Disposable income to be comfertable

bigmaz

Hi guys

I am wondering wether to go from Contract to Employee. I like the idea of job security with being full time employee. But wondering if I could cope with the drop in salary. Roughly, what kind of disposable income would we need for myself and 2 kids to live comfertable. Having one holiday per year, able to buy kids nice thing, and we like to go to the pub when we can. My wife does not work, she is a full time mum.

Regards
Martin

getmore4less

What do you spend on those things now?

Hammyman

Only you can answer that question because only you know what your outgoings are.

starchild1972

I'd be comfortable with enough food in the cupboard, shoes on our feet, clothes on our backs, roof over our heads and a mode of transport. Anything else is just extras.

Samanthamum

We have one child, but find we would need £1000 a month at least left over after bills/food to do the things you mentioned. At the moment we have about £600 and have to think carefully about holidays/pub lunches.

KiKi

Samanthamum wrote: »

We have one child, but find we would need £1000 a month at least left over after bills/food to do the things you mentioned. At the moment we have about £600 and have to think carefully about holidays/pub lunches.

You need £1000 a month *after* bills and food to have a holiday, buy your child nice things and go out for a couple of meals each month?! Really?

KiKi

bigmaz

This is what I am looking for, ideas what people think is a good amount to have after bills and food. Would be good to hear from other folk how much they need to have these extra luxuries in life. Surely not as much as £1000 though......

jillyjacks

£1000 a month left over??? if only...LOL...my daughter who has one child doesnt even have that much coming in every month!

kingfisherblue

If I had £1000 a month after bills, I wouldn't be comfortable, I'd be in luxury!

Samanthamum

KiKi wrote: »

You need £1000 a month *after* bills and food to have a holiday, buy your child nice things and go out for a couple of meals each month?! Really?

KiKi

Yes. A decent holiday cost at least £1500 and that is in this country. Abroad during school holidays and you can double that. Pub meals we spend about £50 for the 3 of us minimum and if DH and I go out as a couple to somewhere decent with food taxis wine you are looking at £80 easily.

Nice things for kids, well we put £50 a month into savings plus £100 for clothes/shoes and £80 per month pocket money as well as a holiday for each year - £400 at least, the school ski trip cost nearly £1000 last year. Also you have birthdays/christmas. Soon adds up.

Samanthamum

jillyjacks wrote: »

£1000 a month left over??? if only...LOL...my daughter who has one child doesnt even have that much coming in every month!

So? My husband works hard. We have had our share of poverty and have lived on benefits. Having to count every penny is no fun. The OP was asking for figures, I was giving ours. Some of our friends have MUCH more left over after bills. I dont gripe about it, they work harder than we do.