how do you live off one wage?

repeatoffender

OP Yes it is liveable 1300 month + 99 week + CB - there are families who live on less than this. Why do you not do a budget sheet and post an SOA on this site. People will help you cut your cloth.

I have lived on wage numerous times for various reasons and you have more time to shop for bargains - cook bulk meals - search online for ideas. You become adept at finding free or cheap entertainment which really can be fun with the children.

And before you know it you think - what did I spend my wages on but you do have to make a shift in your lifestyle and both agree on priorities and what you can live without.

Meritaten why do you not tell your family you are not happy to look after their children as it seems by your posts you often resent it.

embob74

The benefits board may be able to give you advice on a more exact figure for tax credits but you would have to provide all the relevant info.
I found we just couldn't afford for me to return to work after having my boy and when we had DD a year later that was that.
Added to that was the fact that kids get ill when they go into childcare - in fact they get ill A LOT!! I just wouldn't have been happy dropping the kids off hoping the fact I thought they were ill that morning turns out to be nothing so I don't have to ask for time off from my employer.

But then I'm not a natural maternal person and some days are hard. My OH works long hours and we moved to a new area so I'm alone and isolated. I'm planning a return to work soon. My boy will get free childcare from September and then the youngest gets it the year after so all the money won't go on the money pit that is childcare.

I also have to say that I spent less when working as I didn't have time to buy frivolously. But that's because I can't get to grips with this money saving lark!

DevilsAdvocate1

embob74 wrote: »

The benefits board may be able to give you advice on a more exact figure for tax credits but you would have to provide all the relevant info.
I found we just couldn't afford for me to return to work after having my boy and when we had DD a year later that was that.
Added to that was the fact that kids get ill when they go into childcare - in fact they get ill A LOT!! I just wouldn't have been happy dropping the kids off hoping the fact I thought they were ill that morning turns out to be nothing so I don't have to ask for time off from my employer.

But then I'm not a natural maternal person and some days are hard. My OH works long hours and we moved to a new area so I'm alone and isolated. I'm planning a return to work soon. My boy will get free childcare from September and then the youngest gets it the year after so all the money won't go on the money pit that is childcare.

I also have to say that I spent less when working as I didn't have time to buy frivolously. But that's because I can't get to grips with this money saving lark!

I was the opposite to you - I spent loads more when I was working, usually because I was too tired to cook tea. So I would "nip" to the supermarket at lunchtime to buy something for tea and would spend £30. Also, I was never organised enough to do a packed lunch, so I would have to buy something. And my employer did not allow kettles, so you had to buy the coffee from a machine at 30p for half a cup.

Add to this the smart suits I had to wear, the petrol costs and the childcare. I did not notice the reduction in income as much as I though I would.

And you can get plenty of adult conversation when you are a SAHP. This title does not mean you have to stay in the house. I was never in :rotfl: We went to toddler groups, dancing groups, music groups, swimming and more. We also met up with friends at houses and play areas.

FBaby

Nobody can tell you if it is livable because it totally depends on your lifestyle, what you consider need and luxury, and what you aspire to for the future.

Do you believe that children would benefit much more if you were a SAHM. Are you likely to be able to get back to your line of work easily after a few years off? Do you care about progression and would it affect you? Would your partner have to work more hours to give you the lifestyle you want? If so, how would it affect him? Would you be given up quality time between the two of you for the benefit of the children? If so would it be ok? Are you the creative type who can make the best of being at home or do you find it boring etc, etc....

leoniestacy

hi all thanks for all your replys,just reading them all now, sounds like many of you do it.
having another fiddle of the calculator, just to see.
My fella earns more than me, plus i know the day to day life better at home , he wouldnt want to give up work, which is fine. i hate my job and i was going to use the next 2 months to try and find something else. He works 6am-2pm then the next week 2-10pm, cant really work around, unless i work weekends, but then sometimes he has to work

leoniestacy

embob74 wrote: »

The benefits board may be able to give you advice on a more exact figure for tax credits but you would have to provide all the relevant info.
I found we just couldn't afford for me to return to work after having my boy and when we had DD a year later that was that.
Added to that was the fact that kids get ill when they go into childcare - in fact they get ill A LOT!! I just wouldn't have been happy dropping the kids off hoping the fact I thought they were ill that morning turns out to be nothing so I don't have to ask for time off from my employer.

But then I'm not a natural maternal person and some days are hard. My OH works long hours and we moved to a new area so I'm alone and isolated. I'm planning a return to work soon. My boy will get free childcare from September and then the youngest gets it the year after so all the money won't go on the money pit that is childcare.

I also have to say that I spent less when working as I didn't have time to buy frivolously. But that's because I can't get to grips with this money saving lark!

many thanks for this post, my dd was always ill when she first went to nursery, i got into a fair abit off trouber about it, so with two, they wont be happy at all.



after going through this, it looks like as much as i would love my son to go nursery, i dont think its going to happy, until he gets the free childcare, just need to work out if i can work around my fellas shift or not many thanks for all your comments

pipkin71

Out of interest, where people say they are just living on one wage, do they consider that they are also living on benefits, if they are receiving tax credits?

dawn_rose

Hiya I'd say yes it is possible to live on that amount. We have lived on one wage for a family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children) for a few years. I've been a sahm for 7 years now (my youngest is three) and I've just started my own business. I made my job into the money management one, getting the best deals and started by rejigging the budget, making savings. I find since i stopped working that i spend less money, eat healthier food and love spending time with the kids. We forward planned this and took a mortgage of what we could afford on one wage (7 years ago was a bit different from today). Good luck with your decision.

penguin83

Don't forget, you won't just be living off one wage as you will also get your benefits (child benefits and tax credits) to help so with a budget you should be ok. You can put different scenarios in the tax credit calculator and see how things will pan out.

I am currently on maternity leave so not quite the same as a SAHM permanently but I am loving every minute of it. Life is so much more enjoyable, no stress, no strain and so much time. I will be going back to work somewhere between January-April but I can see why people give up work permanently.

Good luck whatever you decide. x

j.e.j.

bluenoseam wrote: »

Then there's the fact you'll be public enemy number one for being a stay at home parent on benefits.

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

why is a woman who works dumping their kids but a bloke isnt??? Or do you count yourself as having " dumped" the kids on your wife

Oh Gawd, up pop the feminists :eek: :rotfl:
Public Enemy No 1 for having the audacity to actually look after your own child??

OP to answer your question, while you wouldn't be bringing in money you'd be saving the household money, by budgetting and running the house in ways you may not be able to if you were going out and working for an employer, so you'd be generating income in that respect.

There's a brilliant blog, if you're interested in staying home to look after the children (I know that way of life is not for everyone) and generally simplifying your life.

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.co.uk/

Working in the home is quite a radical choice, as you can probably see by some of the attitudes on here (!) but it can also be very rewarding.