Need Help Working Out a Budget for moving into 1st place!

Glitterari

Hi everyone, I've already posted this on the OS board, and was suggested I also bring it here for more advice.

So here's my thread again...

Basically - me and the bf are moving to Noriwch in September as I am starting a MA at uni. Now, I am 25, have lived in halls throughout my first time at uni (graduated 2003) and have lived in shared accommodation for the last couple of years. The bf is 26 and not yet ever lived anywhere except Mummy's house!

We are going to move to Norwich so I can do the MA and Matt will work full time (he should be able to get a transfer to the branch in norwich so should be fine there plus he's been saving real hard too). Now, we want to go and rent a small and cheap flat for just the two of us - we're not looking to share with others and I think we can do it on our own (I'm intending on getting some part-time work plus I'll receive a bursary) - but only if we budget carefully. Matt's on a very average wage (around £14k tho I guess this might go down cos he's on 14k in central London - I know I know!) and I'll have v limited money.

Now, as neither of us have lived on our own and have never had to budget for household bills, this is where we need help.

I would like to know, how much we should allow for all household bills that might come up - water, electric, gas, tv licence - everything like that. Also, how much would be a reasonable amount for 2 people per week for food?

Now I know you lot will be able to give me real cheap suggestions - BUT could you please advise on reasonable amounts to allow for as we're bound to get it wrong at first and when I feel ready to start beingreally frugal then I'll come back and have a look!!

At the mo I just want the basic household bills monthly that we will need to work into a budget (don't bother with sky/internet etc, these are prob luxuries we cannot afford!) basically so we know how much we can afford to spend on rent - rather than thinking how much we think we can afford on rent but then find we don't have enough for bills. Sorry for the ramble...but really want to be sensible about this and make sure we're allowing enough for everything!

Thanks so much - Carly xxxx :money:

bikerqueen

no help on the budget front but I have lived in Norwich for 8 years so if you need advice on where to live, where not to live, or anything else Norwich related, let me know!

Glitterari

bikerqueen wrote:

no help on the budget front but I have lived in Norwich for 8 years so if you need advice on where to live, where not to live, or anything else Norwich related, let me know!

Ooooooh yes that would be v helpful - you can PM me with the details if you like! It's always good to know where to avoid!

frak

Hi,
Tv licence is £11 a month on DD spread over 12 months.
When i was living in my 1 bedroom flat on my own which had no gas i used to save about £60 a month for electricity.
Water i honestly can't remember
Councilt tax was £50 but i had single persons discount 25%
I would say £35 a week for two of you for food is more than do-able.
Hope this helps

frak

Glitterari

Bump

Come on guys!

Usually you're all tripping up over each other to give advice!

jessicamb

I live in a one bedroom flat and the following might be a good guide:

water £15 month
electric £20 month
gas £30 month (started in September at £20 but through price rises and winter arrears this has now gone up)
council tax - depends on area, I'm in band A so less than £50 month
Food - gone down significantly thanks to OS meal planning - should be able to do something for £25 week for 2.
Phone - I dont really use it but £11 line rental + calls, mobile extra
HTH

kragen_ironfist

hi - I have created for myself an excell spreadsheet which calculates my earnings (deducting tax and NI) so I can work out my take home pay and then apply it to a spending budget (on the same sheet) what I then do is type in what I pay and it tells me how much over/under budget I will be. - if you want me to help set you up a version for you and your boyfriend then pm me.

as far as budgeting goes I can be of less actual help EXCEPT fo a couple of things.
when you go looking for a place make sure you look at the Council tax band as well as the rent. I dont know about norwich but in bournemouth, ban A is £850 approx, band B is about £1000 a year - go to the councils website and check out the council tax bandings for where you want to live.

water is tricky as you need to know wether or not you will be metered. I heard a rumour that water companies would convert homes to meters whenever new tennants moved in - this could just be rubbish but bear it in mind. try and find out from someone in the area what the water AND sewerage charges are (you might only see one bill a month but they charge you twice - once to deliver the water, and once to take it away) using the rates you will get an idea of what you will pay - even if you are metered it should be good for an indicator - i hear lots of people say they pay less on meters than rates but it depends on how much you use (one way to use less is get to work/uni etc a bit earlier and use their toilets) ok its not much but you flush a litre or two every time you go it adds up

as for gas/electricity again price varies on company and usage obviously something like uswitch will help you get the cheapest power but I live in a bills included situation so I cant say what they are.
personally if I was looking for a flat I would choose a flat with gas central heating (and pref a gas cooker) but unless the flat is purpose built you may find its all electric so if people can tell you what they spend on a dual power (gas and leccy) household and or electric only you will be better placed to work out your budget.