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FWP - panicking about money and school fees

208 replies

Parttime1 · 08/04/2021 14:36

I know this is a first world problem but I wanted to get some outside opinions.

Sorry, this turned out really long.

My DH is pretty rubbish with money. He sticks his head in the sand, as long as there is money in the account he doesn't really care. I usually deal with finances and he doesn't really want to discuss this with me he just tells me everything will be ok.

We moved house last autumn, it's a lovely big house but I am slightly panicking that we didn't think things through and have moved as a knee- jerk reaction to lockdown and WFH etc. Our previous house was ok, needed a bit of work but was in a desirable area of London and sold quickly- I think we rushed into buying somewhere else. DH was the driving force behind moving because his job has become fully remote. I work 3 days a week, a mixture of at home and in the office in London.

We have moved out of London and have put our DC in private school (they are 6&4) mainly because we couldn't get state places organised in time but now we love the school they are in and so it is unlikely we will move them in the near future (plus 3rd school in 2yrs for DC?). Their names are down at our preferred state school just in case but last time I checked they had gone down the list, not up!

I am worried we have bitten off more than we can chew. Previously we had a small mortgage (£600 a month but we overpaid a few hundred each month) and childcare fees/ tutoring of £500 a month. Now we have school fees of £28k a year and a mortgage of £1,300 a month.

DH didn't get his bonus (which he usually does, it is contractual but there is a force majeure clause which his company activated despite their annual profits not being affected by Covid) which means we cannot save as much as we would like (we do not rely on it for living expenses but there were a few things we needed/ would like for the house which we will need to wait for now).

Our monthly net income is £9k - previously we saved about £2.5k into pensions and for moving/ renovation (my pension is poor but my DH has a decent amount put in by his company), DC went to a state school but the remote learning was basically zero so we topped up with tutors and we then changed to private school when we moved, until last August DD was at a private nursery costing £1,300 a month. Then we spent about £4k on bills and everything else.

I think lockdown made us feel richer than we actually are.

For the first couple of months we had additional moving expenses - all new uniform for DC, changing locks, having the alarm system updated, fencing repairs, some redecorating costs (paint is so much more expensive than I had realised!) and a couple of bits of additional furniture (this house is twice the size of our old one), new pans because the ones we had didn't work on an induction hob etc. The garden is massive so we still need a ride on lawnmower, oil powered heating which needed topping up when we moved in and will probably need a top up again soon(ouch!). It goes on...

Things have kind of settled down now but still I think we are going to find things a little tight which seems ridiculous.

Income: £9k
Outgoings:
£1,300 mortgage

£2,500 school fees (we have paid the remainder of this year's and so want to start saving for next and uniform costs and other extras)

£1,500 bills and food (our food bill seems ridiculous atm, this includes all essentials - council tax, water, oil, electricity, car tax, MOT, petrol (we drive a lot more), insurances, tv and internet, private dental (because we have never managed to get an nhs dentist).

£1,000 spending money - this includes things like clothes and shoes (I set aside £200 a month for all of us, it doesn't seem to go far and DH barely spends any of it), Christmas, birthdays - I set aside £100 a month for Christmas expenses (parties, extra food, clothes, presents for our large families) and £50 a month for birthdays - presents for us, friends and DC's party), DC activities (£200 a month, usually paid termly though so probably a little less), socialising (not much recently but perhaps £200 a month before?), my commuting costs (which are now £30 a day as it isn't feasible to buy a season ticket for ad hoc days, I probably do 5/6 days a month in the office, I paid £100 a month before) and £100 each to DH and me for small spends (for coffees/ bits for hobbies, my makeup etc) - this expenditure has been low during lockdown and we have been saving most of this/ spending it on the house but already things are creeping back - music/dance / swimming lessons starting up again, we all needed new shoes/ trainers and all booked in for haircuts next week etc. I don't know if it just because everything is coming up at once? I also feel like a lot of the DC's activities are costing more here - not much, maybe £1 a session but they do three things a week each so it adds up.

