Page 2 | How much disposable income do you have a month (including what you might put aside to save)?

Greeendsyys · 2026-04-27T19:21:36+00:00

I’ve been watching this show where people change lives for a week. £1,900 a week disposable income is expressed as extremely rich. Of course I know that’s a LOT of money spare. But surely that’s not really ‘rich’? What do you have spare a month (before any that goes to savings)? And do you think you’re rich?! Me, as I know people will ask, around 2.5k a month disposable but I save 1k.

Forty85 · 28/04/2026 08:51

Me personally 1900, dh can be between 2 to 4k depending how well his business does that month.

Iloveeverycat · 28/04/2026 08:50

Nothing

Astrabees · 28/04/2026 08:48

I budget for absolutely everything, and record all this on a spreadsheet. After putting the money for food, holidays, everyday spending, hairdressing, make up, pet stuff, gym fees, Christmas and holidays etc.etc.aside and marked up I have £500 left which is totally left over money, so just for fun. DH thinks this is very odd but out two grown up sons do the same. We are retired so don’t have major savings projects.

DreamyJade · 28/04/2026 08:45

jgaudjdd578 · 28/04/2026 08:36

I think when you look at official definitions disposable income tends to be after taxes, I guess because you have no other choice on taxes but you can flex accommodation etc.

Unless OP defines what they mean by disposable these threads are always pointless. That’s why for me £1900 a week isn’t necessarily “rich”, because the official definition of disposable income is pretty lenient, we technically have more than £1900 a week if you’re only removing taxes but definitely not what I’d consider ‘rich’ with our mortgage, but then we’d also need to define rich, which is even more subjective.

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‘Disposable’ income is what’s left after you pay your mortgage and tax and bills, so the size of your mortgage is irrelevant.

The measure for this discussion is “Would you consider yourself rich if you had £8000 a month left AFTER all your direct debits have come out?”

Thechaseison71 · 28/04/2026 08:44

Ineffable23 · 28/04/2026 08:24

Mine is £135 for a Band A, so I think it varies substantially by area.

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With a 25% discount?

jgaudjdd578 · 28/04/2026 08:36

Firetreev · 28/04/2026 08:26

Does food not come before disposable income? I thought disposable income was what you had after food, accommodation, bills etc. Fun money really.

I think when you look at official definitions disposable income tends to be after taxes, I guess because you have no other choice on taxes but you can flex accommodation etc.

Unless OP defines what they mean by disposable these threads are always pointless. That’s why for me £1900 a week isn’t necessarily “rich”, because the official definition of disposable income is pretty lenient, we technically have more than £1900 a week if you’re only removing taxes but definitely not what I’d consider ‘rich’ with our mortgage, but then we’d also need to define rich, which is even more subjective.

DoAWheelie · 28/04/2026 08:29

How is having more per week "spare" than some people live on total per month, anything but rich? That's almost £100k a year fun money.

fundamentallyauthentic · 28/04/2026 08:27

Was this show on Channel 5?

Firetreev · 28/04/2026 08:26

Does food not come before disposable income? I thought disposable income was what you had after food, accommodation, bills etc. Fun money really.

Ineffable23 · 28/04/2026 08:24

Thechaseison71 · 27/04/2026 22:51

That's incredibly expensive. Are you in a mansion? My CT is£120 on a band C property

Gas/ electric about £50

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Mine is £135 for a Band A, so I think it varies substantially by area.

jgaudjdd578 · 28/04/2026 08:20

DreamyJade · 28/04/2026 08:14

Band G. It’s only 4 beds but it’s in an expensive area (by northern standards). For comparison, Band C is £237 here.

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Yikes, band C is more expensive than what I pay for band E! Council tax is done so weirdly.

DreamyJade · 28/04/2026 08:14

Thechaseison71 · 27/04/2026 22:51

That's incredibly expensive. Are you in a mansion? My CT is£120 on a band C property

Gas/ electric about £50

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Band G. It’s only 4 beds but it’s in an expensive area (by northern standards). For comparison, Band C is £237 here.

