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Original poster

We just aren’t earning enough money!!!!

98 replies

Livandletliv · 02/09/2023 10:02

Up until thus last year I though we were doing ok and kind of comfortable in the sense that we were able to pay our bills, fill the fridge, go on one holiday per year and run 2 cars.

fast forward to 2023 and things feel very different! Utility bills, food and mortgage has increased and we just seem to haemorrhage Money.

we both work in full time jobs and together our monthly income is £3900. Thus just doesn’t feel like enough anymore. Our mortgage takes £900 of this!

last month we had about £250 left the day before payday so hardly enough to save for an emergency, a holiday or for kids uni etc

i just feel fed up with it all

OP posts:
Peeeas · 02/09/2023 14:41

What country allows for high salary and low living costs right now? Not sure it's a problem limited to 'this country ' in particular...

Peeeas · 02/09/2023 14:42

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 02/09/2023 14:20

Yea it’s shit- add a Christmas or a birthday or a school trip into the month and it’s wiped out. People on MN act like if you aren’t at a food bank you’re rich- it’s shit to work and have little to show from it besides getting through the month with the odd treat like a takeaway or a bowling trip. I hate this country!

Was intending to quote this!

MidnightOnceMore · 02/09/2023 14:50

LucifersPain · 02/09/2023 14:17

This is hilarious. Household mortgage payments in excess of 50% of joint take home pay is historically normal for people aged under 50. It certainly was in the 1980s and 1990s.

This is not correct, housing costs take an increasing % of household income.

MidnightOnceMore · 02/09/2023 14:53

@Livandletliv you need to thoroughly review what you spend and see what, if anything, you can cut back or change in order to reduce costs.

I don't think anyone likes getting poorer, the fact others are even worse off is pretty cold comfort.

bellac11 · 02/09/2023 14:58

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 14:28

Sorry your getting some harsh comments (in my opinion)
It's miserable living for a bare minimum existence of paying the bills and having food, that's all?
Yes some people have it harder and always will but god sake , your point is bloody valid!

£3900 income
£900 mortgage being paid easily (a quarter of the total income per month)
£250 left for spares at the end of the month

And you call this a bare minimum existence?

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 15:04

@bellac11 yes - what op is saying so they were previously able to earn the same and go on holidays etc.

£250 spare doesn't stretch far when there a broken boiler or car needs repair. Kids school trip.

why is wrong to want to work hard and have more reward??
we are being programmed today to accept surviving as a win!!!

TwoBlueFish · 02/09/2023 15:10

It sounds like you have a decent amount of money left after paying your mortgage. If you’re used to being comfortable then it’s probably time to look at your outgoings in detail. Are you subscribed to entertainments packages you don’t use, can you switch to a cheaper mobile or broadband package, do you buy take out coffees and lunch.

when my husband was made redundant a few years ago these were all things we had to look at and it was shocking how much money was just disappearing with nothing to show for it.

bellac11 · 02/09/2023 15:10

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 15:04

@bellac11 yes - what op is saying so they were previously able to earn the same and go on holidays etc.

£250 spare doesn't stretch far when there a broken boiler or car needs repair. Kids school trip.

why is wrong to want to work hard and have more reward??
we are being programmed today to accept surviving as a win!!!

You called it a bare minimum existence.

Do you think its a bare minimum existence?

I dont know what to say to you if you do.

Whether its less or more than last year or whether someone considers it enough 'reward' (and isnt being able to fund yourself and pay off the mortgage of a huge asset rewarding yourself?) is not the point, I was picking up on your description of the situation

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 15:25

@bellac11 yes. Going to work and being able to pay bills is the minimum!!!
we all deserve so much more.

Charlize43 · 02/09/2023 15:27

I tend to walk when I can (sometimes 2-3 miles) just to save the £1.75 bus fare.

CKL987 · 02/09/2023 15:36

I think you are a bit detached from the reality of what a lot of people are dealing with on MN. Many people run out of money before the end of the month having £250 left before payday is a dream for many.

greyhairnomore · 02/09/2023 15:38

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 14:28

Sorry your getting some harsh comments (in my opinion)
It's miserable living for a bare minimum existence of paying the bills and having food, that's all?
Yes some people have it harder and always will but god sake , your point is bloody valid!

