{"id":182002,"date":"2023-11-30T13:02:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T13:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/?p=182002"},"modified":"2023-11-30T13:02:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T13:02:41","slug":"i-work-full-time-and-earn-23k-i-still-cant-spoil-my-kids-for-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/lifestyle\/i-work-full-time-and-earn-23k-i-still-cant-spoil-my-kids-for-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I work full-time and earn \u00a323k \u2013 I still can’t spoil my kids for Christmas’"},"content":{"rendered":"
A single mum sparked a major debate online after claiming she can't afford Christmas with a \u00a322,500-a-year salary. <\/p>\n
Abbie Palmer works full-time as a customer services manager. And despite being left with \u00a3600 each month once bills are paid, she fears the festivities are hard to afford.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old said she had to walk out of Aldi as she couldn't afford a food shop. Abbie, from Wolverhampton, is aware she does better than others. <\/p>\n
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She usually spends around \u00a3300 on each of her kids at Christmas, but this year reduced it to \u00a3100 between them. Abbie is a parent to a 12-year-old and six-year-old.<\/p>\n
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The mum said: "I was in Aldi thinking how normally this time of year my mum would fill the cupboards with Christmas treats. Then I suddenly realised I wouldn't be able to do that this year.<\/p>\n
"I don't have Sky or anything like that. Unless I can pay I don't have it. I live completely within my means \u2013 but it's still not enough."<\/p>\n
Abbie says it's a "disgrace" MPs earn as much as they do and get so many benefits, and energy companies continue to make "billions" while people are "suffering".<\/p>\n
The mum is off work due to sickness as thinks she's got anemia, a condition that develops when blood produces a lower-than-normal amount of healthy red blood cells.<\/p>\n
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But she's scared to go to the doctors as she believes she won't be able to afford any prescriptions at the moment. Abby said compared to others, she's in a position of privilege.<\/p>\n
She added: "I'm not even on minimum wage, but once I've done my food shop and put fuel in my car that's basically it.<\/p>\n
"I can literally only go to the pub I used to work at on the off chance I can get a free drink or someone buys one for me."<\/p>\n
Abbie says she doesn't know a single person who isn't struggling. Her rent, in social housing, is \u00a3450 per month, while her gas and electric comes to \u00a3150 and food \u00a3400 per month.<\/p>\n
She also has to pay \u00a3130-a-week for breakfast and after school clubs so she can continue to work.<\/p>\n
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Abbie added: "Then within that you still want to allow them to do activities like football and cheerleading. It's completely unsustainable."<\/p>\n
The mum is going viral on TikTok for her thoughts on the nation's current situation. Her video has been viewed more than 4million times and sparked thousands of comments. <\/p>\n
Some have hit back \u2013 saying \u00a3600-a-month after bills should be enough to live on.<\/p>\n
One person said: "\u00a3600 a month after bills would be a God send so I don't understand how your struggling… I'm left with maybe \u00a350 a month."<\/p>\n
Another added: "If you're left with \u00a3600 per month AFTER bills and still struggling I'd suggest getting help with money managing."<\/p>\n
But others say they sympathise with Abbie.<\/p>\n
Someone posted: "People are missing the point.. it's not a competition… people just don't have enough to live on!"<\/p>\n
Another said: "I'm so sorry you're struggling, and that people are still saying 'I would be well happy with \u00a3600' like it's a competition."<\/p>\n
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