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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you be comfortable with this monthly expenditure

71 replies

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 19:40

Take home after deductions - £2900
Bills (house related and Mortgage) - £1200
Bills (personal-petrol, phone, hair etc) - £200
Food (budget £15 a day so based on 30 day month) - £450
-Social (weekends, new clothes etc) - £250
-Savings/investments - £800

Any critiques welcome - Mortgage is to rise by £200 in August so savings pot will be £600. I feel like I may be being stingy on the social pot…

OP posts:
SilviaSnuffleBum · 28/06/2025 20:03

£450 on food? For one person?! 😱😱😱

Emknewbest · 28/06/2025 20:05

I don’t think £450 for food is a lot. I am jealous of your housing costs, mine are about £2,600

NC28 · 28/06/2025 20:09

I’d be fine with it. You’ll get posters who’ll disagree but after your mortgage rise, if you do a year of £600 savings per month, you’ll have over £7000 for a rainy day. Or a broken boiler. Or to be dipped into for a holiday.

MN is a den of “we can’t make ends meet” thread titles with the poster saying how “£120K salary isn’t what it used to be”. But in a normal person’s life, your plan is fine.

Don’t sweat the food costs either - £450 sounds a lot but if you’re going to Starbucks each day or treating yourself to something similar, crack on! You’re working for it, have your own home and are saving a very decent amount. Enjoy some perks!

missmollygreen · 28/06/2025 20:10

Emknewbest · 28/06/2025 20:05

I don’t think £450 for food is a lot. I am jealous of your housing costs, mine are about £2,600

"cough" humble brag "cough"

SwearyYellowStartish · 28/06/2025 20:10

Is this for one person? We spend £250 on food/other groceries for two adults and one baby and eat pretty well. That is £125 each and covers some nappies too!

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 20:23

SilviaSnuffleBum · 28/06/2025 20:03

£450 on food? For one person?! 😱😱😱

I’m with my DH and young child, I am in the office quite a bit and lunch comes out of that budget and the odd coffee etc. That also covers toiletries etc. I often go into the shop these days, pick up three items (bread etc) and have spent a tenner! It doesn’t go as far, and we cook fresh mostly too.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 28/06/2025 20:26

SwearyYellowStartish · 28/06/2025 20:10

Is this for one person? We spend £250 on food/other groceries for two adults and one baby and eat pretty well. That is £125 each and covers some nappies too!

£250 a month for 3 people? Is that’s a joke?

Mrsttcno1 · 28/06/2025 20:29

SwearyYellowStartish · 28/06/2025 20:10

Is this for one person? We spend £250 on food/other groceries for two adults and one baby and eat pretty well. That is £125 each and covers some nappies too!

I’m amazed by this, where do you shop & what do you buy??

We are 2 adults and a 1 year old and certainly couldn’t get everything for anywhere near that.

SilviaSnuffleBum · 28/06/2025 20:37

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 20:23

I’m with my DH and young child, I am in the office quite a bit and lunch comes out of that budget and the odd coffee etc. That also covers toiletries etc. I often go into the shop these days, pick up three items (bread etc) and have spent a tenner! It doesn’t go as far, and we cook fresh mostly too.

Ah, okay!

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 20:41

I wouldn’t consider “hair” a bill I would consider that in the social section I suppose but that’s just me.

this is all too vague for me I would want to see it broken down further

this is ours our income is €7000
Housing
Mortgage: €1900.
Insurances(life, house): €150
Total Housing: €2050
Utilities
Electricity €150
Waste collection: €30
Broadband & TV: €70
Mobile phones x3: €60
Total Utilities: €310
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: €500
Dining out / takeaways: €200
Total Food: €700
Transportation
Fuel: €250
Car insurance & tax: €150
Maintenance & NCT: €100
Public transport / Parking: €20
Total Transport: €520
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: €50
Activities, sports, clubs: €50
Pocket money/treats: €60
Total Kids & Education: €150
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: €200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: €60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): €50
Total Entertainment: €260
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: €2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): €500
Clothing: €200
Miscellaneous buffer: €300
Total Savings & Misc.: €3,010
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: €7,000

Bjorkdidit · 28/06/2025 20:48

It doesn't matter if others feel comfortable, it's whether you think it will work for you and what changes you can make if it doesn't.

