1,5k disposable income a month is enough

[Myglorioushairdo]

AIBU to think that a disposable income of £1,500 a month is enough for a family of four? That is after all living costs, fixed monthly bills and food/household essentials.
DH and I were a bit unfortunate and made a major life change just before the pandemic, and this is what our household income has now been boiled down to.

DH is majorly stressed out and says its not enough, I say it's OK for now. We are able control all the other costs with careful planning and even save a bit! We don't live in a big city and our kids are still primary school age. What do you think?

I take it you're just boasting? Ok, I'm impressed. What constituency is your husband Tory MP for? Perhaps you could write a book?

My life would be transformed with that disposable income. It would be a dream come true.

Yes I'd say it's enough OP.

@Myglorioushairdo

I'd second the helpful posters who suggested budgeting apps, spreadsheets and the like so you can get a much better idea of what is really left over each month.

Unfortunately the majority of posters have demonstrated mumsnet at its very worst and should be ashamed of themselves.

You have had the patience of a saint putting up with the rubbish that's been thrown at you on this thread.

I think you're getting a hard time here OP. We have around the same in disposable income, we don't have massive salaries (£25K each, which is average). But we live in a very affordable city, so our mortgage is only £320 per month, which makes a big difference. It's housing that eats up a lot of your income so if you live in a cheap area it's not that unusual to have disposable income, even if you're on lower pay.

But, surely you must know that £1500 is a lot? You don't need to buy clothes, bikes, Christmas and birthday presents every month presumably? You could put some of the money aside and save it for when you do need to buy those things.

@exaltedwombat I wish we had the salaries of an mp! If you haven't read the full thread you don't know that our combined salary is 2,500 a month.. Its our living costs that are low.. So no boasting here. I'm getting paid tomorrow, but as we speak I have about £5 in my bank account thanks to a very expensive car repair last week..

Hubby and I both had well paid jobs and we lived according to our means. Then hubby lost his job about a year ago. My salary should have maintained us pretty comfortably in my mind but we have a very thorough spreadsheet with everything on it and it shows we have to live really carefully. I’ve become an expert at fakeaways. I feel absolutely blessed to have the employer I do and a full salary during this time.
Op, you and your DH need to sit down and list every single expense and be realistic. Seeing it and having a plan will likely calm your DH down too. If you’ve no savings you can’t afford a nasty surprise, it can quickly snowball, and he probably knows that.

@ExpatAl yes having no savings worries me too. We were lucky to survive for many months with no income and debt, but now that we've used them up, it makes me nervous too. I feel very lucky to be working again although it's not the salary or professional field as before.

As a disposable income it's more than enough.

Your DH is being ridiculous.

NRTWT
… our total pre-tax income (for 4) is between 1,500 and 2,000 pcm, but mortgage paid off, and no car. We live pretty comfortably. Apart from being wilfully extravagant, I can't think how to spend another £1500 monthly on top. Mind, from Yorkshire, so no truck with gym memberships, Sky etc (just the 100 odd freeview channels).

@myglorioushairdo

I get why you are worried, its a big cut for you. I dont see why ppl get their back up, maybe its jealousy. Plus pls dont feel like you have to explain yourself to some rude uncouth people on here. I'm sure your oh will come around to the idea eventually x

That's a lot. I thought I was in clover on £300 a month after all bills/food etc. I didn't stint myself on my 'things' which are home decor , books & boxsets of anything crime related.

I'd kill for that amount of disposable income for two adults & two teens.

OMG this has to win the post of the year award for the most tone deaf, I wanna stealth post, insensitive nonsense I have ever heard. Please have a fucking word with yourself

That's what we live on. But we pay all our food/rent/bills out of that too it's more then enough

I won’t be able to sleep tonight. Never knew such deprivation existed.

That’s quite a lot after food and bills. I Certainly don’t consider DH and I as poor but if I had 1.5k a month for clothes and eating out I’d feel rich!

It’s more than many people have .

It is doable if you budget , plan meals and plot out what you have to pay for ( I don’t know what it’s covering ) . Think positive . Check out MSE and also see if you can cut other costs down .

I spend over half that on just myself a month 😵 but I probably need to get into the real world ...

I have read all the OP’s post, but not everyone else’s, so please forgive me if the app MoneyDashboard has already been mentioned. I find very useful for being able to see all my spending, allocate it to different groupings (such as ‘bills’, ‘children’, ‘school stuff’ etc.), and then see how much I spend in each category over a month / 6 months / a year. It helps me to understand what my costs really are, where I can save money, and where I can’t! Might we worth a try?

Wtf??
I have about £1.50 disposable income after bills, food etc!

stealth boast!

[quote Myglorioushairdo]@ExpatAl yes having no savings worries me too. We were lucky to survive for many months with no income and debt, but now that we've used them up, it makes me nervous too. I feel very lucky to be working again although it's not the salary or professional field as before.[/quote]
You could easily build up savings with £1500 after bills are paid. Even saving £500 of that would be a great start.

I think this is about the way you have both adjusted to different circumstances. You both planned for the life change downsize, but your OH expected to have double the income you are now coping with. He thought that the covid hiatus was a temporary thing and your incomes would go back to the anticipated amount. That's where the anxiety comes from, especially when society teaches us all that the mna is the breadwinner who should provide fir his family. However, you have adjusted more easily, and your outlook comes as a reaction to the upswing since having no money so it seems plentiful to you but difficult for him. Although everyone is saying you have plenty, and perhaps you do, the spreadsheet would be a good idea as it will help you both see how much is left over after real essentials, I am afraid toys, holidays and even birthday presents aren't really essentials. Petrol, clothes and hobbies are - the mental health benefits of hobbies are important, clothes depend on what you have already, but for children who are still growing will be essential, petrol if needed but walking is good for everyone if you can. It sounds as though you will have plenty for some of the niceties too, but the days of unfettered spending are over, and it will be good for your OH to see what that means. Considered spending, but probably not a big reduction in your lifestyle. Good luck.

A lot of people don’t have this to live on for the month and earn a lot less. In the current climate, this is not a sensitive post to make or question to ask. £1500 a month disposable income is most definitely more than enough.

After all bills, food and other living expenses? More than enough. I'd probably save £1000/month and struggle to spend the £500 on "extras" to be honest.