How much do you live on per month?

Lucy1010

Hi Aesop

Thank you hun but I don't feel amazing, I wish I had the stamina and strength like those that have shared their stories on this topic. I also feel good about those who have posted that don't have debts and are able to spend more on general living. Good for you and don't feel embarrassed! You should feel great that you are debt free! I want to be debt free too but once I am I will never waste money like I have done in the past! I don't need 100s of shoes or dresses! Who cares! I will only ever buy what I need not what my barclaycard says I can afford x

geordie_ben

I do mine slightly differently.

I get my monthly income
Deduct any DDs
Pay off my CC in full (Diesel from the previous month)
Give myself £40 a week spending money (£160 or £200 a month)
Keep £50 'float'
Pay whatever is left off my debt.

I've managed to pay off almost £13k in two years doing it this way

ani_26

Lucy1010 wrote: »

Ladies, Gents

I cannot even begin to explain how humbled I am to hear your stories, I feel that those reading that live on much more are too embarassed to post but don't be, I hope this topic is making you think twice like it has me. I have gone from budgeting £400 p/m on general living to £110 p/m and I already feel like what's the point in living! Its not enough to make me happy. BUT I need to stick to this because it means this time next year i will be debt free. You guys deserve a medal! You really are amazing x

I hope people are'nt too embarrassed to post. Maybe i should take my leave from this thread, so you can get some useful answers, Lucy But its a really interesting thread, so i'll continue to read.

I'm amazed at the amount of money spent and very probably wasted on food. I HAVE learned, at least, only to buy what i need, not what i think i need

I'm in a rush for work, so i'll copy and paste from another thread, the news for today.

There are many reasons why i'm so poor. The reason i'm so poor at the moment

---

First thing i do when i get up. Check my bank account. No, i'm not as poor as i was yesterday. ONE DAYS PAY has been paid in, overnight. By the time i've been taxed on it, you can imagine, thats not enough to pay all the bills i have this month. So am i going on a spending spree today? No, of course i'm not. But it DOES mean i can put some petrol in my car, and pay for a highly expensive car park, which i have no alternative but to park in on monday. Why? Because i'm working and i aways have worked, and i intend to continue working, and the measly amount i've just been paid will fund, further investment in work.

Looking at my account this morning, i realise exactly why i am so poor. Its over 6 weeks since i've had a substantial single payment of pay. By that, i mean a payment say, of over £200, and its almost 3 weeks since i received any pay at all, ( one days pay, again ).



I've done my food shopping this week, except my bread which i can now buy today, and i might push the boat out and buy a cucumber for my sandwiches. Believe me, there are others out there in similar situations, and it does'nt mean to say they are ' old ' or on benefits.



Have a good money saving day, folks xx

alan8253

I'm currently on income-based JSA and after paying all the bills I'm left with £20 a week for the supermarket shop (not just food) for me and the cat. That's £87 a calendar month. I've only been doing it 5 or 6 weeks and am just about managing. Though reckon I might get tripped up some time when I need to buy shoes or something.

The "secret"

Cook meals - favourites are egg noodles with mixed veg (cooked together) and tinned tuna, and roasted potatoes and veg with meat or fish (all cooked together) - I do this once a day, doesn't need a lot of prep (I'm very lazy) and noodles and potatoes are both very cheap so you can have lots

Buy the cheapest own brand food - it's usually very good (you can get a wholemeal loaf for about 50p and 4 pieces of fish in batter for about £1, among other things)

Eat healthy - don't think you've gotta live on beans on toast, buy cheap fruit and veg and salad veg (for putting in sandwiches)

Buy cheapest toilet rolls, toilet cleaner etc. They may not be quite as good as the dearer stuff but they can be a third the price so the value for money is brilliant

That's about it.

p.s.
Don't feel guilty if you spend loads of money on your weekly shop. When I had money I did the same. Though I'd never go back to spending that much again now I realise you can live healthily for very little money (though admittedly a bit more than I've got now)

fluffybrush

Hi there, I'm a PhD student living with my boyfriend, but we live quite independently of each other when it comes to finances, so I don't think it would make much difference for me to write down our joint expenses, as they are pretty much nil.

I appreciate that I am very lucky in that I have very managable debt, and let me tell you how humbling and incredible I have found all your stories on the previous pages! You guys really are amazing, and it really makes me feel like I'm not alone in this

I'm currently earning £400 a month in a part time job, and after rent and insurances I have about £180 to live on, and thats including my monthly food bill. I do manage this, but I have to be SUPER careful. I even keep a day to day spending diary just to keep track of the little things that I spend on, because they all really add up.

I find it very difficult to manage at times, especially as I never really seem to have any spare cash to do anything out of the ordinary, and so things like going to the pub or cinema is a very rare occurrence, and going out for meals is an absolute no-no. Sometimes it seems like I can't be spontaneous due to finances, and like others have said before, having a little more money really would just give me a choice about the things I buy.

alan8253

bluebag wrote: »

...funny how the harsh times leave their mark.

I'm with you all the way bluebag. I'm currently trying to feed myself on £2 a day (it can be done). Being this poor has adjusted my attitude to how I spend my money. Life is about living, not about consuming. Though I will be glad when I've got a bit more money... £3 a day would do it.

alan8253

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

I have a £2k overdraft and a credit card with a £12k limit but I dont feel any temptation to use either of these. I would rather eat tinned fruit and make my sister a birthday card than use credit.

Stick with it YL! I am £1280 overdrawn and am paying £1 a day bank charges as a consequence (knocks a hell of a hole in your money). Currently trying to feed myself on £2 a day, which would be £3 if I didn't have the bank charges! Don't feel sorry for me, it was stupidity that got me into the mess. Should have tightened my belt sooner but didn't think I could live on the money I had coming in... now I know I could have.

lisani2003

Hi, Please can somebody rell me what the OS board is ? it looks interesting !

Many thanks

Lucy1010

ani_26 wrote: »

I hope people are'nt too embarrassed to post. Maybe i should take my leave from this thread, so you can get some useful answers, Lucy But its a really interesting thread, so i'll continue to read.

Don't you dare go anywhere!!! I love your posts xx

OrkneyStar

Lucy1010 wrote: »

I am so resourceful when it comes to food as I am a good cook and tend to make big portions and freeze. I don't eat junk food, hardly go out and doing my damn hardest to clear my debts which aren't huge when I compare to others (£6000). However I just don't understand why I struggle so much on £400 p/m for general spending.

What is included in 'general spending' ?
Also I notice that you say 'not enough money to make you happy' with the lower £110 pcm.....perhaps if you take your focus off money making you happy (it doesn't) you will see how people with less survive!
I have had times of affluence, single, well paid etc, but now am a SAHM, have much less money, but boy do I get some much more out of every penny!
All the best!