Bare minimum is running out of money before payday , not having £250 left over.

Mangotango39 · 02/09/2023 15:44

@greyhairnomore who set the minimum as literally not having enough to survive seriously.

It's not a crime to expect more when everyone is working so hard . Putting in extra hours. Cutting everything they can , stripping back and making sacrifices.

MidnightOnceMore · 02/09/2023 15:49

bellac11 · 02/09/2023 14:58

£3900 income
£900 mortgage being paid easily (a quarter of the total income per month)
£250 left for spares at the end of the month

And you call this a bare minimum existence?

Show quote history

The issue is many people are noticeably poorer in real terms.

Those who were already struggling are obviously worse affected, but this attitude that anyone not on the bread line should be thrilled is not realistic.

No one enjoys an economic downturn (except bailiffs, insolvency lawyers and undertakers).

BluebellsareBlue · 02/09/2023 15:52

Well I'm usually over my 1,500 overdraft the day before pay day. No extras, no hols etc. think yourself lucky, I'm terrified thinking about xmas

Namddf · 02/09/2023 15:56

BluebellsareBlue · 02/09/2023 15:52

Well I'm usually over my 1,500 overdraft the day before pay day. No extras, no hols etc. think yourself lucky, I'm terrified thinking about xmas

Christmas isn’t compulsory you know.

Heartbreaktuna · 02/09/2023 15:58

OP do you mean £3,900 is your take home pay?

Calmdown14 · 02/09/2023 15:59

Have you worked out what goes where? Are there lots of small amounts like work lunches that stack up?

We bring in £300 less than you and pay £100 more for mortgage but are doing okay, though we only have UK holidays.

I am quite ruthless with day to day spends. We will always take a picnic on a day out for example and I love my little tea flask. We don't eat out very often but if we do I want it to be properly out and not just to blow £30 on paninis or sandwiches because the kids were hungry and we weren't organised.

You need to sit down and see what you should have left after essential bills and what is the reality.

I do recommend transferring what you should be able to save into a different account at the start of the month and not waiting til the end.

coffeetime1 · 02/09/2023 16:02

Spend some time looking back at bank statements over the past month or 2 to see exactly where your money is going. From that you can see if there are areas you can cut down on and start to budget a little. It's always better when you have a budget to put money away at the start of the month for savings than waiting to see what you have left over.

MidnightOnceMore · 02/09/2023 16:02

Namddf · 02/09/2023 15:56

Christmas isn’t compulsory you know.

Show quote history

This must be one of the most depressing answers I've seen on MN!

Of course Christmas isn't compulsory but having a small amount of fun in life is what makes it worthwhile.

Cowlover89 · 02/09/2023 16:05

I wish I had money left before pay day 🤣

stardust40 · 02/09/2023 16:07

Op try not to listen to negative people above! We earn similar to you and are feeling just the same... it's crap! We've worked hard to get good jobs over the years and feels unfair that we now have to think about bills etc again. We know we are still lucky that we have money BUT tots so different it's just not what we wanted or worked for, for our family!

Gnomegnomegnome · 02/09/2023 16:10

Yup, I got promoted but we are having to tighten our belts. The increase in wage means nothing due to the increase in bills, food etc.

Beckafett · 02/09/2023 16:11

These kind of posts always bring out the worst in some people, it’s hard both working full time to feel like your living situation isn’t as easy as it was. I say that as a single adult household.
as people don’t know your breakdown esp any childcare costs you are def getting a mixed bag. I’d def recommend reviewing your budget in all areas and hope you find more breathing space

caramond · 02/09/2023 16:12

These threads always turn into a race to the bottom.

Of course it's totally shit that more and more of everyone's money is going towards making huge companies more profitable. It's not like our lives improve when utility companies and supermarkets charge more and more.

It's not unreasonable to expect to have some money to enjoy life if you're working hard.