How much money left after bills.

[meandnyboys1]

I'm a single mum of 2 boys, I work full time and after I've paid my bills, been good shopping and put diesel in the car, I have about £580 a month left, is this an average amount? I feel it's ok for a single mum.

If it’s ok for you then it’s ok! Some will have more, some less.

As long as you can pay your essential expenses and have money spare for non essentials and savings then fine.

It depends on your wider financial situation and your goals.

These are different for everybody so a standalone figure of £580 doesn't mean much without knowing the wider context and goals.

It depends what that £580 needs to cover. You say once you have paid your bills and bought food and put fuel in the car tears what us left. Have you included things like, haircuts, dentistry, insurance, clothes for you and child, shoes, school trips, birthdays, Christmas, party invites, days out, kids activities, savings etc. If that's what's left after all those things then its pretty good. If you have to cover all that out of the £580 then it is quite tight.

@loriginale not everyone has the time to sit on Mumsnet all day, I have a 7 week old baby and why do I need to reply to the answers. I can’t actually believe you took the time to write this pointless post.

Maternity leave, I’m assuming.

7 weeks ... does the father contribute to the child?

I have £1550 left after rent and bills and I have no children and live alone.

So I'm not sure why asking as people's circumstances will vary so dramatically.

Maybe she was just referring to her ‘usual’ wage, when she goes back to work? Maybe she’s on full pay and will go back to work when that ends? I don’t know why people try and pick holes in really banal threads. Does it matter?

We have £900 left each after joint bills, childcare etc. We pay for petrol and direct debits out of that amount so I'd say we have about £800 ish each a month for totally disposable spending.

Its about £100 less than I would have if I left my H ( also two boys) and I feel it would be quite tight. I think in practice I'd be struggling to stay within budget, and there would be little to save for emergencies and not many treats/jhols above a fairly budget day out.

I think anyone would be very happy with that- I’d save 500 of it.

@Bignanna yes we are very fortunate. Currently 9 weeks pregnant so saving now for my maternity leave!