Some people will feel comfortable on half your income, others will have twice as much and say they are struggling.

SwearyYellowStartish · 28/06/2025 21:01

Mrsttcno1 · 28/06/2025 20:29

I’m amazed by this, where do you shop & what do you buy??

We are 2 adults and a 1 year old and certainly couldn’t get everything for anywhere near that.

Predominantly Lidl. I go every ten days and drop about £80 a go.

I have eggs on toast most mornings for breakfast, my partner uses oats and is like a magician with them. It’s never just porridge.

Lunch is usually soup and a sandwich or a tomatoey pasta whether I’m at home or in the office.

Dinner is a good mix. Meat no more than 3 times a week. That’s primarily because it’s awful for the world but it does get the cost down. We don’t really batch cook very often and whilst we like it to be healthy or fresh that’s not our only concern. Last week we had:
Halloumi fajitas in wraps w/ peppers and onion
Basa and leek gratin
Sausage casserole w/ celery, onions, carrots, lentils
Feta & tomato pasta
Mixed bean chilli w/ rice
Jerk chicken drums w/ rice, peppers & onion.

Tomorrow I will roast a chicken with potatoes, carrots, parsnips and gravy and then I’ll use the excess chicken on Monday in a creamy gnocchi with paprika.

We don’t snack much, no crisps or sweets, and we’ve dramatically reduced how much fresh fruit we buy because it was going in the bin but now buy lots of frozen fruit instead. Any snacks are usually natural yoghurt with fruit or cottage cheese with chives.

The babies nappies are sub-£2 and she doesn’t need anything else yet. Massive pack of loo rolls, get most (but not all) of our toiletries too.

Any booze tends to be bought separately but we’re not big on drinking in the house - do go out for a drink at least once a week.

Pinkdreams · 28/06/2025 21:13

How do you only spend 250 on social 😱

CarpetKnees · 28/06/2025 21:14

Where are your childcare costs ?

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 21:15

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 20:41

I wouldn’t consider “hair” a bill I would consider that in the social section I suppose but that’s just me.

this is all too vague for me I would want to see it broken down further

this is ours our income is €7000
Housing
Mortgage: €1900.
Insurances(life, house): €150
Total Housing: €2050
Utilities
Electricity €150
Waste collection: €30
Broadband & TV: €70
Mobile phones x3: €60
Total Utilities: €310
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: €500
Dining out / takeaways: €200
Total Food: €700
Transportation
Fuel: €250
Car insurance & tax: €150
Maintenance & NCT: €100
Public transport / Parking: €20
Total Transport: €520
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: €50
Activities, sports, clubs: €50
Pocket money/treats: €60
Total Kids & Education: €150
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: €200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: €60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): €50
Total Entertainment: €260
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: €2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): €500
Clothing: €200
Miscellaneous buffer: €300
Total Savings & Misc.: €3,010
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: €7,000

I totally forgot to add this is for a family of 4

Silsatrip · 28/06/2025 21:18

Your food costs are really low @Statsquestion1 What country?

bythefireplace · 28/06/2025 21:19

Pinkdreams · 28/06/2025 21:13

How do you only spend 250 on social 😱

Depends on your lifestyle I guess

my budget is generally £10 for social. I don’t drink and that covers a Starbucks or a McDonalds
tight budget so I can’t afford cinema, meals out etc

Gardener85 · 28/06/2025 21:20

@Statsquestion1 fair point re. Hair, the amount is the same though. That’s a great breakdown and sounds you’ve got a nice handle on things.

