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What it is like to be "just about managing"? What is it like to be 'just about managing'?
(about 3 hours later)
The government is expected to promise help in the Autumn Statement for a newly defined group - the Jams, those households only "just about managing" to make ends meet.The government is expected to promise help in the Autumn Statement for a newly defined group - the Jams, those households only "just about managing" to make ends meet.
There is no precise definition of a Jam household, but these families tend to have at least one person in work, are struggling to get by, and often have less than a month's income's worth of savings.There is no precise definition of a Jam household, but these families tend to have at least one person in work, are struggling to get by, and often have less than a month's income's worth of savings.
There are about six million households in this situation, according to the Resolution Foundation.There are about six million households in this situation, according to the Resolution Foundation.
The BBC News website asked three families who identified themselves as "just about managing" what they wanted to hear from Chancellor Philip Hammond.The BBC News website asked three families who identified themselves as "just about managing" what they wanted to hear from Chancellor Philip Hammond.
We will return to them after the Autumn Statement on Wednesday to see if the government has met their concerns.We will return to them after the Autumn Statement on Wednesday to see if the government has met their concerns.
David Watssman, 34, Invergordon, near InvernessDavid Watssman, 34, Invergordon, near Inverness
I have three children, and I work full-time while my wife works part-time, and together we earn around £36,000. I have three children, and I work full-time while my wife works part-time, and together we earn around £36,000. We've worked hard all our lives, don't smoke or drink, don't have expensive hobbies, don't have any great debts and watch our money carefully.
We have worked hard all our lives, we don't smoke or drink, don't have expensive hobbies, don't have any great debts and we watch our money carefully - still, we just manage to keep our heads above water. Still, we just manage to keep our heads above water. It's harder than it should be and is so difficult to have a decent lifestyle and make the finances work.
We haven't been on holiday for a couple of years - and the last time we went was after we had a windfall. We haven't been on holiday for a couple of years - and the last time we went was after we had a windfall. I haven't seen much of a wage rise recently.
I haven't seen much of a wage rise for a couple of years. I work in the salmon industry, and that has been hit by fish prices and the drop in the pound. I don't see many job prospects up here - but if I was to move the family away, that would mean extra costs in terms of housing.
I work in the salmon industry, and that has been hit by fish prices and the drop in the pound. We have just sold our house and are looking to move but are currently living with my in-laws. If we didn't have family to rely on, it would be very difficult.
I don't see many job prospects up here - but if I was to move the family away, that would mean extra costs in terms of housing. Half of my wife's money is lost to childcare and the one thing I'd like to see the government do is increase the number of hours of subsidised childcare. Childcare costs is the one thing that is really stifling us, as my wife has to turn down work because of it.
I couldn't afford to rent, as my mortgage is less.
We have just sold our house and are looking to move but are currently living with my in-laws.
If we didn't have family to rely on, it would be very difficult.
My wife works part-time, but half her money is lost to childcare.
The one thing I'd like to see the government do is increase the number of hours of subsidised childcare.
Childcare costs is the one thing that is really stifling us, as my wife has to turn down work because of it.
It's harder than it should be, it's so difficult to have a decent lifestyle and make the finances work.
Lisa Shimmins, 30, Bembridge, Isle of WightLisa Shimmins, 30, Bembridge, Isle of Wight
We just about get by - but after we pay our rent, council tax and all the other bills, there's not a lot left. We can't save.We just about get by - but after we pay our rent, council tax and all the other bills, there's not a lot left. We can't save.
Only my partner works, as I look after our young children - we have three, aged six years, two, and four months. My partner works while I look after our young children, aged six years, two, and four months. He works really hard as a builder and earns about £12 an hour. He's self-employed, so the amount he earns varies and if he is sick, we lose out on money.
My partner works really hard as a builder and earns about £12 an hour. If we have a problem with the car, or if my partner needs a certain tool for work, we might not have the money to make the rent or council tax. So we end up paying much more later. When we go shopping, sometimes we can't believe we haven't got any money despite working.
