Average cost of running a home.......

[nikki1978]

We are looking to buy a 4 bedroom detached house and need to get an idea of costs for gas, electricity and water. We will have a dishwasher and tumble dryer (used once a day on average). We also have three computers with a small home network (switch, router etc). During the week (termtime) the kids are at school and DH and I work so nothing will be used then.

The council tax is really high at £3000 a year so need to figure out if the utility costs will fit our budget which will be about £250 a month for water, gas, electric and tv licence.

Thanks

Our monthly costs, similar size house and useage is £500 per month. Includes council tax though which is £2800 a year.

I think it will cost you a bit more than £250 a month - we have 4 bed and it averages about £300 for these items. Don't use tumble dryer though - that will EAT the electricity.

every cycle of your tumble dryer costs £1+ btw

Tumble dryer provides useful heating though if you live in a freezing cold house. Cheaper than an extra storage heater (for us).

Gaelic - i don't suppose you have needed the heating effect over the last few days! - but with this lovely weather you will have been able to hang washing outside so no need to use tumble dryer.

I used to use one a lot but it broke down recently. Have found it not too much bother to hang up on hangers inside if wet, or hang on line in garden if weather OK. Have saved loads on electricity. I'm not going to bother getting it fixed for now - may change my mind in the winter though.

ouch . We have similar and our gas/electric is about £110 pcm, water (meter) £20, phone and bb c £100 every 3 months. Electric fan oven/gas hob, electric shower, rarely use tumble dryer (have a ceiling airer in utility room which is very effective in winter so only td shirts and bedding if need be), pc is on much of the time but we're usually out most of the day.

Water 47, electricity 91, gas 60 and TV license 12. Total 210. We have a 4 bed detached house, use a tumble dryer and dishwasher a lot. We have a lot of electrical items (geeky DH), I am at home a lot during the day too. The only thing I would say is that our house is a relative new build and is quite well insulated. If the house is older your heating bills could be a lot higher.

Bear in mind other running costs such as insurance and maintenance will also be greater.

Not quite LadyInMauve, but we've got snow forecast tonight on the high ground! Was 5 degrees outside this morning.

That sounds a bit more like it singingbear. Tumble driers come in for a lot of stick, but ours is a godsend. Before we got it the tiny cottage that we lived in back then looked like a Chinese laundry and constantly smelt damp. Not everyone has somewhere suitable to hang clothes outside, and it's no good if you're out at work all day.

Yikes, gaelic, sounds a bit chilly!