what do you live on?

mintymoneysaver

After all bills (including food and petrol) we have about £1300 which goes on school stuff, clothes, presents, days/meals out, hobbies and savings. That's for 2 adults and 2 teenagers.

fluffnutter

It's a difficult thing to compare. Take two families who might well seem outwardly similar in terms of size and earnings. One family might end up with loads each month and the other with peanuts. When you look into you realise that Family A is living in a tiny house, with tiny bills, runs one car etc. Family B, on the other hand, have a large mortgage, have two gas guzzling family cars and like the expensive things in life.

I think it's a bit pointless to compare what people have when we all have such varying ideas of what's important.

People moan at me that I don't have debt and I have plenty of disposable income, assuming that I've 'got it easy' or earn vast sums. The reality is that I've chosen to live in a tiny house. My friends all live in houses twice the size because it's 'important to have a big house'.

nannygladys

I only work part time and live on my own, I have been stupid with the cash that I had (inheritance) and spent it all on holidays and wasted loads, so now I have debt and OD, not much by most standards but I can only pay it off by very small amounts each month, and I have to try to live on £100 a month and that includes everything:( most months I manage or go over it by a few pounds but like this month I had to go to the dentist and the £47 had to come out of that as I dont qualify for any help, so most of what was left went on fuel to get to work and I have been eating out of my cupboards and freezer for the most part, but it is of my own making so I just have to do it :)
On the whole it feels a lot better because I am in control and just recently I have started going into charity shops and poundlands to shop, its all a revelation:) and I have also booked a Sun holiday this year instead of going abroad to see my daughter, she is coming over here later in the year so I will still see her (thank goodness for skype) so all in all I think its a positive experience for me
Jxx

sock-knitter

i have £171 a month for petrol, food and anything else, there is just me the one adult

optimistic-mummy

we are a family of 3 and after rent and council tax have around £1100 for everything. food, dept repayments, electric, gas, water, pets, tv licence, clothes, kids stuff days out. it covers everything after rent and council tax. im actually shocked its that much as we only ever have about £20-£30 towards the end of the month :O ,, must work out a proper budget and stick to it x

JodyBPM

fluffnutter wrote: »

It's a difficult thing to compare. Take two families who might well seem outwardly similar in terms of size and earnings. One family might end up with loads each month and the other with peanuts. When you look into you realise that Family A is living in a tiny house, with tiny bills, runs one car etc. Family B, on the other hand, have a large mortgage, have two gas guzzling family cars and like the expensive things in life.

I think it's a bit pointless to compare what people have when we all have such varying ideas of what's important.

People moan at me that I don't have debt and I have plenty of disposable income, assuming that I've 'got it easy' or earn vast sums. The reality is that I've chosen to live in a tiny house. My friends all live in houses twice the size because it's 'important to have a big house'.

I agree its a difficult thing to compare, as different people have different expenses and bills. I tried to phrase it in such as way so that it could be compared (taking out ALL expenses), but suspect people are answering it differently.

I'm the OP, and because of they way we structure of finances, it was a fairly easy for me to say £800, as that is the amount we put in the family spends account each month. It's not the left over money after bills, most of that goes into savings, its the amount we have chosen as being appropriate to feed and clothe a family of four, plus entertainment and incidentals each month. It feels fairly comfortable, and I reckon we could do it on less if necessary. I just wanted to get a feel of how much other people spend, wondering perhaps if we should cut the amount down and divert a bit extra to savings...

moneyinmypocket

we have £1000 left each month after EVERY Bill.

We recently bought our first house and it fitted are requirements - 3 bed detached, garage, garden etc We could have borrowed a lot more to get a 4 bed however i didnt want to stretch ourselves and wouldnt want the worry if rates go up to much. We currently dont have kids but would like to try for 1 or 2 in a few years.

We had quite a large dep so got a good rate

balletshoes

after all my bills (they are all paid by DD/SO) and a little in the savings each month, I have a budget of £100 per week for my DD and I, this is for petrol, food, groceries, school meals, clothes and DD's dance class/any treats.

I do keep a record of how much I spend as I'm going along every week, otherwise it can get out of control very quickly. But the £100 per week is pretty generous, I could cut that down a bit.
And of course, theres always something extra to budget for, a holiday, car repairs, trips home to relatives etc etc

Lilium

After everything (mortgage, home insurance, life insurance, council tax, gas/elec, water, TV license, phone, car insurance, petrol and food) we have £600 left.

londonsurrey

Love.





Well, someone had to say it.