Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How much do you need to earn for 3 kids?

581 replies

Allthegoodnamesaregonegone · 07/10/2024 09:58

When you don’t live in London and have very average expenses?

for arguments sake, I googled and saw the average mortgage is £1400
average heating for 4/5 people is £200 a month (British Gas website)

assume no ‘bad debts’ and no private school

id love another kid, if possible, but I do see on here often on the cost of a third and that being a large factor, so I’d like to understand what is the amount people think you need to earn pre tax to live comfortably with 3.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Original poster
Allthegoodnamesaregonegone · 07/10/2024 10:08

So we’re more in line with the ‘average’ mortgage, ours is £1300 a month, bills slightly less than average.

so would stand to reason our income probably needs to be double yours?

OP posts:
budgiegirl · 07/10/2024 10:07

Hard to say, but we have an income of around £3600 per month (net, between us) and have brought up 3 kids (now all young adults). We managed fairly comfortably on this, had some foreign holidays and some camping holidays, car loans, paid for cheap clubs (football, scouts etc). We were able to cover costs for the kids such as mobile phones, some driving lessons (but some they had to pay for themselves), some support at uni (only the youngest went though). But our mortgage was fairly small (£600pm), and we don't have expensive tastes - pub meals out rather than fancy restaurant, clothes from Sainsbury's/Next rather than high end etc.

Of course, almost everything is much more expensive now, so I'd say that another grand per month on top of what we had would give a similar lifestyle now.

Dumptytree · 07/10/2024 10:03

It depends if you can reduce expenses and what type of lifestyle you are happy with. 50k total gross household income is doable but tight, no foreign holidays, vinted clothing, much mortgage less than 600, old house we are doing up slowly ourselves. Lots of home cooking.

We dont have 3 yet but are planning on it. We know we won't be able to help them in the way some can so hope to increase earnings as we go but its a very loving and very comfortable family. Never worry about food on the table or debts.

Soitis83 · 07/10/2024 10:03

DH is on 33k a year, I'm currently a SAHM with 3 under 5. We do absolutely fine, but saying that, our mortgage is only 300.

Original poster
Allthegoodnamesaregonegone · 07/10/2024 10:01

speedmop · 07/10/2024 09:58

too many questions

so i’ll bow put 😆

Wasn’t it just the one? How much do you believe one needs to earn to afford 3 kids comfortably? 😀

OP posts:
speedmop · 07/10/2024 09:58

too many questions

so i’ll bow put 😆