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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much your household take-home pay is if you live in Bristol?

60 replies

expants · 29/09/2014 12:51

Just that really - we're thinking of a move back to the UK from Spain - I'm British, DH is Spanish. I've lived in Spain all my adult life so have absolutely no clue of how much things cost, what's considered a decent wage, etc. I'm self-employed with my own internet business and take home about GBP2.5K a month after tax, DH would be unemployed until he found something there, so I'm trying to work out if my wage is sufficient to live in a decent area, 3 bed house, pay nursery fees and live... So, if you live in Bristol in a nice part of town, what's your take-home pay?

OP posts:
Rowgtfc72 · 29/09/2014 19:59

Watching with interest as dh is looking to relocate to avonmouth so we would be looking to rent two bedroomed house/flat nearish to that. We only pay £400 a month mortgage for a three bedroom house here on the east coast and the prices you're all quoting are scary!

amy83firsttimer · 29/09/2014 19:59

Maybe research living on a boat??!!!

elvislives2012 · 29/09/2014 20:02

We live in hanham. About 4-5 miles from the centre and have an income of just over £2k. I work three days a week with one day a week nursery resulting in £150. Rent is £500pm. If u want to live in the centre then you'll need more money. I love hanham, it's close to town but also out in the countryside

LizzieMint · 29/09/2014 20:14

Avonmouth is quite industrial I'd say rowgtfc and reasonably far out of Bristol so wouldn't be nearly as expensive as the nicer areas I don't think.

Rowgtfc72 · 29/09/2014 20:33

Thanks Lizzie. Dh wants to commute by cycle so reckon he would do up to ten miles away. Just need some where near a school for dd and like pp said no drug dealers or prostitutes( we have them here but its not a really bad area)

jellybelly701 · 29/09/2014 20:40

Yate is quite nice. For the past few years DP has only been earning 12k a year and we managed okay. I've seen some lovely houses up for sale whilst walking today.

LizzieMint · 29/09/2014 21:01

Portbury is near to Avonmouth and has a reasonable primary school I think. Secondary schools are a bit trickier. The advantage of N somerset is that the secondary schools are generally very good, the secondaries in Bristol are a bit hit and miss and lots of people go private. We get a lot of people moving out this way from Bristol!

Heels99 · 29/09/2014 22:18

Google flies Avonmouth, rats Avonmouth. Two big issues this year. The flies issue went on for ages. Work in Avonmouth but don't live there, it is co industrial docks with a couple housing estates

Heels99 · 29/09/2014 22:21

I just googled flies Avonmouth as a reminder, gross, those poor families.

Heels99 · 29/09/2014 22:23

Ditto the rat infestation!

JustALittleBitLost · 29/09/2014 22:25

I am a single parent, live in a category B area (at the inner city end of things, but it's really very pleasant). My take home is about £2.5k and I think that's loads.

Rowgtfc72 · 29/09/2014 22:39

Looked at portbury,it didn't seem too bad. Plan is to eventually live round St Austell way but dh can get a job transfer to Avonmouth so we would probably rent for a bit whilst we sorted Cornish jobs and housing. Easier than sorting it from where we are seven hours away!

PuppyMouse · 29/09/2014 22:40

Another one seconding lifestyle outside but within commuting distance here. You can get more house for your money and we both quite like being a bit further away from our offices. Household income post mat leave with me part time just under 5k. Nursery fees £250 a month approx.

loubielou31 · 29/09/2014 22:54

I think you would seriously struggle on 2.5k a month! You would really need to look very carefully at your budget. North Bristol is having lots of houses built on new estates at the moment although I think buying an older property is much better value for money.

Like everywhere if you're in catchment for a good secondary school the prices make a big jump.
I was also going to suggest Downend or Bradley Stoke, they're both really nice areas of Bristol. I think Mangotsfield is also nice. I wouldn't want to live in Yate because the school results are not good but it's not a horrible place.
We've not lived in Bristol for very long so I don't know all the areas but I think it's a brilliant city with so much going on that you should definitely find a part that you like and can afford and move here.

