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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you consider 25k a year a low income for a single person?

65 replies

Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:19

Outside of London.
It's not even 25, it's 24.8k.

This is for a single person living alone.

OP posts:
titchy · 03/08/2024 10:59

Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:46

Mid 30s, mortgage and bills comes to just under 900 a month.

So presumably you're managing then? And you're on the property ladder which is great. In which case it's ok.

Unless you're very highly qualified / skilled and working a 60 hour week (junior doctor, criminal barrister) in which case it's awful. But if you're only educated to GCSE level and it's an unskilled job (carer, retail) it's reasonable.

Original poster
Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:56

My mortgage and all bills, CT, service charge etc. Come to £900 ISH a month.

The remaining £825 is for savings, credit card repayments, food, transport, toiletries, phone bill, gym, medication, clothes and anything else.

OP posts:
JC03745 · 03/08/2024 10:55

If it was my 1st job after school/uni, it would be ok as a starter. Mid 30's, I was on nearly 3x that, so yes, I would say its low. BUT- your lifestyle, mortgage, expenses will be very different to mine when I was that age. I was also in central London.

Are you struggling financially on that wage? Could you take in a lodger? Any career options to earn more?

Prawncow · 03/08/2024 10:52

As someone has said, minimum wage on a 40 hour week is £23,795 so you’re on £1k pa more than minimum wage.

ShouldhavebeencalledAppollo · 03/08/2024 10:49

It depends.

I live in an area where you could get a small house or flat on that wage.

it also depends what you do and hours. Part time entry level admin - it’s a good wage. Full time mid level management and it’s not.

Original poster
Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:46

Mid 30s, mortgage and bills comes to just under 900 a month.

OP posts:
ViciousCurrentBun · 03/08/2024 10:43

It is not high but context is everything. What age and stage of life are you ?

My friend has an income of about this and is close to retirement but she has paid off her mortgage.

blackcatsarethebestcats · 03/08/2024 10:38

I would, yes. I earned this in my mid 20s and it wasn’t loads even living in a house share.

Bloodyredface · 03/08/2024 10:31

Yes, I would.

Changingname1988 · 03/08/2024 10:29

It depends completely on your outgoings, particularly housing costs. I lived alone and paid my mortgage, household bills and to run a car on £19k in 2021. However my mortgage was low and my house was small, so bills were lower. I didn’t have any other debt to service. That is also prior to the huge increases in bills and food over the past couple of years.

Whether a lower than average income is enough or not really does depend on your essential costs.

Twinklefloss · 03/08/2024 10:25

Well, yes, it pretty much works out to the national minimum wage annualised doesn’t it? It was what I was on 25 years ago and I lived in a flat share - would have been tough living alone on that then, even more so now.

Original poster
Geraldinefox · 03/08/2024 10:24

We are due an increase of up to £70 per month after tax, but it could be lower.

I think it's relatively low if you want to live in a flat or home, not a houseshare or bedsit.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 03/08/2024 10:24

I wouldn’t say it’s really low but it is relatively low if that has to fund 100% of a house, bills etc it would be tight.

Lj8893 · 03/08/2024 10:22

its relatively low yes. But depends on what the salary prospects are, how likely will that increase?

TinyYellow · 03/08/2024 10:21

Not particularly low, no. But your post needs context.

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