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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that 600 quid is enough?

26 replies

justlookatthatbooty · 05/09/2011 18:49

To live on per month for non housing related expenses? So not rent/gas/elec/council tax but ffood and groceries for two adults and two toddlers? Obviously we wont be eating out or going anywhere fancy... But is it enough to survive?

OP posts:
dilbertina · 05/09/2011 18:51

Of course it is IMO.

BimboNo5 · 05/09/2011 18:52

Yes

StrandedBear · 05/09/2011 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WoofToYouTooLady · 05/09/2011 18:55

comes out at £138 per week (600 x 12/ 52) if that helps

shineypenny · 05/09/2011 18:55

It depends. If it includes bills for mobile phones, landline, tv licence and package, insurances, water?, and all other general spends, such as hairdressers, clothes, spending money then it might not be enough

Flisspaps · 05/09/2011 18:55

Survive? Shock

We spend about £250 a month on two adults and one toddler (plus extra for another toddler and snacks for a baby and a 3 yo as I childmind) and I'm a greedy sod.

WoofToYouTooLady · 05/09/2011 18:57

it does depend on where you live

if rural, transport costs can be v high, public transport patchy, access to a range of shops/supermarket limited

SquishyCinnamonSwirls · 05/09/2011 18:58

Definitely ought to be enough. I budget that for our food, petfood and my petrol a month plus a few small d/d's.

pozzled · 05/09/2011 19:01

Depends how much your travel costs are, and whether you've included things like phone bills in the housing costs. But it sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Flisspaps · 05/09/2011 19:02

See, I've taken the OP to mean that the £600 is just for food and groceries, nothing else...

mumblejumble · 05/09/2011 19:02

Wow that is alot OP. Does it include clothes etc?

zukiecat · 05/09/2011 19:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

duckdodgers · 05/09/2011 19:15

Wouldn't be enough for us I dont think, but there's me, DH DS1 whos 18, DS2 whos 9 and DS3 whos 3. Our petrol costs are £45 a week, we are also having to pay DS1 travel expenses to college just now.

whackamole · 05/09/2011 19:18

That's more than enough. We have less than that left over after all bills are paid, and we quite often manage to have a meal out or a takeaway. This is for all the family.

TheMonster · 05/09/2011 19:19

Yes it's enough.

StrandedBear · 05/09/2011 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pregnantpause · 05/09/2011 19:27

More than enough! After bills we have 550 left, of which 250 goes on petrol. I then have 50 per week for food and nappies. Then there's the 100 spare, 40 toward Christmas saving, 20 toward clothes and enough for a takeaway.

Original poster
justlookatthatbooty · 05/09/2011 19:34

Ooh thats good news so far! Havent lived in uk for more than ten years but considerinh moving back and trying to budget for the first half year whilst looking for work. Its just for absolute essentials not lux such as hair or make up. Only clothing essentials from charity shop. Am hoping with early years funding and settiing myself up as self employed my two dcs will be able togo to nursery.or pre school for fifteen hours a week with a little of our own contribution. Is there anything i havent thought of i wonder. It does include small amount of petrol but not much.

OP posts:
TotemPole · 05/09/2011 20:03

Other car expenses, such as Tax, insurance, parking costs?

If you're looking for work, presumably if you get interviews you'll have extra travel to consider, so either more on petrol or public transport.

You need to include something in your budget for hair, if you're looking for a job you'll want to look your best and depending on the style and length will need it cutting at some point.

Same with clothes, do you have something suitable for interviews already? And will there be dry cleaning costs.

Have a look on MSE, scroll down and there's a spread sheet you can download.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/Budget-planning

TotemPole · 05/09/2011 20:04

Sorry for got to do the link properly.

budget planner

KnickersOnOnesHead · 05/09/2011 22:07

After bills, we have £133.odd (cb) a month left for food/toiletries/petrol etc. £600 would be more than enough.

KnickersOnOnesHead · 05/09/2011 22:08

Sorry, £134.80

Tigerbomb · 05/09/2011 22:27

My food shopping alone comes to about £110 a week but that's for 4 adults and 2 cats. Then there is petrol and parking on top of that. That's not extravagent shopping either.
See this thread for some great ideas on how to keep food costs down and also a brilliant £30 a week meal plan
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1282756-To-be-seriously-worried-that-the-cost-of-food-is-getting-so-scarily-high?pg=3

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 05/09/2011 22:37

Realistically - no it isn't that much. If you had that much to actually spend each month on petrol and food then fair enough, but if everything has got to come from that then it isn't a great deal.

Clothes and shoes
Toiletries
Car expenses (new tyres, MOT, breakdown cover, insurance, tax, servicing and other repairs)
House repairs, or money to replace broken items if you are renting.
Christmas
Birthdays (family birthdays and gifts for others)
Any medication/prescription charges
Dental costs

Is your bill list complete? Council tax, house insurance, water, gas, electric, TV licence, phone/mobile.

I hope you don't think I am being harsh, I don't intend to be.

gillybean2 · 05/09/2011 22:50

£600 a month is more than enough to survive on for food and goceries (assuming you won't be in London...?). You can spend a lot less than this if you have the time to shop around too. Ds(12) and myself have £40 a week for food and £10 for toiletries and cleaning products. Even doubling that for your household you have enough if you are prepared to look for bargains and be frugal.

If this is just until you get a job then you can easily go without new shoes, clothes, makeup and other luxuries for a few months. You can also delay any house repairs etc. If you need to buy white goods, clothes etc there are alternatives (such as cattlelogs which let you pay weekly) if you haven't got enough to buy outright.

Petrol will likely be far more than you expect (it's hugely expensive at present and that won't be changing ever any time soon).