02-05-2013, 11:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-05-2013, 11:10 AM by sweeney1987.)
(01-05-2013, 08:47 AM)C.A.R. Wrote: I know right? I thought as much, life shouldn't be this tough, I know the national average is something like 26.5k, but monthly outgoings are sky high!A lot?? should be all!! especially if youre birds a full time mum, also if youre not bringing a packed lunch to work then you cant complain, its an unreal money saver!
On 25k the monthly take-home after tax / NI is ~ 1640. I have the following outgoings which can't be helped -
Rent - 715
Cncl Tax - 129
Leccy bill - 95 (pay quarterly)
Phone / internet bill - 30
Mobile x 2 @ 20 each - 40 (this is pissing cheap for 2 contracts!)
Car ins. - 55
Credit cards - 70ish (this is minimum payment, interest free!)
Adding it all up and thinking "heh, there's still 500 quid in the kitty" but this has to pay for shopping, fuel, car maintenance etc. It's not like we live in luxury either, we make a lot of meals ourselves and Florences' food is home-made, not those expensive jars / pots / pouches.
Life, eh?
Really cant see how you cant budget to be honest, me and the girlfriend ca live off €25 food per week, eating healthy and meat every dinner, fuel is a killer, get an xud and veg it... or be very careful with economy, no heavy right foot.
Children are expensive but youre choice so dont complain about benefits.
Although if i had my way anyone on benefits with no work for more than a year would be consigned to bread and water, see how long it takes them to try find work then....
Maintenance on car shouldnt be too bad, try save a bit each week for when something does go wrong.
And if its really that bad then get your missus to get a part time job on evenings/weekends, no childcare costs and will dig you out of a hole to build up capital / save for a deposit so youre paying your own mortgage instead of someone elses...