So how much do you spend every month after paying your bills?

Upsidedown_Bear

Have you had a look at the Old Style board?
They know everything there is to know about stretching the pennies.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33

You might want to try the Grocery Challenge there:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4454261

maman

From what you've told us you should have money left at the end of the month but you don't.:)

I'd suggest you keep a spending diary and write down every penny you spend for a month. Just writing it will make you think carefully about spending and when it's over you can analyse to see where your money's going and where you can cut back

DH and I spend about £50 per week on food. I cook from scratch and we eat healthily.

If you can keep your spending to a minimum then you can start to attack your debts and perhaps build up a little buffer for unexpected bills (like the hire car for example). I think you're wise to budget for the £1600 figure but on a 'good' month you should be able to put even more towards the debts.

katie1812

We earn about £2800-3000 a month depending on hubby's bonus, and after the bills, we spend aout 150-200 on food a month.. After that its maybe a meal or two out a month, or we may go shopping so potentially about £80 extra a month. We are trying to save loads as I'm going back to study for a masters next year and so I won't be earning, it's so tricky!!

System

About £150, though a lot of that is for food. I tend to live week to week (well fortnight to fortnight)

choccybuttons

After all monthly bills, I budget £60 a week for food (so usually 240 a month) then £120 for petrol - this money I put in a seperate account - most banks have online accounts with cashcard access so easy to transfer money. Any money left is spending money which again I seperate out so I know exactly what I have. I dont touch my main bank account once Iv withdrawn spending, food and petrol money as I know there is just enough to cover the bills.

If you cant seperate money out due to cashflow of business I would get a credit card set it at low limit say £400 you know your going to have and use this for your food and spending, then pay off in full each month.

duchy

Probably an idea is to work out what you spend on food now

Eg what did you have this last week -not just dinner but what do you do for lunches and breakfast, snacks. Takeaways ? Coffees on the go etc etc It can be a bit of a shock when you see how much you are spending but once you can see where it is going it's often easy to see where you could save without changing much.

msb5262

How much do I spend every month after paying my bills?

Pretty much all of it.

Next question?

(Sadly the above is true at present - a little goes into savings but it seems that everything's gone up except my income...I bet a few others are feeling the same way)

BitterAndTwisted

I'm single and live alone so after all necessary bills are paid including travel I spend about fifteen quid a week on food and another fifteen on discretionary spendies. It's a bit spartan but do-able.

Penny-Pincher!!

We spend very little after all our usual outgoings.

OH has a cinema pass which is £15 a month, but he uses it weekly, so gets his moneys worth and it also gives him a break from looking after me.

We budget £80 a week to cover all food, groceries, branded products in poundland, 1 x take-away and petrol. There are 3 adults and we usually have about £10-£20 a week left which goes into a tin for treats. We eat well and that does 7 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks etc.

PP
xx

dancingfairy

As is the nature of MSE there will be some who can live on a shoestring (either through choice or necessity) while others spend much more.
In answer to your question I probably spend about 50 a week for one on food and entertainment. I don't have to worry about public transport though. 'Unexpected' costs and needing new clothes is a pain though and isn't covered in the above. I could probably manage on about 35 a week though if I was being tough (not including travel/unexpected costs or clothes).
I think the best thing is to do a spending diary so you can see where you are now and plan what you can reduce. For help with reducing food shopping head to the oldstyle board (As this is likely to be an area you can cut down on if you are anything like most people).
Some things you will be stuck with depending on your circusmtances and will be fixed costs - ie public transport to get to work.
Another approach is to allocate a set amount each week and try and stick to that - so take a certain amount of cash out each week or keep a spreadsheet and try and stick to the budget. After a while you can see if you can reduce it by say 5 pounds a week.
Best of Luck
df