New Year, New "Realistic" budget for a London Girl

moriarty888

Well it looks like £600 a month is the consensus and with that there is room to breath. I was trying to live on £400 a month before and could only manage it by living like a monk and that was depressing the hell out of me and making me feel like a failure every month, even though the debt was still decreasing. I need to see other human beings apart from my work colleagues :rotfl:

Hey Shoe Gal - I know I am very lucky to have that to live on, plus money left over to pay my bills. Hopefully a little luck will find it's way to you too

Yes, I'm a voucher girl. I don't step out the door without checking if I can save money somehow. I buy all my books 2nd hand now and every necessary purchase is well researched. Quidco is a good friend of mine.

JasX

moriarty888 wrote: »

I buy all my books 2nd hand now

....local library?

pinkarsenalprincess

Don't buy books, go to your local library.

Have you tried writing a spending diary to see where all of your money is going?

ViolaLass

When I lived in London, I had £25 a week spending money - that didn't cover my travelcard/bike, just concerts/drinks etc. I found there was so much free/cheap stuff to be done that it wasn't a problem. OH and I spent £150 a month on food and were comfortable.

That said, I don't drink alcohol, because I don't like it, which I think may be one of my greatest money savers.

kaz0705

I live in London too and have very understanding friends- they know that where we go will be dictated to by vouchers!

One of our favourites is All Bar One's £15 offer: a bottle of wine and three 'small plates'. The food actually pretty good too. Of course, I'd like to say that we split that but actually, normally, we all have a voucher! Oops! But it means that's £15 for a whole night out; not bad!

Group on is a life saver for haircuts and meals out as well- although obviously can be hit and miss (there were a couple of wine delivery vouchers before my last payday which i couldn't justify and i've been waiting ever since for one to use for christmas- predictably it never appeared!).

I generally sign up to every club/bar/restaurant going to get any special deals. Yeah you get loads of emails (get a separate email account if necessary) but i think it's worth it for the offers. For example Koko, in camden, hosts some pop music show- free entry to see 4 bands or so do a couple of songs. Generally quite pop-y but occasional wins!

Also, a friend of mine works in an art gallery and i inferred, from an over heard conversation, that some people get on the mailing list just so they can get invited for openings - which include champagne normally :-)

Through various websites I've managed an opening night at the saachi gallery (the free food and drink was incredible! Art not too shabby too!) and a free night hosted by Disarrano- again through various emails I've signed up for.

It takes time and effort to get cheap nights out in London but the potentials there!

Of course, the rest of the time I sit at home and curse everyone who has loads of money :-)

moriarty888

I'm a librarian by trade, I know where those books have been....:rotfl: I usually only spend about 50p to a pound on a few books a month in a great OXFAM book shop in Marylebone or another one called Skoob near Russell Square, so that definitely isn't an area of spending I'm particularly worried about.

The alcohol is definitely a massive expense in London. Just buying a round of 4 drinks is nearly £20. Hence inviting my friends round to mine first for some cheap plonk and I also often stay in my own round, so only have a couple of drinks when we go to the pub.

Thanks Kaz - like your style!!!!

Luckily I'm a big walker, so enjoy getting out and just seeing London, I don't think I'm manage to live on £25! But then again, that wasn't including food was it Viola? Also, not having another half definitely makes it a little more expensive. No sitting in sharing a pot noodle for me!

As for a spending diary, yes, I write everything down, have done for years. I may as well pay my salary half to my mortgage and the other half to Sainsburys... That's my big area I could do with cutting. Fortunately I do like cooking, but unfortunately don't have a freezer, but there is definitely room for improvement in that area. Another resolution for the New Year.

Danni-R

There is a Taste London card (Someone will correct me on the name) and I think you can get 1 months free trial and that gives you 50% off your food bill in a lot of restaurants. You need to check that the ones included are ones you'd go to but it would be worth it. Shame its not on the booze though!

moriarty888

Yes, I had a Taste London card, with a 3 month trial. It's over now though...

ViolaLass

moriarty888 wrote: »

.I don't think I'm manage to live on £25! But then again, that wasn't including food was it Viola? Also, not having another half definitely makes it a little more expensive. No sitting in sharing a pot noodle for me!

No, £25 just for entertainment and clothes. OH and I have £150 a month for food, which we manage comfortably. For what it's worth, we've never had pot noodles. When I lived on my own, I spent around £80 a month on food.

dreamdreamer

I give myself £490 a month, £250 in spending money and £240 on food for two of us. But we're not in London so I would think 600 would be reasonable. Definitely sensible not to overdo it, if you can afford to have a little fun while paying off your debts then why not?!