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Original poster

1800 per month in the North

33 replies

Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 20:06

I'm on just over 36k. But after tax, NI, pension and CM for DCx2 of 500 I'll take home around 1800. I live in the north of England. I have a mortgage on the family home but my ex will be taking care of that until she buys it off me. We are joint owners.

I'll be renting somewhere for around 500-600 let month.

For someone single, is 1800 enough? How tight would it be?

The last resort is going back to my parents which I want to avoid if possible.

Any insights or advice would be appreciated, particularly those living on similar money. Thanks 👍

OP posts:
Toddlerandthecat · 10/12/2023 20:09

I'm in the north east, and our monthly bills (including food, petrol, TV subscriptions etc.) come to around 1600 a month. That's for 2 adults and 1 child and a mortgage payment of around 700.

Flamingbow · 10/12/2023 20:12

If its £1200 - 1300 after rent and CM then it'll be tight but doable. Do you have a car? That can eat away at your money. I'd start by writing everything down, if you know where you're going to be renting then you can look up council tax, water rates and electricity/gas more of an unknown but you can make a guess based on what you've previously paid and chip some off. Write everything down.

DonnaHaywood · 10/12/2023 20:16

With rent at that level you'll be totally fine. It's often said rent is affordable at 30% of gross income, 30% of net, already taking into account CM, is good (I'm curious where in 'the north' you can rent your own place so cheaply!).

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 10/12/2023 20:18

We've managed on that (until recently hwen it's increased) for a family of 4 in the south so I imagine will be fine!

Original poster
Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 20:22

Flamingbow · 10/12/2023 20:12

If its £1200 - 1300 after rent and CM then it'll be tight but doable. Do you have a car? That can eat away at your money. I'd start by writing everything down, if you know where you're going to be renting then you can look up council tax, water rates and electricity/gas more of an unknown but you can make a guess based on what you've previously paid and chip some off. Write everything down.

I might be able to reduce the maintenance slightly depending on whether one or both of them stop over on a weekly basis or not. But trying to work things out on worst case financial scenario of paying out 500 CM.

Yep the car is another problem. I'm committed to 200 per month for it. It's only a year and under warranty so won't have to worry about repairs/MOT but will need tires. It's cheap to run with being hybrid so don't regret it too much.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 20:22

DonnaHaywood · 10/12/2023 20:16

With rent at that level you'll be totally fine. It's often said rent is affordable at 30% of gross income, 30% of net, already taking into account CM, is good (I'm curious where in 'the north' you can rent your own place so cheaply!).

It'll be a shit hole. Near Newcastle. Thanks 👍

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 20:36

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 10/12/2023 20:18

We've managed on that (until recently hwen it's increased) for a family of 4 in the south so I imagine will be fine!

Wow really surprised to hear that in the south.

Must have been tough?
Living alone my bills and costs will be cheaper than a family of 4.

OP posts:
OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 10/12/2023 20:38

Really quite a normal income to be honest! Many families have 1 teacher or nurse working. And many more live on a lot less....

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 10/12/2023 20:39

Although yes different with car loan and child maintenance coming out of that. 700 makes a big difference.

Original poster
Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 21:05

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 10/12/2023 20:39

Although yes different with car loan and child maintenance coming out of that. 700 makes a big difference.

The maintenance isn't coming out of that. It's 2300 before the 500 maintenance so I'll have 1800 left over to live alone.

OP posts:
DragonFly98 · 10/12/2023 21:14

So circa £1200 after rent for food bills etc mostly for one person and two dc when you have them. That's plenty.

EmpressSoleil · 10/12/2023 21:15

OK so approx 1200 after rent? Council tax, up to £200p/m though could be cheaper. Utilities, depends on the size of the place you're renting. Say also £200 p/m, although again shouldn't be that much. I pay that for quite a big house. Less in the summer. £200 for the car and I'd say approx £200 for groceries. So max expenses should be £800. Still leaves you £100 p/w "spare". Not loads but better off than many! You should be fine.

BananaSquiggle · 10/12/2023 21:15

Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 20:22

I might be able to reduce the maintenance slightly depending on whether one or both of them stop over on a weekly basis or not. But trying to work things out on worst case financial scenario of paying out 500 CM.

