How much DISPOSABLE income do you have each month?

lilac_lady · 12 March 2006 at 4:57PM

It strikes me that we all have different levels of income and necessary expenditure each month so although some people may earn lots of money they may be struggling harder than the MSE folk who have a lower income but less to pay out each month.

I'll start - After I've paid my monthly direct debits for my bills I have £200 left to cover everything including petrol, road tax, car bills, groceries,clothes, Xmas, birthdays, holidays and socialising. (just for me)

Am I rich or poor?

newmum1 · 12 March 2006 at 5:04PM

After all my bills i have about £150 per month..............

skintchick · 12 March 2006 at 5:15PM

If we're not counting food as a bill, then I have £180, which breaks down as:

piano lessons 40
food 60
petrol 40
cash 40

But I would say I have £80 disposable (cash and piano lessons) as they're the only ones I could actually cut out. I still have to buy food and put petrol in the car, after all.

And to be honest, now I'm self employed, I only pay myself what I absolutely NEED each month, so it's not a question I can answer properly, as I don;t have a proper wage.

shazzer22 · 12 March 2006 at 5:18PM

Well I thought i had about £250 a month left over but after taking petrol into account i'm left with about £50!

little_miss_broke_2 · 12 March 2006 at 5:19PM

After i've paid everything, bills, debt payments, food, everything, i have about £30 a week to do me for birthdays, clothes, any other expected expenditure (kids school trips etc...) and smoking, my only real vice left

wigginsmum · 12 March 2006 at 5:25PM

Technically I have £130/month just for me but it just doesn't seem to work that way. I'm in supersaver mode in terms of paying off my overdraft/cards so only spend what is absolutely necessary. Occasionally I'll treat myself to a croissant or coffee but it gets written in my spend diary. I did buy a couple of gardening magazines this week for reference. I don't mind because I get a lot of satisfaction in seeing balances go down.

funky-footprints · 12 March 2006 at 6:47PM

if the mate that owes dh pays his £200 on the 1st of the month (and he very misses a few months !!) we have £188.42 !! however seeing as he is totally unreliable when it comes to payment, very often we have to sacrifice on other things to break even. this means normally being a little more careful on the grocery, which is proving to be very addictive !

peterg1965 · 12 March 2006 at 6:50PM

May I ask you all, i have seen the abbreviation DH several times now, what does it stand for? something half...maybe.....

Chortle_2 · 12 March 2006 at 7:03PM

DH normally means 'dear husband' - HTH

I technically have £200 left over, after paying all my bills, and throwing as much as possible at my debts. I use this to pay for petrol, toiletries, mobile top-ups, treats, anything not covered by my main budget. (and no, I dont include petrol in my main budget, as I tend to spend less than £10 p/month!) But I say technically, because I hardly ever spend anywhere near that much, I could probably quite happily halve it and not really notice!! At the end of each week, (I split the £200 into weekly amounts, so this month as it is a 5-weeker, I get £40 p/week) I bung any surplus against paying of my debt.

reallybroke · 12 March 2006 at 9:20PM

If I no debt I would have quite abit left over but I spend more than half of my income paying debts. After paying debts, rent, bills only luxury of health club membership(45) which unfortunately is annual membership and cannot cancel, I have just under 200 left. I am finding it difficult but am trying to allow myself about 160 a month for phone, food, socialising clothes etc I withdraw a weekly amount to last me for the week hoping to reduce this and pay off more of my debt.
In conclusion, I feel pretty poor.

bonnie_2 · 12 March 2006 at 9:31PM

now that i am debt free, i am finding it hard i have £660 a month left over and i find it really hard to spend unless i have a list, i am now obessed with them, this time last year i was living on £20 shopping and £10 fag money a week, plus my £80 bill money.i am trying to live more ethicaly now by buying organic cleaning products and toiletries, also i like my craft making bits.
is there any cure for list writing i dont seem to be able to function without them lol.
cant really go to the docs can i.

How much DISPOSABLE income do you have each month?

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