CarryOn90 · 30/09/2014 08:10

Lots of people mentioning clifton but thats the most expensive part of bristol (very expensive) - OP I'd suggest Totterdown, Windmill Hill, Redland, Fishponds

pinkstinks · 30/09/2014 09:05

Totterdown! Small 2 bed flat for £525 per month. I take home 1500 and dp about 800 new business self employed etc.
I think if you want the Bristol vibe then totterdown bedminster windmill hill are for you, places like mangoes field and downend are nice but bland.

KnitFastDieWarm · 30/09/2014 11:02

DH and I take home about 3.5k a month between us, no kids yet. Live fairly comfortably, own a modern 2 bed terrace on the outskirts of town but with great transport links.

To the poster considering Avonmouth, Shirehampton is close by, but a nicer area (definitely in the category B as above - it's a working class community, with a very nice villagey feel) We moved there from Clifton a year ago and actually much prefer it - it's cheaper and there's a more interesting mix of people. It also has a wonderful public park, Kings Weston, with a beautiful Regency house, a real hidden gem if you like that sort of thing [nerd emoticon]

Areas in Bristol to avoid (just my personal preference) include some parts of Lawrence Weston and all of Southmead (the latter especially is a pretty rough estate). I also wouldn't choose to live in St Pauls or some areas of Fishponds Road with a family - both are a little rough and ready, fun if you're a student etc but I personally wouldn't choose to live there with small children.

As for Bristol being expensive - I'm from London originally, so to me it seems practically free Grin

FishWithABicycle · 30/09/2014 11:18

We live in one of the areas gruffalostance mentioned as category B. Our take-home is about £3.2k and we are relatively well-off for this area now that we don't have to pay nursery fees. When we had to pay nursery fees too we struggled but just about made ends meet. We just about managed temporarily on £2.5k for a short period due to a temporary employment situation but miserably so - no luxuries, treats or non-free fun.

Keletubbie · 30/09/2014 11:20

St Paul's 4 lyfe!

Although I have to admit i wouldn't live their now I have kids :)

Consider Bedminster, St George, St Werburghs and anywhere that you can get into the centre on foot or by bike. You won't be flush, but you'll get by.

Figster · 30/09/2014 11:35

There's Coombe dingle still in city but near to Blaise castle and the countryside not far not sure on transport links there?

harryhausen · 30/09/2014 11:49

I've lived in Bristol for nearly 20 years. I've always lived South Bristol Southville/Bedminster. I've seen if change a huge amount over that time for the better. I love it.

I now live right on the edge of Bristol on the North Somerset boarder. I can get into town in 15 mins. I have a lovely house in the countryside with a 120 ft garden, a driveway to park 3 cars, out buildings. It's lush!

I work from home and earn about 30k (varies per month) and DH earns about 36k. Our house was 245k in 2008.

itsnothingoriginal · 30/09/2014 12:33

Just under 3K a month.

We had to move out of Bristol as couldn't afford to live near the good schools. You have to be practically living in the playground to be in the catchment area for some of them!

We have a detached house in a rural (ish) area with great schools and safe for the kids. About 30 mins commute into Bristol. Is a no brainer for us really!!

Tangchi · 30/09/2014 12:46

Have lived in and around Bristol for 14 years. Combined take home of 4k. We live close to the previously mentioned avonmouth in a commuter town called portishead. Great schools. We don't rent but money goes much further than Bristol which is cycle able. Fab quality of life and Clifton is a 15 min drive. Regarding port bury primary school it's really fab but only a 15 a year intake which this year 9 places were siblings. You have to live on the doorstep.

Tangchi · 30/09/2014 12:46

Have lived in and around Bristol for 14 years. Combined take home of 4k. We live close to the previously mentioned avonmouth in a commuter town called portishead. Great schools. We don't rent but money goes much further than Bristol which is cycle able. Fab quality of life and Clifton is a 15 min drive. Regarding port bury primary school it's really fab but only a 15 a year intake which this year 9 places were siblings. You have to live on the doorstep.

Original poster
expants · 30/09/2014 13:58

After much, much, much RightMove searching and researching everywhere I think Totterdown might be the place for us. Is it reasonably safe there, does anyone know? We're a (I suppose lower middle class-ish) couple in our 30s with a 2 year old - is it a suitable place for us?

OP posts: