House Outgoings - Realistic?

A_Couple_In_Love

Could anyone please take a look at our outgoings and see if anything is missing or over/under estimated?

This will be our first home and we are worried that our bills may not be realistic.

This is only temporary while unemployed.

Monthly Income:
JSA Couple Claim: £446 (£111.50 PW)
= Total: £446

Monthly Outcome:
Remaining Rent (Housing Benefits): £22.76 (£5.69 PW)
Remaining Council Tax: (Council Tax Support): £7.12 (£1.78 PW)
Gas: £83 (£20.75 PW)
Electric: £50 (£12.50 PW)
Water Rate: £44 (£11 PW)
Internet: £22.50 (£5.62 PW)
TV Licence: £12 (£3 PW)
Groceries & Household Shopping: £120 (£30 PW)
House Mobile Phone £15.50 (£3.87 PW)
Savings/Spending Money: £69.12 (£17.28 PW)
= Total: £446

Additional Information:
1 Bedroomed Small House
2 Adults (Couple Aged 22)
No Children
Area: Warrington
Council Tax Band: B
Claiming Housing Benefits, JSA & Council Tax Support
Metered Electric
Doubled Glazed Windows & Central Heating
3 Hamsters (Pet Insurance Covered)
Privately Renting

Thanks .

krustylouise

You may want to consider contents insurance, do either of you own a car? Do you have any pets? I think £30pw is manageable food wise but possibly under estimated it as initially you'll be building up your stock cupboard.

WantToBeSE

A_Couple_In_Love wrote: »

Could anyone please take a look at our outgoings and see if anything is missing or over/under estimated?

This will be our first home and we are worried that our bills may not be realistic.

This is only temporary while unemployed.

Monthly Income:
JSA Couple Claim: £446 (£111.50 PW)
= Total: £446

Monthly Outcome:
Remaining Rent (Housing Benefits): £22.76 (£5.69 PW)
Remaining Council Tax: (Council Tax Support): £7.12 (£1.78 PW)
Gas: £83 (£20.75 PW)
Electric: £50 (£12.50 PW)
Water Rate: £44 (£11 PW)
Internet: £22.50 (£5.62 PW)
TV Licence: £12 (£3 PW)
Groceries & Household Shopping: £120 (£30 PW)
House Mobile Phone £15.50 (£3.87 PW)
Savings/Spending Money: £69.12 (£17.28 PW)
= Total: £446

Additional Information:
1 Bedroomed Small House
2 Adults (Couple Aged 22)
No Children
Area: Warrington
Council Tax Band: B
Claiming Housing Benefits, JSA & Council Tax Support
Metered Electric
Doubled Glazed Windows & Central Heating

Thanks .

Gas, Elec, Water, Internet and food shopping all seem high for a couple with 0 children and whose only income is from benefits.

What about car/house repairs? Boiler insurance? Pet/Life insurance? Or is this list ONLY house expenses?

lilymay1

I know Warrington very well so if you want to PM I may be able to help more.

Is the £70 'saving money' going to cover you both for travelling to job interviews etc? What about buying clothes or shoes?

Your gas and electric bills also seem very very high for a young couple in a small house. £133 a month is a lot.

A_Couple_In_Love

Thanks for your advice .

No cars, 3 hamsters.

krustylouise

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Gas, Elec, Water, Internet and food shopping all seem high for a couple with 0 children and whose only income is from benefits.

What about car/house repairs? Boiler insurance? Pet/Life insurance? Or is this list ONLY house expenses?

House repairs and boiler insurance would be responsibility of the landlord - not the tenants.

A_Couple_In_Love

WantToBeSE wrote: »

What about car/house repairs? Boiler insurance? Pet/Life insurance? Or is this list ONLY house expenses?

Its for everything, our house will be privately rented so the lanlord will cover Boiler/House insurance etc.

Pet insurance is covered by close family.

Life insurance we haven't thought about tbh?

lilymay1

Water is also very expensive in Warrington - the set rates are very high. Having said that, the OP may benefit from a meter given there are only 2 of them and I doubt they have a dishwasher.

kloana

Your gas and electric seem very high (gas in particular). Depending upon the property (I understand it's a small 1-bed, but I mean insulation, boiler efficiency, and so on), you may be able to pretty much halve your estimated costs here.

Also, you may be missing a small trick in your calculations...

Broken down over 52 weeks, your water (assuming you have the rate correct) would be £10.16 per week, not £11.00. Likewise, your mobile phone would be £3.58 per week, not £3.87, and so on.

As monthly bills do not work out as 'divide it by four', to get a weekly figure. Multiply the monthly bill by 12, and divide by 52 instead.

A_Couple_In_Love

kloana wrote: »

As monthly bills do not work out as 'divide it by four', to get a weekly figure. Multiply the monthly bill by 12, and divide by 52 instead.

Good advice, we will remember that one .

cutestkids

I would check exactly what the landlords insurance will cover.
Will the contents be covered or is it just buildings insurance and then boiler insurance that the landlord covers.