@Pinkdreams it depends really, take today for example and we went to a country park with a picnic and only spends were on ice cream and a drink each so quite minimal really. We usually have a nice meal out and takeaway once a month. It’s rare we exceed that monthly amount to be honest.

OP posts:
Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 21:24

Silsatrip · 28/06/2025 21:18

Your food costs are really low @Statsquestion1 What country?

Ireland. We spend approx 100-120 per week. I shop at Lidl mostly. This is just food. No alcohol or shampoo for me or dd. Dp and my ds just use a basic head and shoulders. I meal plan etc.

DoYouReally · 28/06/2025 21:29

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 20:41

I wouldn’t consider “hair” a bill I would consider that in the social section I suppose but that’s just me.

this is all too vague for me I would want to see it broken down further

this is ours our income is €7000
Housing
Mortgage: €1900.
Insurances(life, house): €150
Total Housing: €2050
Utilities
Electricity €150
Waste collection: €30
Broadband & TV: €70
Mobile phones x3: €60
Total Utilities: €310
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: €500
Dining out / takeaways: €200
Total Food: €700
Transportation
Fuel: €250
Car insurance & tax: €150
Maintenance & NCT: €100
Public transport / Parking: €20
Total Transport: €520
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: €50
Activities, sports, clubs: €50
Pocket money/treats: €60
Total Kids & Education: €150
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: €200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: €60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): €50
Total Entertainment: €260
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: €2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): €500
Clothing: €200
Miscellaneous buffer: €300
Total Savings & Misc.: €3,010
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: €7,000

Only on MNs could some saving 3k and over 43% of their income call it spending! 😂

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 21:32

DoYouReally · 28/06/2025 21:29

Only on MNs could some saving 3k and over 43% of their income call it spending! 😂

we don’t save 3k…we save 2k and 500 goes into the holiday fund. Only on mumsnet would someone criticise people for being good with their money…I’ve been broke, I don’t intend on going back there if I can help it.

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:34

Merryoldgoat · 28/06/2025 20:26

£250 a month for 3 people? Is that’s a joke?

No way could I feed 2 adults and 1 small dog on that for a month, unless it was very unhealthy options and even then I doubt I could.

Ablondiebutagoody · 28/06/2025 21:36

Statsquestion1 · 28/06/2025 20:41

I wouldn’t consider “hair” a bill I would consider that in the social section I suppose but that’s just me.

this is all too vague for me I would want to see it broken down further

this is ours our income is €7000
Housing
Mortgage: €1900.
Insurances(life, house): €150
Total Housing: €2050
Utilities
Electricity €150
Waste collection: €30
Broadband & TV: €70
Mobile phones x3: €60
Total Utilities: €310
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: €500
Dining out / takeaways: €200
Total Food: €700
Transportation
Fuel: €250
Car insurance & tax: €150
Maintenance & NCT: €100
Public transport / Parking: €20
Total Transport: €520
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: €50
Activities, sports, clubs: €50
Pocket money/treats: €60
Total Kids & Education: €150
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: €200
Subscriptions, books, etc.: €60
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts,nails): €50
Total Entertainment: €260
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: €2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): €500
Clothing: €200
Miscellaneous buffer: €300
Total Savings & Misc.: €3,010
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: €7,000

You haven't added up education/kids, entertainment/lifestyle, and savings/misc correctly

Destiny123 · 28/06/2025 21:38

Mrsttcno1 · 28/06/2025 20:29

I’m amazed by this, where do you shop & what do you buy??

We are 2 adults and a 1 year old and certainly couldn’t get everything for anywhere near that.

Lidl i spend 200pm for 2 adults including toiletries but we don't drink

Mum2jenny · 28/06/2025 21:41

Destiny123 · 28/06/2025 21:38

Lidl i spend 200pm for 2 adults including toiletries but we don't drink

I can’t believe that, £50 a week including toiletries and presumably cleaning materials. Not a chance!