£1,000 pension and ISAs/ JISAs (I get the bare minimum through work so put an extra £600 in, £100 a month into each of our JISA and ISA) for longterm savings

£700 for holidays and holiday childcare (our holidays are usually £6k ish a year (less this year because we are staying in the U.K.) and then holiday clubs another £2k or so depending on what they do

£1000 - top up rainy day fund, car fund (our car is 10yrs old and will need to be replaced in the next couple of years, we might even need a second car) and to put towards some things we need and would like to do to the house - like I say, the house is big and has about 1 acre garden - nothing is immediately required and the kitchen and bathrooms are new. We didn't do much to our old house (because we planned to renovate) and so I would really like to keep on top of maintenance in this one as I know how things can easily slip if not kept on top of. Our rainy day fund (£15k) is down to less than 3 month's expenses which I know is more than some but we always had a decent buffer - I want to get this up to 6 months ideally. We do still have money in our ISA's too but this is supposed to be for the future - university, retirement etc. But I suppose if necessary we do have them there to dip into.

I tentatively plan to return to work FT - DH is not that supportive as it is generally me who does all the dropping and collecting of DC, housework and cooking - he likes the status quo Hmm but even then after deducting additional childcare costs and travel it would be about an extra £500 a month coming in - and some of that would have to go on a cleaner.

I guess I am just panicking about all the outlay after a few years of saving pretty hard.

Our original intention was to do up our old house - add an extension and loft conversion, it was when we got the quotes that we decided we may as well spend the money we had saved (£100k) and extend the mortgage (quotes were £250k + for our London house, it would have been a big job and so we would have moved out and rented somewhere for a few months too) for an already bigger house out of London. Then there was the stamp duty, agents fees etc - we have spent most of our savings and increased the mortgage. Our mortgage is £250,000 but we kept the term of our original mortgage, 18 years.

School - we were not happy with our DS's old school, even before lockdown and were thinking about private schools then. I distinctly remember sitting down and working out all the costs and it all seemed fine - but then moving has drained our reserves and everything just seems more expensive. Council tax is £350 a month. Water £50, electricity £80, oil - we just spent over £1k and I don't really know how long that will last. Food - I'll admit I have been buying more convenience food as I have been busy working, homeschooling and sorting out the new house but we are spending over £600 a month at the moment.

Then there was the kick in the teeth with DH's bonus - it is usually £25k after tax and we usually squirrel it away either in pensions and ISA's so I don't know why it is worrying me that we don't have it this year. I think it wasn't paid because the company claimed furlough money for other employees and it would seem wrong to give a bonus and payrises (even though their profits remained pretty unchanged).

Do you think this is all manageable? The house overwhelms me at the moment - everywhere I look there seems to be something needed to be done (lots of small jobs that we can do ourselves and also bigger things that worry me - it has a huge roof and although the survey said it was ok, if that needed doing it would be £30k at least). I feel like I knew our old house inside out and could forget about the small jobs, it feels different now.

School feels like such a massive commitment but DC love it there - I would gladly give up other things to keep them there (DS's first school just was not the right place for him and he is a different boy here even after a few weeks) but then the fee increase letter came through with the bills for next term and I got in a panic (4% increase when I had planned for 5% so I have no idea why it made me anxious).

Our jobs are pretty secure, I do not maximise my earning potential at all - I have been plodding along in the same old job for 10 years with one pay rise in all that time, DH could probably earn more too but he likes his current job and loves WFH.

Would you worry at this level of expenditure with our income?

OP posts:
HerMammy · 09/04/2021 08:16

You have £4k pm disposable income but your son has holes in his trainers and you’re hand wringing at spending £50!?!
I think you need to wake up to how fortunate you are, things are precarious tbh this is one of the most blinkered posts I’ve read.

MrsBobDylan · 09/04/2021 08:25

Yes the £50 trainers issue is weird. Seemed like the op resented buying a card and present for the birthday child too Grin

This post is an excellent example of the huge gap between the haves and have-nots in this country.

MrsBobDylan · 09/04/2021 08:30

Also, news flash - rich people don't work harder for their money. That is a load of self-serving bollocks they tell themselves so they don't have to help those around them who live in poverty.

skeggycaggy · 09/04/2021 08:36

Or rather MrsBobDylan so they don’t have to acknowledge the iniquities of the economic system.

poshme · 09/04/2021 08:53

OP you need to change your mindset from things you 'need'

Several things that you said you need, or might need are actually wants.

