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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you be comfortable with this monthly expenditure

71 replies

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 19:40

Take home after deductions - £2900
Bills (house related and Mortgage) - £1200
Bills (personal-petrol, phone, hair etc) - £200
Food (budget £15 a day so based on 30 day month) - £450
-Social (weekends, new clothes etc) - £250
-Savings/investments - £800

Any critiques welcome - Mortgage is to rise by £200 in August so savings pot will be £600. I feel like I may be being stingy on the social pot…

OP posts:
Morgenrot25 · 29/06/2025 09:08

Pinkdreams · 28/06/2025 21:13

How do you only spend 250 on social 😱

You'll be shocked at how much that amount seems to some of us then. 🫣

Morgenrot25 · 29/06/2025 09:06

Emknewbest · 28/06/2025 20:05

I don’t think £450 for food is a lot. I am jealous of your housing costs, mine are about £2,600

It's a relative.
We eat fairly well, but spend not much more than that for 3 adults.

greencartbluecart · 29/06/2025 09:04

Aldi isn’t shit food though

ut sells fresh fruit and veg . It uses the same meat suppliers as M&S in some cases , it’s preserves had fewer nasties in than anything I could get at sainsburies

Statsquestion1 · 29/06/2025 09:00

Katie717 · 29/06/2025 00:31

Unless you’re very young 1k per month into a pension isn’t really enough.

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I think 1k per month is pushing it tbh I put in ~650 and dp ~900 we’re mid-late 30’s

Katie717 · 29/06/2025 08:57

TwoFeralKids · 29/06/2025 08:49

Most people probably can't afford to put that much in!

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Most people are going to be working until they are very old and/or skint in retirement.

Boredlass · 29/06/2025 08:56

missmollygreen · 28/06/2025 20:10

"cough" humble brag "cough"

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Not everyone wants to eat shit food at Aldi

QforCucumber · 29/06/2025 08:56

Katie717 · 29/06/2025 00:31

Unless you’re very young 1k per month into a pension isn’t really enough.

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This privilege is insane.

Im close to 40, my government auto enrolment basic pension currently sees around £200 a month. And with over 1000 a month in childcare fees and a 1000 a month mortgage it’ll be a long time before my pension sees any more than that.

nmw full time post tax earnings are around 1750 a month - most of the population can’t afford to put more than the basic 5% into a pension they may never even see

greencartbluecart · 29/06/2025 08:55

I’d have more fun spend - 250 normal and then 150 towards holidays say

TwoFeralKids · 29/06/2025 08:49

Katie717 · 29/06/2025 00:31

Unless you’re very young 1k per month into a pension isn’t really enough.

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Most people probably can't afford to put that much in!

Original poster
Gardener85 · 29/06/2025 08:48

Katie717 · 29/06/2025 00:31

Unless you’re very young 1k per month into a pension isn’t really enough.

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I’m mid 30’s and realistically have many years of work ahead of me, based on current value of my pension and projections that monthly amount is ample to get me where I want to be, and contribution will increase with any pay rises too.

OP posts:
Katie717 · 29/06/2025 00:31

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 21:56

Pension contributions are deducted before and employer contribution is quite generous so c1k going into that every month.

Child costs more or less absorbed by CB as it stands.

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Unless you’re very young 1k per month into a pension isn’t really enough.

Lafufufu · 29/06/2025 00:06

Do you consistently have £800 at the end if each month?

I ask as this doesnt seem to account for lots of stuff.

Statsquestion1 · 29/06/2025 00:03

Yes we tend to have one vegetarian meal per week. A veg curry or veggie pasta bake.
other meals we have are
meatballs with pasta
chicken curries - Thai red, green or yellow or Indian butter chicken etc
roast chicken
boiled ham
homemade burgers
lasagne
shepards pie
I use turkey mince and pork mince also which is cheaper.
chicken fillets wrapped in bacon,
homemade pizzas
i grow herbs so I have fresh herbs available.
I don’t pay for eggs as a relative has lots of chickens so gives me at least 6 a week.

