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Original poster

How much is a reasonable amount to live on?

35 replies

shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 07:29

I will soon become a SAHM and I'm wondering about us living without my wage. I've always worked and so have no real idea how other SAHM families cope with having only one salary. After paying mortgages, bills etc, we will have around 700 pounds (sorry - can't find the pound sign!)a month for food, clothes, going out etc. Does this seem like enough to live on for two adults and a baby? Whats the average amount people are living on out there? Sorry - I know it's a personal question but we're just really curious to know if we're doing the right thing or not IYSWIM. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
mumandlovingit · 28/07/2006 07:33

at present my dp is out of work and we get £186 a week including tax credits child benefit etc to buy everything with and live on and to pay all bills with except rent and council tax.w've got two children.its very hard but we cope.im sure you'd be able to cope on £700.just depends on the type of lifestyle you lead and if you go out alot etc
hope this helps

mumandlovingit · 28/07/2006 07:34

god for you staying at home (i presume thats what sahm means? )enjoy the time you have with your child, they grow up too fast

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 28/07/2006 07:43

i wish we had £700 a month to live on!

Once our bills etc are paid, we are left with about £400 wages and then £75 p/w tax credit money and thats 2 adults and 2 babies!

WnakyMcWnaky · 28/07/2006 07:50

I think you will be fine but it's all a question of what you are used to. It's certainly enough to live on - whether you will find it comfortable is another question. I sometimes feel envious of other people who have a larger disposable income, but try to remember I am extremely lucky to be able to stay at home, and that we have enough to cover all the basics plus some luxuries.

WnakyMcWnaky · 28/07/2006 07:51

Oh yet again I am apologising for the appalling comedy name on a sensible thread - it is Franny, I will go and change into something more comfortable.

mustrunmore · 28/07/2006 07:57

We get about £1500 a month in, and £1400 goes out on bills/mortgage/food/travelcard/living costs.
So we basically have £100 a month to spend on luxuries/entertainment/any unforseen outgoings such as dentists, new clothes, medicines, presents.

Original poster
shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 07:57

I guess I'm really scared about not having what I was used to - you know, to be able to just buy a top or a pair of jeans or whatever whenever I saw them, or go for a drink or a meal etc. I know 700 is a lot of money, but it;s a lot less then we were used to! Just wondering if that is a normal average amount or if I should try and go back to work for the sake of earning a few hundred quid (and maybe not even that much!) after paying for DS child care...

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mimitwo · 28/07/2006 07:58

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Original poster
shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 07:58

I just want to reiterate (sp!) that the 700 has to include food for all of us and nappies etc for DS! - SO blooming expensive!

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mimitwo · 28/07/2006 08:00

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FrannyandZooey · 28/07/2006 08:01

I don't know what an average amount is but I would imagine there are quite a few of us managing on the amount you describe (and I would guess that figure is much more than many people have). Yes you will have to become more thrifty - get clothes on eBay, eat out less often and in less expensive places.

At the end of your life you are not going to be looking back saying "God I wish I'd bought more clothes", are you? But you might say "God I wish I had had more time with my children."

mimitwo · 28/07/2006 08:02

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YellowFeathers · 28/07/2006 08:15

Do you know what you currently spend on food and nappies?

It can be a real pita to start but making note of what you actually need and sticking to it is the way forward.
You then know what has gone or what you need to spend so if you want that pair of jeans you can just go and buy.

I'm a real sucker for internet shopping now purely because of the bargains I can get with discount codes and such.
Having said all this, I think £700 to live off a month is more than a comfortable amount.

Enjoy your SAHMumness

Original poster
shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 08:20

F&Z - how right you are! I hadn't thought of it like that but you're absolutely right! I guess it will be fun in a weird way as I do love hunting out a bargain and anyway, when I was working I always seemed to end up buying clothes just for the sake of it and then never wear them! Primark, Peacocks and MArk One here I come!

OP posts:
munz · 28/07/2006 08:21

we have £400 roughly incl t/c and c/b, after food, DH and I have promised each other £20 each to do with as we wish, and I get an extra £10 for joey and any activities with him. will make a change for us to have some money for ourselves.

i'm a SAHM as well.

Original poster
shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 08:23

I think one of the other big things is the food shopping. WE have def been one of those couples who are like 'ok, what do you fancy for dinner tonight? Shall I just get something fron M&S on the way home?' when we have got chicken breasts, mince etc in the fridge or freezer at home already! I'm not really into cooking, but I guess I will just have to GET into it! Make up meals from scratch and freeze the extra to make a meal for another night etc. Anyone got any EASY quick recipes that don't contain a lot of fat or wheat etc (pasta is FAB but I\m trying to stay off the carbs so that's most of my own home recipes out the window!)

OP posts:
munz · 28/07/2006 08:25

ooh yes sho - I get all my meat/veg form local butchers/grocers, heklps the local economy and it's also cheaper/better quality than the supermarket - also buy on line saves tonnes of money.

blueshoes · 28/07/2006 08:26

£700 is v. comfortable for essentials, like food, nappies and new clothes for baby, but you might have to prioritise on the luxuries, like new clothes, eating out and holidays.

prettybird · 28/07/2006 09:27

Do yourself a menu for the week and then shop at Lidl/Aldi as much as possible. You'll be a mazed at how much that reduces the cost of your food shopping - leaving you more for "treats"

Original poster
shoobaloo · 28/07/2006 13:16

bumping for the lunchtime lot

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kama · 28/07/2006 13:37

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kama · 28/07/2006 13:43

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mousiemousie · 28/07/2006 14:12

Sounds fine to me.
£400 for luxury food budget incl nappies
OR £200 for tighter food budget

£300 -£500 for the rest - seems very comfortable to me

quootiepie · 28/07/2006 14:19

BLIMEY... hubby and I have just bought a house which leaves £400 per month for food and petrol and all supermarket stuff (shampoo, nappies etc.) Baby "treats" (swings, gyms etc) are bought with tax credit and child benefit. We do have about £300 "spare" but it always seems to get swallowed in extra petrol and buying little extras.

quootiepie · 28/07/2006 14:19

BLIMEY... hubby and I have just bought a house which leaves £400 per month for food and petrol and all supermarket stuff (shampoo, nappies etc.) Baby "treats" (swings, gyms etc) are bought with tax credit and child benefit. We do have about £300 "spare" but it always seems to get swallowed in extra petrol and buying little extras.