Thechaseison71 · 27/04/2026 22:51

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 22:30

Everyone is different. I’ve also got a sim only phone, but my council tax is £400 a month, and my gas/electric is £200. Some people have a high monthly car payment, others won’t. Some have a big mortgage, some people have paid them off.

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That's incredibly expensive. Are you in a mansion? My CT is£120 on a band C property

Gas/ electric about £50

ThatRareLimeFinch · 27/04/2026 22:34

after bills, food, debt payments and everything that HAS to come out every month petrol etc... about 500 but i save 225 of that (50 birthdays 100 christmas 75 anual car bills) so pure disposible income 275 a month or 68 quid a week

Madarch · 27/04/2026 22:33

DH and I have about a 1200 quid of 'fun' money after bills, dogs and food. Struggle to spend that so usually get to save 700 quid of that a month.

I feel pretty minted 💰

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 22:30

Thechaseison71 · 27/04/2026 22:19

Yeah my phone is £7.90 a month on sim only plan. car tax is £20 a year , insurance works out £30 a month ( pay annually) No tv or subscriptions

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Everyone is different. I’ve also got a sim only phone, but my council tax is £400 a month, and my gas/electric is £200. Some people have a high monthly car payment, others won’t. Some have a big mortgage, some people have paid them off.

Chickenhorse · 27/04/2026 22:29

MiddleAgedDread · 27/04/2026 22:07

They’re big estimates though, my phone and car are only half those amounts and I don’t have pets so there’s another £200!

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Maybe, but I lowballed the bills. Do you pay £200 for gas, electric, council tax, house insurance and water or is it a lot more than that? For example my council tax is £361 a month, my electric is £120 my oil (no gas) is £100 a month and my house insurance £50 a month.

Tulipsanddandelions · 27/04/2026 22:26

Income - £4300 after tax etc

bills, food, animals, car everything I have to pay is about - £2300

so about £2000 but try and save at least £1000

there is always something coming up though, new fridge as last one broke, heating oil!!!!!, car repairs etc - all last month!

some months I have £1000 to spend nicely other months I'm withdrawing from savings to make it to the end…really depends

wingingiteveryday · 27/04/2026 22:25

On paper, a good amount. We bring home about 7.5k pm between us and regular bills are about 3-3.5k But I am still waiting for payday each month! 3 kids and live in central London which maybe doesn’t help.

Thechaseison71 · 27/04/2026 22:19

MiddleAgedDread · 27/04/2026 22:07

They’re big estimates though, my phone and car are only half those amounts and I don’t have pets so there’s another £200!

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Yeah my phone is £7.90 a month on sim only plan. car tax is £20 a year , insurance works out £30 a month ( pay annually) No tv or subscriptions

Thelnebriati · 27/04/2026 22:16

After rent and bills I have just under £200 a month, I'm one of those people raking it in on disability benefits.

MiddleAgedDread · 27/04/2026 22:07

Chickenhorse · 27/04/2026 21:31

The UK average wage is 39k take tax, ni and pension out of that you are probably left with £2600 a month, take out £1000 for rent or mortgage, £200 for bills, £600 for food + cleaning products etc, then say £100 for phones - subscriptions and £100 for car tax - insurance and £100 for pet food and insurance. That leaves you £400 for petrol/bus fares and the odd day out. I really can’t seem huge amount to save there.

They’re big estimates though, my phone and car are only half those amounts and I don’t have pets so there’s another £200!

swapsicles · 27/04/2026 22:00

After bills, rent and petrol £400, so that's food and literally anything else.

Blueskies77 · 27/04/2026 21:59

Conobond · 27/04/2026 21:10

Does that have to cover food and transportation?

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My husband does the big shops and I get top ups and if we eat out or have a takeaway, which tbh is about once a month. I walk to work so costs are lower as don’t need to buy petrol as much. I used to be wasteful with my money when younger so nowadays I try to be more careful as I feel like I’m behind.

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:57

Crushed23 · 27/04/2026 21:45

The average UK salary is £39k, not £36k.

And MN skews middle class and above-average wealth (and always has done).

What do you mean by that?