Page 2 | Whats your disposable income like?

Oglefish95 · 2026-02-09T07:18:46+00:00

Going back to work soon after maternity and have some credit card bills to pay. Ive not really a concept of what I need to live off monthly as my partner has been holding the lion shares of expenses while ive been off. I was aiming to pay £1500 monthly off credit csrds and then have £1000 left to live off (after mortgage/ utilities/ car etc are paid off). I know mumsnet has alot of variety of incomes, I would say ours is just a bit higher than average, nothing crazy. Im asking because ideally id pay off even more of my credit cards monthly if realistic. I dont have loads on them, just 0% rates are running out soon. Its not something I would discuss with friends or family so genuinely wondering what is the norm. Context is 2 kids and live in north East so cost of living isnt too bad. YABU - £1000 is way more than needed YANBU - £1000 is just right (maybe even need more!)

itsthetea · 09/02/2026 08:50

Lifestyle ?

I have a great lifestyle but it doesn’t involve a lot of spending on things or experiences

you seem to equate lifestyle with spending power but that’s buying into one narrow form of lifestyle- do you do a lot of following people and the like? Is your idea of life warped by online rather than reality ?

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 09/02/2026 08:47

Ok you’re clearly not willing to engage on this, but focusing on enjoying life when heavily in debt and in credit cards isn’t a good idea. As to have the debt in the first place it is likely as you already enjoyed it, or you can’t live within your means. So yes, I’d recommended paying as much as possible every single month and getting the debt down.

Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:42

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 09/02/2026 08:31

I also don’t understand op. It’s fine you don’t want to say numbers, but it does make me think it’s not pretty. No one can say what your lifestyle is like, and how much you need and there is no point compari’ng yourself to others.

I personally have a higher disposable income, but it is irrelevant. Someone else will have debt. The fact you’ve credit card debt to the tune of 1500 a month pay off says it’s high, and you’ve been living beyond your means. Do you even have savings? If so how much.

personally I’d focus on paying down your debt.

I do appreciate the sentiment, but as I say just trying to see what lifestyle i can afford really, we have been very frugal while I have been off and I want to enjoy what I earn for once!

The high amount is to try to beat my promotional rate ending which is a couple of months after I return to work 😊

But my savings have been rinsed from 12 months of maternity, so I think your right and that i am feeling financially a bit vulnerable, and I think the frugal life im used to might need to stay about for a bit until I have them back up to where id like them to be.

1000 seems to be plenty and probably not necessary.

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Glittertwins · 09/02/2026 08:41

How do you not know what you have incoming and outgoing? Go through your bills and income and work it out.

Mishmosher · 09/02/2026 08:39

Im not really sure what fun money is. I don’t really buy clothes anymore because I buy good quality stuff that lasts. I don’t do Botox or nails or hair dye etc as thats not really the sort of think I or anyone in my social circle do. We go to the pub sometimes and eat out sometimes and save £3k a month.

If you’re in debt frittering £1k a month away on nonsense seems a crazy way to live.

District66 · 09/02/2026 08:36

-£700 per month

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 09/02/2026 08:36

Romancingthestones · 09/02/2026 08:33

No-one can answer your question really. We don't know your income or the amount of your debt, what your lifestyle is, how much you'd normally spend on yourself a month, how much you want to spend on yourself a month etc. Plus, more importantly, what someone else sees as a reasonable amount is entirely irrelevant to you surely.

Exactly, and how was the debt accrued and why. It’s clearly a large amount, as if this could be paid in a few months it wouldn’t even be a question, so why are you in so much debt. How have you been servicing the debt to date. How long have you had it. Is it living beyond your means ie holidays etc or is it daily life.

you seem to be very focused on how much fun money you have, but in reality your focus should be on just how much debt do you have.

itsthetea · 09/02/2026 08:35

You don’t need to do expensive children’s activities daily or even monthly although with the recent weather I could see swimming and soft play would appeal

but even then I can’t see you getting to 250 a week

I mean putting 100 aside a month for clothes and another 100 for presents and 50 a week for a swimming trip still doesn’t get to 500

Jackiepumpkinhead · 09/02/2026 08:35

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:27

Some of the prices of children's activities are diabolical these days

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Absolutely, plus the price of eating out.

WelcometomyUnderworld · 09/02/2026 08:35

We have about £3k of disposable income between us, but that’s after holidays/savings/significant pension contributions.

But if I was in a partnership with children, I wouldn’t be okay with me and my partner having different levels of fun money. So on your positions I’d either be sharing the £1k with DP/DH, or I’d be putting an extra £400 against my debt so we both have £600 fun money and would cut my cloth accordingly.

