Single income home

sharrison21

Dizee123 said:

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with the increases, and I think that there are a lot of very frightened people out there be they single, couples or families.  We are all trying to pull together to help each other through this and I am sorry that you feel that you are not getting any help and support from what can be a very helpful forum.  

One thing you could do is an analysis of your energy usage and look to see if you could cut down.  There are a lot of very useful threads on this forum giving suggestions for decreasing usage and helping to identify any wasteful usage.  I am following them myself and am on track to cut 500 kWh off my electric usage this year without impinging massively on my lifestyle.  Every little helps as they say.  I appreciate that you may already have cut your usage to the minimum in which case I don't have any further suggestions, just some empathy for your plight and all of us who are in similar situations.  

I am trying everything i can. Thank you for being one of the few who haven’t attacked me saying I don’t deserve any help. This was a last resort unfortunately I’ve researched everything. One person said shower at the gym like i can afford the membership. I don’t go out for meals, to bars, I don’t smoke. I don’t do anything i feel like people would assume, I don’t even eat avocados. I’m just struggling. 

MattMattMattUK

sharrison21 said:

Matt can’t seem to tag your charming comment.  I don’t have a room to rent out unless i can rent the bathtub? If I can’t afford the increases how do you expect me to afford the expenses of moving?

If you cannot afford to live in your current home then you will have to change to a flat share, that will also have the advantage of being multiple people living together. I understand that it is not what you want to do, but sometimes we have to do what we need to do rather than want to do.

sharrison21 said:

Rent is excessively high and extremely competitive so it’s not really an option.  

Rent and mortgages, neither are cheap, but as is the point living alone is the most expensive way to live, house/flat sharing are cheaper so for those who cannot afford to live alone, home shares are the option.

sharrison21 said:

Im not expecting to be fully paid for. But there’s just nothing and i only miss out on other benefits because i earn slightly over the cut off. Asking to get paid less to get those benefits is wrong. I earn what i earn.

Many people are on the edge of being able to claim benefits, but almost always they are still better off apart from in the case of having to pay for childcare. I agree that asking to be paid less to try and get benefits is wrong, but how about asking to be paid more, how about working more hours, or a second job? I have and I know many other people who worked 60+ hours at various points in our lives to make ends meet.

sharrison21 said:

I was asking what i can do not for more money. 

The majority of your posts are saying that it is unfair that you do not get more handouts, that sounds like asking for more money to me. As others have said you can post an SOA on the DFW board and see where you can save money, you can work extra hours, or hours in a different job. you can move to a cheaper living situation. 

I know it is not pleasant to see one's living standards eroded, my income was absolutely hammered due to the Covid lockdowns, I got no help because I was a limited company director remunerated almost entirely through dividend, the sectors I deal with still have not recovered and with the impending recession it is unlikely I will be comfortable again financially for a few more years. So I am a company director working around 45-50 hours a week on my main job, I am doing 2-3 shifts a week in a pub kitchen to give me some extra income and I am pretty much certain I will end up getting a lodger in the spare room of my flat, if that was not an option then I would potentially have to look at selling up and moving into a flat share. It is not the situation I wanted to be in, it is a situation entirely caused by factors beyond my control (government lockdowns and international energy rises), but I am doing what I can about my situation because that is the part I can control. 

MattMattMattUK

tghe-retford said:

The Child Poverty Action Group suggests single people are the least likely group to be in fuel poverty, even couples are more likely to be in fuel poverty. Err... how does that work?

I could hazard a guess that is because of the way that fuel poverty is defined, it is defined as spending more than 10% of your income on energy. I suspect that a family with children would rather cut back on social activities, clothing for the adults etc. rather than have a cold home, and their proportional costs of washing would also be higher, with children getting through a lot of clothes, more sheets etc. For a single person (such as myself) they are more likely to be willing to wrap up at home and tolerate being cold, watch TV in bed rather than sitting on the sofa with the heating on, eating food which does not require a lot of cooking in the oven to save money etc. so that if energy was cheap they might use much more, but finances mean that they limit their energy usage and that keeps it below the 10% threshold. 

sharrison21

MattMattMattUK said:

sharrison21 said:

Matt can’t seem to tag your charming comment.  I don’t have a room to rent out unless i can rent the bathtub? If I can’t afford the increases how do you expect me to afford the expenses of moving?

