Cost of Living Crisis - How are you coping?

SensibleSarah

That missing £800 a month should be the key. It is being taken out as cash? 
If you don't already - you need to sit down with a spreadsheet and your bank statements and go through everything that goes out to work out why your income on paper doesn't match reality. 

diystarter7

Skimmed through a couple of pages here and there is/was a clear lack of empathy here.

Just because OP is above average income does not equate to that the economic crisis is not going to impact them especially if they are just about managing.

IMO, certain types of negative posts puts people off from asking questions and this forum is here to help those worried about money-related items as this OP clearly is.

lisyloo

I didn't pick up on a lack of empathy.
Clearly there is a difference between someone looking to sack the butler and someone choosing between eating and heating and I don't think there is anything wrong in saying that, but everyone should be welcome to save money.

diystarter7

lisyloo said:

I didn't pick up on a lack of empathy.
Clearly there is a difference between someone looking to sack the butler and someone choosing between eating and heating and I don't think there is anything wrong in saying that, but everyone should be welcome to save money.

Sorry but I did and the example you gave is not applicable here and even if it was, someone would only post if they had concerns.

Some of the replies not just on this thread but others have stopped me from asking a question.

We must never forget this site is to help and be helped and at times people do not always post the full in and outs of their lives but just the main points.

We will agree to disagree

Have a nice day and I hope you are staying cool as it's awfully muggy here.

MattMattMattUK

I did not read a lack of empathy, but more that the numbers did not add up. Even with the numbers provided there should be more than £2,000 pcm left over (net income for 2 x £55k pa earners), a household with their income and their outgoings should not be dipping into savings and/or accruing debt every month. 

Everyone at any earning level that is likely to come on here, and there are posters from those on minimum wage/benefits through to people well into six figures has the ability to spend more than they can afford to, the only difference is that it appears that the OP should be able to comfortably live within their means and posters have pointed out that there are holes in the numbers provided and that the OP should be able to more than balance their budget. 

Before any pension deductions but after tax and NI the OP has a household income of £6,736 pcm, their stated costs are £4,369.92 meaning that they should have £2,366.80 left over. I can guess that there are a few obvious things missing from their list and their food shopping figure does look on the low side for two adults and two children, but even so £2k or more is still going missing every month if they are having to dip into savings or accrue debt at the end of the month. That is not a "cost of living crisis" issue, that is a financial management issue. 

Flugelhorn

I was earning that sort of money (just the one earner in the household) - costs of going to work+ 2 kids at uni +pension payments etc etc did make it feel a bit tight sometimes though we always saved some each month

I retired, joint pensions with no work costs, kids finished uni, no pension to pay, no NI, two lots of personal tax allowance make me feel as though I have loads more.  

It is the extra expenses, nurseries, school, uni etc

Pollycat

I agree with lisyloo and mattmattmattuk

I didn't read any lack of empathy in the replies either.
I believe if someone can't account for going on for £1k per month, it would be wrong on a money saving forum not to query it.

Spendless

The amounts given don't include things like Birthday/Xmas presents,  clothing, haircut, holidays. In order to see where it all goes you need a template that takes such things into account. 

eamon

I agree with all. The OP isn't accounting for any ad-hoc spending e.g. a few pints/glass of wine at pub prices add up quickly, as do takeaways, daytime lunches etc. Hope there is'nt sneaky gambling or illegal drugs spoiling the fun. Think that the OP and partner need to have an honest money discussion & plan talk.

KxMx

Several years ago my list of expenses was very basic like yours- I wondered why I hadn't got more money in my bank account so I started a spending diary- eyes got opened wide!!