Moving out

bethanymcteare

Hello everyone, me (20) and my partner (22) are wanting to move out of his parents' house and find our own accommodation. We're looking at renting but we're just looking for some help budgeting. What are the monthly bills that we will need to account for and on average, how much do these bills cost you. I'm fully aware that bills vary per location etc but as I said we're just looking for an average. If anyone could help or has some advice it would be greatly appreciated. 

Many Thanks,
Bethany 

blue.peter

I'm not at all sure that it'll be of much help to you, but what I pay each month (3-bed semi, band D, Salisbury)

• Gas & electricity - £300 (ought to be less; I really don't understand why this house is so expensive to heat)
• Phone landline & Internet - £27 (second year of a 2-year deal)
• Water & sewerage - £62
• Council Tax - £137 (this is with a single-person discount; it'd be £183 for two or more people living at one address)
• Food - £200 (for one person)
• Mobile phone - but I expect that you're already paying this.
  

I've no idea what rent you should expect to pay, but that will be immediately apparent from the property details.

You'll need to check with the letting agent about the insurance situation. I think that buildings insurance will be included in the rent, but you'll probably need your own contents insurance (another £120/year?). The letting agent will be able to tell you what the council tax will be, or at least the band. The local council will be able to tell you the tax rates for each band. You might well find that the landlord dictates which energy supplier you use. (When I had to rent a house for a few months, I was required to deal with one particular supplier - and found them a nightmare!)

If you're renting unfurnished, there'll be some capital expenditure on furniture (bed, sofa, table, chairs etc) and furnishings (bedlinen, cushions, towels etc), unless you already have some or can scrounge. These can be very expensive. Don't forget the smaller things, like crockery, cutlery, saucepans. If there's a garden to take care of, you might need things like a lawnmower or hedge trimmer. If you're running a car or cars, don't forget to factor these into your budgeting.

You might find it helpful to read this page (if you haven't already done so). You can download the MSE budget planning spreadsheet from  it, too, and that might be useful.

MovingForwards

Old 2 bed flat in Scotland, gas central heating and electric shower.

Gas and electric under £70pm.
Council tax, incl water £124 for 10 months

Internet £20
Netflix £10
Food £200 for 2 and a pet

You may want to budget for contents insurance about £10pm.

grumbler

MovingForwards said:

Old 2 bed flat in Scotland, gas central heating and electric shower.

Gas and electric under £70pm.
Council tax, incl water £124 for 10 months

Internet £20
Netflix £10
Food £200 for 2 and a pet

You may want to budget for contents insurance about £10pm.

Similar figures here for 2 people in 2-bed mid-townhouse.

No subscriptions and I never bothered to insure content.

Water is about £30 - metered.

Energy about £100 ATM (DD, averaged over a year).

We do pay the TV license - £13.

robatwork

Worth asking his parents as you live with them - what are their monthly costs?

If then for example you're moving from a 3 bed semi to a 2 bed flat, you can approx (and I mean approx) 2/3 the monthly costs. Make sure you shop around rather than go with the same provider you're used to for internet. Sadly all the utility companies are the same, and you get no choice about water, council tax etc.