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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think £500 after bills and food is a good amount?

26 replies

Holly800 · 04/08/2018 20:51

By essential costs I mean all food, bus fare, bills and rent etc. so the £500 is just to cover fun things and any extras I want,
Is this a good amount, should I be looking at picking up extra work or is this more than enough? I'd also like to save £50-£100 a month to build up a savings cushion, but if I can't save every month or I save a little less that's ok it's not essential.
Please forgive me if this is a stupid question as I am new to the UK and just trying to work out what my budget will cover. Have posted in chat but no responses yet so posting in another high traffic area...
The only friend I have here has said this isn't enough and that I'll be bored indoors all the time and/or struggling. So now I'm a little worried and thinking about doing overtime.

OP posts:
VivaLaVieBoheme · 04/08/2018 20:55

Depends where you will be living and what you like to spend your money on. It would be plenty for me. I earn more, but just save the rest. Rarely spend more than £400 a month on leisure/clothes/meals out.

Original poster
Holly800 · 04/08/2018 20:58

I have enough clothes, don't really eat out but do enjoy going swimming once a week (I haven't found a good swimming centre nearby yet, too busy actually moving in!). I would say I am quite frugal in general, I do like expensive makeup but I rarely buy it as it lasts a while... I'm living in a city (but not london).

OP posts:
mumofmany81 · 04/08/2018 20:59

I'm amazed that anyone would say that £500 a month isn't enough. It sounds more like this is a brag post than anything - to say you've got £500 a month to spend on whatever you want and asking if that's enough. It just seems that the answer is so obvious that it makes no sense for anyone to ask it :-/

ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine · 04/08/2018 20:59

I think that's enough. We have that before we pay out for food. Food then costs us another 250-350 per month (3 adults and a toddler).

safetyfreak · 04/08/2018 20:59

Yes! totally doable :)

VivaLaVieBoheme · 04/08/2018 21:00

Yeah swimming pools in the UK are (mostly) a bit of a let down. Wink
Sounds like you will manage just fine. Why don't you see how it goes for a month, then you can set a budget based on a more realistic idea of what you'll be spending (and can ask for extra hours or sth if you really can't manage).

Original poster
Holly800 · 04/08/2018 21:02

I'm sorry if it's a stupid question, I posted here as the only person I could speak to it about said it wasn't enough and I'm worried. It's my first month here and it's been quite expensive due to moving and buying things I wouldn't normally buy so I haven't got an accurate representation of how much things cost week to week. I know the basics like groceries and my rent cost but other things like going out or hobbies I don't know yet.

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 04/08/2018 21:03

£500 a month 'fun' money sounds like a lot to me, but I guess it depends what your interests are. If you enjoy fine dining, champagne and opera for example I guess it may not be enough.

Personally though I'd save £250 a month and have £250 a month fun money.

Original poster
Holly800 · 04/08/2018 21:03

Thank you for the reassurance though, I feel a lot more relaxed now. Smile
Again, I'm sorry if I upset anybody. I don't know what a normal amount for these things are and if others can manage on less I am sure I'll be ok. Smile

OP posts:
ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine · 04/08/2018 21:08

I think some people are too easily offended, and should have read your original post properly.

Processedpea · 04/08/2018 21:12

It sounds alot but in reality goes so fast personally I am fed up with the majority of my wages going on bills etc when services are crap and wages never go up

NotUmbongoUnchained · 04/08/2018 21:14

Add another zero then we’ll talk Grin

I could honestly win the lottery tomorrow and blow it in a week I’m terrible with money.

Tunnocks34 · 04/08/2018 21:17

I think so. After all bills etc as a family we have around £1200 left. We put about £700 away, and use the rest but never exceed this really. We’re a family of 4.

Moreisnnogedag · 04/08/2018 21:18

Really? Is £500 enough to do whatever you fancy with? I’m with mumofmany81 you cant really be seriously be wondering if that’s enough. If you are, for context, that’s more than our monthly food budget (family of four) and we do just fine. You could buy yourself an iPhone and have change every single month whereas I’m saving up for it for the new year.

mrsm43s · 04/08/2018 21:19

In general, for a family of four, I'd say it's quite tight. For an individual, it's absolutely plenty.

Moreisnnogedag · 04/08/2018 21:24

Oh don’t be nice - now I feel mean! You’ll be fine with that. Set aside some money to allocate to doing up your place so you can do a bit at a time and buy really quality peices that’ll last.

Sorry for being snipey.

flopsyrabbit1 · 04/08/2018 21:26

your plan sounds good op ignore the offended their is always a sour face on these threads all the bloody time

enjoy

Donthugmeimscared · 04/08/2018 21:27

I think you will be fine. Then again that's coming from someone who has £50 a week for 4 of us after bills and food.

Pebblesandfriends · 04/08/2018 21:32

I have less than half that and that has to cover gym and hair and clothes etc so it's loads

DillyDilly · 04/08/2018 22:18

It depends on what sort of life-style you want. It will disappear pretty quickly if it’s to cover nights out (which no doubt you will want if you’re single/no family commitments, etc), clothes, holidays or weekends away, fun outings, and so on.

huggybear · 04/08/2018 22:29

Is it just to cover you?

Nurse12345 · 04/08/2018 23:56

£500 for one person is fine in my opinion. for a family, it's a bit tight but depends on lifestyle, whether you own property and therefore need some money for repairs etc, the amount of existing savings etc.

Leesa65 · 05/08/2018 00:02

Nah £500 to spend on what you want is not enough OP Hmm

Flopsyrabbit, perhaps there are people on the thread who would love that to have for leisure . Sour face ? , nope, just the fact OP made a stealth thread !

SurvivedTheirTeens · 05/08/2018 00:15

It depends on how accurate your budget is and whether it includes:

Phone contract
Holiday savings
Christmas expenses
Hairdresser
Emergency fund (appliance goes poof)
Insurances (house/car)
Clothes (they do need replacing)
Petrol
Contact lenses/specs

This will no doubt upset the thread but I spend about £50pw on lunch, coffee, odd birthday card, parking, tissues, etc. Can also easily spend another £50 on supper with a friend, a book, costa and cake with dd. Nothing particularly extravagant but it adds up.

flopsyrabbit1 · 05/08/2018 00:27

Flopsyrabbit, perhaps there are people on the thread who would love that to have for leisure . Sour face ? , nope, just the fact OP made a stealth thread !

ive no doubt some would love to have that but there is always one who has to make it about them and how much worse of they are

i dont think this was a stealth thread