How much am I worth

brazilianwax

Steve122 wrote:

brazilianwax :

You are effectively earnign double my salary as you have a partner

Yes, but we don't spend anywhere near £600 per month on food, or £150 on taxis! And I work later than you and don't get taxis!

Let me put it another way, I didn't go to uni. When I left school I got a job and earnt the grand sum of £8k per year. I still managed to buy a house, and a car, and work my way up career wise to a good position and good salary.

You, on the other hand, are pi55ing everything up the wall!

I take it you work in Canary Wharf - where are you living??

(There's Tesco in CW too, remember - you don't HAVE to go to Waitrose!)

Claire

PS - We have a gross joint income of over £100k per year, but we still eat beans on toast sometimes!

aussielovell

ok, well I feel that I am on a reasonable salary for my area, age, experience etc and I have spent the last three years completely overspending as I learn to deal with having more money as opposed to living off benefits. However, I have also realised that my spending is out of control - what is known on here as my lightbulb moment and have come on here to do something about it.

I think that you honestly believe that your spending is normal but I think there are lots of ways you can cut down. The food bill has to be reduced. My new budget allows for £107 food etc for a month for both my daughter and myself which includes school lunches, office lunches meals out etc. What I would recommend is a tin of soup (less than £1 per meal) and a loaf of bread instead of high salt/sugar microwave meal and will take the same time to cook. Alternatively, make it at the weekend and take it with you. If totally uncool to take to work, then use this for when you get home and instead of eating out every day, alternate deli, supermarket or taking a client to lunch instead of office meetings so you can claim them back.

I also think you need to realise that your £40k salary doesnt allow the volume of taxis you are using and you will have to get back on the tube and make your travel pass worth its place in your budget. It doesnt matter what your salary is, everyone has to budget within their means so that habits learned now will mean that you can think of a house/sports car etc in the near future.

Will be interesting to see your spreadsheet of spending, you may even surprise yourself at where you are throwing away your deposit for your house.

Hopefully your lightbulb will come soon and if we can help, please keep coming back and posting but realise people here are saying the things they are to help spur you on, not pass judgement

Steve122_2

I take it you work in Canary Wharf - where are you living?? -

Canary WHarf - A pretty average one bed flat -

Tescos isnt that much cheaper and Waitrose has a lot fresher food

Al_Mac

My sister works in CW, I'll get her to pop round and give him some pointers

brazilianwax

Steve122 wrote:

I take it you work in Canary Wharf - where are you living?? -

Canary WHarf - A pretty average one bed flat -

Tescos isnt that much cheaper and Waitrose has a lot fresher food

Don't get me wrong - I used to live in Surrey Quays and a quick shop in Waitrose was the motivation to get me to go to the Reebok gym above!

Even so, your spending on food is ridiculous. And why are you buying a tube pass when you can walk to and from work? And where are these taxis taking you??!!

Claire

brazilianwax

Al_Mac wrote:

My sister works in CW, I'll get her to pop round and give him some pointers

My sister lives in Brixton - I'll send her!!!!

Steve122_2

Taxis into and back from Bank

Train ticket used when I dont get a taxi to Bank

Steve122_2

Bank station

brazilianwax

Steve122 wrote:

Taxis into and back from Bank

Train ticket used when I dont get a taxi to Bank

Bank Station

I gathered.

You should switch to pre-pay on your oystercard - that way you are only going to be spending on journeys you actually do.

Still can't work out how your ticket costs you £150 per month when a zone 1+2 travel card is about £85.

brazilianwax

Steve122 wrote:

I m gonna call in sick on Tuesady and see an IFA - Basiaclly I want to start saving some money instead of having a negative balance always

Nice attitude by the way.

And you have about 30 people on here telling you how to save money, but you won't take their advice!