Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what your disposable income is?

51 replies

PumpkinSpicedLatte · 28/12/2024 11:40

Just that really.
I know it depends where you live, your job etc. But my partner and I are doing ‘no spend new year’ to try and save money for buying the house we currently rent.
Got two four year olds (one each from previous marriages).
Both average wage salaries part time.
But it feels like some people save loads more than us.
Basically I am seeking some advice. Where do you do your food shops, what cheap kids activities do you do?
Share as little or as much as you’d like.

OP posts:
TaupePanda · 28/12/2024 20:57

Depends on how you calculate disposable income. ONS says its what you have left after tax ie your take home salary. I would call what we have left after essentials - housing, utilities, main food shop. Childcare, car and Internet / phone grey areas as they are technically choice not imperatives - with big variables in how much they are - but you also do need them (usually).
I personally I don't know what our percentages are but we take a view that savings fall into essential spending. Pension is £1k a month (£500 each) and child benefit into boys savings. I'm aware we're lucky we can do that.
What we have left is then our disposable money. If we are tight - say because of a big purchase - then we spend less. Never the other way around ie save less. Again, I know we're fortunate that we can do that as it's not an option for everyone.
But, most people do find they can live within their means. By changing the amount you have and prioritising savings you may find you can manage and get to your goal

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread