Home running costs

dave76

is there a list of things somewhere on here that you need to consider paying for when you run your own home? I am looking to get my first place, maybe in the new year, and I am trying to work out how much I am going to be able to afford (without pushing myself to the limit!). I have come up with a few things but there is bound to be a lot more I havent thought of yet! If it makes much difference, I am thinking of getting a flat (probably 1 bedroom) in manchester city centre.

(any idea how I can estimate these costs?)
Energy bills
Water
Council tax
Insurance
Building maintenance fees

TV (licence, sky etc.)
Telephone
Broadband
Food

cheers.

kissanpoika

I rent a 1 bedroom flat in London so some costs will be different (especially rent and travel!) but as a guide, this is what I pay for each month:

Mobile 60
Food 250
Rent 780
Phone 12
Water 20
Electricity 25
Gas 20
Council Tax 100
Travel 82
ADSL 20
Sky 20
TV Licence 12 (this will be higher for the first 6 months if you pay by monthly direct debit)

Some things you can get cheaper but thats what I pay. Also, I can't get contents insurance in my current flat (buying in 6 weeks so that will soon change!) but I expect that would cost about £30 a month. At least thats what it is going to cost on the place I am buying.

skintchick

Right, I have a two bed mid terrace in South Oxfordshire:

Powergen dual fuel £35
Council tax £128 (for two people)
TV licence £10.41 going up to £10.99 I believe
Water £27.31 but am going on a meter whch should bring that down by a tenner
OneTel for phone approx £10
Mortgage £312.41 (v cheap I know)

Annually:
House and contents £120
Maintenance £90 boiler service

I don;t have internet as I consider it a luxury I can;t afford.

I spend £60 a month on food for myself, including my packed lunches. It's tight but do-able. If you want to have more choice (!) then budget £100 and you can eat well on that.

To get more accurate estimates for your area just go online to fuel suppliers, water suppliers etc and they usually have a quote system. or try Uswitch or another comparison site.

HTH