40 grand a year

We are north west (not city) and our household income is similar after tax and we live very comfortably. (No dog) we technically use my wage for the luxuries like holidays trips treats etc.

we have a mortgage for a 3 bed property in a nice safe area, two cars (one finance) we’ve been to Dubai and Spain this year alone plus small trips in between. Our DD only just started school in September so had nursery bills before then. DD does 3 activities a week.

I think it all depends location, how you manage money and what’s important to you in life. I know people who have a lot less and they struggle but manage as they have to what other options do they have.

£40k after tax I’d say if pretty good, so £3,333 a month which is maybe around £55k gross?

That’s good and above average by quite a bit.

@Rav3 sorry I just think people like yourself are bad at budgeting.

I hear you @Okonomoyaki it is all about how you interpret comfortable, which to me implies you live a life beyond having to choose between heating and food and that you are quite comfortable with what you can afford.

Personally, I would want more than a long haul every 5 years, so personally despite appreciating it's not on the breadline, wouldn't be comfortable with only two European city breaks.... maybe sounds bonkers to most but that's my opinion and the beauty of forums like this is the variety of perspectives.

I work 1.5 jobs (full time job plus 3-4 night shifts a week with part time job) and am on a little bit more than that, 47k last year. My partner also works and is on about the UK average wage.

and no, you can’t. And I don’t want to cause offence I know there is people worse off than me. And I own my own home, so actually am going to be paying ‘less’ per month than you are.

We go on a nice holiday every other year, we can go out to a nice restaurant once a month, or we can have a take away once a week, the kids get to go their hobbies etc. But we have nothing left at the end of the month! Like literally nothing…

"In the war ......"
All relevant in terms of lifestyle.

Yes you can manage. Comfortable for many people in the UK means pretty well off e.g. holidays abroad, meals out, children attending lots of after school activities. So by that definition, you will not be comfortable.

Someone with a household income of £80k and who can afford to go abroad twice a year is not someone I would say is struggling.

£1500, for rent, out of a monthly income of £3333 is quite high. I don't know about council tax costs in the south west, but if they are similar to up north, and then adding on all other bills, that could be about £600. That leaves £1233 for food, transport and anything else like savings and socialising.

We don't earn as much as that and get by fine. Larger family too. I really don't understand people who say they are struggling when they are on £40k plus. What the hell are you spending money on, especially once your child is in school.

Until my partner moved in I was supporting myself and two kids on that before tax, but I own and my mortgage is £1,000 less a month than you’re looking at for rent. So think I would really have had to cut back in your situation. It’s very hard finding places to rent in Cornwall, I feel for you. Places like Camborne and Redruth which are inland are cheaper.

for me , yes certainly

🍪

Depends. Is that 40k after tax? Depends on your outgoings really. If kids in school and don’t do clubs then that 3.3k a month. How much do you spend on rent/food? There probably wouldn’t be much left for fun after that. So yes you can survive but really depends on your outlook on life on what needs to be spent on?

It really isn’t worth as I’m not about to change my mind that the cost of running white goods is anything like the equivalent of going on holiday several times a year because it just really, really isn’t. If you genuinely think it is and it’s just about priorities then we can agree to disagree.

Totally do-able. May be a bit hard to save for emergencies and camping only holidays but should be fine.

As others have already said, I think it's all relative/subjective, because "good" and "comfortable" mean different things to different people... I guess the key thing is probably to figure out what those things mean to you and then figure out a plan to achieve (or perhaps mitigate current circumstances) if not within reach already.

How utterly absurd, unaware and self important you are. Don't even pretend you've caught me out with your "utter bollocks" statement. I don't burn cash on a drier as we didn't prioritise a drier as they are absurdly expensive, I'd rather spend money elsewhere and we lacked space. If you are offering to remodel my kitchen, go ahead, I'd be delighted (although feel you'd have atrocious taste)

Honestly please keep going with this nonsense as this is hilarious.

So you burning cash on drying clothes etc is a luxury to me. It's about priorities

Just to make it clear this is the comment that’s caused me to say you need to get a grip. Nothing to do with the original post but a ridiculous suggestion from you that you can go on holidays due to “different priorities” than someone running a dryer. It’s utter rubbish. You can go on holidays because you have got the money for it because you earn a lot more than average. We do too but I’m well aware we are fortunate to do so. Seems you are also talking utter bollocks generally as you previously didn’t burn cash on the luxury of a dryer but apparently now don’t have room for one (by the way you absolutely do unless you are operating without a washing machine as well since you could get an integrated one like ours)

When we relocated we went basic until we got the lay of the land, jobs etc.

2 bed terrace, 600 pcm. No car, found somewhere commutable. Bills another £500.

don’t forget you’ll have your rental income as well- what will your house rent for?

I haven't denied people earn less, however the question was about being comfortable.
I live without appliances you rely on as my kitchen is too small for them, but you claim I need to get ta grip when you clearly have space for a dishwasher AND a drier.
Maybe you need to get a grip about your privilege

Rent in Cornwall, especially anywhere coastal, is way of control vs wages, and it's not getting better. Unfortunately you have to factor in that it's not unusual for landlords to switch to Airbnb here & turf tenants out - so security is quite low. House prices, to buy, are outrageous, there's no other way of saying it.

Public transport where you're looking to be is about as good as it gets down here so long as you aren't in one of the small villages, but a car is a necessity, not a luxury.

Water rates are highest in the country - so much so that we all get £50 off our bills a year from the government & we are STILL significantly more expensive than anywhere else.
Fuel costs are markedly more expensive than up-country.
We've one major hospital for the entire county that is never not on its knees.
The population doubles over the summer months & travelling around then is a nightmare.
There. Are. No. Dentists.

BUT - the crime rates are embarrassingly low, the air quality is fantastic & the wellbeing is second to none despite the fact most of us are skint most of the time :)

We also have our own weather system here, that's always fun.

You'll manage on whatever your income is if this is what you really want to do. We manage on less than your projected with 3 kids (2 resident), 3 dogs & 2 cat but our mortgage is a 3rd of that rent.

I retired recently but I never earned as much as 40k a year in my whole life, so I'd have to say it is a decent wage!

Oh seriously get a grip. You earn a lot more than average. Things have got a lot more expensive of late so unsurprising it’s noticeable to you but people being worse off than you is not just priorities. We earn less than double that net and manage to cover thee cost of both holidays & appliances. The appliances cost very very little vs the holidays

have you tried asking your family about bills in the UK rather than mumsnet? Also you need to be really clear that its 40K AFTER TAX. that's quite different to a salary of 40K. I'd update your original post as you're not being very clear at all.