To ask how much disposable income you have at the end of the month?

[Mrsshearsagain]

We have about 1000 left at the end of each month after everything is paid and still feel skint

But it seems that any time anyone mentions money, the fact they have some (we're nit talking vast amounts here) and/or they are not struggling, they are accused of showing off and stealth boasting.

Well useless I am screwed because apparently I am a 'scrag' because I can't afford to get a haircut. 99p hair ties and a brush every now and then is going to have to suffice.

I don't think the starting of this thread was necessarily boastful, nor have some of the replies been. It is necessary to ask for support when you don't know where your money is going, whether it is £10 or £1000

But it all goes a bit ridiculous when hair cuts and activities are labelled as essentials and then people are told that having internet is a luxury.

£1500 is a vast amount to many people. In fact I can quite imagine that there are quite a few people on here who live on much less.

I am going to embrace my grey hair as I've got to the stage where home hair dyes are wrecking the condition of my hair, and I can't afford the upkeep professionally - even at a cheap salon or with a home hairdresser it'll be upwards of £20/month. And I've grown my hair as it used to need cutting every 6-8 weeks to keep the crop in shape. Now nearly shoulder length so I wait until it's really looking straggly to get the ends trimmed.

I live by the financial code of "live on a third, spend a third and save a third"

So we spend no more than a third of our take home pay on essentials i.e. rent/mortgage and bills. We spend a third on discretionary things, clothes, car, cimena, eating out, holidays etc. And save a third of our takehome pay

We have done this since graduating 12 years ago and now feel very well off. We live in a smaller/less glamorous flat then we "could" afford, but enjoy rolling in cash and the freedom that brings

To be honest, I dont know why more people don't live like that (or course I know that not everybody has the possibility).

Too right it's not possible. Unless I'm missing something and there's somewhere in the UK you could live where rent + council tax+ utilities+ commuting + food < 400

You need to have two wage earners in the family earning at least average salary for it to be possible - but of course this means it should be possible for around half to one third of families

But people would rather have a big bigger house, or a new car etc

That's fine, their choice

Btw, I agree with some other posters. There are no sensible money discussions on mumsnet. Just people who moan about having no money. Everybody else is scared of them because they bark at anybody who says they have more.

I hope you are donating 10% of your income to charity.

Oh dear OP. We have about £600 left over after we've budgeted for bills, debts, food, petrol, lunches, savings/pensions and kids entertainment. You should NOT be feeling the pinch. At all. Keep a spending diary and see where it goes.

I don't bark at people for having more than me, ridiculous to suggest that anyone could be scared of me. I only object to the posts where it's implied I must be lazy, stupid, lack work ethic etc.

I also haven't barked at anyone, just pointed out that what some people consider 'essential' is actually nothing of the sort.

We don't have enough money to save at the moment, we give a fair bit to charity because that is what we feel is right and that will increase as we get more well off.

I think its perfectly reasonable to have budgeting discussions, regardless of income but regardless of income, what is or is not essential to life stays the same.

Mumsnet is described as a middle class forum. Yet every money related thread I read always ends up being dominated by posters who are surviving on a £1.56p a week.

i'll speak up as well. We have considerably more disposable income. It seems that the people who have more (and there must be many) aren't speaking up for various reasons. This scientific poll won't paint a true picture if that happens!

that being said, for our age we are relatively late entrants into the property market.

Maybe because those who do have a lot of spare money think its quite crass to boast about it, so the only people who repond to therads like this are those who are struggling.

it's a british thing I think. Americans quite easily talk about wages.