Yep the car is another problem. I'm committed to 200 per month for it. It's only a year and under warranty so won't have to worry about repairs/MOT but will need tires. It's cheap to run with being hybrid so don't regret it too much.

Show quote history

Surely the £200 per month on a car is the bigger problem, rather than £500-£600 on rent? I think your car to accommodation ratio is very unusual.

Original poster
Tonto37 · 10/12/2023 21:20

BananaSquiggle · 10/12/2023 21:15

Surely the £200 per month on a car is the bigger problem, rather than £500-£600 on rent? I think your car to accommodation ratio is very unusual.

Show quote history

I agree but it's a commitment already made before the change of circumstances, so can't get out of it for a while. Up here rent/property prices are cheaper than down south. So a rent would dwarf any car payment in London.

OP posts:
caramond · 10/12/2023 21:24

I'm in the south but single and recently calculated my basic living costs after mortgage come to about £1,600 per month. That includes all bills, transport (public transport in my case but about £200 per month), food and household items, insurance policies etc.

Everything has gone up so much... On the other hand, there are some savings to be made if you compare costs. For example I just reduced my tv/broadband costs by £50 p/m by switching and reducing the package.

So to answer your question I would say doable but very tight.

Katastrophic · 10/12/2023 21:27

Yes I’ve heard of the north (joke - I’m also in the north east). I don’t have a huge amount of sympathy for silly car leases, but each to their own. It doesn’t sound like you’ll need to be down the food bank to me.

Firefly2009 · 10/12/2023 23:28

Yes 1800 per month with rent being a third of that amount, is very reasonable and doable.

closingdownsale · 10/12/2023 23:30

Yeah you'll be fine. I'm on the same and still have savings every month. Would love to know where you found somewhere for 5-600 rent though!

Soontobe60 · 11/12/2023 06:40

Out of interest, why is the house not being sold or your ex buying you out now? Have you completed a financial order?

Willyoujustbequiet · 11/12/2023 07:14

It's above average wage so yes you'll be fine. Plenty manage on less for a family.

It's good of your ex to pay your half of the mortgage in the interim.

Original poster
Tonto37 · 11/12/2023 07:27

closingdownsale · 10/12/2023 23:30

Yeah you'll be fine. I'm on the same and still have savings every month. Would love to know where you found somewhere for 5-600 rent though!

Near Newcastle

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonto37 · 11/12/2023 07:29

Willyoujustbequiet · 11/12/2023 07:14

It's above average wage so yes you'll be fine. Plenty manage on less for a family.

It's good of your ex to pay your half of the mortgage in the interim.

She'll benefit from that further down the line. I'm not putting any pressure from her to sell either but it would be expected it's sold when youngest is 18. Until it's sold it impacts my financial ability to get onto the market again but only to an extent as the mortgage is small.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonto37 · 11/12/2023 07:30

Soontobe60 · 11/12/2023 06:40

Out of interest, why is the house not being sold or your ex buying you out now? Have you completed a financial order?

She'll buy it off me when she can get sorted, there's no rush. As long as the kids have stability of their home. Fortunately the mortgage is small otherwise we'd have no choice but to sell ASAP.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonto37 · 11/12/2023 17:34

My calculations are coming in around 1600-1650 which is consistent with what @caramond suggested above.

If/When I get rid of the car and replace it with an older car it'll help reduce my monthly outgoings, but not to the extent that you may think. I'll have to keep money back for the MOT, inevitable repairs and it won't be anywhere near as cheap to run.

My wage is 2300. My Maintenance payments are after pension payments deduction so I'll have 1845. With the costs above it'll leave me with £200. I'd need to save £100 of that for birthday/Christmas presents for my daughter's and family. So 100 quid a month for me.

Thanks to all for those that have provided an insight.

OP posts:
Ghentsummer · 11/12/2023 17:47

Willyoujustbequiet · 11/12/2023 07:14

It's above average wage so yes you'll be fine. Plenty manage on less for a family.

It's good of your ex to pay your half of the mortgage in the interim.

You could then say it's good on the OP for being the one moving out when legally he doesn't have to or for not pushing for the house to be sold. She's paying the mortgage of the house she lives in while he will be paying for the rent of the place he lives in, she's not exactly being generous.