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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much "disposable income" you have per week / month after bills

195 replies

princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 11:46

(Nosey mumma) Watching a programme "rich house poor house" where family's switch homes and budgets for the week to see wether money really does create happiness (both family's seem to be very happy regardless of financial situation) the richest family's have In the region of thousands disposable per week and the poorest have £200 or less to use for weekly food and dc classes social lifes etc so

AIBU To ask what your disposable income is, and are you happy with it

For me and my df and 2 dc we have around £180 a week after all bills to buy food social outings dance classes birthdays christmas etc

OP posts:
YoloSwaggins · 26/02/2018 15:01

My rent + bills + phone is about ~£460 a month (I live in a 1 bed flat with partner) so I have just over £1500 left a month. About £150 a month on food (let's say). I'm stingy AF and only shop in charity shops/get haircuts on Groupon so I can save >£1000 a month.

The savings are for holidays, our upcoming wedding (trying to do it for ~7k) and in future, a house.

FuzzyCustard · 26/02/2018 15:13

Thank you to all those asking if I'm entitled to anything else....sadly the answer is no. Not even a Council tax reduction.

It stinks, but that's what it is like!

But I am enormously grateful for you asking...your humanity and concern goes a long way!

RealityHasALiberalBias · 26/02/2018 15:21

We allocate fixed amounts for all bills, food, pet food, car maintenance, petrol, vet, holiday spending money (based on average over the year divided by 12).

We save 10% of our take home pay as well, leaving about £400 - £500 per month between us as “spare” (though use some of it to overpay the mortgage when we can).

stevie69 · 26/02/2018 15:24

More than I need, for which I'm eternally thankful Blush

TrickyKid · 26/02/2018 15:26

About £800 per month after bills, mortgage and food. Some goes on the kids, activities etc then the rest gets saved towards hopefully moving house one day.

4Funnels · 26/02/2018 15:42

About £8.5k - that's after everything from going out to school clubs etc.

We're lucky in that on top of 2 good salaries, DH's company pay school fees and medical insurance and his car costs. We own our home outright and have invested money as we've saved.

Quiddichcup · 26/02/2018 15:42

Where are all the people at the other end of the scale?
These figures aren't reflective of Mr and Mrs Joe bloggs

RealityHasALiberalBias · 26/02/2018 15:50

My partner and I both earn below the UK median wage, but we don’t have kids and are frugal, so we’re lucky to end up with a bit of extra spending money.

FieldsOfWheat · 26/02/2018 15:50

Where are all the people at the other end of the scale?

On Netmums?

Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 15:55

I thought we done very well with having what we do every week left but wow the amounts some people have spare, very blessed Smile (obvcourse we are all blessed in different ways... and i am very happy with what we have and grateful) but again as said a lottery win wouldnt go a miss Grin

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 26/02/2018 15:58

On paper about £5000 but as we have our own business we only take out what we need so we don’t pay tax on money we aren’t using

KennDodd · 26/02/2018 16:01

The poor house have £200 a week disposable income? I think that's a decent amount. More than we have and I don't consider us to be poor.

splendide · 26/02/2018 16:03

On paper about £5000 but as we have our own business we only take out what we need so we don’t pay tax on money we aren’t using

I don’t really understand this - you’ll have to get it out eventually. Or are you hoping to withdraw it all under a more favourable tax regime?

JoandMax · 26/02/2018 16:04

A huge amount more than we did 5 years ago and although I don’t think money buys you happiness it makes life a hell of a lot easier!

We used to have just enough to cover the basics and bills, nothing left for treats or holidays and the endless worry and juggling of an unexpected bill is so draining. Now we can go out for lunch, dinner, go on holidays, get nice haircuts without having to think about it. We’re very fortunate and lucky to be in his position

KennDodd · 26/02/2018 16:04

Some of the high amounts, I don't think I'd ever be able to spend that much money not matter how hard I tried. Although I don't like shopping, can't stand loads off 'stuff' and there's nothing I particularly want. How do you get through it all?

Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 16:06

KennDodd

Agreed we have less than this and wouldn't class us as poor as we still go on holidays eat out etc

I think on the show they are using is as a comparison to the uk's average take home pay in every episode the "rich" familys disposable income is into the thousands and the "poor" is below £200

Which to me i would also not class as poor... Blush

OP posts:
Twocatsonebaby · 26/02/2018 16:06

Oh gosh what I'd give to have over 200 left over and that's considered poor?
I feel like a bad mom cause I can't afford to buy new toys never mind classing 200 as poor and I have no luxuries. Don't smoke etc.

LemonysSnicket · 26/02/2018 16:06

After bills and food we have £600 per week left over.

Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 16:08

JoandMax

Thats great that you are doing a lot better, can i ask what changed that made your finances change the differently ? Did you get a payrise a better job etc ? Just curious and nosey

OP posts:
Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 16:09

Twocatsonebaby

It is a very interesting programme but in comparison the 'poor' familys are not what i would describe as poor, nice houses still eating still getting kids presents etc i would deem poor as having 0 after bills not £200

OP posts:
Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 16:10

Also just want to clarify i absolutely do not deem anybody who has less than £200 a week disposable (same as us) to be poor this is just on the programme and absolutely not wanting to offend anybody

OP posts:
RealityHasALiberalBias · 26/02/2018 16:13

I don’t know if these figures are comparable though, sounds like the programme isn’t including food and other essentials in the bills, whereas most people in this thread are.

Twocatsonebaby · 26/02/2018 16:15

It's ridiculous but I think these sorts of programmes should be banned personally. Like can't pay we'll take it away. These are people in their lowest moments and it's broadcasted. If it were me, I'd be so embarrassed :(

Original poster
princesspeppax · 26/02/2018 16:15

The figures on the programme was what the family's had left after rent and other bills to use weekly for food shop and any other outings cost

OP posts:
RealityHasALiberalBias · 26/02/2018 16:19

Maybe the real difference is about precariousness. I am earning a salary that is significantly less than the UK average, but as a combined income it enables us to have a safety net as well as pay for everything we need to.

Only a few years ago I was not as lucky, was getting paid much less and although I could eat well and pay the bills most of the time it only took e.g. an unexpected car issue to make things very, very difficult.

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