Could you live off £500 per month?

[mothertobe789]

We are currently looking to move house, have found a home we love but it is more than we were thinking about paying. After all bills, including food and petrol we would only be left with around £500 per month between us to cover social life and clothes etc, so £250 each really. We will have around £6k in savings for emergencys, but don't want to touch that unless we really need to. Do you think this is doable?

OP ignore all the dickheads on here that will pop up as soon as you mention you have more that 50p to last you the month.
I don't think it is a lot considering everything you say it needs to cover. It works our at around £57 a week each which really isn't going to go far if it is covering presents, holidays, car repairs, haircuts, clothes the odd day out, takeaway and home maintenance etc.
A couple of tyres for the car or a repair to the washing machine or boiler could easily wipe out most of that before you even start,
To the idiots saying why do you need to buy new clothes every month, she probably doesn't but it still need to be taken into account what the yearly spend on these things would be and divided up to get a monthly figure.

It works our at around £57 a week each which really isn't going to go far if it is covering presents, holidays, car repairs, haircuts, clothes the odd day out, takeaway and home maintenance etc

Exactly. There will be people who spend more than that by buying a coffee on the way to work and getting their lunch in somewhere like Pret each day, even before all the other stuff.

To the idiots saying why do you need to buy new clothes every month, she probably doesn't but it still need to be taken into account what the yearly spend on these things would be and divided up to get a monthly figure

Budgeting 101 and where a lot of people fall down when they talk about 'unexpected' bills and have merrily been spending every penny they earn and not put aside money each month to pay for things like car tax and insurance and broken cars, pets and washing machines.

@NGC2017 it sounds like you are being absolutely incredible, and you've been dealt a tough hand! But remember you don't have to be superwoman just because your ex has decided to leave you carrying all the cans. Although if you are managing and enjoying being superwoman so far then more power to you, amazing lady!!

Bless you @DustyDoorframes. Thank you.
I suppose the point I am trying to get across in this thread is living off very little is doable. But it's extremely hard and at times it makes me feel abit shit. I would give anything to think I could take my DS out for the day, or have a social life myself. I just can't do it myself. If anything goes wrong I have to swallow my pride and ask family for help. It's hard when I have always been very independent and financially savvy. Sadly I was blinded by what I assumed was love!
What I will say though is it has made me value alot of things that don't cost me a penny. I know I can manage despite hardship. But I have the happiest little boy who understands if Mommy can't afford it, it's OK. He values his days out when we get to go out (paid for by my wonderful family and friends) but he also values the time we spend together the most. And that is what's most important to me. I don't feel he has any idea of how little money we are left with each month and I don't feel he feels he is deprived because of it.
One day I will be able to take him out more and on the odd occasion treat myself but I think having so many years of having limited money it will mean I make better choices when we do have the money again.
I think the OP is right to be weighing things up. But it all depends on the kind of life you want to live so whether it is doable or not is very personal to your own situation. I never imagined living off so little so I know it's possible but I also know the consequences of not having the spare money available

Perfectly doable. I have more spare income per month but I budget less than £250/m for all the things you've listed.