Is anyone else counting the days till payday?

[OldGrinch]

I get paid next Tuesday, got literally £2.59 in my purse and half a tank of petrol, January has been horrendous with car repairs and several birthdays to pay for, however every month SOMETHING seems to happen to tip us over financial edge. Me and OH both work and get a reasonable income, we don't have a huge mortgage and DC of age when no childcare costs anymore, but still it never seems to get much better . Sometimes I feel I will never be a fully functioning adult with savings, ISAs and the like despite being nearly 50! Anyone else?

You are a fully functioning adult - just not a rich one.

I've managed to make some savings as of last year, for the first time in quite a while. Soon to be spent on necessary house repairs.

You're definitely not alone.

Counting the days down here too.

We are early 39's but no childcare costs and it's always the unexpected bills that keep cropping up so we never get ahead.

This January is a bastard though and far too long.
Makes it worse that the December pay is a week early too.

Two cars need money spent on them, house repairs need money, and parking fine to tip us over this month

3 days to go after today, am hanging on by sheer luck found £10 in pocket of old coat! It was the "emergency" tenner that disappeared

You're definitely not alone!

Same here, another week to go...

We've still got 2 weeks until payday and we're already counting down the days.

New oven, Xmas, new washer and maternity pay are to blame here.

Thank god theres no council tax or water rates to pay for the next 2 months. Hoping that helps us catch up a bit

This is me

That's brilliant, definitely me too

😂 just sang that version to the baby and I swear he laughed more than usual.

Might try that version at baby group next week 😂😂

it spoke to me

Same here. Payday is next Thursday. I'm about £11 from the limit of my overdraft, have £4 in my purse, which will cover some fruit for lunchbox contents. Otherwise it's freezer surprise meals and taking kiddo to visit grandparents for the rest of the month.

Desperately counting down to Easter and the start of the 15 hours free childcare; that'll be a small, but crucial, amount back in my pay each month when I stop the childcare vouchers.

I have raided the change jar which is full of 2 and 5ps and been feeding it into the self service machines at the supermarket when it's quiet, I love those machines, no embarrassment involved

I’m ok this month but worried about next as my paid maternity leave stops and am down to SSP! OH has said he will pick up spending etc but as yet, I’ve no idea how that will work! I’ve squirrelled a bit away as well as a sort of buffer but babies are so expensive! He needed a cot bed buying (plus mattress/sheets obvs) so did that, and we needed a tumble dryer as the condenser was just not working well on the millions of baby clothes/Muslins we’ve had to wash so had that to buy, plus Christmas, plus we are getting married this year so all of that!!!

It always seems we are paying out for something.

Added to that the fact I go back to work soon and really would rather stay with my baby. It would be very very tight but we could afford for me to do it, just, but my OH wants me to go back to work so we can still afford holidays/to eat out etc!

I get paid on Friday. I'm meant to be saving frantically for a family wedding abroad later this year and so far have saved zilch. I am into my overdraft, not by much, but still into it. I don't get paid a lot, less than 1K per month, but I love my job and at almost 54, I'm under no illusions that I could get another one easily. Its shite.

Same here. Every time I start to have a little savings stash, something needs replacing/repairing and it's gone

Has anyone got any advice on a big situation?

Myself and my 4 children are currently under mandatory reconsideration as my ex partner made a false claim for child tax credits so I had to prove they live with my etc... we now have all our money stopped and had only so much to live on until its sorted.

Cut a long story short i thought i had enough electricity but it seems to have started beeping and only have 60p in it what can I do i have no travel fair to go and pawn/sell anything and my baby needs a kettle or prep machine so I need electric. I dont have any family or friends near by as i moved to a new town away from a horrible relationship.

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks for taking the time to read this xxx

I don't have a meter so I'm not entirely sure how it works but isn't there a way to get emergency credit?

Hi. Yeah but my oldest son must have put it in

Could you contact your supplier and explain the situation and see if they can give you a bit more emergency credit until everything gets sorted?

Nah tried that as well. They were very rude on the phone x

Some food banks can give vouchers towards gas and electric but you'd need to be referred. Hv can refer so you could maybe get in contact with yours.

Thank you I will try them

Made it!! Hope you lot all survived too!

Made it too but lots of angst and feeling useless! Hope everyone ok x

Made it. The relief of payday (which will be shortlived) Determined to do better in February