Is £2250, month, enough to live in post all livings costs are paid for

[Isitenough2250]

I am very aware that I may get slammed, and I am
prepared. DP has had a terrible time at work the past few years, as we have both seen terrible side affects of what stress can do heart attack/ stroke/
severe mental health issues - we thought it best for him to leave the job. Having worked out our budget, post mortgage/ bills/ insurances etc being paid we have £2250 left a month. That is for two adults and a cat. Out of which is food and then life costs, as in choices - gym/ hair cut/ going to the cinema.

Having never had to budget ever, is this enough? Sufficent savings/ investments for emergencies…..it is 2250 that we have come up with for food and miscellaneous spending.

Am prepared to be roasted, also any budgeting tips appreciated.

We think it will be about a year.

We have about £5500 a month between us for a family of five plus dog. Only about £700 gets left into savings.

yet can't manage to do that without heaving insults at her

😄People aren’t insulting her … they’re sharing opinions and ideas … OP posted and said she expected criticism … don’t try to defend the indefensible!

Far too many 'shares' on the lines of ' I live on the smell of an oily rag so you should too'. The politics of envy.

Utter rubbish 🤣

Not another thread like this. That amount is MORE THEN I EARN so yes it’s plenty!!
I thought you meant is that amount enough to cover your bills??

nicely argued

Completely agree. I'm not skint in the slightest- have more than enough disposable income - I'm not jealous, I can't believe someone with an obviously highly paid job has to come on here asking, 'is this enough'!

Why are you on the thread then?

It can be hugely daunting to go from something where you've never had to really think about things to where you're now having to learn about budgeting. What I would advise is sit down, maybe by yourself at first (so you can be confident about approaching your hubby with the new figures) - or would he prefer to talk through them with you?

I assume the 2k is disposable income(after all the bills, food, etc)? I would then write a list of the clubs, gym etc that you pay for, maybe listing them in order of importance to you and your hubby. Then things that you like doing and whatever is left after that. Maybe you could put some away for retirement or add to your pension?

This changes do require some thinking about how to approach them but you will be ok - this is a new normal to adapt to

Why shouldn't I be?

Tiresome.

Why do you think she IS on here then? She is asking for help budgetting as she never has learnt to do so. Can't understand why you can't grasp that.

You’ve already responded to my post with “well argued”. I concur … it is “tiresome”.

My thoughts exactly

OK. I'll explain myself.
Op said she was prepared to be 'roasted'. (Which I haven't done btw).
I am merely expressing my disbelief, dismay at someone who is apparently educated, in an incredibly high paid job, who is savvy enough to have worked out the bills and mortgage side of things and savvy enough to have a contingency fund for emergencies, can not work out that there is around 30 days in a month and she needs to feed herself (and partner and cat) and do all her monthly activities, without asking on here.
Only she knows what her costs are for various things such as hair and gym etc.

Sorry, but it's a ridiculous question to ask.

I agree @Letskeepcalm It's odd.

OP answered my query about why she'd never had to budget- evidently her parents had stepped up in some way "family money" - but when asked how, (allowance, house deposit, early inheritance...) she didn't explain. Only to say she earned more than her partner and was a high earner too.

But it does beggar belief that someone who's educated can't divide £2250 by 4 and 'do that maths', as they say. Even if you've never had to budget it's not hard to start is it?

I've personally spent several years recently supporting/ reorganising the finances of 3 friends who are production managers who've accrued thousands in debt. P.M.s! It's literally their job to run budgets! I don't understand how people can get themselves into these messes either, but they do. Simple household budgeting ought to be taught in school. Dickens' Mr Micawber defined happiness as "income 20 shillings, outgoings 19, and 5 pence" . " Income 20 shillings, outgoings 21 shillings, result, misery".

My mother taught us all to budget with tins marked for each outgoing cost. Much easier when dealing with cash, no credit. She lived by the motto" you can't have champagne tastes on a beer budget"

I agree with everything you've just said.
Live within your means.
Still think her question is bizarre, I'm sorry. And to ask if it's enough, when, as I said, only she knows what her gym subscription is, what her hairdresser charges, where she shops.
It's like saying, ' How long is a piece of string please?'
I'll leave it at that.

Er sorry ? Im a single parent, 2 teens, work FT , we live on 1750£ a month. Message me, I'll give you some tips.

But surely that's not coming to £500 a week

That’s more than I earn in a month which needs to include everything for DS and me to survive on.

We are retired and have a quite comfortable lifestyle. I have a spreadsheet that covers all items of expenditure including discretionary spending on hair, makeup, coffee, birthdays etc. One of the reasons we can live so well is that everything has its own little pot of money available to finance it and I stick to it. You have plenty of money to live on but you will get the best out of it you dig deep into what you want. A previous poster mentioned £15 for a yoga lesson, I might have done that when I was working but now I spend £38 a month on leisure centre membership and go to some great yoga classes and lots of spin and aerobics too. Sometimes we eat out but on days out I usually make a picnic, which is far nicer. If you get a plan going you probably can structure life so it is better, but in less money.

It is harder to adjust from having had a lot to not so much, (Though you have loads left) as you miss the stuff you are used to. I've always not had a lot but generally enough for basics and that is easier. Not having enough to pay bills is hardest of all, especially long term. You are very blessed to have savings and lots left.

You will be fine. It will take getting used to but you have a lot left from many people's perspective. Compare down not up. Think how much more you have than...