So- ride on lawnmower because it's a big garden. We have a massive garden. We mow it using a normal lawnmower. Yes it takes longer, but a ride on mower costs ££££ to buy, run & maintain.

A cleaner- nice to have if you work full time, but you could clean in the evenings & weekends.

You painted the house- why not put up with how it was and wait a bit? It doesn't need all doing at once.

New furniture- just wait a bit and buy it when you have a bit more spare cash (like next years bonus)

New clothes/shoes for the kids- find your local big supermarket with a clothing section and use it. The kids grow out of stuff so quickly it's not worth spending a lot.

More into pension- nice to do, but not realistic if you're covering school fees.

Lots of clubs/trips/eating out etc.
You might have done these before, but again these are things you cut back on when you're paying school fees.

You have chosen some big outgoings (school fees) so you need to cut back on other things.

I don't actually think your mortgage is that high (we pay similar on a much lower income) but if you keep going with private school, you must change from
'Needs' to 'nice to have if we have enough money left'

bathmatty · 09/04/2021 09:06

You have chosen some big outgoings (school fees) so you need to cut back on other things.

Sorry am I reading a different OP?

Income 9k

mortgage 1.3k
fees 2.5k (already paid for the yr)
bills 1.5k
1k pension/ISAs
1k rainy day fund

Total of 7.3k

What does the OP need to cut back on? Can't afford a cleaner? Honestly it's ridiculous!

ChateauMargaux · 09/04/2021 09:15

@Parttime1

Also have a think about what your husbands company is doing... despite COVID they have reached their targets of productivity and profitability while having a significant proportion of their staff costs paid for out of the public purse when if the results are as you say, then not only was the government funding not needed but those furloughed staff are potentially surplus to requirements. And where is all this extra profit going... the cash from the furlough scheme and the bonus saving.

Compare that to hospitality companies who have had very little revenue for 12 months, use casual staff on zero hours contracts at minimum wage but have still had to consider if they have a business to return to.

There are many losers in the COVID world and sadly many companies who will take advantage of what is being offered and ride off into the sunset counting their profits.

sylbunny · 09/04/2021 09:20

I work in financial planning (about in oil and gas!) and I can't seem to work out where you think there is a gap? Unless I'm adding it up wrong your outgoings are £7,700 and your income is £9k? You've also paid for school a year in advance so your monthly cost of that is actually savings for next year?

The only possible 'gap' I can see (and I mean this loosely because you have the money in savings but don't want to spend it) is the fund for cars and rainy day. If you add your left over income in to that you'll be up to £30k (which is insane) in 6 months.

The best advice I'd give you is to take that excess income and over pay your mortgage.

Tour an extremely privileged position and your problem seems to be one of too much money rather than too little.

SwimBaby · 09/04/2021 10:09

weareallpassengers if it was as simple as that all rich people would be happy which obviously isn’t the case. Happiness is a complex thing.

Asgoodasarest · 09/04/2021 10:12

I think the issue here is more psychological / emotional than financial. There’s no need to echo what others have said in terms of how you should be more than ok. It’s your perception that’s the problem.

You’ve had an awful lot of change in a short period of time, worry about your son, adjusting to a new area etc. All with the pandemic as a backdrop. This has been stressful to everyone in one way or another and I don’t think we will really understand the mental fall out until further down the line.

No matter how others live, you feel the way you feel and can only live your reality. So as much as it seems like you have nothing to complain about, if you’re struggling you need to address it.

My suggestions would be:

Revise your budget so that you’re happy with what you’re prioritising etc.
Insist your husband helps you with this so it’s not just on your shoulders. Then suggest a catch up every few months so you can review where you are.

Look at engaging a counsellor to work through your worries. It will be non judgemental and should help you feel in control again.

Throw yourself into your new area. Get out for walks and explore. It’s not where your sister lives any more, it’s your home, so actively seek out ways to make it feel that way. From keep fit classes, to just making the effort to smile at passers by, over time you will be settled and confident in the move, if you let go of the London house and lifestyle.

Look at the FIRE thread. Lots of people sharing on there how they make their money work for them. It’s as much about prioritising what you value and making your money work towards that, than just straight forward FIRE principles. Really empowering to take control.

