Cost Of Living

[dudette]

Hi there buzzers. How are you all keeping.

Could anyone please advise on an average income for a decent lifestyle in the UK, with having a single income household comprising of a husband and wife, plus 2 small kids (3 year old and 4 year old)?

I am looking at what would be a decent salary to get there, to manage to pay for a decent 3 bedroom place (rent - until we decide to buy), petrol cost for travelling (work and touring), cover bus expenses if bus is a better option, monthly grocery prices for an average family, Electricity costs, Water costs, Telephone costs, Sky TV costs, etc.

For luxuries, this will include some local travels, as well as an abroad travel once a year.
Eating out (McDonalds, etc. - once to twice a week).
Cinemas (1 movie a month)

Just a basic take on the above. Like what Gross or Net salary should I be looking at?

Thanks
Popeye

Hi there Popeye

Where you live and work will affect your cost of living greatly. In the South, you will need at least £20k pa salary to get by on just the basics.
You won't get a 3 bedroom place less than £650 pm, and in our area at least, you are looking more around the £750 pm.
Groceries ... We are living very frugally at the moment and cannot get our grocery bills lower than £70 pw, but then we are a family of 5 and we do have meat every day, and there is always fresh fruit in the fruit bowl - so with those two being the most expensive portion of our bill adding up to about £50, you can see where it all goes.

If you're going to be based in London, the underground is very easy, and combined with the bus system, you should be able to reach most places within the metropolitan area. Individual rides on the underground within zones cost around £1.50, but from what I can see, that would be your most economocal method of getting around, considering the over £6 you have to pay to drive your car into London these days.
Of course other towns don't have those expenses, but then you wouldn't have the infrastructure.
Petrol costs around 95p per litre, and you'll have to pay Road Tax of approximately £115 for a small engine car and mor for bigger.You'll also have to take your car every year for a MOT test to make sure its still roadworthy, and this should only cost around £50 if it is, and oh my word if it's not! lol
Electricity and gas; most homes now have gas central heating, and if you pay £60 per month included, you're doing well.
Water and sewerage services cost around £200 per year ( we are charged 6 monthly)
Don't forget Council tax, which everyone has to pay, renting or not. This varies again depending on where you stay ... Bristol used to charge us £56 per month, and then when we moved to the Bristol area we paid almost double!
Telephone; for landline, probably your best bet is with BT who charge around £12 permonth line rental, but I don't know their rates. Other companies charge less, and it would be worth shopping around when you get here, to get the best deal applicable to your area.
Mobile phone; if you already have a phone, pay as you go would be cheapest, as I know a friend who doesn't spend more than £10 pm on hers!



Luxuries;
MacDonalds Happy Meal is £2.25 (I think) and a Big MAc Meal (incl fizzy drink and chips) will cost you around £4.59 each.
Our local Odeon Charges £6 per adult and around £4.80 per child, and the snacks and drinks inside are of course pricey.
Pubs usually serve good value meals, and we usually pay around £30 for a family of five including drinks.
Holidays: you can still get cheap package deals for around £200 for a family of 4, especially during school times, to visit Europe and a little further afield.
for travelling around the UK, B&B prices start from £39 per night, depending on the area. I was not able to get a room for less than £69 in London per night, only a month ago!

SkyTV basic package costs £17pm I think, but then you only get the basic digital channels you would have got if you'd bought a Freeview box for from £39!

I hope this has answered some of your questions, and that it clarifies things for you for your move.
Good luck ! :thumbs: