Living on a single low wage.

[Tumbleweed101]

Any tips on how to organise finances on a single low wage? Currently outgoings are higher than my take home pay but there isn’t much to cut except a few subscriptions. I’ve been getting UC topping up my pay but my youngest leaves education in a couple years so I need to get my outgoings below my wage income before then. I do work full time.

Obviously I’m looking at changing job to a better paying one - but that is easier said than done when all the wages advertised are so low!

My main problem is that cost of living is too high for single wage households!

I feel your pain . It’s horrendous for single people . Is there anything else you can do to add a bit extra to your finances , babysitting , dog walking etc

Yes, when we get to that point I will be needing them to pay their share if they are at home. However, I have also found that the bit between them leaving college, finding a job, and getting settled with a full time wage can take a little while and it's possible I will still have to support her a little - ie meals - for a few months. I'm hoping she finds a part time job after Christmas (she is doing mandatory work experience for her course between now and mid Jan which is using her free days) which will then lead onto something full time. My older daughter is still home and pays a little but may well have moved out within the next year or so, the other two are already moved out and independant.

As others have said white goods could be cheaper and renting white goods is really expensive long term.

Contact the water company. I might be wrong but if they cannot provide a meter they need to justify why they are charging you that. It seems high.

There are several apps around where you can get free food. Olio etc. it’s food that’s collected by others. Someone in my local area posts that they’ve got 20 loaves of bread for people to collect etc. might not be helpful if it’s a distance away but worth looking into.

Try other sites like freecycle, FB selling sites, Vinted, etc to cut costs of other purchases?

Once at Uni, make sure you get a reduction in council tax if you’re looking to only one at home.

You mention subscriptions. Are there any you could get rid of? Clearly don’t some life so don’t want to remove all joys!

Definitely buy appliances, either 2nd hand (cooker probably, ideally from someone refitting their kitchen!) or new - decent washing machines & dishwashers can be bought new for under £250. They should last at least 10 years.
Do you have a large house now for 4 DC, might you want to downsize when all DC have moved on?
Make sure you shop around every year for renewed bills.
Don't get any more credit card debt (once this is paid off!).
Running a large home on a single income is a challenge these days.

Freecycle, freegle and Facebook are good places for free appliances
if you don’t want to buy second hand some electrical shops allow you to pay weekly until it’s paid off. I live rurally and one of our does. All the local electrical shops offer feee delivery as well and are much cheaper than ao.com after the delivery is factored in
are there any commfridges, bread and butter projects or active Olio in your area. I get a lot of free food from community fridges locally and haven’t bought much bread in over a year. A friend a short distance away gets 90% of her from olio

I'm exploring options in regards to moving to a smaller property. I think once my older daughter moves out I will downsize to a two bed. The rent will be similar but the running costs will be lower.

It's nice to be able to mull it things over with people and it'll give me the push to sort out the appliances - it's always just been so easy to let them run on with renting.

Gosh renting appliances is so expensive! Gumtree or marketplace even buying new you would likely have them paid in a year or so. I just sold a washing machine almost brand new for £50 after clearing a relatives house

Mine is £79 a month - no meter, just rates so £60 is reasonable