If you cannot afford to live in your current home then you will have to change to a flat share, that will also have the advantage of being multiple people living together. I understand that it is not what you want to do, but sometimes we have to do what we need to do rather than want to do.

sharrison21 said:

Rent is excessively high and extremely competitive so it’s not really an option.  

Rent and mortgages, neither are cheap, but as is the point living alone is the most expensive way to live, house/flat sharing are cheaper so for those who cannot afford to live alone, home shares are the option.

sharrison21 said:

Im not expecting to be fully paid for. But there’s just nothing and i only miss out on other benefits because i earn slightly over the cut off. Asking to get paid less to get those benefits is wrong. I earn what i earn.

Many people are on the edge of being able to claim benefits, but almost always they are still better off apart from in the case of having to pay for childcare. I agree that asking to be paid less to try and get benefits is wrong, but how about asking to be paid more, how about working more hours, or a second job? I have and I know many other people who worked 60+ hours at various points in our lives to make ends meet.

sharrison21 said:

I was asking what i can do not for more money. 

The majority of your posts are saying that it is unfair that you do not get more handouts, that sounds like asking for more money to me. As others have said you can post an SOA on the DFW board and see where you can save money, you can work extra hours, or hours in a different job. you can move to a cheaper living situation. 

I know it is not pleasant to see one's living standards eroded, my income was absolutely hammered due to the Covid lockdowns, I got no help because I was a limited company director remunerated almost entirely through dividend, the sectors I deal with still have not recovered and with the impending recession it is unlikely I will be comfortable again financially for a few more years. So I am a company director working around 45-50 hours a week on my main job, I am doing 2-3 shifts a week in a pub kitchen to give me some extra income and I am pretty much certain I will end up getting a lodger in the spare room of my flat, if that was not an option then I would potentially have to look at selling up and moving into a flat share. It is not the situation I wanted to be in, it is a situation entirely caused by factors beyond my control (government lockdowns and international energy rises), but I am doing what I can about my situation because that is the part I can control. 

Okay. Moving is too expensive, I can’t justify the expense. I’ve already looked into it. 

I’ve tried asking for more money and i got the response “we don’t base wage on personal circumstance” because apparently despite a national cost of living crisis is my own fault. Which you and others here seem to agree with my manager on that one. 

I’m saying there just nothing out there for help in any way shape or form. Nothing. Like other posts have said nobody seems to care unless you’re old or you have a family. And as for the hours i work I already do the most i can without completely burning out. I’m trying to build a career so I’m working extra hours than i am contracted for in the week so i can get a better job in the future. I’m also doing everything I can on the weekends. What else am I supposed to do to earn more.
 

I’m saying it’s not fair and that people are seriously struggling and just getting told you should earn more 

sharrison21

MattMattMattUK said:

tghe-retford said:

The Child Poverty Action Group suggests single people are the  to be in fuel poverty, even couples are more likely to be in fuel poverty. Err... how does that work?

I could hazard a guess that is because of the way that fuel poverty is defined, it is defined as spending more than 10% of your income on energy. I suspect that a family with children would rather cut back on social activities, clothing for the adults etc. rather than have a cold home, and their proportional costs of washing would also be higher, with children getting through a lot of clothes, more sheets etc. For a single person (such as myself) they are more likely to be willing to wrap up at home and tolerate being cold, watch TV in bed rather than sitting on the sofa with the heating on, eating food which does not require a lot of cooking in the oven to save money etc. so that if energy was cheap they might use much more, but finances mean that they limit their energy usage and that keeps it below the 10% threshold. 

So it’s okay that single people are sat in bed shivering? 👍. Thanks for your sympathy mr director with dividend income, dividends incurred less tax don’t they. That’s why you pay dividends not a wage as a director. 
fyi I have cut out social activities and i can bet most others have too. Which just makes it harder to find a partner to make things easier. 

Mstty

Hi, sorry to hear you are going to have a tough time, if it's any consolation you won't be alone and at least you have come to this realisation sooner rather than later when it's too late.

Most people I know will have to live more frugally over the next 2-3 years. 

1) Do you know your energy usage for the last year?

