Would u describe me as poor?

[dingdongmer]

As the title suggests and here's some info. I don't work as looking after toddler and pregnant also. Hubby works. Household income is approx £1600 after tax. £1,340 is rent and bills and we try to save £100 then the rest is weekly money so approx £50 a week Altho I do get weekly child benefit of £20

Would u class this as poor and could u live like that with a family of 3 soon to be 4

We are careful with money and buy own brand stuff like toilet rolls and food etc and toiletries I always get on offer.

Do your bills include your shopping? So you have approx £70 a week left over?
I mean it’s not great but lots of people are on less.

I would class that as relatively poor

Yes, fairly poor

I would say that by UK standards today that is poor, yes.

I wouldn't say the income was poor but the money you're left with is. How on earth do you buy clothes, nappies etc on so little?

Well done for budgeting so well and managing to save!

Do you feel like you are struggling?

That's an income of about £25k. I wouldn't call it poor but your money left isn't much after bills. Is that spare after groceries or before?

In a pretty vulnerable position (you particularly). I think I'd be wanting a job in those circumstances

Yes and I don't know how you'll cope with another child to be honest.

Why do you ask?

I don’t think that’s enough money for a family of 4, no, to be honest I don’t think £1600 is enough of a salary to be a single income family.

Isnt it average?

Isnt it just a lot less than lots of mumsnetters are on.

I heard on the news 15% of people cant save and this OP is saving £100 a week.

Its a high amount of bills. What does it include? Will you get tax credits? It used to be if you earn up to 30k with 2 kids but that may well have changed.

Yoj will get child benefit for 2 too.

Why have t you claimed UC?

The £1,340 is on rent and utility bills and phone bills

Food comes out of the £70 a week

Yes, I would say fairly poor. How do you afford birthdays, Christmas etc?

£260 a month for 4 people to cover groceries, any other unexpected expenses, I'm guessing travel as well? Yes, that's poor. And it's your rent/mortgage that's doing it.

If you're managing to save money (£100 a month) you're doing better than a lot of families.
Your rent and bills seem high to me, compared to your income, but obviously that depends on where you live and the size of your house.
The PP saying how will you cope with a second child. Two kids doesnt cost much more than one when they're small, if you dont have childcare to pay for. Obviously the costs increase as they get older and eat more, have to buy school uniform etc. but hopefully by that time your DHs income will have increased or you'll be working.

I'd say that you are poor, that may change over time of course, but things would appear to be tight at the moment certainly.

It wouldn’t be enough for us (a family of 3) to survive on. I earn about the same as your DH but we have DH’s salary of about £3500 a month after tax on top of that and we don’t feel particularly rich!

I'd say it was tight, rather than you being poor... I would feel unsettled as so little left over for fun things and emergency/break downs

Yes, I would. Had a similar income (if you take into inflation) with one DC years ago and we certainly felt very poor. You are doing very well to save each month!

Your level of income would likely see you with a UC top up depending on how high your rent was. It certainly will with 2 children. Have you looked in to it?

Use this tool to answer your question
www.ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in

It’s certainly lot a lot of money, but you must feel comfortable enough given you’ve decided to add another child.

It seems low to me. Have you gone through all your bills to see if you can make any savings there?

Food comes out of the £70 a week

I honestly have no idea how you do this. What if you need a new hairbrush or something?