Budget for family of four

boogster

Hi,

In approx 3 yrs time we will be returning to the UK (Suffolk) to live , after several years abroad. I was wondering how much we would need to budget each month for expenses. Two adults and two children who will be 7 and 5 when we return. We won't have a mortgage or any loans to pay off. Just run the house, one car, food, electricity, telephone, petrol etc. Would like Sky-digital, broadband and one mobile phone. Have gas central heating and council tax will be about £100 pm. I realise prices will be different in 3yrs time but would like some idea what things are like now. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

brummiebabe

Can give you a rough guide to our outgoings (excluding mortgage):

Council tax £84.34 p/m (averaged over 12 months, rather than 10 months.)
Water £23.33 p/m
House Insurance £23.32
Gas £34
Electric £24
Phone £16
Broadband £18
Life insurance £36.85
Boiler cover £14
TV licence £10.99
Food shopping £270
Car ins/servicing £140 p/m (for 2 cars, owned outright)
Petrol £200 p/m

We are a family of 4 with 2 kids aged 3 & 5. Also have childcare fees of around £330 p/m. We have a small(ish) 3 bed semi and live in the MIdlands.

Hope this helps!

boogster

Thanks Brummiebabe

Thats just the sort of info I was looking for ! By the way we'll be in a 3 bed semi too, with gas central heating.Is your food bill based on very careful shopping or do you pretty much eat what you want ? Also is it just food or does it include items like cleaning stuff etc ?

Thanks

brummiebabe

I have become more careful re: food shopping - used to spend £400 p/m easily!!( ready meals etc..) Now do meal plans and shop on-line, so that I can keep a check on the cost! (I am a terrible impulse shopper!)

This cost includes all cleaning products/washing powders etc and the occasional pack of nappies/pull-ups (both children currently wear them at night!)

mummytofour

A friend of mine used to work in the houseing dep of the council and she allowed £25 per adult and £15 per child per week, I dont spend this much but then i cant afford to spend that much. We are a family of 6 and spend £50-£60 per week.

lottie26_2

I average at the moment about £45 a week theres is me, hubby and three children under 7 one in nappies which are included in the food bill as well as toiletries and cleaning things.
This is careful shopping cooking everything, but before when I didnt budget we were probley spending about £65 per week.

HGLTsuperstar

If you're not coming back for another 3 yrs, then the figures above will be meaningless

boogster

HGLTsuperstar wrote:

If you're not coming back for another 3 yrs, then the figures above will be meaningless

Sorry but I have to disagree. As I stated I realise that prices will be different in three years time, but I just wanted an idea as to what things were like now. I havent lived in the UK for 24 yrs now, so the numbers that I have been given at least give me an idea of prices and costs as they are now and have been most helpful to me. Sure most things will probably be more expensive by then and some may even be cheaper. You might say the whole idea of asking somebody else for a budget is meaningless as you could ask 100 people and get 100 different answers, but now I have some guidlines to go by and have a rough idea what to expect. Thanks to all who have given me some positive input.

loubie_lou

I can appreciate what brummiebabe says but won't the costs be far more expensive in suffolk than in the west midlands??Only isn't it more expensive in the South East already?!?

boogster

Thats another good point. Regional variations. To be honest I don't know. I would not have thought that Suffolk was more expensive than the West Midlands, but I stand to be corrected. Suffolk is usually referred to as East rather than South East whenever I've looked up statistics for it I think.


I'm really just doing some research ahead of time so I have an idea what I will need each month. I dont expect an exact amount. There are so many variables, Gas, Electric,Food, Petrol. Telephone etc can vary wildly depending on personal useage and preferences,size of house, size of car etc., but least I can get some idea of what to expect I hope.

loubie_lou

It might be worth contacting the local council to see if they have any ideas on council tax in the next couple of years!

Wouldn't supprise me tho if they won't disclose any details.....