2) Do you know what what energy is likely to cost you in the coming year?
3) Can you reduce your energy use?
3) Have you don't your budget per month I presume with working from home?
4) Have you looked for better deals on everything you have from phone/broadband/insurance etc

This is a very practical, generally not emotional based forum, you will get forthright answers which seem very blunt so bear that in mind.

sharrison21

Mstty said:

Hi, sorry to hear you are going to have a tough time, if it's any consolation you won't be alone and at least you have come to this realisation sooner rather than later when it's too late.

Most people I know will have to live more frugally over the next 2-3 years. 

1) Do you know your energy usage for the last year?

2) Do you know what what energy is likely to cost you in the coming year?
3) Can you reduce your energy use?
3) Have you don't your budget per month I presume with working from home?
4) Have you looked for better deals on everything you have from phone/broadband/insurance etc

This is a very practical, generally not emotional based forum, you will get forthright answers which seem very blunt so bear that in mind.

I’m trying everything I possibly can. And blunt answers are one thing but getting told you don’t deserve help is edging on harsh. I wanted information and wanted to know why it’s not getting talked about why nobody cares unless you’re elderly or got a horde if kids

ariarnia

sharrison21 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

sharrison21 said:

Matt can’t seem to tag your charming comment.  I don’t have a room to rent out unless i can rent the bathtub? If I can’t afford the increases how do you expect me to afford the expenses of moving?

If you cannot afford to live in your current home then you will have to change to a flat share, that will also have the advantage of being multiple people living together. I understand that it is not what you want to do, but sometimes we have to do what we need to do rather than want to do.

sharrison21 said:

Rent is excessively high and extremely competitive so it’s not really an option.  

Rent and mortgages, neither are cheap, but as is the point living alone is the most expensive way to live, house/flat sharing are cheaper so for those who cannot afford to live alone, home shares are the option.

sharrison21 said:

Im not expecting to be fully paid for. But there’s just nothing and i only miss out on other benefits because i earn slightly over the cut off. Asking to get paid less to get those benefits is wrong. I earn what i earn.

Many people are on the edge of being able to claim benefits, but almost always they are still better off apart from in the case of having to pay for childcare. I agree that asking to be paid less to try and get benefits is wrong, but how about asking to be paid more, how about working more hours, or a second job? I have and I know many other people who worked 60+ hours at various points in our lives to make ends meet.

sharrison21 said:

I was asking what i can do not for more money. 

The majority of your posts are saying that it is unfair that you do not get more handouts, that sounds like asking for more money to me. As others have said you can post an SOA on the DFW board and see where you can save money, you can work extra hours, or hours in a different job. you can move to a cheaper living situation. 

I know it is not pleasant to see one's living standards eroded, my income was absolutely hammered due to the Covid lockdowns, I got no help because I was a limited company director remunerated almost entirely through dividend, the sectors I deal with still have not recovered and with the impending recession it is unlikely I will be comfortable again financially for a few more years. So I am a company director working around 45-50 hours a week on my main job, I am doing 2-3 shifts a week in a pub kitchen to give me some extra income and I am pretty much certain I will end up getting a lodger in the spare room of my flat, if that was not an option then I would potentially have to look at selling up and moving into a flat share. It is not the situation I wanted to be in, it is a situation entirely caused by factors beyond my control (government lockdowns and international energy rises), but I am doing what I can about my situation because that is the part I can control. 

I’m saying there just nothing out there for help in any way shape or form. Nothing. Like other posts have said nobody seems to care unless you’re old or you have a family. 

yes there is. that's what people have been saying. if your income is low enough that you cannot (for example) heat the house and buy food or pay bills/debt then you can contact someone like citizens advice or your GP or church who can help you access support in your local area. you will probably need to provide proof of your income and outgoings. its not perfect by any means but there is a lot of support and advice out there for you and for anyone else regardless of house size who is actually struggling to survive. but that help is limited (it has to be if you think about it) so until or unless you reach that point then you get the same help as everyone else. 

if on the other hand what your upset about is that your quality of life is reduced then that's the same for everyone else as well. we are lucky that we are a low energy use household and are still on a fix from just before the April hikes, but that doesn't mean our costs haven't gone up (both day to day and for the kids) and that we're not worrying about the future. you seem to think having more people in a house doesn't mean higher bills but that's just factually wrong. more people eat more food and use more energy and mean i can't do what i would have done when single and that's leave the heating off and sit under a blanket with a hot water bottle and a dog or go to the library for the day. you try telling two tweens that they can't use their electronic devices or be driven 20 miles to their friends house because you need to keep the bills down. doable to cut down but not as easy as someone living by themselves who only has to wrangle themselves! 

 i can't think of a single person I know who isn't worried or having to cut back/do without. that anxiety is horrible but everyone is feeling it. it's been a really tough coun=ple of years and everyone is at their limit but that doesn't mean theres a magic and pain free solution or that your situation is any better/worse or more or less unfair than anyone else.

sorry if you think that's being mean but that's just realistic.  

