To ask how much of this you should/could save?

Terrazzomazzo · 2025-10-21T09:56:45+00:00

After putting 1400 towards bills into the joint account. I have approximate 1800 left. Settle an argument…How much of this would you expect to save? it is used to cover miscellaneous expenditure - coffees, lunches, kids treats, kids clothing, pocket money and fuel for one car.

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 18:27

I might try to increase the savings to 900 and then when my wage increases in April I will save the difference again. No harm i suppose.

OP posts:

FancyCatSlave · 21/10/2025 18:18

Half roughly.

Cat1504 · 21/10/2025 18:17

£1000

ThisGentleRaven · 21/10/2025 18:15

Ineffable23 · 21/10/2025 18:06

In what world is enough savings to pay for 4 new cars plus a new boiler not plenty, given her partner also has savings?

I am not saying one shouldn't save more - for early retirement, or to move house or whatever. But it's not a level where one shouldn't be living as well as saving.

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it's all relative.

If you think about kids going to Uni, helping with their first deposit, cars, etec..and your retirement and everything else, the price of a boiler and a couple of cars won't take you far.

Nothing wrong, but "plenty" is not something I would use.

Ineffable23 · 21/10/2025 18:06

childofthe607080s · 21/10/2025 13:04

A new boiler would be ? 8k
a new to you second hand car could be 15k
that’s not huge savings for major expenses

In what world is enough savings to pay for 4 new cars plus a new boiler not plenty, given her partner also has savings?

I am not saying one shouldn't save more - for early retirement, or to move house or whatever. But it's not a level where one shouldn't be living as well as saving.

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 17:56

bumbaloo · 21/10/2025 17:11

And your attitude is appropriate. Died she think you should just buy whatever you like? You’d end up with no savings.

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I’m sure she doesn’t but I can see she wants me to just get something if I like it. I tend to admire something, look at the price and swiftly change my mind which she thinks is bonkers sometimes.

OP posts:

bumbaloo · 21/10/2025 17:12

tell her that the lamp brings you less pleasure than the sense of security does.

bumbaloo · 21/10/2025 17:11

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 12:37

I will sometimes say, oh I can’t do that yes, or we will be shopping and she will see a nice lamp etc for the new house and I will say, no it’s too expensive (house items I will half with DP anyway) but even a jumper etc. I sometimes won’t justify a large price.

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And your attitude is appropriate. Died she think you should just buy whatever you like? You’d end up with no savings.

Seeingadistance · 21/10/2025 17:07

You sound more financially sensible than your mum. I just wouldn’t discuss it with her any more.

verycloakanddaggers · 21/10/2025 16:05

Stop discussing it with your mum. There's no correct answer, so you just have to phrase any answers as personal choice not right/wrong.

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 14:10

ThisGentleRaven · 21/10/2025 13:32

You sound very sensible

Ignore your mum, it's terrible to try to push you to make unnecessary purchase you are not interested in.

Put it another way: you are in debts (most of us are 😂) Your mortgage is a debt. Saving as much as you possibly can, while having a life, is more than sensible.

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if I think about the mortgage too much I may cry 😂 but I know what you mean. I feel like I do save enough but I may try to save a bit more and rest myself.

OP posts:

ThisGentleRaven · 21/10/2025 13:32

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 12:37

I will sometimes say, oh I can’t do that yes, or we will be shopping and she will see a nice lamp etc for the new house and I will say, no it’s too expensive (house items I will half with DP anyway) but even a jumper etc. I sometimes won’t justify a large price.

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You sound very sensible

Ignore your mum, it's terrible to try to push you to make unnecessary purchase you are not interested in.

Put it another way: you are in debts (most of us are 😂) Your mortgage is a debt. Saving as much as you possibly can, while having a life, is more than sensible.

FullOfMomsense · 21/10/2025 13:30

£800 into savings pot, £200 into a rainy day pot that you can dip into as and when needed or for unexpected things (even just impromptu dinners out)

GrinchWithAConscience · 21/10/2025 13:24

£800

iamnotalemon · 21/10/2025 13:23

If you are happy with what you are saving and don’t feel like you are restricted, that’s all that matters. I have a decent amount of savings (to buy a house) but that doesn’t mean that I’ll waste my money and spend it on things I deem as unnecessary or not worth the value, whereas I have friends that think I’m mad. They have a completely different attitude to me but that’s fine.

CarpetKnees · 21/10/2025 13:15

I'd be making sure we'd got savings for longer term things - holidays, one day having to replace the heating system or the roof, replacing the car when needed, etc, maybe thinking about savings for the dc if they go to University, and then to help them with a deposit for their first property, etc., and then I'd be overpaying the mortgage.

I wouldn't be looking for things to spend it on 'just because it was there'.

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 13:06

childofthe607080s · 21/10/2025 13:04

A new boiler would be ? 8k
a new to you second hand car could be 15k
that’s not huge savings for major expenses

Yes which is why I add to it as much as I can.

I would like to get my emergency fund to 2k and keep adding to the 70k as much as I can.

OP posts:

ishimbob · 21/10/2025 13:05

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 13:04

He is involved, I just don’t get maintenance. He has them 50% of the time, but he earns slightly more. We halve costs big costs. Uni is accounted for as the have a trust from ex dh family.

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Ah ok, sorry for misunderstanding

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 13:04

ishimbob · 21/10/2025 13:01

Given what you have said about the kids and the uninvolved ex, I wouldn't ease off the savings, if you need to put the kids through university, the current student finance rules will mean you are expected to contribute quite heavily

He is involved, I just don’t get maintenance. He has them 50% of the time, but he earns slightly more. We halve costs big costs. Uni is accounted for as the have a trust from ex dh family.

OP posts:

childofthe607080s · 21/10/2025 13:04

A new boiler would be ? 8k
a new to you second hand car could be 15k
that’s not huge savings for major expenses

Original poster

Terrazzomazzo · 21/10/2025 13:02

SkipAd · 21/10/2025 12:46

On threads like these, I always wonder what the savings are for?
As in, if you really want a jumper but don’t buy it as you’d rather put the money ‘into savings’ is that so you can buy jumpers in the future, or so you can have money for Christmas or can put it towards a bigger house in the future or for your retirement?
What I was saving for would impact how much I put into savings out of any amount.

My savings accounts are
emergency fund- this is at just over 1.5k
car-for anything car related - at about 1k
main Savings - nearly 70k. I don’t know what this is for tbh…
myself and dh have a holiday fund also

@childofthe607080s i do have income protection etc.

OP posts:

ishimbob · 21/10/2025 13:01

Given what you have said about the kids and the uninvolved ex, I wouldn't ease off the savings, if you need to put the kids through university, the current student finance rules will mean you are expected to contribute quite heavily

childofthe607080s · 21/10/2025 13:00

Also I don’t think it’s just “you have to save for a purpose”. Saving for the purpose you don’t know you have yet is fine

I people just think “you have to spend for a purpose “ where “that’s nice” or “because I like it” isn’t a purpose

it’s just one of the ways people are wired differently

flutterby1 · 21/10/2025 12:59

What are you saving towards ?

childofthe607080s · 21/10/2025 12:52

Big things to save for include losing your job, big holidays , early retirement , bigger home

middle things include household repairs , replacement white goods and cars , Christmas, normal holidays

as a general rule if you don’t want something that much, wait till you do.

in my case - rather than buy something that’s nice , I’ll buy something I just love.