Sickofinstacrap
Well-known member
Too fucking much 
- Notice
I don’t know how much exactly that is... maybe £500 a month? It seems like loads and I never feel like I spend much money but I’m always broke by payday/in my overdraft. Yes I clearly need to manage my money better!
lalalanded
VIP Member
I envy all of you that are so good with your money. I am absolutely terrible. I should be in a strong financial position but money has always blown a hole in my pocket. I've also always had a 'we could all die tomorrow' outlook rather than saving for a rainy day. Tbh, with Covid happening I sometimes wish I'd done even more. I love eating out, going to the cinema, going to the theatre, going to expensive gigs and getting good seats. I don't have regrets because I've done so many amazing things but it means I don't have the financial security I should and will probably never be able to retire.
Onecandream
Well-known member
I do a zero based budget so I work out exactly what comes in per month and then split it.
It looks something like this
Rent+bills = £908
Food 100 (I do 2 shops a months of £50)
Petrol 40
Child’s envelope 40
Car maintenance/insurance envelope 40
Miscellaneous envelope 80
Holiday fund 200
Then whatever I have left goes to long term savings (house deposit) which is usually 400/500
Therefore the only money I can spend (on no essentials) is from miscellaneous but I hardly use it tbh. We are minimalists so don’t spend regularly. We tend to save up and buy quality items that we have waited a while for so we know we definitely want them
This idea may sound restrictive but to me it’s the opposite. I have my money exactly where it needs to be for future purchases. My car insurance money is always waiting there to be paid in full. If my child needs new shoes the envelope is there waiting. It’s not for everyone but I’d never change back
Plus we always have money waiting for holidays!
It looks something like this
Rent+bills = £908
Food 100 (I do 2 shops a months of £50)
Petrol 40
Child’s envelope 40
Car maintenance/insurance envelope 40
Miscellaneous envelope 80
Holiday fund 200
Then whatever I have left goes to long term savings (house deposit) which is usually 400/500
Therefore the only money I can spend (on no essentials) is from miscellaneous but I hardly use it tbh. We are minimalists so don’t spend regularly. We tend to save up and buy quality items that we have waited a while for so we know we definitely want them
This idea may sound restrictive but to me it’s the opposite. I have my money exactly where it needs to be for future purchases. My car insurance money is always waiting there to be paid in full. If my child needs new shoes the envelope is there waiting. It’s not for everyone but I’d never change back
Plus we always have money waiting for holidays!
Trixabellee9393
Well-known member
Realistically I probably spend about £300 a month on a load of crap that I could probably do without 
I don’t know where it all is tho? Barley own anything by normal standards as I’m quite minimal
I don’t know where it all is tho? Barley own anything by normal standards as I’m quite minimal
Rippedjeanmaybe
VIP Member
In normal times, when I got paid, I would deduct my bills, then I would put an amount of money into my savings and then i would split the rest by 5 and that would give me my weekly budget. This would usually be between £50-£60 a week.
Some weeks I might only spend £10, other weeks I might spend the full amount, it was just dependent on what I needed that week. Generally though, £200 maximum a month would go on socialising, eating out, clothes, takeaways ect.
I have a savings account for holidays and trips away, so none of my weekly budget would go on nights away, weekends away or holidays.
I’m not a big spender, never have been. I don’t do nights out, I don’t have many friends so I generally only go out with my mum or partner.
Some weeks I might only spend £10, other weeks I might spend the full amount, it was just dependent on what I needed that week. Generally though, £200 maximum a month would go on socialising, eating out, clothes, takeaways ect.
I have a savings account for holidays and trips away, so none of my weekly budget would go on nights away, weekends away or holidays.
I’m not a big spender, never have been. I don’t do nights out, I don’t have many friends so I generally only go out with my mum or partner.
Penelope Strawberry
VIP Member
Every month I transfer money over to a joint bank account to cover our mortgage, various insurance payments, groceries, utilities, joint savings, and our holiday fund.
Pre-Covid, whatever I had left over after our joint expenses, I spent on myself. Most months ALL of it. I spent 100s a month on soggy Pret sandwiches when I worked at the office, loads on going out for dinner and drinks with friends, lots on higher end clothing for my corporate job.
Covid hit and I felt sick and ashamed that I had no savings to fall back on in case of redundancy, despite my good salary. Nowadays I give myself £400 pocket money per month that has to cover skin care, make up, hair, clothes, books, takeaways, etc. and the rest goes into savings. At the moment I am barely spending £100-200 of my fun money as the salons are closed and there's no point in buying clothes.
I really hope that I'll be able to continue to stick to the budget once life becomes a bit more normal again - our office has closed so I'll continue to work from home and we're moving from London to a semi-rural village, so I don't think I'll have the temptation to spend as much money as I used to!
Pre-Covid, whatever I had left over after our joint expenses, I spent on myself. Most months ALL of it. I spent 100s a month on soggy Pret sandwiches when I worked at the office, loads on going out for dinner and drinks with friends, lots on higher end clothing for my corporate job.
Covid hit and I felt sick and ashamed that I had no savings to fall back on in case of redundancy, despite my good salary. Nowadays I give myself £400 pocket money per month that has to cover skin care, make up, hair, clothes, books, takeaways, etc. and the rest goes into savings. At the moment I am barely spending £100-200 of my fun money as the salons are closed and there's no point in buying clothes.
