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Original poster

How long would it take you to save this amount?

105 replies

Nobulling · 28/12/2025 08:49

A friend of mine had done work done in her house (a new house purchase) I could really do with similar. So I asked how much it cost out of interest. The total price was 8k…she then said but it’s not too bad as we paid the first half when we ordered in August and by Oct when they were booking fitting we had saved the other half’s anyway. So that’s 3 months pay MAX depending on how dates fall. I was thinking ok…well I’m not getting this job done it would take me FOREVER to save 4k not 3months! Surely this is unrealistic! How long would it take you to get 4k together?

OP posts:
DisappointedD · 28/12/2025 11:50

Just a couple of years ago it would have taken us probably a year so save that, a couple of years before that we wouldn’t have been able to save at all. We are now in a very fortunate position that we save £1k a month from my salary and £100pw from DHs salary. So probable similar time to your friend. We are currently renting though with the intention to buy early next year, I imagine once we have the mortgage it will reduce to £500pm from mine and still £100pw from DHs.

TidyDancer · 28/12/2025 11:49

I have it already but if I had to start from scratch then I could do it in three months if I spent not a single penny on anything other than bills. Realistically it would be more like five months comfortably.

Cat1504 · 28/12/2025 11:41

I have it already…but it would take 2 months to save ( 2 pay dates)

TartanMammy · 28/12/2025 11:40

We could get it together in 3-4 months if we stopped everything else, no mortgage overpayments, no holidays, no meals out etc. if it was regular saving alongside our usual spending it would probably take a couple of years.

We have done it before when hit with a big unexpected cost like a new boiler or car written off. We are low-average earners.

LittleOddSock · 28/12/2025 11:39

We have it available if needed now.

To save now, a few months if we really tightened our belts.

PhantomOfAllKnowledge · 28/12/2025 11:37

I have savings already but if I wanted to save 4k for a particular purpose I think I could do it in about 6 months providing I was disciplined and avoided unnecessary expenses.

TalulahJP · 28/12/2025 11:36

£4k would take me a year and a half. if i had no other debt. but as i do i would have to say about five years.

speakingofart · 28/12/2025 11:31

4 months assuming I used my normally monthly saving amount - honestly though for something like this I have a house maintenance fund saved so would use that and then save it back

BillieWiper · 28/12/2025 11:28

I've never had that amount so probably never! If I pooled all my birthday and Xmas gift money and saved maybe twenty quid a month, I guess about six and a half years?!

BootsIO3 · 28/12/2025 11:25

We put aside 1k each per month & put 30% of our salary’s in pension

Toothfairy89 · 28/12/2025 11:18

We could save it in 2 months. If we needed to I could take on extra work, cut back and probably do it in 1 if we were in a dire situation

But this question is how long is a peice of string. We are well paid but neither of us do outlandish jobs, our mortgage is sensible and we don't have Dc (yet). Lots and lots of jobs will pay enough to save 1k each a month and lots of people will have small mortgages or even no mortgage/little outgoings. But obviously lots and lots wont. It's neither shocking that people can save 4k in 3 months or shocking that people can't save it in a year.

Makingpeace · 28/12/2025 11:08

GreyCloudsLooming · 28/12/2025 09:19

How can you possibly say you are not high earners while casually dropping in that you have a household income of 80k?!!

Show quote history

Average UK salary is about 37-39k. So, for two average earners that would be about 74-78k.

Would we say that 80k per annum is significantly higher than 78k per annum?

RightOnTheEdge · 28/12/2025 11:06

It would take me years. Ive never had anywhere near £4k in savings. Right now I have £82 in my savings account.

I had managed to save about £800 over this year but it got wiped out by car repairs, my kids' birthdays and Christmas.

I earn in a month what some people are saving 😂

Waitingfordoggo · 28/12/2025 10:57

Me personally, about four months. But quicker if OH was contributing too. That would probably mean no savings for anything else though, so it would definitely have to be a cheap year in terms of holidays and treats.

Clockyclockz · 28/12/2025 10:54

To save 2.5k? 2-3 months without any changes. 1 month cutting back.

TimetodoEverything · 28/12/2025 10:33

GreyCloudsLooming · 28/12/2025 10:32

No it’s not. It’s either one person earning about 130k or two earning 51k to take home 80k.

Show quote history

She didn’t say take home of £80k she said household income of £80k.

GreyCloudsLooming · 28/12/2025 10:32

TimetodoEverything · 28/12/2025 09:28

That’s two people earning uk median wage (plus £1k each).

Edited
Show quote history

No it’s not. It’s either one person earning about 130k or two earning 51k to take home 80k.

awrbc81 · 28/12/2025 10:06

About 6 months assuming DH was contributing too and we weren’t using any savings we already had

DaffodilValley · 28/12/2025 09:53

My salary is £1000 a month, I would never be able to save £8000 because I need every penny I earn just to live.

If I have an emergency I have to use a credit card.
I’m utterly astonished by the people on this thread saying they aren’t high earners on £50k+.

Charlize43 · 28/12/2025 09:52

14 years.

But I am 58 and soon to be 59 and due to retire in 8 years time.

BadgernTheGarden · 28/12/2025 09:47

KingOfPoundbury · 28/12/2025 08:56

One is puzzled by the concept of saving.

If I need a bit more 'dosh' I would tell the Government that I would be paying a reduced amount of tax this year. Or no Captial Gains, or no Inheritance.There are lots if different ones that I can chose not to pay.

Good luck with that! HMRC are not to be messed with!

Cel77 · 28/12/2025 09:46

Ah ah, we own our place but have no savings whatsoever to have "work" done.

Don't assume from your small circle of acquaintances that this is the case for everyone.

RawBloomers · 28/12/2025 09:43

KingOfPoundbury · 28/12/2025 08:56

One is puzzled by the concept of saving.

If I need a bit more 'dosh' I would tell the Government that I would be paying a reduced amount of tax this year. Or no Captial Gains, or no Inheritance.There are lots if different ones that I can chose not to pay.

You’re paying inheritance tax? Change your accountant!

FunnyOrca · 28/12/2025 09:43

Three months

MightyGoldBear · 28/12/2025 09:42

About 2.5 years with nothing else cropping up in that time. That would be no holidays no hobbies just essential living.
I'm trying to save up for around 10 grand for reconstructive surgery that the NHS deem as cosmetic. I can't ever get there because the car will need repairs, a white good needs replacing/boiler/heating. Something always crops up. It feels selfish to put my children through a life of bare minimum just so I'm not in pain anymore.

I've got family members who can not fathom that not everyone has lots of savings or disposable income. Whilst they buy a 3rd 60 grand car.

So no op I think most people can't save at all or it takes them years.