It is also worth remembering your position in the wider context of society so that when you feel overwhelmed you have a touchstone that reminds you people manage on much less. It can be easy when we are in our own minds to lose perspective and end up in catastrophic thinking. I always donate to the food bank charity at the end of my online shop now. Just that small act can make a difference, not only to the charity, but in remembering my good fortune. I’m not anywhere near 9k per month, but compared to some we do very well.

You should be more than ok, you just need time to adjust to your new position.

Mn753 · 09/04/2021 10:27

If all of us on here had 9k a month would we know exactly what to do with it? What about 5k a month? What's the cut off point for asking for advice? Nearly all of the wealthy people I know inherited it, so have no problem knowing what to do as they've grown up with it.

Woopywoopwoo · 09/04/2021 11:14

This thread has depressed me. I’m sitting here with 60 quid in my account, till pay day next week. I have never read such a pathetic money grabbing post in my life. The op doesn't realise how lucky she is.

Babyroobs · 09/04/2021 11:36

@Woopywoopwoo

This thread has depressed me. I’m sitting here with 60 quid in my account, till pay day next week. I have never read such a pathetic money grabbing post in my life. The op doesn't realise how lucky she is.
Try not to be upset. This type of thing is not representative of how most people live. I have no idea why people start these threads, they clearly have no concept of the daily struggles that others have. It really is highly insensitive that someone is worrying about how to survive on 9k a month when others are trying to survive on a tenth of that.
Woopywoopwoo · 09/04/2021 11:45

Babyroobs
Thanks, yes I know deep down that it doesn't represent most people, But it’s just got me a bit down, I struggle with a low paid job and no savings. Yes my job is secure and I enjoy it and it fits in with the kids, So I’m thankful for that. I have a good pension through work, obviously not as good as the ops lol

Mn753 · 09/04/2021 12:19

You could say it's insensitive to post about finding having children hard when some can't have them. Or moaning about a parent when others have lost theirs.

Evvyjb · 09/04/2021 12:25

My mortgage is £200 less than yours. I take home less than a third of what you do. I live in a 2 bed flat outside of London. I have been thinking about this MENTAL thread all morning!

Biscoffontoast · 09/04/2021 12:31

Gosh. This is one of the most tone deaf posts I have ever read on here. You do realise we are in a pandemic and some people are struggling to put their next meal on the table, yet you are wondering how you are going to manage with £9k a month????

Biscoffontoast · 09/04/2021 12:33

^Just to clarify that I am comfortably off, so no jealousy here. Just gobsmacked at the OP’s total lack of sensitivity and compassion.

AliceBlueGown · 09/04/2021 14:16

I am also gobsmacked and amazed that OP seems to be a genuine poster. Absolutely tone deaf and post after post - which is the usual pattern when people are being creative with the truth. I gave up at 5 hours tuition a week for her small child - you don't need our help OP, you have plenty of money, but if you are struggling then pay for some financial advice because it is well within budget.

Ohnomoreno · 09/04/2021 14:21

TLDR but looking at the headline income and fees I would agree it's precarious. Go back full time.

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/04/2021 14:25

Sounds awful!!!!

weareallpassengers · 09/04/2021 14:30

@SwimBaby

weareallpassengers if it was as simple as that all rich people would be happy which obviously isn’t the case. Happiness is a complex thing.
Yes. .But that was my point.
bathmatty · 09/04/2021 14:33

looking at the headline income and fees I would agree it's precarious. Go back full time.

In what world is it precarious?

Ohnomoreno · 09/04/2021 14:49

Don't worry too much about all the haters. You've maybe been a little too specific and that can sound a bit precious. I didn't need to know you have an acre. I would agree though, we earn a similar amount and don't have kids private because it's too much.

Ohnomoreno · 09/04/2021 14:56

@bathmatty because fees will go up massively at secondary level, usually double, so if I were her I wouldn't even start down that road, as otherwise her kids end up having to make the way harder transition from private to state. Obviously if things become more reliable (struggling to get my head around a 45k bonus, but that's the city for you), that's fine, but with that much to be saved for pensions , it seems a bit tight to me. I used to earn much more but it was short term so I couldn't plan.