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2 Adults & 2 under 5's - whats your budget?

Hoping to see what a reasonable amount is for my budget and would like to hear what other people with the same family size as me spend.

How much do you have left once you have paid mortgage, utilities, debts, childcare, insurances / dd's.

The amount left would cover groceries, entertainment, clothes, hols, gifts, repairs to house, etc etc.

I have just done my SOA - Mine is 700. In theory I spend much more than that..hence the debt. Is 700 do-able? Can i ever live on this budget.

Really would like to hear what others with similar family size thinks?
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Comments

  • chunky79
    chunky79 Posts: 732 Forumite
    How funny mine come in over that amount, and i had included groceries in soa apperently this should be our spends a month! Althoguh this will be when i return to work in 4 weeks and my income will be £460 but that still gives us a about £350.

    God knows where it goes but as soon as i start back work watch this space. The debt will go down.

    I have made cutbacks now and watch everything i do. Ready for when i go back to work so i will be already in the swing of being a DFW.
    You can touch the dust but please don't write in it !

    Would you like to speak to the man in charge, or the woman who knows whats happening?
  • brummiebabe
    brummiebabe Posts: 1,894 Forumite
    Mine's an estimate, as I'm on unpaid maternity leave currently...but working on approx figures for when I go back to work...should have £840 left (for groceries, petrol, xmas,etc etc) - that sounds like a hell of a lot doesn't it!!! (This is for 2 adults and 3 children though) - our petrol costs are quite high though (I have to drive in my job and DH works a distance away!)
    20p Saver Club #33 60p/£100
    Christmas Saving £0/£1300

    Saving Target 2014 £25/£1000
  • It does sound like a lot. But as mine is almost the same, I know its not!!
    By no means do I have a lavish lifestyle, I have to watch whatever I spend and most months I end up over budget.
    Having the kids has lots of hidden costs...I am sure that before they came along me and DP could of lived very comfortably on this amount per month!
    Thats why i was interested to hear from others in same family situation.
  • petetidball
    petetidball Posts: 143 Forumite
    We have roughly £400 a month left after mortgages etc go out. So thats to cover food, holidays (we don't), clothes, petrol, etc. That's for two adults and two kids. It's not a lot and not enough! When I work overtime we get a bit more, but it's not guaranteed so we don't include it. Hopefully though the wife will get a new job next week so we'll have more coming in.
    :confused: Pardonez mois, mais votre cheval est dans mon cochon d'inde. :confused:
    Proud to be dealing with my debts: DFW Nerd 610
  • brummiebabe
    brummiebabe Posts: 1,894 Forumite
    We don't have a lavish lifestyle either...we rarely go out (too tired!!) and don't buy the kids loads of toys or loads of clothes for us. Never go on expensive holidays...but still spend what we earn!!

    I really must get back on track with a spending diary...see where it all goes!! We're lucky as we are debt free (except for mortgage) but don't seem able to save :confused:
    20p Saver Club #33 60p/£100
    Christmas Saving £0/£1300

    Saving Target 2014 £25/£1000
  • Conor_3
    Conor_3 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    Spendalot wrote: »
    Hoping to see what a reasonable amount is for my budget and would like to hear what other people with the same family size as me spend.

    How much do you have left once you have paid mortgage, utilities, debts, childcare, insurances / dd's.

    The amount left would cover groceries, entertainment, clothes, hols, gifts, repairs to house, etc etc.

    I have just done my SOA - Mine is 700. In theory I spend much more than that..hence the debt. Is 700 do-able? Can i ever live on this budget.

    Really would like to hear what others with similar family size thinks?

    Of course you can. £400 a month on food. Clothes can be done for £50 or so.
    Apart from food and clothes, everything else is something you can live without.
  • immoral_angeluk
    immoral_angeluk Posts: 24,506 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    £700?? Bloody hell we don't even have that spare in a month let alone just a budget for that kind of stuff! We generally spend £180 on food inc nappies formula etc. We probably have about £300 spare every month but that's for EVERYTHING. Our girls are 2 and 4 months..
    Total 'Failed Business' Debt £29,043
    Que sera, sera. <3
  • Imortal angel....I have followed your threads and you do really well.

    How do you manage on 180 a month groceries? I would love to spend this amount in the supemarket, but I just cant seem to see how! Nappies, wipes and other stuff for my youngest costs £40. We take packed lunches etc, but our bill is generally 450 - 500.
    I am in no way criticising how much you spend...only asking for advice on how I can spend what you spend!
  • silkglade
    silkglade Posts: 559 Forumite
    Hi,

    We have been living on around £68 per week on food and clothes - so for month is £272 and about £100 per month on Petrol, for the last year and a bit. not leaving any extra for us. We have been the same as I-A and just thrown every spare penny at the debt.

    And forgot to mention that I did tons of overtime too. all that money went on the debt too.

    Our family consists of 2 adults, a 12yr old boy, a 7yr old girl and a 23 month old girl.

    For this and next though month we have allowed ourselves £500 spare for food petrol clothes ect so should be really nice for a change :j

    We did though have a weekend away for the 1st time in 2 years last weekend, but i think we did amazing for it and spent a total of £170 including accomodation. but we did have a miserable month spending as little as poss to be able to afford it.
  • immoral_angeluk
    immoral_angeluk Posts: 24,506 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Spendalot wrote: »
    Imortal angel....I have followed your threads and you do really well.

    How do you manage on 180 a month groceries? I would love to spend this amount in the supemarket, but I just cant seem to see how! Nappies, wipes and other stuff for my youngest costs £40. We take packed lunches etc, but our bill is generally 450 - 500.
    I am in no way criticising how much you spend...only asking for advice on how I can spend what you spend!

    well we pretty much buy the absolute basics we need to do meals. Our wipes are 59p a pack from home bargains, we buy tesco nappies, that kind of thing. We buy value of what we can except for a couple of things like red sauce.... we cook from scratch and only buy what we need.
    Apart from that....? God knows! lol
    Total 'Failed Business' Debt £29,043
    Que sera, sera. <3
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