AIBU to ask about your outgoings....

[summerlady26]

that aren't household bills?

I'm really curious to see what people are actually spending each month on the food shop (I know it's sort of a household bill but I suppose you can add in some luxuries there so it can fluctuate family to family). Also what spending do people do when it comes to clothes, toiletries, days out, household items like furniture and decor, holidays etc.

We have a LO under 1 and his things (toys, clothes, days out) seem to drain money almost as quickly as it comes in especially since with it being summer I'm wanting to get out more with him and get one off purchases like a paddling pool for the garden! I know we're probably not the only ones but I would love to know how people manage? It would be really helpful if you also explained your family size! Thanks

Food costs us about £100 per week for two adults and one dog.

We're currently doing our house up so I can't give you a figure on decorating and furniture and the like because it wouldn't be representative of "normal" spending on this sort of stuff.

We don't really have days out that often as we'd both prefer to stay at home on days off from work. When we do, we normally spend a bit extra on some nice food and lots of booze but it's not significant additional spending.

Since having our dog we don't really go on big holidays, just three or four day city breaks. These are normally very cheap as we can tag a break on to the back of work trips so we don't usually pay for accommodation or one of our travel.

£972 per month. 2 adults, 2 children.

It's amazing how all the 'other things' add up! Probably the biggest outlays after food/bills/fuel (luckily no mortgage) are numerous lessons and clubs (about £150 a week if you include gym etc as well as all the kids stuff), 2 x car maintenance, gardener, home improvements (always got one or more projects on the go!) holidays (usually only one big one and a few weekends/maybe half-term trips) and kids clothes and bags/kits/school stuff etc. Not much on socialising as we tend to do that at ours/friends houses more than anything.

A 1yo really doesn't 'need' very much in terms of toys, clothes or days out. I'd cut back on those and focus on using the same amount/month on one or two bigger items.

£500 a month on food (2 adults, 1 small child)

£50-100ish on family activities, so going out for a day, swimming lessons, gymnastics etc

£50 on takeaways

£100 consistently on other expenses such as car maintenance, random shite for the house that always seems to come up. I'd put a paddling pool under this category, even if it's just a few £ from Asda

We try not to spend too much on clothes. DC lives in a combo of hand me downs/H&M plus a few nicer bits. We have a good income so could afford more but just don't prioritise this area of spend, too much waste! I spend about £100 a month on my own clothes tho...I try and buy stuff that isn't gas fashion and will last longer.

I probably also spend £100 on hair/cosmetics per month, but this comes out of my own spends rather than the family pot (DH and I have same amount each month that we can spend on frivolities, clothing comes out of this, we tend to save a decent amount of it tho)

I don't know how much I spend but I don't buy household items or clothing very often.

Pet insurance = £110 per month.
Business insurance = £20
Pet food = £100 approx per month.

I don't know how much I spend on groceries but it's approximately £25-30 per day.

Hubby pays
Virgin Media
Gas
Electric
Car Insurance / Tax
I don't know how much they are.

Sorry should also add there's me, hubby, 4 kids that are dependents (6 sort themselves out or have moved out) and 57 animals.