How much do you live on per month?

IvanDrago

i'll have about £330 left per month.

gutted.

silaren

Until Christmas, I have just under £60 for food and general spending.

Have budgeted up to £10 per week for food but I can normally get away with around £7-£8 (I'm just buying for myself and I don't eat huge amounts, thankfully).

I've got a basic pantry of staples like olive oil, rice, mustard, couscous, lentils, oats, tinned tomatoes, mixed herbs, honey, soy sauce, red onions and cinnamon. So the weekly food budget is mainly for fruit, veg, top-up pantry and whatever meat/protein/dairy source is cheapest. I drink filtered tap water and black tea (huge box of PG Tips), eat mostly vegetarian meals and prepare as much as possible from scratch. Unfortunately, I don't have a freezer/icebox, so I'm a bit limited when it comes to things like batch cooking and making the most of deals on frozen items. I mainly use my rice cooker and microwave but occasionally make something simple using one or two hobs. When I feel up to it, I usually make enough to have a meal or two of leftovers, otherwise, it's a microwave jobby or salad.

My main shop is at Lidl with Sainsbury's Basics for top-ups. The Lidl is only a few minutes' walk, so it's not bad. But the Sainsbury's is farther away, so I only make it over there once every couple of weeks or once a month.

For Christmas presents, I'm going to use vouchers that I've accumulated from doing surveys - hopefully, Amazon's Black Friday event will be worthwhile! A couple of presents might have to go on the credit card if Toluna doesn't process in time or I don't get enough points to claim for Shop and Scan. Have also signed up for some mystery shopping websites, so hope to fit in one or two visits before Christmas.

Next month, I plan to have a few treats like Lidl's stollen, hot chocolate, marshmallows, turkish delight, mince pies and one Christmas lunch out with all the works, so am cutting back elsewhere in anticipation.

@ Lucy1010 - sometimes it is depressing. Having been in a similar position before, I never thought I'd be here again. But it's happened and I've got to deal with it as best I can.

samo8076

I currently live on around £250 pm. Breakdown - £30 pw petrol, £20 pw food, and the left over £50 towards a treat. Not ideal, but when i clear off my loan il have an extra £250 pm which will give me around £500 pm which to me is more than enough

Charityworker

We are a household of 2 adults and 2 teenage girls aged 17 and 14. The 14 year old never stops eating and never puts on any weight. Grrrr! Anyway, I spend about £130 PCM on food which includes 3 meals a day including packed lunches for the 14 year old and £3 a day for the older one to spend on food at college. Her college canteen is so cheap. She gets a large tuna roll, bag of crisps, drink and a flapjack for £2.60. After that we have about £400 a month left over which I either save for special occasions or pay extra off the debt.

rigdon86

removed by poster

rigdon86

The_Matelot wrote: »

I have just read through this thread since i last posted and am a bit ashamed. I really didnt know how lucky i have got it. I truly commend all who are managing on next to nothing and bringing kids, pets, familys up in this tight society. I dont have to really worry about money but i am going to think twice now before spending because i can. Heart wrenching stuff. Keep it up all of you!

Tell me about it. I read the title, clicked on the thread and posted. Having read about 5 pages' worth of people really struggling I went back and deleted my post.

Heart-wrenching the situation some of you people find yourselves in. I hope it gets better soon.

Hiddenidenity

I spend £100 a month (food, cleaning products, nappies, formula etc)

Theres me, ds (nearly 3) and dd (nearly 1)

I havent spent on clothes, haircuts, presents etc for about 18 months (kids have recieved clothes etc in gifts.hand me downs)

strawberry_laces

With my wage, Dp's housekeeping and Child benefit.

All bills paid (including window cleaner, sea cadets, petrol allowance) I have about £1000.00 a month left but this has to buy shopping too.

Don't know how much DP is left with

quantic

After all fixed bills we are left with £1860, we then:

• Overpay the mortgage by £250
  
• Put £600 in the joint account: £200 for food, £200 for petrol and £200 for Socialising and fun etc.
  
• Keep £500 each to spend on Luxuries and/or save.

(I tend to save about £350/400 of that £500 at the moment for a rainy day.)

strawberry_laces

oh Quantic , what i'd do with £500.00 a month for luxuries .

Do you save it or do you spend t, and to be nosy, what do you send it on.

I could only dream of having that amount to myself