help me budget myself!

almoststew1990 · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:41

I'm a graduate who will be moving out of my parents place shortly. I don't know how much bills / food etc are because I have never lived alone before! I'll be looking at a 1 bed, preferably not studio. Can someone fill in the blanks for me? And add any outgoings I've forgotten. No car insurance. For 2 people but no gaurantee the gf will be able to get a job.

After tax, I earn £1256 per month.

Food = 200
Train = 85
Water elec gas= 100
Phone = 23
Internet = 18?
Council tax =about 120?

I have a bit saved up for one off payments like tv licensing.

What have I forgotten? And how much does this leave me for rent? In Southampton area.

Bennie-Mac · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:48

Cant really give you accurate estimates unless you know the house you will be moving into and what the heating is etc. You also might want to factor in that small monthly outgoing known as rent

(Edit - I see you have sortof, never mind)

Council tax seems very high in my opinion though, I pay £<60 per month but that is in NI. Food should be easily doable for £50-60per week providing you arent munching the takeaways each night.

Crafty · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:53

I think council tax is a little high too, also many councils offer discount for single occupancy, I think its normally 25%, which should get it under £100. Just have ot sign a form declaring you live alone.

Look at getting a deal for phone/internet, I think you should be able to get them for under £40.

Utility bills - who knows! The way prices are at the minute its all a bit barmy.
Water should be under £20 a month. I reckon water/elec/gas £80 a month, maybe a little less.

tamzzy · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:53

well im paying
rent 600
council tax 60. if you live alone you get 25% discount. if you gonna live with ur gf its about 90 quid for a band a accomodation.
phone + internet 30
water + electricity (no gas) = 80

so about 800 quid without transport/food/entertainment

almoststew1990 · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:55

Lol yeah that's why I'm asking- so I know how much rent I can afford! Most one beds in the area have electric heating and cooking. So gas would be only the hob right? So any estimates or ballpark figures for the minimal gas usage? How much does water cost a month for just basic plumbing- I won't have a dishwasher or anything.

I'll add 200 for food, thanks.

tamzzy · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:56

if you're gonna live it a modern-ish apartment, the hob would probably be electric (mine is)
nothing in my apartment is gas. but ymmv

Bennie-Mac · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:58

How much are apartments going for roughly in the areas you are looking?

almoststew1990 · 29 Oct 2012 at 20:59

Maybe I'll guesstimate Council tax at 120 instead then as everyone says it's high. I won't be living alone. Thanks for the figures tamzzy and crafty. I'll say 100 for all the utilities incase we end up in an older house with bad insulation or something.

almoststew1990 · 29 Oct 2012 at 21:00

I've been looking at the 500pm mark in the area. Near Southampton Central Station.

koooowweeee · 29 Oct 2012 at 21:00

tamzzy said:
well im paying
rent 600
council tax 60. if you live alone you get 25% discount. if you gonna live with ur gf its about 90 quid for a band a accomodation.
phone + internet 30
water + electricity (no gas) = 80

so about 800 quid without transport/food/entertainment

council tax 60? really cheap that.

tamzzy · 29 Oct 2012 at 21:02

just fyi, if you're gonna live in a house, they're usually higher up the tax band than living in a flat...so...

tamzzy · 29 Oct 2012 at 21:03

koooowweeee said:
council tax 60? really cheap that.

birmingham's council tax (band a) with single occupancy discount xD

NotAGolf · 30 Oct 2012 at 08:52

Here's my outgoings for myself and gf living in a 2 bed semi in West Sussex:

Council Tax 148.00
TV License 24.25
Gas + Electricity 52.00 (ave)
Water supply 6.85
Water disposal 22.70
Phone + Broadband 25.00 (ave)
Home Insurance 17.38
Life insurance 20.98
Car insurance 34.71
Car tax 10.83
Lovefilm 7.99
Gym 20.00
Mortgage 771.65
Groceries 220.94 (ave)
Petrol 57.23 (ave)
Total £1416.51

Then you've got your one off things like birthday's, nights out, meals out, car repairs etc.

Can't help you with the Southampton area though I'm afraid.

Basher · 30 Oct 2012 at 08:55

Here's mine living by myself in a flat in the Midlands:

Mortgate £693.00
Media £38.50
Car £499.00
Water £23.00
Car Maint £166.67
Car Insurance £81.67
House insurance £8.33
Council tax £100.00
Electricity £65.00
Trinity £75.00
Food £200.00
Gym £75.00
Petrol £400.00
TV license £12.08
Car Tax £22.50

Total Outgoing £2,459.75

[FnG]magnolia · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:00

^ Your car expenditure is almost half of your total outgoings. That's pretty unusual.

Basher · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:02

[FnG]magnolia;23063434 said:
^ Your car expenditure is almost half of your total outgoings. That's pretty unusual.

Yup. I like cars. Luckily it's nowhere near half my incomings.

[FnG]magnolia · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:09

Just saying that's it atypical if the OP is looking for average outgoings, that's all

Basher · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:13

[FnG]magnolia;23063478 said:
Just saying that's it atypical if the OP is looking for average outgoings, that's all

Ahh ok. Yeah just ignore the car bits, the rest is fairly standard

Name · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:18

Looking at some of these outgoings, i need a better job if im EVER to move out.

I'd only last 6 months ;o

Im a graduate with a degree classification equal to the industry standard, but dont have the confidence to give a graduate scheme a go. Basher, give me your job.

Monkey00 · 30 Oct 2012 at 09:20

name89 said:
Im a graduate with a degree classification equal to the industry standard, but dont have the confidence to give a graduate scheme a go. Basher, give me your job.

There's around 180 graduates applying for every graduate position, and I think it's around 250 or so for every graduate scheme, so I wouldn't worry too much