PennyForThem_2

Sarrison21:  What is your actual consumption per annum?  What are you doing to cut that consumption?  Maybe the forum could offer advice on cutting it further?

Is your career boosting extra hours working paid or is it unpaid 'overtime'?  If unpaid - would it be worth cutting it to take on an extra job?

Do you cook from scratch or do you buy ready meals?  

Have you cut the flow rate so that hot water temperature is lowered and not using so much gas?  You haven't means of showering at work/gym but maybe going back to cutting showers to 2-3 times a week and washing in old fashioned way in between would cut costs.

How long is your CH on?  What themostat temperature?

I am a single too and yes, I gripe about couples getting cheaper deals i.e. discount on subscription costs as a couple - why isn't it the same cost for each person?  So see where you are coming from.  But as a single, you have complete flexibility to alter your lifestyle, to do or not do as you please.

MattMattMattUK

sharrison21 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

tghe-retford said:

The Child Poverty Action Group suggests single people are the  to be in fuel poverty, even couples are more likely to be in fuel poverty. Err... how does that work?

I could hazard a guess that is because of the way that fuel poverty is defined, it is defined as spending more than 10% of your income on energy. I suspect that a family with children would rather cut back on social activities, clothing for the adults etc. rather than have a cold home, and their proportional costs of washing would also be higher, with children getting through a lot of clothes, more sheets etc. For a single person (such as myself) they are more likely to be willing to wrap up at home and tolerate being cold, watch TV in bed rather than sitting on the sofa with the heating on, eating food which does not require a lot of cooking in the oven to save money etc. so that if energy was cheap they might use much more, but finances mean that they limit their energy usage and that keeps it below the 10% threshold. 

So it’s okay that single people are sat in bed shivering? 👍. 

Well generally if they were in bed they probably would not be shivering. However you are ignoring the point I made which was that single people would be more likely to choose that option, but maintain other elements of their lifestyle such as socialising with friends, where a family would probably choose a warm home at the expense of social activities. 

sharrison21 said:
Thanks for your sympathy mr director with dividend income,

As I pointed out in a previous post (and in many previous posts) my current financial situation is far from one to be envious of. Of course you probably feel it helps your position to caricature me as some kind of evil company boss, the "Mr Director" character. 

sharrison21 said:
dividends incurred less tax don’t they. That’s why you pay dividends not a wage as a director. 

The main reason is flexibility and at my current level of earnings there is not much in it.
As an example, pre-tax profit of £25,000
Paid as PAYE the business would have to pay er's NI, so it would only be able to pay a gross pay of around £23k, which means that after income tax and ee's NI I would net £19,085.
Paid as dividend there would be Corporation Tax due on any amount before it could be paid out as dividend, with dividend taxes payable that would then mean I would net £19,753. 
There is very little difference between the two and with the SME Employment allowance it can actually be more efficient to pay via PAYE at lower income levels as the company can claim a er's NI exemption. There is not a huge amount in it, even less so when income drops below that level as it has for me. 

sharrison21 said:

fyi I have cut out social activities and i can bet most others have too.

I have cut back social activities, as has almost everyone I know, but I have chosen to cut back on other things more so that I still have money to socialise. As an example rather than spending the £6.50 in petrol it would cost me to get to work every day, on many of the days I have gone into my office I have got up at 05:30 and ridden my bike to work to save the cost of petrol, I then spend the same 85 minutes riding home at the end of the day, because that is the more economical choice, with the added benefit of getting me fitter, although I very much doubt I will be doing that in winter. 

sharrison21 said:
Which just makes it harder to find a partner to make things easier. 

I would love to find a partner, but I would never do it to "make things easier", rather I hope I find someone that I can enjoy spending the rest of my life with and to genuinely make each other's lives better for being together.