent all taking the piss.

Haven't read all your posts, is there an earning spouse there and are they open about or secretive with their finance

Despite this being an old thread it's still utterly relevant. I've managed to exist these last few months via community fridges and panties locally. You don't need a referral and it's a redistribution of surplus food. I've found it's given me a bit of a breather.

I was reading about types of budgets and realised my budget is called 'zero budget' 🤢

You not alone .....I can't afford to live anymore and I have pushed and made alot of money over 20 years ..... I'm a strong person but I can't afford to live anymore been robbed by governments every step of the way .... there gonna come a time we gonna pop .....and there won't be anymore lemons yo squeeze

It’s so depressing , I’m a nurse my wage was so awful I’ve had to become a self employed cleaner as well. So I finish a 12 hour nightshift and have to go straight out cleaning . What has my life become I’m exhausted . I also try and sell my kids outgrown clothes any unwanted stuff online , just sold a lot of my Christmas presents as well. That’s how I’m survived last few months of 2025

Not having a go, but why do you think you've been robbed by government and not billionaires or big businesses? Government are skint as well.

Omg when do you sleep?

Are there jobs as a nurse in private medicine that wd pay a lot more?

I work in a private nursing home doing 3 nights a week, I don’t really sleep and I’m feeling really unwell now , I’ve been getting f bad chest pains. On top of work I have young kids and my elderly dad to care for . This is not the life I expected at 50. I was so much better off even 5 years ago, but with increase in food, and bills I’m barley scraping through

Can you change to day shifts somehow in the private sector?

Not till my ds starts high school in 3 years , as I have. No childcare for him . Then I will get a dayshift job

A while to wait then.

@wornoutjeans I realise you're exhausted and strapped for time but have you checked whether you're entitled to any in work benefits either by getting advice from Citizens Advice Bureau or using entitledto? Or whether your dad is entitled to some help so you could step back? Carrying on this way for 3 years more isn't sustainable and you should see a GP about your chest pains.

Yeah am going to defo do a benefits check . I’ve currently applied to do nhs nurse bank as I could do 7.30- 2 or twighlights which I think is 7pm-1am meaning I’d get so sleep . But. Not regular hours which worries me

Bit of an update , I’ve got an interview at start of February for nhs nurse bank, fingers crossed I get it as would hugely improve my work life balance and get of nightshifts!
Hope everyone is managing to survive?

Good luck.

How did interview go @wornoutjeans

@blondeshavemorefunhi thank you for asking , I’ve just found out I’ve been successful and offered the job pending the usual references and pvg checks ,im over the moon, thank so
much for asking