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Original poster

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

111 replies

Greeendsyys · 27/04/2026 20:21

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.

OP posts:
MyWildOliveGoose · 27/04/2026 21:48

About £3 , give or take.

billandtedsexcellentadventure · 27/04/2026 21:46

After bills but before food about £2900. That’s not saving anything.

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).

Abso · 27/04/2026 21:34

Currently -£1400 as DH recently lost his job. Thankfully he got a good payout which combined with our savings means we can continue to live at our usual level.

Pre job loss, we had £2400 left over after all household bills were paid. Household bills included netflix, Disney etc as well as a set amount each month to pay for children's clothes and shoes and extra curricular activities as well as childcare costs. The household bills also included a 'pot' specifically to pay for Christmas, which some people would consider savings I guess.

Out of the £2400 we would allocate some toward personal spends (my clothes, coffee or lunch with friends, meals out as a family or couple etc) and the rest was long term savings, short term savings (i.e for specific things like holidays) and then stuff like the washing machine needed replacing or we were going to a wedding and need to fund a hotel etc.

Until very recently (thankfully) we had some debt which took up a fair amount of the 'spare money' but that's paid off now.

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.

Whatisrichandhaveiearnedit · 27/04/2026 21:23

Our expenses are entirely joint so it’s difficult to comment. I know that bills and expenses are hugely disadvantageous for single people - council tax, rent/mortgages, fuel etc.

Whatisrichandhaveiearnedit · 27/04/2026 21:18

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:08

The average wage in the UK is £36,000 (lower for women) yet half the respondents here seems to purport to be on £100k+. Some of you are telling porkies methinks.

Why would people lie on an anonymous forum?
And just because the average income is £36000, it doesn’t mean that a representative group of women use MN and then post on this thread (which hasn’t been active for long enough to get a reasonable representation to post).
Plus those that earn more are more likely to post on this type of topic.

MiddleAgedDread · 27/04/2026 21:17

Give or take a £ here n there (per month):
Income £3500
essentials (not including food or petrol /
commuting costs) £1300
savings £500
remaining £1700
single income, single adult

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 21:13

Conobond · 27/04/2026 21:10

Does that have to cover food and transportation?

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I think by ‘Rich House, Poor House’ rules it’s after all regular monthly payments. So after car payments or a travel pass, but before ad hoc payments so food, bus fares, electric top-ups have to come out of it because they’re not the same each month.

WhatDoRacoonsSay · 27/04/2026 21:12

Do you mean fun money?

Statsquestion1 · 27/04/2026 21:12

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:08

The average wage in the UK is £36,000 (lower for women) yet half the respondents here seems to purport to be on £100k+. Some of you are telling porkies methinks.

Some of us are not in the uk though…

Conobond · 27/04/2026 21:10

Blueskies77 · 27/04/2026 21:03

Depends what you mean by disposable really. I allocate all my money to bills, various sinking funds and savings etc and give myself £400 at the end of it.

Does that have to cover food and transportation?

Didimum · 27/04/2026 21:10

We have just over £4k disposable income per month. What is saved varies.

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:08

The average wage in the UK is £36,000 (lower for women) yet half the respondents here seems to purport to be on £100k+. Some of you are telling porkies methinks.

InterestedDad37 · 27/04/2026 21:07

±£500 a month

PlanBFertility26 · 27/04/2026 21:05

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:03

What business do you do?

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Partner in a medical profession

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 21:04

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 20:59

Would u consider 81k per year outside London to be 'rich'?

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I’d consider a spare £81K even inside London to be rich if it’s after mortgage, all bills, direct debits, car etc are paid, yes.

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 21:03

PlanBFertility26 · 27/04/2026 21:00

I think people forget tax in those self employed. My tax home is around £20k a month but obviously bulk of that is put aside for July and January tax bill, plus pension.

What business do you do?

Blueskies77 · 27/04/2026 21:03

Depends what you mean by disposable really. I allocate all my money to bills, various sinking funds and savings etc and give myself £400 at the end of it.

PlanBFertility26 · 27/04/2026 21:00

I think people forget tax in those self employed. My tax home is around £20k a month but obviously bulk of that is put aside for July and January tax bill, plus pension.

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 20:59

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 20:57

Only on MN would a spare £100,000 a year after all the bills are paid be considered “not rich”.

Would u consider 81k per year outside London to be 'rich'?

YahBasic · 27/04/2026 20:58

Combined income of just over 9k but our bills are low (about 3.5k including food).

Definitely experiencing lifestyle creep though so we probably save about 3-3.5k a month typically.

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 20:58

StephQ1 · 27/04/2026 20:58

Compliance Director for a large PLC.

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You hiring? 😂

StephQ1 · 27/04/2026 20:58

duchyorganiclettuce · 27/04/2026 20:52

What do you do?

Show quote history

Compliance Director for a large PLC.

DreamyJade · 27/04/2026 20:57

Only on MN would a spare £100,000 a year after all the bills are paid be considered “not rich”.