CASHING IN
Shannon explained how she gets so much money
A MUM on Universal Credit has revealed her outgoings for each month.
Salford-based Shannon, who has three kids with her husband, broke down her monthly costs and how she manages to put aside money each month.
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On her @shannonm382 account, she wrote: “How we get through the month and how we’ve managed to save £6,000 already this year on Universal Credit (£3,700 for a family of five).”
The first expense she pays each month is her £780 rent, followed by £220 on her bills.
To feed her husband and three kids, she pays £300 in monthly groceries, along with £80 petrol in her car and £120 in her husband’s car.
Shannon pays for horse-riding lessons for her kids, which comes to £180 a month and spends £300 on days out for the family.
On top of this, she puts away £100 for emergencies that may arise.
The mum added: “Every penny left is put straight into our savings.”
Her monthly expenditures come to £2,080, meaning she can put aside £1,620 each month from her Universal Credit allowance.
Given we’re in the fourth month of the year, this suggests Shannon has been able to put £6,480 aside in savings.
Although she shared her outgoings to “help” others, many people flocked to the comments and didn’t hold back with their views.
One said: “Get a f***ing job. why should I pay for you to save?”
I’m a mum-of-5 on £1.5K Universal Credit per month – people think I’m popping kids out to get ‘lots of money’ but I still have to use food banks – its embarrassing
Another added: “If you can save that much then your benefits need cut. Scrounger.”
A third commented: “HORSE RIDING!!!! two cars??? Broken Britain.”
Shannon hit back at critics, and said: “I don’t understand why people are hating.
“Me and my husband don’t smoke or drink, I don’t waste money on Botox, hair and nails, I’m just trying to help others by showing you can still save on UC.
“We don’t spend £300 on one day out, that’s for the whole months worth of days out. The horse riding is just for the kids.”
Shannon’s monthly expenses
- Rent: £780
- Bills: £220
- Groceries: £300
- Petrol (her car): £80
- Petrol (husband’s car): £120
- Horse-riding lessons: £180
- Family days out: £300
- Emergency savings: £100
TOTAL: £2,080
Saving each month: £1,620 (from £3,700 Universal Credit)
The mum-of-three also revealed how her food bill is so low and said she always tries to stock up on yellow sticker items.
She added: “I’m very savvy when it comes to food shopping, we grow our own fruit and veggies the kids are with their grandparents on weekends and get free school meals.”
The Universal Credit mum also gave some context as to how she qualifies for the Universal Credit in the first place.
Shannon said: “My husband gets disability and I get carers included, and we have twins so get money for all.”
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In a follow-up video, she hit back at trolls saying: “I wasn’t trying to offend anyone I was trying to help.
“You lot are so quick to bully people on here.”
Hitting back at people who said she should get a job, Shannon commented: “How would getting a job help me though?
“When everyone on my other post is telling me they are so much worse off than us and they are working full time??
“Why would I purposely make my family worse off?”
Am I entitled to Universal Credit?
According to the GOV website, if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs, then you could be entitled to Universal Credit.
To claim, you must live in the UK, be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions if you’re 15 to 17), be under State Pension age, and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
Other circumstances are if you are out of work, or unable to work, for example because of a health condition.
Universal Credit payments are made up of a standard allowance and then various additional payments that depend on your circumstances.
Since last April, the sum has risen in line with the consumer price index (CPI) level of inflation for September 2023.
You may get additional payments, for instance, if you have children, have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working or need help paying your rent.
It’s worth bearing in mind that Universal Credit payments are typically increased every April to keep up with inflation – known as “uprating”.
This is done so that payments can keep up with the rising cost of food, clothes and other goods, which gradually rise over time.
Through Universal Credit, you can also get money to help pay your housing costs.
How much you are entitled to depends on your age and circumstances.
You can use a benefits calculator to see how much you’re likely to get in total.
