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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my monthly bills are FAR too high?

227 replies

Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 20:14

Childcare £651
Food £450
Gym & swimming lessons £360
Car finance £325
Cleaner £240
Pet insurance £38
Mobile £17
car insurance £60
house insurance £92
Private pension £200

We are mortgage free. I take home about 2,200pcm and cover all the above costs.

I need to massively cut down, don’t I? 🙁

OP posts:
Luxell934 · 14/12/2023 21:38

Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 21:35

Really, though? I know some people who blow £3240 on a family holiday (and we are a family of 5). The next week they are back in work like it never happened. At least with our swimming and gym we get to enjoy it year round. It’s just horses for courses I guess.

Show quote history

So sounds like everything is justifiable to you. What’s the main issue OP? Do you actually want to cut your bills down or not?

BarbaraofSeville · 14/12/2023 21:39

Actually I do understand spending £3k pa on the David Lloyd membership for swimming etc.

£3k won't buy much of a holiday for a family of 5 in the school holidays, but it does give them unlimited swimming and other activities, plus likely holiday clubs etc.

Christmassss · 14/12/2023 21:39

If your DC can all swim how about ditching the lessons and carry on taking them as a family?

Definitelynotem · 14/12/2023 21:41

I do think this is a bit tone deaf OP. You’re mortgage free on a 5 bed detached house and don’t seem to be willing to cut down on any of the areas other posters have identified.

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 21:42

greencheetah · 14/12/2023 21:36

So what’s the mortgage for? Does rent provide additional income?

I don’t understand why you spend so much money on swimming instead of a family holiday.

Also, if you a public sector worker, why are you spending £200 a month on a private pension?

Cleaner seems excessive if DH is around for school pick ups and drop offs. He could possibly be doing more?

Working excessive hours really isn’t compulsory in public sector. Especially not at that low pay, unless you’re a teacher (been there/done that)

Yes, my DH has a mortgage on another property which he rents out. Sorry to confuse and yes I do understand that this means we are not mortgage free technically, but it could explain the difference in what we both pay for.

I pay into a private pension because I have taken a few years out of work so it feels like the right thing to do to build myself up a bit.

Ah, I guess you caught me on the last point.

OP posts:
BananaPyjamaLlama · 14/12/2023 21:43

My home insurance is £200 a year! £92 a month is eyewatering.

greencheetah · 14/12/2023 21:43

So why isn’t DH pulling his weight at home?

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 21:43

Luxell934 · 14/12/2023 21:38

So sounds like everything is justifiable to you. What’s the main issue OP? Do you actually want to cut your bills down or not?

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Sorry if it sounds argumentative. I don’t mean to be. I really like having MN as a sounding board to make sure some of my choices aren’t batshit crazy (which most people seem to think they are) 😆

OP posts:
Mumaway · 14/12/2023 21:44

I'm sure you can find some savings on some of those without sacrificing too much. Your house insurance in particular seems really high, as does gym and swimming. Perhaps look at those first?

Flamesatmytoes · 14/12/2023 21:44

What is you DH other mortgage all about? If that’s a second property, you need to have a look at this.

Treesinmygarden · 14/12/2023 21:45

Why do you have a childcare cost when your H is at home, unable to work?!

Luxell934 · 14/12/2023 21:46

Sounds like yes you’re probably spending more than you earn which is being supplemented by your savings. So as long as you’re okay with this you don’t need to cut down on anything.

Jagoda · 14/12/2023 21:47

How many hours does DH work on average? How much does he earn and what’s the monthly profit on his rent income?

It seems like he has a pretty good deal here and I don’t understand why you need a cleaner.

ActDottie · 14/12/2023 21:48

What about utilities? And internet? Phone bill?

Your pet insurance is really cheap compared to mine. If you want to cut down I’d start with the cleaner that seems very high.

Vettrianofan · 14/12/2023 21:48

Your DH can grab a pinny and a duster and get on with the cleaning each week whilst you are working and you can save all that money. Put it to better use!

Christmassss · 14/12/2023 21:48

So does the rent cover the mortgage on the other property or is there a £600 shortfall?

BloodyAdultDC · 14/12/2023 21:49

*Family gym membership for the 5 of us at David Lloyd is £270.

I’ve justified it before as it means we can all swim together after lessons at the weekend,*

Or you could pay a tenner for a family swim at the council pool?

£270 for 5 swims x 4 weeks is £13.50 PER PERSON PER SWIM! I'd join the local council pool and swim for pennies, that's over 3 grand (and I bet you don't go every week) and save up for a belting holiday!

£90 pcm for house insurance is also bonkers, unless you're living in a mahoosive house with expensive heirlooms?

Original poster
Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 21:51

Jagoda · 14/12/2023 21:47

How many hours does DH work on average? How much does he earn and what’s the monthly profit on his rent income?

It seems like he has a pretty good deal here and I don’t understand why you need a cleaner.

He probably works about 25 hours per week.

Our middle child is SEN and hard work. He does all the drop offs and 3/5 days’ worth of pick ups.

OP posts:
Strawberryfieldsforeverrr · 14/12/2023 21:54

None if it makes any sense really. Some of your outgoings are high, but you're happy with that so nothing to do there.
You don't seem to have a budget for children's shoes and clothes, personal grooming for yourself, dentistry, saving: short medium or long term, home improvements and repairs, days out, etc etc etc.
£450 for food for 5 seems incredibly cheap.

CuttingAllTheFlowersStill · 14/12/2023 21:54

I think you actually have a very nice lifestyle on a modest income. If DH not earning much though (and I have been in this position) why do you need childcare/cleaner? I understand the gym rather than a holiday if you feel you get value out of it but it is a luxury. And the car/car insurance is expensive. I assume you are also using savings as your numbers add up to more than your income without any annual costs. Are you happy about this?

Mushroom2023 · 14/12/2023 21:54

Food seema reasonable depending on the size of your family.
Gym could go - do free exercise instead eg a nightly/morning run
Car finance - get rid and buy a car outright that you can afford
House insurance seems very high

TeaKitten · 14/12/2023 21:55

Mysteriousgirl2 · 14/12/2023 21:51

He probably works about 25 hours per week.

Our middle child is SEN and hard work. He does all the drop offs and 3/5 days’ worth of pick ups.

Show quote history

But if he worked an extra 4 hours a week cleaning his own home you’d save £240 a month.

Globules · 14/12/2023 21:55

merrymerrychristmasall · 14/12/2023 20:23

Jesus how do you get a phone for £17!

Looks reasonable to me but that home insurance seems very high.

Easily.

I paid £100 for my handset 18 months ago. Paying £7pm for a 100gb, unlimited texts and calls contract.

I don't understand why people pay silly money for phone contracts. It's so simple to get a cheap one.

Thegoodbadandugly · 14/12/2023 21:56

How on earth does your gym and swimming come to so much?

justasking111 · 14/12/2023 21:56

Sorry unless your OH has a massive mortgage on the other property he's taking the Mick. You seem to have absolutely no idea what his income is but he contributes 6k to the family.

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