Moving out for first time - help!

Jmoo

So I'm not sure entirely what I should be considering here, so any tips and advice much appreciated. What sort of costs can I expect from moving into my own place (by myself)?

Council Tax
Heating/Gas
Electricity
Water
TV License / Sky or YouView
Broadband
Mobile Phone
Insurance?

What's the average for utility bills?

bigfreddiel

Well done, your list looks about as complete as it should be.

If you want actual values some depend on the size of property, but £300/month could cover the list, probably a bit more tho.

Cheers fj

dirty_magic

It depends on lots of things! Water rates and council tax are calculated on the rateable value of the house so they vary. They also vary by council, so they're more in London. Ours is in band C and its £114 for 10 months with 2 free. Water is £40 for 8 months with 4 free.

We spend £72 on gas and electric now in a 3 bed house. When we lived in a flat with storage heaters and a prepayment meter we spent £30-£40 in summer and £80-£100 in winter because the heating was so expensive.

If you're renting contents insurance is cheap, and TV/broadband varies depending on what you want. We pay £20ish, but my friend pays £70 for sports and films! Same with mobile phones.

One thing I did underestimate was food, toiletries and cleaning products. We spend £250-£300 per month for 2 of us. I thought we'd spend less than £200 when we first moved out, and it's probably doable but too much hassle for me to plan everything!

Make sure you have some left over if you can because it's no fun having to watch every penny you spend.

Pete9501

Gas and electric if mains supplies will probably £1000 - £1200 for a 3 bed semi. Slightly less if smaller and you are on your own.

You haven't considered food costs, say £70 a week. Council tax bands are published on your council's website and vary alot. Worth looking up water costs too as they also vary alot, ask anyone in the south west

Forget the mobile phone insurance you can't afford that in the first couple of years. However, you must have buildings insurance and strongly recommend contents which is cheap enough. Suggest you choose a sim only mobile contract soonest as expensive contracts won't be affordable.

You really do have to skimp and save during the first couple of years to buy pots and pans, hoover and well it just goes on and on.

Pete

dktreesea

If you are looking to furnish your new place, I'm not sure where you are in Norfolk, but there are several good auction houses in that neck of the woods that may be worth a visit.


This one has a really good website where they post photos of everything they are selling.
http://www.thesalerooms.co.uk/General%20Auction/General%20Auction.html

looknohands

Currently paying £350 for everything you've listed. That's for a 2 bedroom terrace house band B council tax. We rent washing machine too. Be sure to shop around for electricity & Gas supplier, you can always get a cheaper deal. a water meter is good if it doesn't have it, ours didn't and we were paying a fixed £550 a year, with a meter it's £25 a month now. Not sure if you can get it installed without landlords permission, we got ours without telling landlord but ours didn't mind.

fuzzyduck22

Jmoo wrote: »

So I'm not sure entirely what I should be considering here, so any tips and advice much appreciated. What sort of costs can I expect from moving into my own place (by myself)?

Council Tax
Heating/Gas
Electricity
Water
TV License / Sky or YouView
Broadband
Mobile Phone
Insurance?

What's the average for utility bills?

Rent :rotfl:

I highly recommend quidco/topcashback etc for finding your insurances/sky/utilities etc, sometimes they offers are fab! The cashback I got on my pet insurance was more than the years policy.

Charity shops can be great for furniture, some but may need a lick of paint but you can get wardrobes, drawers etc for next to nothing. x

looknohands

Are you renting btw? If you are you don't need buildings insurance. Just contents which should be very cheap. Some bank accounts offer mobile insurance, Breakdown cover and home emergency which is quite handy. Key broke in lock and used my home emergency to get in just last month and have had three phone screens repaired after cracking them! Usually costs a tenner a month for the account.

Jmoo

I will be renting yes. It would be a 1-bedroom flat/house (still looking!) so fully expect it to be in Council Tax Band A.

looknohands

Yes it will be very cheap than the figures I gave, also make sure you sign up for single person discount for the council tax! (If you're living on your own)

ManuelG

Add travel costs to work?

It affected where I lived when I moved to London. Meant I could afford a far higher rent by living within walking distance.