He's self-employed, so the amount he earns goes up and down.
If he's sick we lose out on money.
If we have a problem with a car, or if my partner needs a certain tool for work, we might not have the money to make the rent or council tax. So we'll end up paying much more later.
When we go shopping, sometimes we can't believe we haven't got any money despite working.
It feels like people who are not working are better off.It feels like people who are not working are better off.
It's unfair that you have to have [high level] education to make a decent living. It's unfair that you have to have [high level] education to make a decent living. Everyone who works hard deserves to earn a decent wage.
Everyone who works hard deserves to earn a decent wage.
We'd like to buy a property, but we just can't save up.We'd like to buy a property, but we just can't save up.
The one thing I'd like to hear from the government is help for people like us to buy a home. The one thing I'd like to hear from the government is help for people like us to buy a home. Everyone should be entitled to a house.
Everyone should be entitled to a house.
I also think that people on lower wages should pay less tax.I also think that people on lower wages should pay less tax.
Sarah Kershaw, 48, Ickenham, north-west LondonSarah Kershaw, 48, Ickenham, north-west London
I am a single mum, working full-time, paying my own mortgage and all my own bills. I am a single mum, working full-time, paying my own mortgage and all my own bills. I work in a children's centre as a receptionist and earn just over £21,000.
I work in a children's centre as a receptionist and earn just over £21,000. I have a daughter at university, and I claim child tax credits, which I have to use to help her pay her rent. She is the last year of students to receive a grant, but it still isn't enough for her to pay rent and living costs.
I have a daughter at university, and I claim child tax credits, which I have to use to help her pay her rent.
She is the last year of students to receive a grant, but it still isn't enough for her to pay rent and living costs.
My son is at college, but I worry that I won't be able to help him go to university, because when he goes to university, the grants will have been abolished.My son is at college, but I worry that I won't be able to help him go to university, because when he goes to university, the grants will have been abolished.
I'm not officially low-income, although I don't earn very much at all, so I don't qualify for any help with housing costs or my income.I'm not officially low-income, although I don't earn very much at all, so I don't qualify for any help with housing costs or my income.
There is no money for luxuries, holidays, new clothes or nights out for me.There is no money for luxuries, holidays, new clothes or nights out for me.
I try very hard to make sure the kids don't miss out, but I end up staying in all the time as I can't afford to go out. I try very hard to make sure the kids don't miss out, but I end up staying in all the time as I can't afford to go out. We get to the end of the month, and the bills are all paid. Sometimes I think I don't quite know how. I would never borrow money - no payday loans. The last week of the month is tough.
We get to the end of the month, and the bills are all paid. I went on a budgeting course run by Christians Against Poverty.
Sometimes I think I don't quite know how.
I would never borrow money - no payday loans.
The last week of the month is tough.
I went on a budgeting course - run by Christians Against Poverty.
I don't have large debts, I don't smoke, drink, gamble and I try to give to charity monthly and I volunteer every month.I don't have large debts, I don't smoke, drink, gamble and I try to give to charity monthly and I volunteer every month.
I do everything I can to work hard and pay my own way, yet my situation is getting worse and worse. If interest rates go up, I'm going to find things even harder.I do everything I can to work hard and pay my own way, yet my situation is getting worse and worse. If interest rates go up, I'm going to find things even harder.
We're also in the process of moving to a cheaper area in Hertfordshire.We're also in the process of moving to a cheaper area in Hertfordshire.
What do I want from government? I'd like them to reduce university fees and reinstate maintenance grants.What do I want from government? I'd like them to reduce university fees and reinstate maintenance grants.
I'd like them to re-examine the level they call low income. Whilst people's wages can potentially go up, they don't go up in line with costs.I'd like them to re-examine the level they call low income. Whilst people's wages can potentially go up, they don't go up in line with costs.