Moved back to UK - realistic budget?

[kee2927]

We've just moved back to the UK (married couple, no children) after 7 years living abroad, and we're currently job hunting. We both want a career change (bad timing, I know) and trying to figure out how much we realistically need to be able to live. We have saved a fair bit whilst abroad so have money to keep us going in the short term.

We've been living in a fairly expensive city, but excluding rent and bills we've been spending an average of £1800 a month. With everything I've been reading about how expensive the UK is these days, is it crazy to think we can stick to this budget here too? Chatgpt suggests our bills may be £500-600 a month, and our mortgage is paid off, which means we'd be looking at £2400 a month living costs - is that crazy or realistic? We're in a small 3 bed in the midlands.

Just interested to know roughly how much people are spending on a) groceries and b) bills each month?

You could.certainly live well on £2000 for 2 people excluding bills. Clearly things like whether you run a car, have a gym membership, travel etc will play into this. If you buy groceries at markets/Lidl/Aldi/Waitrose when on discount you will save on that.

One thing to bear in mind. There are people who LOVE to exaggerate the amount of money required to live a decent life. I remember a couple around 25 years ago telling me "you can't bring up children in London on an income of £50k". Then there are the "forget stopping work..you'll need at least £5k a month and you'll never get back into the industry" brigade. These people are often trapped themselves, and cannot bear the idea of others being free. Best of luck

What have you been spending £1800 on excluding rent and bills? You should easily be able to afford to live in that in the Uk, but depends what you want to spend it on.

I would imagine food, going out, running a car, going on holiday, clothes, seeing friends and family, transport, hair and beauty. Saving! People on MN live on a shoestring! They don’t save and just live day to day! What about future dc? They will cost a lot if you need childcare!

Obviously it will depend where you live and what jobs you aspire to but you need a career structure because just surviving with no fun is pretty hard work in the end. You need to do a zero based budget and work it up. Look at what you want and costs associated with that. It will add up pretty quickly!

My council tax is £400 a month alone. Utilities are about the same (gas/electric/water/broadband). Also mortgage free.

It’s the other stuff that really adds up like food, cost of running cars, all the insurances, etc.

Yes! Forgot Council tax!

For that size house £200 for gas and electricity.

Council tax you could Google as it varies on area.

Food £400 or less per month for a couple.

TV subscriptions vary from about £7 per month to a full on Sky package of about £100 per month.

Wifi -around £30

Eating out - a main course is just under £20, a starter or pudding around £10, a takeaway coffee £4 ( all these prices vary but these are fairly typical).