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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask what you have left monthly after bills?

187 replies

Manth0914 · 23/03/2026 17:23

Hi all, I know this is a VERY broad question but AIBU to ask what you have left each month after all bills. Money you use for food, fuel, clothes and so on? I ask as a single income mum of 2 with a part time job. Just wondering with the way things are how people are getting on?

OP posts:
Blondiney · 23/03/2026 19:13

Around £1500 but I'm saving the majority of that each month to buy a much needed new bathroom. Treats and 'fun' are currently thin on the ground.

Fatiguedwithlife · 23/03/2026 19:09

After mortgage and bills, about £400 left. That’s for food and everything else one adult and 2 DC

FancyCatSlave · 23/03/2026 19:07

Newly single parent who hasn’t moved to new house yet-but I have a budget.

Bills excluding food will be about 30% of my take home salary. I’m deliberately keeping mortgage small.

Statsquestion1 · 23/03/2026 19:07

Torchout · 23/03/2026 19:02

I suspect a lot of these high amounts are pie in the sky dreaming

Show quote history

A lot of these seem fairly normal to me…

Ihateboris · 23/03/2026 19:06

YerMotherWasAHamster · 23/03/2026 19:04

Nothing. Every penny goes on essentials. There is nothing left over for 'fun money'.

I've forgotten what fun is😂

Ihateboris · 23/03/2026 19:05

Torchout · 23/03/2026 19:02

I suspect a lot of these high amounts are pie in the sky dreaming

Show quote history

I selfishly really hope so

LightYearsAgo · 23/03/2026 19:05

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 23/03/2026 18:10

It's a bit of a pointless poll like anything that involves money on MN.

It will disproportionately attract responses from the haves rather than the have nots and have you wondering where you went wrong that you can't afford to buy the kids a new horse each

Edited

It's also completely meaningless even if there was a cross section of responses. The obsession on here with this question that seems to be asked every time i log on is totally baffling to me

YerMotherWasAHamster · 23/03/2026 19:04

Nothing. Every penny goes on essentials. There is nothing left over for 'fun money'.

Torchout · 23/03/2026 19:02

Ihateboris · 23/03/2026 18:52

God, I wish I hadn't opened this thread. 😫 After rent, utilities, insurance, fuel road tax etc, I have about £300 left for food, toiletries and unexpected expenses. I'll be well and truly fucked next month when everything increases. I'm obviously the exception on Mumsnet and not the rule.

I'd seriously consider going on the game if I had the energy and the body. At 56 I don't think anyone would pay to shag me though 😂

I suspect a lot of these high amounts are pie in the sky dreaming

Teenagerantruns · 23/03/2026 18:56

After bills we have £500 a montb for food and everything else. However thats only because my DP had a life changing injury and we are both not working so living on carers and attendance allowance. Thankfully we have savings to see us through. Hopefully l will go back to work in year.

Ihateboris · 23/03/2026 18:52

God, I wish I hadn't opened this thread. 😫 After rent, utilities, insurance, fuel road tax etc, I have about £300 left for food, toiletries and unexpected expenses. I'll be well and truly fucked next month when everything increases. I'm obviously the exception on Mumsnet and not the rule.

I'd seriously consider going on the game if I had the energy and the body. At 56 I don't think anyone would pay to shag me though 😂

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 23/03/2026 18:49

Around £5500 but that’s after bills, not inc savings etc.

usedtobeaylis · 23/03/2026 18:42

Difficult to determine in terms of what counts as a bill but if it helps at the end of the month I usually have about £7 left, no savings. We try to keep food/household products/toiletries to £80 per week, any more than that and I'm goosed.

UnderstatedChaos · 23/03/2026 18:36

After all costs, bills, child related costs (clubs, school related costs, school lunches, uniforms, clothes etc etc), food, eating out, any subscriptions we come out with 3-3.5k to save/spend on whatever we like (usually our children!). Our mortgage is small at the moment, it will shoot up by about 1k when we move to a bigger house (18 months or so) so we won't be feeling quite so plush, we are hoping some career progression will plug the gap somewhat. We feel very comfortable at the moment but we really don't have an extravagant lifestyle. I'm very risk adverse and don't buy things I can't afford.

BaileyHorse · 23/03/2026 18:32

Approx £1500 after all bills including weekly shop paid for

professionalhomebody · 23/03/2026 18:15

After bills we have between £500-£550, that has to buy all food, clothes, travel and any days out or enjoyment costs. Two adults no kids.

TheGoodOnesAreAllGone · 23/03/2026 18:15

About 2.5k, have food and fuel to pay for out of that. 2 adults, 1 child and 2 cats

ilovesooty · 23/03/2026 18:13

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 23/03/2026 18:10

It's a bit of a pointless poll like anything that involves money on MN.

It will disproportionately attract responses from the haves rather than the have nots and have you wondering where you went wrong that you can't afford to buy the kids a new horse each

Edited

Well put.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 23/03/2026 18:10

It's a bit of a pointless poll like anything that involves money on MN.

It will disproportionately attract responses from the haves rather than the have nots and have you wondering where you went wrong that you can't afford to buy the kids a new horse each

Sensiblesal · 23/03/2026 18:10

After all bills, food, savings etc for the month, usually around 1k
I tend to just add it savings or add it to savings and earmark it for something I’m saving for.

sometimes I go wild and do spontaneous trips or buy something not in the general budget, so it definitely can fluctuate slightly

it wasn’t always like this, had a lot of years with too much month at the end of the money so I feel fortunate and grateful for the position I’m in. I still have the too much month mentality for the most part

Didimum · 23/03/2026 18:06

Girasoli · 23/03/2026 17:55

I always find this hard to work out - e.g. do I count the DCs clubs as bills (most are childcare as well as fun), do I count my bus fare (commuting plus socialising) etc.

We're fine for all the big things (bills, kids activities etc) but I do think a bit more carefully about days our these days.

I count everything that is a recurring cost - be that monthly, weekly, quarterly, annually. Obviously some aren’t essential but they’re still regular outgoings.

Mumstheword1983 · 23/03/2026 18:05

About £2000 roughly. But almost half of that does go on essentials like food, fuel.

Didimum · 23/03/2026 18:04

Take home pay of £9,600

Bills total: £5,780 - this is everything: mortgage, utilities, all bills, childcare, kids clubs, food shop, commute, pets, tutor, cleaner.

Left over: £3,820

We usually save around £500-1000 a month.

KeeleyJ · 23/03/2026 17:58

About £2K left after paying essentials (house/car/tax etc).

I do then have non essential extras like Sky TV, Netflix, hobbies that I could cut back on if I was struggling.

Girasoli · 23/03/2026 17:55

I always find this hard to work out - e.g. do I count the DCs clubs as bills (most are childcare as well as fun), do I count my bus fare (commuting plus socialising) etc.

We're fine for all the big things (bills, kids activities etc) but I do think a bit more carefully about days our these days.