How much do you live on per week?

penelopedee_2

I have about £30 a week left for me but that has to cover clothes, makeup, going out, anything thats not bills, house, savings or groceries.

I normally use this to over pay debts where I can though or stash it for getting my hair done. I shop in charity shops and I don't go out really or buy magazines, books etc.

Sharon87

Hmm depends if I'm working or not, since I do short term contracts. I don't really set a budget per week, more like per month. I just spend whatever's left over after my outgoings, debts and savings. At the minute it's hardly anything!

LumpyCustard_2

I don't really understand the concept of giving yourself an allowance to spend. If I need to buy something, and I have the money, it gets bought (usually after having put it off as long as possible). Otherwise, I try not to spend anything apart from groceries and fuel, and that's not out of necessity, I'm just a tight-****.

FlowerPower

I'd normally set aside £10 a day at the start of the month - this is for all unexpected spending and normal spending. Any left over at the end of the month goes into my savings account - which is saving towards a house deposit.

This month I'm trying something new! I'm trying to make extra money every day e.g. by selling my junk/free scratchcards/surveys/mystery shopping, and anything I spend needs to be less than what I've made. At the end of each week, if I've made more than I've spent I get a reward - like a lazy pamper in the bath or something. The reward has to be free of course!

padd_bear

Well, knowing so many people can do this, i am going to set myself a challenge.... 'to live on under £100.00' next month after all bills and what not has been paid though lol... Got to start of slightly high as if i go straight into £50.00 i know i will just overspend, but i am going to be strict...

I am good with loose change (maybe because you cant open it unless you smash with a hammer)...

I am going to become a good MS'er... but where do i begin? I like free rewards.... like a little well earned pleasure that we all take for granted!!!....

penelopedee_2

At the start of the week, take out £20 cash. Only carry this £20 on you and not any cards and then you can only spend £20 that week. Its much harder to part with cash and I hate breaking into notes. Then with the change you have left, drop it into a savings tin at the end of the week ready to start acumulating for a proper treat.

Keep spending diary. Make lunches for work so you are not tempted into the shops at lunchtime - I used to spend about £15 a day just popping into shops lunchtime (£105 a week or £5460 a year) :eek:

If you do need to shop, do it alone. Don't take friends or family as they will encourage you to buy more and make it feel its ok to blow your budget.

HoneyBee83

I usually have about £300 a month left after all bills have been paid. I then pop £100 into my savings account so its not within easy reach,luckily i havent ever had to touch it so i have a lovely little nest egg!!
So im left with around £200 a month to 'play' with.I tend to use it to treat myself and DD be it clothes or a fun day out! Then i'll go out for a nice dinner with my girlies.I have some left every month which makes the next month even smoother!!

zcrat41

After all my essential bills are paid I have £80 a week. This does include my food though as sometimes I eat out a lot and therefore don't buy much at the supermarket whereas other weeks I spend the whole £80 in Mr T's if I'm stocking up or buying an odd bit of clothing.

All my weekends away/hols are budgeted for elsewhere so this just covers cinema, mag's etc.

padd_bear

penelopedee wrote: »

At the start of the week, take out £20 cash. Only carry this £20 on you and not any cards and then you can only spend £20 that week. Its much harder to part with cash and I hate breaking into notes. Then with the change you have left, drop it into a savings tin at the end of the week ready to start acumulating for a proper treat.

Keep spending diary. Make lunches for work so you are not tempted into the shops at lunchtime - I used to spend about £15 a day just popping into shops lunchtime (£105 a week or £5460 a year) :eek:

If you do need to shop, do it alone. Don't take friends or family as they will encourage you to buy more and make it feel its ok to blow your budget.

A spending diary is a good idea, and can identify where to cut back, already make a packed lunch but i buy bottles of water for 39p from sainsburys (buy three bottles per week sometimes the kitchen is not located near my office and we do not have a water machine) and on friday i treat myself to one treat! The shops around here charge £1.79 for a bottle of water.... so already saving

padd_bear

HoneyBee83 wrote: »

I usually have about £300 a month left after all bills have been paid. I then pop £100 into my savings account so its not within easy reach,luckily i havent ever had to touch it so i have a lovely little nest egg!!
So im left with around £200 a month to 'play' with.I tend to use it to treat myself and DD be it clothes or a fun day out! Then i'll go out for a nice dinner with my girlies.I have some left every month which makes the next month even smoother!!

Yes, i have carry money across to the next month.... but i dont need to spend what i am currently spending at the moment, another annoyance is that i always forget to buy things via quidco i think even if i had it in front of me i would forget!