AIBU to wonder how people afford this??

[Eurghhhhhhh]

I've been out tonight with some friends to the nearest major city. We went for some food and a few drinks, very relaxed, just spending time catching up. I've got home and realised that I've spent almost £50! I'm not skint my any means (although not near the Mumsnet 6 figures) but this feels a lot. How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

This is why I take a hipflask on nights out a £5 drink turns into £2 for a soft drink haha

I do it multiple times a week but I've no kids (so more disposable income) and I mix and match with cheaper activities.

Eg this last week I have (this is going to be fun/scary as I've not totted it up!)

• Had 3 course dinner and shared a bottle - £60
• Went to a museum (free) and then for drinks - £10
• Went for lunch and coffee - £20
• Went for dinner, no drinks - £30
• Went for a walk and coffee - £5
• Dinner at a friends - free!

Transport for all of the above, about £15 (tubes and buses, some I walked to)

Admittedly that's a more sociable week than normal, but that's "out" 6 times for less than the price of 2.5 of your evenings.

I could go out a couple of times a week Pre kids. Now if I’m lucky it’d be a couple of times a year.

[quote SofiaMichelle]It's an interesting one, OP, but as others have said some people have more money than others.

There's sometimes a misconception that the average salary is roughly what most people earn, but the median (most common salary) is often a long way from that.

For example in London the median salary at 40-49yo is around £43k.

Across the UK as a whole it's around £33k at that age.

So a 2 person household of 2 average earners in an average area is earning £65-70k between them, so £4,200 per month after tax.

That's quite a bit compared to the odd £50 here and there.

occaminvesting.co.uk/average-uk-salary-by-age/[/quote]
Disagree

“The odd £50 here and there”

In this thread, people are taking about £50 a week, £200 a month.

If you put that money into a stocks and shares ISA that earns 5% per year (which is a very modest target and it’ll likely earn much more than that), over 10 years you’ll be approx £30K up.

It comes down to spending priorities. If I have spare cash I spend it on my hobby. Some people like to go out a lot so that’s what they will spend their money on. Of course there will be the lucky few that have the funds that enable them to do what they want without worrying about the cost. If I do something like this it’s a great. I’m going out for lunch with friends on Saturday but it’s a rare treat for me.

It all comes down to priorities and availability of funds

I go out several times a week and spend a lot on food and drink. I work hard, my DC have grown up and this is what I choose to
spend my money on. I don’t have a fancy car and I rarely buy clothes/shoes. It’s just a matter of priorities, and enjoying quality time with friends/family/DH over a nice meal and wine is mine.

I've the past 20 years i've probably saved about £50,000 compared many of my former classmates simply by living very near my work/working from home and not owning a vehicle. Wasn't a plan, just the way it worked out. So that works out about 200 quid a month for food/drinks right there over a couple of decades.

Short answer: People have very different lives and outgoings. (and income of course)

In this thread, people are taking about £50 a week, £200 a month.If you put that money into a stocks and shares ISA that earns 5% per year (which is a very modest target and it’ll likely earn much more than that), over 10 years you’ll be approx £30K up

And you'll have spent ten years sitting home alone never having done anything, and have no friends. What will you need 30k for?

We do but we are retired so no point in leaving it in the bank, can't spend it on holidays now so got to spend on something

^So a 2 person household of 2 average earners in an average area is earning £65-70k between them, so £4,200 per month after tax.

That's quite a bit compared to the odd £50 here and there^

I find it hard to believe that the average monthly household income is £4200 pm, especially as many households do not have 2 x full time workers, but if that's what the stats show?

But you can't really compare 'the odd £50' against the whole £4200, because you first have to remove all fixed costs for housing, bills, transport, childcare, replacement of cars, white goods, etc etc to see how the cost of eating and drinking out fits in with disposable income.

That's what people have to decide against, is it worth spending £50 for the experience? Some will think it's worth it, some won't. Most people only have so much disposable income, so if they spent £100 a week on a couple of 'proper' nights out, they wouldn't be able to afford to go on holiday or something else that might be similarly important to them, or even more significant, it might leave them short of essentials or falling into debt.

I personally don't mind the spend occasionally, maybe a few times a year, but I'm never going to be out for 'dinner and cocktails' every week, because the cost isn't really worth it to me.

You could also save money by never having a holiday, never buying nice clothes or make up, never doing any hobbies, eating budget food everyday. What's the money for if it's not for living?

I don't know anyone at all that goes out 'multiple' times a week!

I could not believe that two glasses of red wine were £17.00 i nearly fainted!! cant you tell i don't go out often.

It's possible I suppose that I have an exceptionally sociable group of friends but in the past month I have turned down approx 4 events due to finances (and I also budget around £200pm 'fun money!)

If you put that money into a stocks and shares ISA that earns 5% per year (which is a very modest target and it’ll likely earn much more than that), over 10 years you’ll be approx £30K up

I spend money on going out and put money into stocks and shares ISAs.

Why are people so bothered about what others spend their money on?

These posts are weird lately it's like we've gone back in time to the 90s! £50 for a night out in the City with food included is not a lot today! There was one last week a lady had gone out all night and drank loads and bought others drinks too and was shocked she'd spent a whole £40 .

Just throwing it out there......probably bcause they have more disposable income/they earn more/they have no kids/they enjoy socialising and enjoy every minute of it and don't care how much it could potentially cost?
I dunno

£50 is very reasonable for a night with good food and good friends.

We eat out a couple times a week because we can afford it, if we didn’t have the disposable income we have then we wouldn’t. There’s no magic secret to it really 😂

@ManifestDestinee

In this thread, people are taking about £50 a week, £200 a month.If you put that money into a stocks and shares ISA that earns 5% per year (which is a very modest target and it’ll likely earn much more than that), over 10 years you’ll be approx £30K up

And you'll have spent ten years sitting home alone never having done anything, and have no friends. What will you need 30k for?

I think you’ve misunderstood my post. I was saying that “£50 here and there” is not a small amount of money compared to an average salary. I’m not trying to police anyone. If you’re spending it with your eyes open, then fair play.

Also fairly dramatic to say I’m at home with no friends. My friends don’t need to be drunk in order to want to see me

I can afford to do it 2-3 times a week but our kids are adults, our mortgage is paid off and we have a not inconsiderable joint income.

We don't though because we are too fucking old and tired now.

We definitely couldn't afford to do it when we were younger and had dependents, you are not alone. Don't believe all those Instagram stories, I know lots of young people my DC's age that put it all on credit.

You reap what you sow, keep up the good work and sensible spending.

@Neverrains

If you put that money into a stocks and shares ISA that earns 5% per year (which is a very modest target and it’ll likely earn much more than that), over 10 years you’ll be approx £30K up

I spend money on going out and put money into stocks and shares ISAs.

Why are people so bothered about what others spend their money on?

That’s great! Well done

@CampaignToo

You could also save money by never having a holiday, never buying nice clothes or make up, never doing any hobbies, eating budget food everyday. What's the money for if it's not for living?

Not to mention life changes a lot over 10 years. Kids, kids grow, moving house etc etc.

Why would you not go out for 10 years, whilst you can. I mean definitely save if you can but not at the expense of living live.

We go out once a month. No children and both work full time. With dinner and cocktails we easily spend £100 each or more. Cocktails in London are the biggest rip off. They are now served in teeny tiny glasses and come with these long descriptions when really it’s just alcoholic fruit juice.