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.

Well, obviously the OP has never really needed to budget as her DH has covered a lot of the costs etc. Which is lovely, of course, but it's not good if you have your responsibilities changed and then suddenly happen to be the one in charge 😟

Tbf, over the past few years, I've had a similar mentality after having a lot of health problems from.a head injury and post concussion, then subsequent iatrogenic injury from an off label antipsychotic that gave me a neurological involuntary movement disorder.

I havd relied on others to figure out bills, shoulder the main financial responsibility etc and I do think there is a danger that I'd be very similar with regards to lack of budgeting and planning, especially as I have a rather laid back attitude and think "oh well, DH will be able to do it"! I'm definitely guilty of probably being quite immature in that respect, and know I'd need to be a lot less impulsive and more sensible. (Pretty sure mine is undiagnosed ADHD but that's not an excuse, I know).

I absolutely agree with others about cutting your cloth, budgeting with a spreadsheet, and making a list of regular outgoings etc. It will certainly be a change but it'll be a good one for you.

Why are you even posting this? You realise that many many people could only dream of having disposable income like this? It surely can’t be that difficult to do a budget plan rather than asking randoms on here-unless this is a humble brag.

Depends on your buying habits. You won't afford designer clothes, luxury cars or exotic holidays. But it's plenty for a not very extravagant lifestyle.

I’m looking at slightly less than this to pay for everything, mortgage, bills, nursery fees, food…. I will make it stretch. Mortgage alone is £1100. You will be fine!

Sorry, how are you unable to work out how to budget? Do you both lack basic maths skills?

If this helps, work out what you usually spend in a month and then work out if £2250 will cover it.

If it won’t, then you need to make some cutbacks.

If it will, then you’re fine.

Welcome to real life - you’ll love it here!

I am sorry but I am sad, angry, scared and jealous at the same time and what I have to say isn't nice. How can you be so naive, sheltered to not realise that you are very lucky, well off to have that amount of money left after bills. Do you not read the paper's, watch the news. Most people would give their eye teeth to be in your situation most people can only dream of such a decadent lifestyle and then other posters agreeing with you that it might be a struggle. Not to mention your investments, savings, pensions. In what world do you live in that to you the change will mean deprivation in your eyes. Please educate yourself; you live in a bubble. Oh and I could have been a lot nastier.

I think you know it's enough to live on after bills OP. Even if you've never had to budget before, you just need to be able to add/do basic simple maths and with a job paying what you earn, you surely have that ability. When people come along and say - 'I'm probably going to get roasted but..' it means that that they know what they understand fine well what they are saying, so for you to do the clueless act of 'but I've never had to budget...' it's just that, an act, which as you can see from the responses, most people aren't buying it. Perhaps it's given you the rise that you wanted, a bit of entertainment for the Easter holidays but actually it's really just being nasty.

This is also a good post with relevant points. Many appear unaware of what real struggles are.

"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."

Yes this is enough. Some of us manage fine without going to the gym or the cinema (though admit to the haircut).

We live on a lot less due to long term disability but we're in the same situation at first when there was still some hope.

My advice would be to identify the little treats that each of you need and prioritise them. Mine is also coffee, DW is more chocolates and sweets. Doesn't break the bank and mentally makes a huge difference.

Next, look at meals. If DH is home does he want to cook, it is a great support for mental health recovery due to routine, clear instructions, definable outcome etc.

After that how much do you want for individual spends and how much for a together treat?

You have less money than you did but if you make active choices to ensure that all of these boxes are ticked, neither of you should feel like you are missing out too much.

Good luck.

Yes it's plenty enough but you will have to get used to budget planning as others have said.

I find the Martin Lewis one very comprehensive at getting you to think about what your spending and you can play about with it too so of you want to save for something in particular for instance.
Don't forget to factor in things like car repairs or 1 off bills etc.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/budget-planning/

I don't see the need for a roasting nor do I see your post as a brag.
I see it as someone who is worried about her husband and then trying to do financial planning from a place of worry when it's not something you have had to do due to 2 incomes etc.

How have you managed to obtain a job with this level of income without basic mathematics? Please share your secrets.

That much after bills and mortgage? Easy!

I have never had to think about what I spend

But you are able to read I gather? You do have a bank statement upon which you can add up your spends throughout a typical month? I mean, you're able to deduct your living costs so you should be able to deduce from the remainder that that is what you'll require to maintain your current standard of living?

Seriously, get a grip and work it out.

really? It is after major bill so disposable income. My take home pay after tax is less then 2000

Buy a stove top coffee maker (£10) and a grinder (£10) and make your own for pennies.

2 x coffees/day @ £4 a pop = £56 per week or £2912 saved per year.

Or improve your health by having less coffee?

My god people read the OP properly! She has £2,250 AFTER all outgoings, she does not need budget advice and told to sell the cat on Vinted to survive!!

My monthly take home pay is £2,300 and I just about manage on that (unless a big unexpected bill comes in). If I had double that I’d be doing the weekly shop in M&S and booking very nice holidays.

It really is concerning how these wealthy and very out of touch people are making decisions for our country. Imagine how those survive on minimum wage.

Hey at least you were prepared for the back lash OP!
The thing is what you are asking is complicated by your and your DPs attitude to money and your lifestyle currently.
I have had to think about these things over the last few years in detail after both my parents died quite suddenly and I inherited an estate in money and property.
Just look at your joint expenditure on your bank accounts over 6 months that will tell you what you actually spend. Then you will know whether the sum you will have will be enough.
Everyone is different. I have never had a problem living on all the different salaries I have had but omg my partner is like that lady who won the pools the "spend spend spend" lady. I actually envy my partner as I often want to treat myself but literally don't know what to get myself, deprivation childhood don't ask!
Luckily my partner is a high earner so our different attitudes to spending aren't a problem.
And what I have learnt from my recent life experiences is that health and fitness are the most important things so I think you and your DP are very sensible.

What is it you do for a job - is that safe? Are you employed with no obvious problems on the horizon?

I haven't read the full thread but it still looks like a reasonable budget although if you've been used to spending a much larger income it will come with adjustments.

For example swap out David Lloyd gym membership for the local leisure centre or weights and a cardio machine at home. Swap out top of the range mobile contracts for sim only deals and cheaper handsets. Reduce the number of TV subscriptions. Eat out once a week rather than multiple times, that sort of thing. You can still have the lifestyle just not so glitzy.

I think you’ll be ok, my husband & I were both recently made redundant & have had to claim Universal Credit, we get £1,235 per month
after
£620.00 rent & service charge
electric, water, food, phones/broadband, travel expenses, credit cards etc there’s nothing left, I’m ashamed that I didn’t realise how little a lot of people had to live on before now.

Yes, it ls enough. You’ll need go put money aside for holidays/ one off expenditure

I think you’ll be fine. You have enough disposable income between two adults than most people have to pay their bills etc.

Thats more than my take home pay, I have £2100 to cover mortgage/bills, absolutely everything. Would be nice to have £50 left for a luxury, never mind £2250!

That's more than I earn per month before bills, mortgage etc. So yes, YABU.