To wonder how people are coping?

Me and my DH earn 60k combined (both on 30k) we have a 3 bed semi in a village in Bedford (so not extortionate but definitely not cheap either) have 3 children 2x cars and holiday 2x a year (nothing too exotic) yet we still go out for dinner once a month, takeaway once a month and the kids want for nothing and we have about £400 left over til payday.

@Onekissisallittakes I don't understand how you stretch your money that far tbh.

I meal plan and portion plan. I mostly shop at Lidl and I get offers in other supermarkets. I’m also coeliac so some things like pasta are more expensive for me. But we manage on what is set out. Also mine are 12 and 10 so don’t eat LOADS, I will increase it as the get older more than likely.

a very reasonable budget.
in our case we lose the child benefit and add +2k for nursery fees... 😫
I look forward to this expense ending as we don't intend to do private school.

As I said those with lower incomes seem to get it right and manage to still live a nice lifestyle.

My house was 9° last winter, OP. How's yours?

@Statsquestion1 your budgeting is good, I can't get expenses that low. Food is the biggest change, 2 growing dc eating me out of house & home.

I agree with everything you said in the post but I can't take you seriously when you bring 170k combined a year. I'm just absolutely baffled.

Me and my DH earn 60k combined (both on 30k) we have a 3 bed semi in a village in Bedford (so not extortionate but definitely not cheap either) have 3 children 2x cars and holiday 2x a year (nothing too exotic) yet we still go out for dinner once a month, takeaway once a month and the kids want for nothing and we have about £400 left over til payday. So how is it we can afford Disney plus and netflix and you can't? Something is seriously wrong with your spending or you have shit load of debt you would rather not say about.

You and the op need lessons on how to budget by those less fortunate because they are doing fine.

This attitude is so reductive. Salaries are pretty crap in the uk & inflation has rocketed.

A salary of 170k just 5 years ago needs to be nearly 220k now to keep pace with inflation.

Call me cynical - no replies and this is your sole thread OP!

Agree.

Are you putting extra money into pension each month or have expensive cars on finance, or have a high number of kids in private school? Need more info.

Mine do activities that are very cheap thank god. Although if they wanted to do something else I would absolutely pay.

I agree.

You and the op need lessons on how to budget by those less fortunate because they are doing fine.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the socioeconomic scale, plebians are genuinely struggling.
But, always interesting to hear how the 'other half' live.

Curious how much the mortgage is and price of home when bought and price if currently evaluated

Good luck 🤞

Similar income, we are same OP and considering removing kid from private school, gone are the days of splashy waitrose shops, we do sainsbury’s these days, holiday and clothes budgets cut also, it’s vinted for us and the prep school 2nd hand shop. The UK sucks doesn’t it?

Can’t be bothered to read the thread but this is a wind up, guessing someone who is bored whilst the kids are at school.

@Statsquestion1 I assumed you earned 60k each & deducted pensions plus forgot about child benefit.

You are lucky to spend so little on dc. Mine have a few extracurriculars at schools & outside which adds up to at least double what you spend.

I don’t understand these posts at all. I’m on minimum wage, can buy nice food and went on holiday this year. How on earth are you struggling.

As others have queried, is your mortgage huge? We're earning considerably less than that between us and whilst definitely feeling the huge increase in the cost of living I don't think we're at the point of having to excessively cut things from our budget. We don't have kids in private schools though, and own two cars which aren't old but also aren't brand new and definitely not top of the range. We are in the North of England too though so appreciate if you're in London area then we might be worlds apart.

My household income is a quarter of yours. I have had 2 holidays abroad and another booked before the end of the year. I dont waste my money and overpay my mortgage on a small flat in a cheap area. I drive an 11 year old car and buy/sell clothes on Vinted. I feel like I spend my money carefully, looking for deals holidays are something I value spending my money on so I make other choices about car, home, clothes etc

Well - the Disney bit is stupid.

But my nursery is now £2,200 and mortgage is c. £3,000 (small terrace).

Add council tax etc and I’m looking at north of £6,000 a month to cover my direct debits.

Which is quite a scary sum..! Couple in a terraced house with a baby, nothing out of the ordinary really, just in London.

The issue isn't income, it's about what that income affords & because house prices are so distorted that income doesn't go where you expect it to.

This is our budget. It’s based off of our pay with no overtime (we can sometimes have an extra 4-500.
Me 3100
DP 4100
CB 280
Total 7480
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: 160
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: 200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: 60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): 60
Personal spends: 200 x 2 = 400
Total Entertainment: 730
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: 2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): 500
Clothing: 200
Miscellaneous buffer: 300
Total Savings & Misc.: 3,000
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: 7,480

I don't see why it matters if you have 'diaposable' income left after you have a fantastic house, schools, holidays etc. That's what you chose to spend the money on. It was disposable - and now it's been disposed of. If that means a less extravagant Christmas, that's a choice, not a necessity.