Monthly bills/costs

[rocketmanshine]

I'm preparing to leave my STBX who is very controlling. He has always had complete control over our money.
I've no idea how much the mortgage is, or even any of the bills.
The house is in his name so im moving out and renting somewhere
I'd just like some help with a list of monthly bills & expenses I need to account for so I can budget.
There will be me and two primary age children.
Rent: £650
Water?
Gas?
Electric?
Council tax?
Broadband?
Tv licence ?
Car - £150
Petrol -£45
Insurance -£30
Food
Clothes

Am I missing anything?

Please please take legal advice before you leave the marital home.

Just to add, we are not married and my name is not on the mortgage.
This was his choice because he said he would get a better mortgage deal with just his salary alone. He is a very high earner.

Hi,

I echo @TheFormidableMrsC, please take advice before you leave the family home.

Do you pay for school lunches ?
Mobile phone?
Is 45 in petrol reasonable ?
Will you need any child care ?
Do the children do any extracurricular activities ?

Good luck

@rocketmanshine

Just to add, we are not married and my name is not on the mortgage. This was his choice because he said he would get a better mortgage deal with just his salary alone. He is a very high earner.

Oh gosh, that makes things difficult but not impossible. You do need legal advice. Please do it! Also I'd immediately put in a CMS claim, get the ball rolling for maintenance.

Not enough for the car possibly.
Petrol
Insurance
MOT
Annual service
Replacement bits eg tyres

If you look your car make/model up it will show you when big things are due on the service. Find out how much your tyres are. Places like kwikfit are v expensive you need to locate a cheaper place. Ask your mates where they get them.

?s - - Do you need us to tell you how to find this out? Happy to do so but wasn't sure if you'd just put them in.

Council tax. Apply for your 25% single person discount

Universal Credit? What are your earnings. If under 30k worth putting your details in to see if you get anything.

Child benefit - is it in your name?

OK, all of those costs will vary greatly... I'll give you mine.

Rent: £650 - really?
Water? 35
Gas? Was paying 39,now 85,forecast to go up further, so possibly 150 (for both gas and electricity)
Electric?
Council tax? 125 over 12 months
Broadband? 15-20
Tv licence ? 15
Car - £150 my insurance is 30 plus tax 23 plus recovery 17 plus maintenance I put aside and mot 55 I think
Petrol -£45- really when it's 1.55/litre?
Insurance -£30 depends which sort - contents about 20,life 25,...
Food 200-280
Clothes school uniform etc 230 over the year with new shoes, majority elae I buy in sales.

Your council website will tell you what your council tax will be, you just type in your postcode and it will tell you the band and how much. Google will tell you the current TV license fee. Broadband and telephone line will vary depending on who you go with, a quick look on Google will give you an idea of the current offers available. Food will depend where you shop and whether you like to eat everything branded or are happy with own brand. Cooking everything from scratch will be cheaper as will shopping in Aldi over Waitrose. Clothing depends how quickly your DC grow and where you like to shop.

Thanks for your replies,
I've applied for child benefit, universal credit and currently looking for a rental property.
Hopefully I will be able to manage on my own. He's agreed to pay CM each month.
It's going to be a struggle but I'll be happier

We walk to school and I work from home so that's why the car won't cost me a lot.
No childcare costs because I work in school hours.

I found it's the small things that need accounting for too. Prescription charges, over-the counter medicines or vitamins, school trips and non-uniform days, clubs and activities, hobbies, sports kit, dance or football kit and shoes/boots, cub subs etc. Coaching or music/academic tuition. Birthday and Christmas gifts for your children, small gifts when they get invited to parties. Holiday childcare or sport camps. Phones and data contracts. XBox subscriptions. Spotify if teens. Occasional haircuts, small maintenance items for the house - broken shower poles, new doormats, replace toaster etc. Then an amount saved for car tyres, car tax, exhaust, repairs, MOT, car insurance and house upkeep.

So, the real incidental costs of everyday life. It's a lot more than totting up bills, food and petrol, tempting as it is just to do that. It all needs to be factored into the household costs and much of it into child maintenance if you have your own arrangements.

@Undertheoldlindentree

I found it's the small things that need accounting for too. Prescription charges, over-the counter medicines or vitamins, school trips and non-uniform days, clubs and activities, hobbies, sports kit, dance or football kit and shoes/boots, cub subs etc. Coaching or music/academic tuition. Birthday and Christmas gifts for your children, small gifts when they get invited to parties. Holiday childcare or sport camps. Phones and data contracts. XBox subscriptions. Spotify if teens. Occasional haircuts, small maintenance items for the house - broken shower poles, new doormats, replace toaster etc. Then an amount saved for car tyres, car tax, exhaust, repairs, MOT, car insurance and house upkeep.

So, the real incidental costs of everyday life. It's a lot more than totting up bills, food and petrol, tempting as it is just to do that. It all needs to be factored into the household costs and much of it into child maintenance if you have your own arrangements.

That's really helpful thanks

That list looks pretty comprehensive. Did you include mobile phone bill, car repairs, after school clubs? I'd also attempt to set up a separate account to use as a "rainy day" fund. Even if you only put a couple of quid in each month if you can manage it, it can add up and provide a bit of a buffer when unexpected expenses occur.

You need to factor in some fun and treats as well- hard on a tight budget I know.