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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is £1k a month enough to live on?

283 replies

EL8888 · 14/02/2020 16:10

I was debating with my mother whether it was possible for a person to live on £1,000 per month. Bearing in mind there is no rent / mortgage to pay (house is paid for), no debts and they own a newish car plus they have a Freedom card to use. They live alone with no dependents or pets. I said it was enough and she said it really wasn’t

OP posts:
Original poster
EL8888 · 14/02/2020 16:27

@ilovesooty no, it’s a family member my mum was getting her violin out for

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 14/02/2020 16:27

Apart from the council tax (which benefit claimants may get relief on)

It's more than twice what someone gets on JSA

JKScot4 · 14/02/2020 16:27

Have to laugh at pp saying no, tight etc
Have you heard of low paid jobs, state pension?
Even paying power, phone, fuel, ctax from, its still a decent amount for one person.

rattusrattus20 · 14/02/2020 16:28

For one person, with no housing costs? Silly question, really, of course it is, very easily, though of course there's a huge difference between enough to "live on" and "live well on".

£2kpm for two people would be far more comfortable given that many costs such as heating are more or less fixed regardless of how many people you have.

Original poster
EL8888 · 14/02/2020 16:28

@CakeandCustard28 yeah one of my points was people need to live within their means

OP posts:
JKScot4 · 14/02/2020 16:29

@LaurieFairyCake
£500pm JSA? where would that be? It’s £73pw!

LittleDragonGirl · 14/02/2020 16:29

Me and DH managed to live between us including all Bill's and rent, fuel, vet bills for a cat I rescued and everything else that needed paying on less then 1000 per month (we got a bit more, but once he paid his CMS it left us with less then 1000 between us, as I was unable to work due to having big problems with my disability and health at the time, although I've since returned to working what ever I can).

Slith · 14/02/2020 16:29

I live on £1000 a month and that includes my rent.

NameChangeNugget · 14/02/2020 16:30

I don’t think it’s enough

InDubiousBattle · 14/02/2020 16:30

You could survive but I think it would be tight. As pp have said, there wouldn't be much room for emergencies or savings.

dairyfairies · 14/02/2020 16:31

more than enough. We have certainly much less disposable income once you factor in housing and transport and I don't think it's rare. I thinks it's more the norm.

helpfulperson · 14/02/2020 16:33

It's enough to live on but not necessarily well.

If you mum is retired presumably she is at home most of the day so bills will be higher, depending on her mobility she may use more taxi's than you or I do. Perhaps additional costs for social activities to get her out of the house. It really does depend on the person.

safariboot · 14/02/2020 16:35

Easily! Unless you're getting stung with extortionate council tax, expensive travel to work, or other bills. Last year I was earning less and paying £350 a month in rent!

AllPointsNorth · 14/02/2020 16:35

My running costs are £650 a month, so that leaves £200 for food and £150 for everything else. Having been much poorer in the past, we all know how to cut corners if necessary. 4 of us in the house atm.
So it depends how used the person is to managing with the basics, and what they consider essential.

safariboot · 14/02/2020 16:35

(PS: Or you have disabilities or other needs that impose costs most people don't have.)

Beau20 · 14/02/2020 16:36

What!!! Who in the right mind would think £1000 disposable income isnt a lot?

Less my debts and mortgage I am left with £700 to pay the other household bills, fuel, food and my pet. My actual disposable income is £350

ClashCityRocker · 14/02/2020 16:36

Our non-mortgage bills come to around £400, so even with £200 shopping there'd still be £400 disposable, assuming it's a single person.

I'd say that's reasonably comfortable, unless the bills are significantly higher. Certainly, there are a lot of people out there who have a lot less.

Now, if they've bought the new car on an expensive finance deal things might be a good deal tighter...

Cautionsharpblade · 14/02/2020 16:36

I live in similar circumstances and manage just fine. I eat out a lot and take a fair few holidays. I also have pets

ClashCityRocker · 14/02/2020 16:37

Ah, you've said it is a single person and no debts.

Perfectly fine then.

dottiedodah · 14/02/2020 16:40

I think its quite tight TBH .Even a smallish house costs a lot to run with food , household bills and rates coming out .By the time you have included the costs of running a car theres not a lot of wriggle room left!

dottiedodah · 14/02/2020 16:43

Sorry ! I misread the post .Yes of course plenty for one person .Thought it was a couple !

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/02/2020 16:45

It's doable but they wouldnt have holidays, may be an issue if large items break down or need replacing etc.

EuroMillionsWinner · 14/02/2020 16:46

Plenty for one person if there's no rent or mortgage on top of that and also if it's a single occupant then they get a council tax discount.

user1483387154 · 14/02/2020 16:46

I learnt that per month last year and it had to pay for everything for me and my son. rent, bills, food everything we needed.

ladycarlotta · 14/02/2020 16:46

sounds great considering it's just for groceries, bills and walking-around money. Hardly a pittance - I've lived on under £1000pcm whilst paying rent and while that wasn't always great it was fine as a single person.