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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much money you have left...

175 replies

PaperdollCartoon · 09/01/2016 18:28

After paying for essentials each month? So after paying your rent/mortgage, food and bills, travel and if applicable childcare, what's left 'spare' for socialising, buying clothes, going out etc etc. And are you able to save much?

DP thinks we don't have much money left after bills, I think we have more than enough and I likely more than the average person. If it's not too completely rude to ask, would you mind sharing what you have spare? Thanks so much Smile

OP posts:
cinderfknella · 09/01/2016 19:08

Well after food bills and fuel about 1k per month, but how about telling us what you have left paperdollcartoon since we've all told you!

AmyLouKin · 09/01/2016 19:08

Nothing!

MangoBiscuit · 09/01/2016 19:10

I'm currently a SAHP while I retrain part-time. We have £120 spends each, and £120 left over for holidays and unexpected bills. Mostly bills. So £360 in total.

Mangoonmyshoulder · 09/01/2016 19:11

About £100

Gottagetmoving · 09/01/2016 19:11

Our joint income is less than some of you have left as disposable income...but we save.

peppielillyan · 09/01/2016 19:11

£700-800

Original poster
PaperdollCartoon · 09/01/2016 19:12

Blush sorry! You're absolutely right. We have about £700 after everything (including things like contact lenses that are a bit less essential) but also paying off a bit of credit card debt and saving out of that as well. So seems like we're probably middling in the Mumsnet demographic?

OP posts:
BlackeyedShepherdsbringsheep · 09/01/2016 19:13

clothes are bought from the charity shop, are gifts or really essential when something else falls apart.

spare money? hardly any. £10-20 a month if that.

BlackeyedShepherdsbringsheep · 09/01/2016 19:15

(that does not include holiday though which we have once per year or christmas so may be giving a false impression. we also have savings that we are using a bit too fast)

fitforflighting · 09/01/2016 19:15

currently about a £100. From next month around £10

Viviennemary · 09/01/2016 19:16

Too much to count. I don't bother with adding up my money these days. It only gives me a headache.

AyeAmarok · 09/01/2016 19:17

The thing about threads like this on MN is they tend to attract answers from either end of the spectrum, so you get lost of posts of ~nothing, and 2000+. I'm sure there are plenty in the middle where you are.

NewLife4Me · 09/01/2016 19:18

about £500 maybe, I dunno but will do soon as determined to budget and spend better.

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/01/2016 19:19

varies on days/hours ive worked as se and get paid weekly

good week maybe 70, bad week nothing - so 280 - 0

would love to have 500/1000+ spare after paying all bills

Original poster
PaperdollCartoon · 09/01/2016 19:25

AyeAmarok I think you're right. The demographic at Mumsnet does seem to be skewed upwards somewhere. The U.K. mean average salary is about £27000, so I think quite a lot of people probably have less than us. Depends what the cost of living is like where you live as well. Our rent is pretty high (£1500 a month) so someone on similar salaries in a cheaper area would probably have more.

OP posts:
shazzarooney99 · 09/01/2016 19:28

Probably about £30 a week if im lucky and thats when i am in work. when i am not in work then its zero.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 09/01/2016 19:34

Single parent. Gross salary £30k. Take-home about £1700pcm plus some childcare vouchers and tax credits. After rent, childcare, bills, food and travel, I have about £50 a week left. I think if I was less tired id have more - I like to imagine I would be better at switching broadband provider etc. As it is I fritter that £50 on buying lunch in cafes etc because I feel too bloody tired to spend time making sandwiches, even though I also wish I could do something more useful/fun with that money!

LBOCS2 · 09/01/2016 19:36

Depends what you consider essentials. DH and I have £500 play money each per month, plus an additional £350 each for savings/big spend items (cc repayment, birthdays, holidays etc). But that's after EVERYTHING - including childcare.

Shinyshoes2 · 09/01/2016 19:45

About £500.00 a month

shazzarooney99 · 09/01/2016 19:46

NellWilsonsWhiteHair ,even though you are tired, try making a point of making your buttys and then spending the money on something nice for a change xxx

Woodenmouse · 09/01/2016 19:46

We have roughly £200 left after all our rent/bills/petrol/food, but then it slowly trickles away on things like toddler groups etc. We do have a monthly standing order into a savings account but that isn't a lot. DH has just started his own business and I've just gone on maternity leave too so its going to take a massive hit soon. (Hopefully when DH has got going it should be a little better)

SoleBizzz · 09/01/2016 19:47

This week is a good week for our finances. 57p.

Libitina · 09/01/2016 19:48

Probably around £800- £1k.

confusedandemployed · 09/01/2016 19:49

Current absolutely bugger all. Just started up in business on my own (DH will be working with me) but thanks to previous good salary and an inheritance we have good disposable income.

MonstrousPippin · 09/01/2016 19:54

Generally I'm doing well if I break even. I have a moderately decent job but have to support quite a few people so it doesn't stretch to much in the way of extras. I have a tendency to use the credit card too much and have some Xmas spend to pay off. Blush

It would be great to have a slightly better paid job. I regularly apply. Got an interview on Wednesday actually. Fingers crossed.