After all bills how much do you have left for food and other non-bill things?

[muldersspeedos]

My rent has just increased and I'm working out my finances and making cuts wherever I can. I have 3dc and am a single parent. I have £400 a month for food and non-bill items like clothing, bus fares etc. How much is average to have after bills?

I have 300€ left but I currently live on my own and need to save some of that for when I go fully freelance in 6 months’ time, as I won’t have any steady income at all after that.

When that leftover amount was much lower, I made sure I cut all subscriptions that weren’t entirely essential - TV, Netflix, Spotify… YouTube or streaming is the way to go. Cheapest Giffgaff goodybag I could get for phone.

Strict food budget, own brand toiletries and cleaning and stripping down to basics when it comes to shampoos or skincare… I would only buy a all-in-one moisturiser and apply it scarcely, no make up or other products.

Do you have things to sell such as old toys or clothes that aren’t needed anymore?

I do apologise if these are all things you’re already doing! £400 is a tight budget but you will manage

After bills but before food we have around £1900 but our savings come out of that too. Not sure if you are counting savings in bills or not.

The OP may not have the money for any savings at all. Many people don’t.

@EileenGC

The OP may not have the money for any savings at all. Many people don’t.

I’m aware of that, it’s just some people class savings in with bills and some don’t. I personally don’t so wanted to give accurate information.

Savings 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Why on earth would I be trying to save and leaving myself with only £400?

It’s a useless comparison really , if you want people to help review your outgoings then that’s fair enough but only you can judge if it’s enough and lots will have more and some less

Only you can judge if it’s enough

I’m not trying to make the OP feel worse but do people think £100 a week is enough to feed, clothe, transport and provide the necessary in an emergency for 4 people?

The OP is clearly trying to find out how to make that work. Without resorting to Mumsnet chickens.

Have you got a slow cooker? You can use cheaper cuts of meat in them.

Bulk out with lentils?

@muldersspeedos

Savings 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Why on earth would I be trying to save and leaving myself with only £400?

You laugh but this is exactly what I do because if/when something brakes I rely on my savings. I use savings for Christmas and birthdays, school uniforms, annual bills etc.

We are a family of 5. After bills we have £500. I budget £100 a week for food and fuel and the other £100 goes to savings.

I suppose I'm just interested to know how it varies and where I fall in that to help me make peace with my situation. I'm cutting all I can where I can and am planning on selling what I have hoarded over the years.

@Helpstopthepain sorry.

I don't think it's enough. Obviously depends on the age of your children, but I think £400 is do-able short term, or if you're also putting money aside for things like Christmas and school uniforms and treats, but not long term without getting into debt. I know because I've been there!

Are you claiming everything you're entitled to? Can you increase hours at work?

That sounds really low Op, are you getting everything you are entitled to? Also check with your children’s school to see if you can get free school meals even if you aren’t entitled to them because technically you earn too much. They might have a hardship fund for certain children and that extra hot lunch might make things a bit easier on the food budget.

I don’t think any of us advising you how much of our income is disposable would be of any benefit to you.

£400 is doable however it doesn’t leave much for fun things, not that you need them as there is loads of fun activities that cost very little.

£100 per week for food and other essentials (excluding bills) sounds tight, but I'm sure it can be done

Doing it short term is quite different from long term

Good luck. Hope things work out for you

It will be fine, the rent increase just came as a big blow. I know many on here will have much more but many will have less. We are ok and will be ok.

When is the first increased rent payment due?

If not for a couple of months, I would start putting aside the difference between the old and new rent now. Even if it's just £100 at the end, it would be a small buffer for a very tight month in the future.

There are so many variables but for an approx tool use this

ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in

It’s from The Institute of Fiscal Studies

There is also how you feel amongst your contemporaries. All our neighbours, close friends and relatives are mainly professionals on really decent incomes.

We have a substantial amount left over. At one point we were in top 5% of earnings before I became ill.

Really asking for assistance with outgoings would be more useful to you op. Plus however tiny the amount you can save even if just occasionally. It’s not having money for essentials such as a washing machine breaking that often plunges people in to debt.

@muldersspeedos

It will be fine, the rent increase just came as a big blow. I know many on here will have much more but many will have less. We are ok and will be ok.

If £400 is literally what you have left after bills, and you don’t save any on top of that, then that is very low. Some will have less of course but I don’t think it will be many. Is there any way for you to increase your income, extra hours or extra job, so you have a bit of a buffer each month? Do you have much in savings to give you emergency money?

Thank you for the suggestions, I appreciate them. First rent increase is mid January so I'll save the extra if I can to cushion it. It's just such a rubbish time of year with Christmas and my dc all have winter birthdays! Luckily I've bought most for two dc already.

I would think you would need around £75/week for food for all of you which doesn't leave much for anything else.

You will need to buy clothes, school activities, kids parties, occasional McDonald's.

Yes you won't starve but you need to see if you can get more help. Where is the ex? Is he helping out?

I'd struggle to just do food for 4 for £400 pcm.

Can you check if you're entitled to UC?
With your increase in rent and the changes to the earnings threshold, you might qualify for the housing element. (Dependant on your income)
Do a calculation on entitled to. It's worth a look. I can't remember what date the threshold changes/d so check that too.

And put your new rent figure into the calculation

Take home monthly
6200
Bills monthly (actually 4 weekly)
Electric 100
Childcare 400 (term time only)
Life insurance 70
Waste 25
Broadband/tv and phones x2 95
Food 480
Fuel 280 (car isn't very fuel efficient but its not a big deal!)
Kids activities 50

I can't think of anything else

So 6200 -1500 = 4700 left

So not including food and kids activities then over 5k

We pay house and car insurance and car tax annually.

No mortgage/rent