What do you consider a 'decent' salary (non-London)

PasturesNew

jojo90 wrote: »

Thanks for the responses... looking through my statement this is about right before taking into account hobbies/toys etc which can easily add up:

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2721
Other income............................ 450
Total monthly income.................... 3171

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 850
Council tax............................. 120
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 40
Water rates............................. 16.5
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 50
TV Licence.............................. 15
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 30
Internet Services....................... 30
Groceries etc. ......................... 150
Clothing................................ 150 - too much
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 65
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 50
Car parking............................. 10
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40
Haircuts................................ 35 - too much
Entertainment........................... 300 - too much
Holiday................................. 500 - too much
Total monthly expenses.................. 2646.5

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,171
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,646.5
Available for debt repayments........... 524.5
Amount left after debt repayments....... 524.5

I've highlighted the items that stand out to me. £6,000 on holidays??? £3600 on entertainment? You've got enough clothes now.

BlueAngelCV

Umm, £500.00 per month on holidays & £300.00 per month on entertainment?!
Think we've found you're problem right there.

lewt

it says there you got 500 quid left over. wheres that going ?

Oldernotwiser

You budget 6,000 pa for holidays and you wonder why you've no money!

lewt

jojo90 wrote: »

Things have changed slightly since then and I just don't seem able to stick to the revised one. For example now have a payrise but work related expenses have increased. Equally my cheap car died so bought a safe volvo for commuting but that costs more to run etc etc. Always some hidden expense in there .

I just think that renting my place and moving home will kill off so much expenditure...

and make you life with your parents again aged . . .

jojo90_2

ummm the £500... well looking through this month's statement:
£100 to fix my PC
£100 to fix my bicycle
£250 to fix my car
£50 in bank fees (don't ask).

BlueAngelCV

jojo90 wrote: »

ummm the £500... well looking through this month's statement:
£100 to fix my PC
£100 to fix my bicycle
£250 to fix my car
£50 in bank fees (don't ask).

Sounds like a bad month but presumably that's the exception not the rule.

PasturesNew

You're spending when things happen ... not putting things off. If my bike needed £100s worth of work doing, it'd sit and wait for 2 years or more.

jojo90_2

lewt wrote: »

and make you life with your parents again aged . . .

55 & 60ish.

Not great I know but the chance to build up some assets over 3 years will put me in such a better position long term it just seems right to endure a little pain now..

Googlewhacker

jojo90 wrote: »

Thanks for the responses... looking through my statement this is about right before taking into account hobbies/toys etc which can easily add up:

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2721
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 450
Total monthly income.................... 3171

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 850 Is this not meant to be the mortgage payment?
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 120
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 40
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 16.5
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 50
TV Licence.............................. 15
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 30
Internet Services....................... 30
Groceries etc. ......................... 150
Clothing................................ 150 a month? cut this back to 50
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 65
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 50
Car parking............................. 10
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40
Haircuts................................ 35
Entertainment........................... 300 Entertainment should include hobbies etc!!!
Holiday................................. 500 a month, you spend 6k on holidays????? that is your 6k savings if you thought about it!!!
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 2646.5



Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,171
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 2,646.5
Available for debt repayments........... 524.5
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 524.5

Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

I've not even really tried but saved 6k just like that plus the 500 your not spending a month anyway after everything else