How much to live on?

gambledandlost

Hey folks, I have had ALOT of huge bills over the last few months, as a result of which I now have debts of £6000. They are on a credit card interest free until Aug 2013 so I would chuck everything at it - I now rent a driveway out and babysit which brings in about £50 a month to help fight the cause.
I am ging to hopefully get my coucnil tax lowered, am changing to a cheaper broaband and phone, am on a great deal with all my other utilities and am addicted to cashback sites! My mobile bill is very low and I am cancelling my Sky, gym and love film subscriptions. After all the bills go out, I have £200 a month left. I am planning to live frugally and as I live alone, it shouldn't be too hard.

How much do you spend on food, clothes etc? I dont go out much and am going to make sure I live by cash when shopping and only buy whats on the list. But really dont know what figure I should aim for.

immoral_angeluk

gambledandlost wrote: »

Hey folks, I have had ALOT of huge bills over the last few months, as a result of which I now have debts of £6000. They are on a credit card interest free until Aug 2013 so I would chuck everything at it - I now rent a driveway out and babysit which brings in about £50 a month to help fight the cause.
I am ging to hopefully get my coucnil tax lowered, am changing to a cheaper broaband and phone, am on a great deal with all my other utilities and am addicted to cashback sites! My mobile bill is very low and I am cancelling my Sky, gym and love film subscriptions. After all the bills go out, I have £200 a month left. I am planning to live frugally and as I live alone, it shouldn't be too hard.

How much do you spend on food, clothes etc? I dont go out much and am going to make sure I live by cash when shopping and only buy whats on the list. But really dont know what figure I should aim for.

I budget £60pw on food/toiletries for myself and my 2 children (and one cat!) but I usually spend between £50-£60 by meal planning and doing my main shop at Aldi.
Clothing at an average for us maybe £20pm, especially as my youngest has already gone through 4 pairs of school shoes this year alone!
I also have a budget of £10pw for social/sundries whatever else.

lilac_lady

I don't think you should have an actual figure to aim for if you're spending as little as possible. £200 a month to live off is do-able if it doesn't include travel expenses.

Clothes - wear what you've got.
food etc - have a look at the Old Style Board. Lots of tips there. Good luck.

chescadanielle

Hi , i live on around £200 a month so have a little understanding of your situation.

I do online shopping at asda & try & fill up the freezer & cupboards so I just have to buy bread & milk each week.
I also leave my bank card at home so I'm not tempted to spend during the week & I really do think about every ten pound I draw out.

Invest in a slow cooker & make big batches of cheap casseroles/curry/chilli's to freeze.

Good luck x

rising_from_the_ashes

It should be "doable" with some careful planning etc and sounds like you're really "on the ball" already:D

Try joining in some challenges as I find they keep me really focussed - the NSD (no spend day) one on here is great and there's loads of others.

There's the Grocery Challlenge on the Old Style Board which is great for keeping that side of spending in check - a really friendly, supportive bunch on it and some fantastic tips and recipes.

Most of all, pop back to the boards for support - whether things are going well or you're having a bad week etc, chatting about it really helps and there's always someone around who will understand / have been there etc:)

kim85

Hi I set myself a general budget of £50 per week which works fine for me, this includes petrol, food, drink leisure, presents for people etc.
Works fine, do a lot of online surveys and generally buy presents on that. Clothes etc from bootsale and cheap meal deals out such as Yates 1.99 burgers (or whatever the deal is at time) and Sizzling pub. In a general week it breaks down to:

Food shopping - £15 including a bottle of wine either go Aldi/ Tesco or pick up reduced bits through the week.
Petrol - £10 - I am lucky I can walk to work generally, but cycled for years and I would really consider this if you can.
£15 leisure, clothes etc, usually save up vouchers from Valued Opinions etc if there is something I particularly want as these can be used in clothes shops or bootsale.

Good Luck

CuppyCake

Hi there

I don't include my travel, phone or food bills in my 'living on' money- it's purely for me to have fun with. As I'm planning to go on a massive holiday this year, and learn to drive, I'm living on about £100 a month which I can make stretch quite a way- I don't go out on nights out, have friends over for dinner rather than go out for a meal and not buying clothes on impulse!