Cost of living?

Barny1979

Any more tips?

Olliebeak

Do you have to get curtains, cushions etc? Try some of the charity shops - but avoid all the 'little old lady stuff' that is often in them.

Have you got a microwave? They can be bought very reasonably from most supermarkets these days. Baby George Foreman grills are good too. The smallest size slow cookers are great for one person and also very reasonably priced in the supermarkets.

Just as examples of what's available in supermarkets:

http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/daewoo/kor6l15.html?

http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/haden/10120.html?

http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/george-foreman/13627.html?

You may find better prices on-line, in argos or in curry's etc. And of course check out your local freecycle - you just never know what you'll find on there. I've seen people giving away fridge/freezers, washing machines, cookers, microwaves, sofa-beds, breadmakers, slow-cookers.

Make sure that you work out everything that needs paying for and start making payments immediately. It may seem an awful lot to be spending on a monthly basis, but believe me (and I speak from experience!) it's much better to do this from the start than to find yourself with payment problems further down the line.

Water bills, tv licence, council tax, rent, phone, broadband, cable/sky, gas, electric - omg how it all adds up :eek: !

How could I forget to mention my favourite moneysaving shopping tip - always check out the whoopsies in your supermarket every time you go in there. My son lives across the road from his local Morrissons and they never know what's for tea - because it always depends on what they find on whoopsie!!!!!

maman

To make your meals healthy, and stretch further - when you make the bolognese/chilli/savoury mince sauce add loads of veggies too (mushrooms, courgettes, carrots, onions).

lauren_1

Depends on what you take home pay is minus your

Rent
Council tax (lets just say 100)
Water rates (roughly 45+)
G&E (budget 100 to begin with)
Line rental and phone package
Mobile phone
Debt repayments
Car hire
car insurance
car tax (15-20 a month ish)
Any other monthly commitment.
Savings

Go through your last 3 months of bank statements, get the average monthly amount leaving your account and the average amount going in to your account. Then you can plan a food budget around that, i would say 40 would be ample for one person but you may need a bit more to build up your stocks

Bargain_Rzl

lauren_1 wrote: »

Water rates (roughly 45+)

Seriously? For one person? :eek:

I live by myself in a 1-bedroom flat with a water meter and I'd say my usage is probably about average - neither desperately wasteful nor rigorously unwasteful - and my bills aren't even half of that!

newlywed

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Seriously? For one person? :eek:

I live by myself in a 1-bedroom flat with a water meter and I'd say my usage is probably about average - neither desperately wasteful nor rigorously unwasteful - and my bills aren't even half of that!

Not for us - 2 bedroom flat - no water meter - and it's just under £30 a month

iceicebaby

My water bill - not on meter - in a 2 bed house is £34 a month

lauren_1

Our is a small 2 bed and is 42 a month.

shazrobo

ours is a 3 bedroomed and ours is only £28 a month, no water meter

Lunar_Eclipse

We're on a water meter. Four bed house, £41/month