Okiedokie123 · 28/06/2025 23:53

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:34

No way could I feed 2 adults and 1 small dog on that for a month, unless it was very unhealthy options and even then I doubt I could.

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In my experience unhealthy options (junk, ready meals, stuff in boxes etc) is a more expensive existence than eating healthily - ie I think cooking fresh fruit and veg from scratch is cheaper! Possibly because Im vegetarian.

Merryoldgoat · 28/06/2025 23:47

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:34

No way could I feed 2 adults and 1 small dog on that for a month, unless it was very unhealthy options and even then I doubt I could.

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Me either. I spend a fortune on food but if I massively economised I can’t imagine getting lower than £600

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 23:09

CarpetKnees · 28/06/2025 22:36

You only pay £26 a week for child care ???

It may just be after school club etc

CarpetKnees · 28/06/2025 22:36

You only pay £26 a week for child care ???

Original poster
Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 21:56

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/06/2025 21:46

If you know those are your costs, and you genuinely have £800 to save every month, then there's no problem. £800 a month will give you a good buffer for new washing machine, holiday etc quickly.

Pension?
Childcare ?

Pension contributions are deducted before and employer contribution is quite generous so c1k going into that every month.

Child costs more or less absorbed by CB as it stands.

OP posts:
Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 21:52

This also doesn’t account for child benefit of €280 per month. It’s a run down of all major expenses. Child benefit is saved for the dc college etc and some months spent on clothing etc if they need a restock

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 21:47

Ablondiebutagoody · 28/06/2025 21:36

You haven't added up education/kids, entertainment/lifestyle, and savings/misc correctly

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You’re right I changed around a few numbers after our new insurance quotes came in…forgot to save it. It’s €160 for education/kids
savings/misc is €3000 and entertainment/lifestyle is €310

we actually take home €200 more than 7k so there’s a bit more floating around there that is misc/not assigned which bugs me as I try to account for everything…but as you know with col and prices etc it’s constantly changing.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/06/2025 21:46

If you know those are your costs, and you genuinely have £800 to save every month, then there's no problem. £800 a month will give you a good buffer for new washing machine, holiday etc quickly.

Pension?
Childcare ?

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:41

Destiny123 · 28/06/2025 21:38

Lidl i spend 200pm for 2 adults including toiletries but we don't drink

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I can’t believe that, £50 a week including toiletries and presumably cleaning materials. Not a chance!

Destiny123 · 28/06/2025 21:38

Mrsttcno1 · 28/06/2025 20:29

I’m amazed by this, where do you shop & what do you buy??

We are 2 adults and a 1 year old and certainly couldn’t get everything for anywhere near that.

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Lidl i spend 200pm for 2 adults including toiletries but we don't drink

Ablondiebutagoody · 28/06/2025 21:36

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 20:41

I wouldn’t consider “hair” a bill I would consider that in the social section I suppose but that’s just me.

this is all too vague for me I would want to see it broken down further

this is ours our income is €7000
Housing
Mortgage: €1900.
Insurances(life, house): €150
Total Housing: €2050
Utilities
Electricity €150
Waste collection: €30
Broadband & TV: €70
Mobile phones x3: €60
Total Utilities: €310
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: €500
Dining out / takeaways: €200
Total Food: €700
Transportation
Fuel: €250
Car insurance & tax: €150
Maintenance & NCT: €100
Public transport / Parking: €20
Total Transport: €520
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: €50
Activities, sports, clubs: €50
Pocket money/treats: €60
Total Kids & Education: €150
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: €200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: €60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): €50
Total Entertainment: €260
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: €2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): €500
Clothing: €200
Miscellaneous buffer: €300
Total Savings & Misc.: €3,010
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: €7,000

You haven't added up education/kids, entertainment/lifestyle, and savings/misc correctly

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:34

Merryoldgoat · 28/06/2025 20:26

£250 a month for 3 people? Is that’s a joke?

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No way could I feed 2 adults and 1 small dog on that for a month, unless it was very unhealthy options and even then I doubt I could.