Romancingthestones · 09/02/2026 08:33

No-one can answer your question really. We don't know your income or the amount of your debt, what your lifestyle is, how much you'd normally spend on yourself a month, how much you want to spend on yourself a month etc. Plus, more importantly, what someone else sees as a reasonable amount is entirely irrelevant to you surely.

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 09/02/2026 08:31

I also don’t understand op. It’s fine you don’t want to say numbers, but it does make me think it’s not pretty. No one can say what your lifestyle is like, and how much you need and there is no point compari’ng yourself to others.

I personally have a higher disposable income, but it is irrelevant. Someone else will have debt. The fact you’ve credit card debt to the tune of 1500 a month pay off says it’s high, and you’ve been living beyond your means. Do you even have savings? If so how much.

personally I’d focus on paying down your debt.

Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:28

HoskinsChoice · 09/02/2026 08:25

But why ask though? Whether I have £2, £200, £2000 or £20000 in my pocket, it has absolutely no impact on your life.

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I guess im just crazy like that!

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Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:27

Jackiepumpkinhead · 09/02/2026 08:18

Depends how quickly you want to pay the debt off. I have around £900-1000 fun money and I know it’s a decent amount, but it doesn’t go as far now, which is ridiculous.

Some of the prices of children's activities are diabolical these days

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HoskinsChoice · 09/02/2026 08:25

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 07:56

I guess I should of expected these replies on mumsnet with lack of context. I had a wage increase on maternity and prior to it i was saving every penny to have 12 months off so really lived pay check to pay check.

The 1000 is purley for 'fun'. I was tying to get a concept of what people have in there pocket after ALL expenses are paid, im not looking for financial advice although I appreciate peoples well meaning responses ☺️

Edited

But why ask though? Whether I have £2, £200, £2000 or £20000 in my pocket, it has absolutely no impact on your life.

BringBackCatsEyes · 09/02/2026 08:21

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 07:56

I guess I should of expected these replies on mumsnet with lack of context. I had a wage increase on maternity and prior to it i was saving every penny to have 12 months off so really lived pay check to pay check.

The 1000 is purley for 'fun'. I was tying to get a concept of what people have in there pocket after ALL expenses are paid, im not looking for financial advice although I appreciate peoples well meaning responses ☺️

Edited

Yes £1000 a month just for fun is plenty.
That’s a lot of fun.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 09/02/2026 08:18

Depends how quickly you want to pay the debt off. I have around £900-1000 fun money and I know it’s a decent amount, but it doesn’t go as far now, which is ridiculous.

Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:13

RoachFish · 09/02/2026 08:06

Debt makes me super nervous so I would probably keep a couple of hundreds back for fun money, put another couple of hundreds into savings and then pay off the credit card with the rest. I don't see how I could possibly need 1K a month for fun money.

This is my thinking, the debt isnt huge in comparison to wage but its one of those things that niggles away on the back of my mind.

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Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 08:11

DH earns slightly less but bills split pretty equally (I pay spme extras including child care etc to bridge the gap) but he has his own fun money, probably around 600

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Zanatdy · 09/02/2026 08:07

Keep back £250 and rest on debt. Next month you may manage on less.

RoachFish · 09/02/2026 08:06

Debt makes me super nervous so I would probably keep a couple of hundreds back for fun money, put another couple of hundreds into savings and then pay off the credit card with the rest. I don't see how I could possibly need 1K a month for fun money.

Overthebow · 09/02/2026 08:04

Is it £1k a month fun money just for you, or £1k split between you and DH? I’d split and it needs to cover holidays, baby activities, days out, birthdays, Christmas then I would want more, but if it’s just for you then it’s a good amount.

FiveShelties · 09/02/2026 08:00

I think 1000GBP purely for fun each month, would be a very good amount for lots of fun.

Original poster

Oglefish95 · 09/02/2026 07:56

I guess I should of expected these replies on mumsnet with lack of context. I had a wage increase on maternity and prior to it i was saving every penny to have 12 months off so really lived pay check to pay check.

The 1000 is purley for 'fun'. I was tying to get a concept of what people have in there pocket after ALL expenses are paid, im not looking for financial advice although I appreciate peoples well meaning responses ☺️

OP posts:

Moonnstarz · 09/02/2026 07:25

BoxOfCats · 09/02/2026 07:24

You sound like you need a proper budget.

This. And to talk to your partner about costs as it isn't completely clear how the system in your household works regarding splitting bills.