A mum receiving £2,400 every month from Universal Credit and additional state assistance has declared she’s stretched to the hilt financially. Millie, a 21 year old mother of three, disclosed that her child care costs surpass £2,000 monthly, effectively depleting her entitlements, reports Birmingham Live.
She is drawing £2,458.50 each month from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through Universal Credit, besides child benefits and her earnings. The content creator conveyed her astonishment: “Seeing all these numbers written down is CRAZY.” She added emphatically: “Everything is so expensive and yes I have cut down on everything we don’t need.”
The young mum elaborated on her finances, saying: “So my total bills came to £986.95, this doesn’t include electric, I pay that as I go, and then nursery for the three kids was £2,069.60, which isn’t as bad as it was last month actually, but it’s still quite a bit.”
She continued, unsettled by the reality that almost all her Universal Credit goes toward nursery fees: “And when you think, that’s nearly my whole UC just gone, which is why I was skint again this month.”
Millie went on: “So the total for bills and nursery was £3,056.55 – all of my income, including the last month of my maternity pay and child benefit, came to £3,250.10 and the total outgoings with £3,056.55, which left me with £193.55 for four weeks with three kids.”
She offered a stark insight into her life: “So here’s a little heads up to everyone that thinks benefit life is the cushty life, it isn’t.” Moreover, Millie revealed her salary had dipped since it was her final month receiving maternity pay.
In an emotional admission, she described how things “all just went a little bit downhill” and lamented on her situation: “we literally shouldn’t be struggling the way that we are”. She continued by expressing sympathy for others in similar circumstances, stating: “I feel like there’s quite a lot of other people in the same situation, but they just don’t want to talk about it because people are so judgy when it comes to money and where you spend it.”
Responses on TikTok demonstrated a commiseration and frustration from the public. One ICU staff nurse shared their feelings of discouragement writing: “Far more than what I earn in a month, full time ICU staff nurse looking after critically ill people. Really disheartening.” Echoing this disappointment, another user declared: “More than my full time working wage! Joke.”
Further comments revealed widespread exasperation, with a third user disclosing: “Still more than what we are left with, I work part time, partner works full, we pay nursery fees and get no help.” Criticism arose as well, evidenced by a fourth who advised: “More than me and I work full time. budget your money better.”
A fifth user, baffled by the unfairness, questioned: “I’m 20 years working and I get less. How? How is this fair?” To which Millie passionately responded: “No idea, have it out with the government.”