I really hope that I'll be able to continue to stick to the budget once life becomes a bit more normal again - our office has closed so I'll continue to work from home and we're moving from London to a semi-rural village, so I don't think I'll have the temptation to spend as much money as I used to!
under the ivy
VIP Member
I’m saving £300 a month for a house deposit - which is a lot out of my monthly wage but that would normally go on commuting costs, takeaway coffees, the odd £10 in Superdrug etc. I’m not buying clothes this year and only make-up/toiletries when I run out. After bills/food shopping I have about £250-£300 left each month but I find I’m not spending it due to lockdown.
In the normal world I spent a lot, easily £6-700 over the month on what I class as ‘discretionary spending’. That’s for socialising, nights out, new clothes, flights for weekends away etc.
I was in a spend time of my life precovid though, owned a flat, late 20s and lived in the city with no kids so my priority was enjoying myself.
This obviously isn’t my bare minimum spending, when I have needed to save I cut this right down to probably half.
I was in a spend time of my life precovid though, owned a flat, late 20s and lived in the city with no kids so my priority was enjoying myself.
This obviously isn’t my bare minimum spending, when I have needed to save I cut this right down to probably half.
Wishiwasaninfluencer
Active member
After bills I’d say I average £500 a month on everything - food shopping, takeaways/meals out, clothes, toiletries, haircuts/eyebrows, petrol, charity donations, birthday presents, etc.
I have spent soo much money in January tho so will need to be strict in feb and March
I have spent soo much money in January tho so will need to be strict in feb and March
I still have my main Santander account for bills mortgage etc and have the Monzo as a second account. I plan to swap soon but need to pay my overdraft off first lol. I really rate Monzo tho, easy to set up and the app is brilliant. Can use it abroad too and draw money out free upto a certain amount
Belulah
VIP Member
My biggest expense in a normal month is childcare £510 a month and driving lessons £160 a month. The childcare out of one wage is an absolute killer! I’m trying not make any unnecessary purchases this month as we both have plenty of clothes, toiletries and other luxuries but I find it so hard not to just buy us treats online when I’m doing nothing in the evening.
I'm quite good with my money and I can resist the temptation of online shopping. But once I place one order, I want to do more so I really try to limit myself and "reward" myself with new purchases after achieving a monthly goal. I think it would average out to about £200 a month on clothes, I can go 4/5 months without buying anything, but then I'll easily spend silly amounts when I do.
I don't really give myself a budget for food or takeaways, I'm kind of a tight arse with takeout. I will exit a whole order if I see delivery fee is over £2 and then they add a service charge. Much quicker and cheaper to go and pick it up! All in all, including impulse purchases a month and the odd birthday present, I would say about £400.
If I were actively saving, I could easily cut that down to £100, like I had much of 2018/2019. I would stop buying new unneeded makeup and clothes and probably use that £100 for the social aspect during the month so restaurant meals/cinema/and whatever else we used to do bc I can't even remember.
I don't really give myself a budget for food or takeaways, I'm kind of a tight arse with takeout. I will exit a whole order if I see delivery fee is over £2 and then they add a service charge. Much quicker and cheaper to go and pick it up! All in all, including impulse purchases a month and the odd birthday present, I would say about £400.
If I were actively saving, I could easily cut that down to £100, like I had much of 2018/2019. I would stop buying new unneeded makeup and clothes and probably use that £100 for the social aspect during the month so restaurant meals/cinema/and whatever else we used to do bc I can't even remember.
SunshineDreamer
Chatty Member
If we took into consideration food, children activities, birthday gifts , socialising etc I’d say anything from £1500 a month.
TheScarletgirl
VIP Member
I try and spend £30 on food for myself each week
£100-£150 going out/leisure per month
£30-£70 on clothes and other things i might need per month.
I do say no to a few leisure things as the cost of going out can be expensive.
£100-£150 going out/leisure per month
£30-£70 on clothes and other things i might need per month.
I do say no to a few leisure things as the cost of going out can be expensive.
Onecandream
Well-known member
Yes in envelopes
Then for example I will pay my car insurance on my credit card and use the money in envelope to pay cc bill
Then for example I will pay my car insurance on my credit card and use the money in envelope to pay cc bill
Whitepillowcase
Active member
Aside from your main bills/travel etc, how much to do give yourself to spend a week/month based on a normal period of when we could go out and live our lives and not stuck in lockdown?
I’m saving and just wondering what people generally spend under normal circumstances
I’m saving and just wondering what people generally spend under normal circumstances
JoeBloggs
VIP Member
After all bills, food and £100 going out budget is in the joint account my husband and I have £400 each to spend for petrol and other things. I also have a side income to build that up and the rest goes into savings. During covid we’ve hardly spent any of it but before we’d spend maybe £300 each.
I have no idea. A lot. My own bills are about £600 (my car, phone etc) then I put £500 into savings, and £600 to house bills. Husband pays the mortgage.
So that’s £1700, have £1000 left from my take home off that but more often than not I spend the whole lot.
I could definitely save more.
I do have 3 kids though so quite a lot on food and clothes.
So that’s £1700, have £1000 left from my take home off that but more often than not I spend the whole lot.
I could definitely save more. I do have 3 kids though so quite a lot on food and clothes.