After reading the thread on poor pay I wonder what is the minimum amount of money You think you would need to survive in Sheffield. ??

Well, seeing as the only shops in Sheffield are Pound Shops, and there are council houses-a-plenty, I'm sure £20 a week will be more than enough...

about £200 more than what im currently getting - haahaa :D

This all depends on what assets you already have. Assuming you have a house and mortage, anything less than a rock bottom basic of 200 a week is going to be a real struggle.......

Yeah, £200 a week has to be a minimum.

as a student (not in student housing) i managed on less than £4000 a year (that included travel, food, bills, rent) for 3 years. thats about £75 a week. dunno how i did it then as i've just become a student again only a year after graduating and there's no way i can live on that little!!!!

Currently:
Accomm: 32pw
CounTax: 12pw
Insurance: 3pw
Gas+Elec: 8pw
Water: 3pw
Food: 19pw
Transport: 15pw

Assuming I just want to exist, and not put anything aside for the future or have any sort of mental stimulation, or repair/replace anything that breaks and/or wears out, that comes to 92pw.

plenty of council housing
Council housing isn't free, y'know.

--
JGH

I don't know what I could live on in the UK.

But I just hate to hear people complain that all they have to live on is their social secrurity, if they can live on that they should think themselves lucky as it was never ment as an income to live on, just a supplementary income, that all.

Hmmm for me it would be about £400. Basically because there's no f'ing way I could go without a drink every week.

From personal experience it's amazing what you can manage to live on PROVIDED THAT nothing untoward happens.

But if the fridge breaks down, cooker blows up, cats need a vet, you need dental work - then all of a sudden you need a wodge of dosh.

Even then, still wouldn't want to go below a grand a month - 250 a week, just to allow some slack!

Joe

People & Planet Sheffield ran the $2 a Day Challenge earlier this year. Over half of the world's population live on less than $2 a day. So the challenge was to try and live the statistics and do the same for one week.

The challenge didn't take into account the costs of housing, tuition fees, clothes etc. The focus of the challenge was on the day to day eating costs, to give people taking part an idea of what it is like having to make the most of every penny you have.

About 20 people took part and managed to live on $2 a day for a week. We are hoping that other student groups will take up the challenge when it goes national next year.

It goes to show just how much you can actually live on as far as food is concerned. It depends on what you mean by the term 'survive'.

You can find out more at www.2dollars.org

I usually budget on a fiver a day 7 days a week, that's after paying £20 a week's board at home.

I manage OK most of the time, my trouble though is that I'm too much of an impulse buyer, if I see something in Town and I've got my switch card on me I have to buy it there and then, no waiting to "save up" like I know I SHOULD do.

Well my total outgoings are about £1000, that's including my massive Mortgage, Tax, Elec, Gas, and the usual odds and sods.

This leaves with about £300 (max) a month. I have not started yet (Splitting with ex and I'm taking on the house) but I think it's going to be a struggle

Has anyone got advise to give me on how you budget? I need to make sure I do not slip into debt!

crikey - we pay £1400 just in bills!!

But it does leave around the same amount for food, booze clothes etc.

Bare minimum we could survive on would be about 2k a month.

From June last year to June this year myself and partner spent £9k in total (about £175 a week, not bad for two people). This includes absolutely everything (rent (which was £350 a month alone), food, council tax, insurance, all bills, travel etc). I know exactly as I was working it out just the other week based on what goes in and out of our account. Bought a house in June so hopefully the following year wont be too much more, especially now I am back at Uni and not earning!

I am obsesive about getting stuff at the cheapest price possible and spend way too much time comparing things, but when I looked at how little we had spent I was quite glad that I am!

Originally posted by Rich
I usually budget on a fiver a day 7 days a week, that's after paying £20 a week's board at home.

I manage OK most of the time, my trouble though is that I'm too much of an impulse buyer, if I see something in Town and I've got my switch card on me I have to buy it there and then, no waiting to "save up" like I know I SHOULD do.

Get it spent now lad, some plonker will only rob you of it when you're older! :thumbsup:

For people here who knows their total outgoing, how much do you have left for social time?

(once you take away the month average Mortgage/Rent, Tax, Bills credit repay etc)

Drink, fags, General life?

To my friends who's bare minimum survival buget is £2k / month.

I have been existing on the pitance of a government handout of £55pw, which equates anually to what you spend in a month.

Shame on you.....

I have been existing on the pitance of a government handout of £55pw, which equates anually to what you spend in a month.[/B]
You should also get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and in South Yorkshire you can get a half-price travel pass.
Adds up to about ukp140. Shame it goes straight out of your hands with you bearly touching it. Some landlords even insist benefit payment go straight to them, but I hear that's being outlawed next year.

Originally posted by cornfed_pig
You should also get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and in South Yorkshire you can get a half-price travel pass.
Adds up to about ukp140. Shame it goes straight out of your hands with you bearly touching it. Some landlords even insist benefit payment go straight to them, but I hear that's being outlawed next year.

Thanks for the information.

I did try the Housing Benefit Office, what a lovely institution, after many months and much letter writing I indeed receive a letter which stated and I quote - "Evidence has now been submitted regarding rent liability. The liability in question appears to have been created to take advantage of the housing benefit scheme so no benefit can be awarded"

So not only am not getting any assistance with my rent payments, I am also a Liar.

Thank you Sheffield City Council, you've been a great help.

Originally posted by jjrobbins
Well my total outgoings are about £1000, that's including my massive Mortgage, Tax, Elec, Gas, and the usual odds and sods.

This leaves with about £300 (max) a month. I have not started yet (Splitting with ex and I'm taking on the house) but I think it's going to be a struggle

Has anyone got advise to give me on how you budget? I need to make sure I do not slip into debt!

Advice is cheap so here goes.

I too am now divorced and was also in a situation as to "do I sell or do I buy her out", my advice is if you can SELL NOW. Why give yourself a headache and endless sleepless nights worrying about how your going to afford the mortgage and bills and that's assuming nothing needs to be replaced if it breaks down.

For about 4 months I was worried sick each time the mail arrived and with solicitors bills pushing the £1000 a time bracket things were looking a bit downhill.

Splittting with your partner is in itself an emotional rollercoaster which will require you to keep a level head. Cut yourself some much needed slack, Hey even rent somewhere until things pick up.

I made enough equity on my property to set up my own internet business which goes live tomorrow. I was in New York in January and Las Vegas 3 weeks ago.

Do I wish I had my own mortgage - not on your NELLY.

Originally posted by coopster1974
crikey - we pay £1400 just in bills!!

But it does leave around the same amount for food, booze clothes etc.

Bare minimum we could survive on would be about 2k a month.


May I ask what the £1,400 a month on bills is made up of exactly?

Plenty left for being sociable.. Outgoings are just the usual (Rent, Loan, Bills, Car Insurance, Utilities etc) If I struggle just put a bit of OT in at the office and live like a king the next month :hihi:

My outgoings per month are roughly 1800 per month and that leaves me around 6K to live on!

btw - I work in Germany so its slightly different rates over here

Man, this has kinda shocked me….after I pay rent, bills, cc's, council tax etc etc, I blow about £700 a month on just going out and buying stuff like records etc etc. Is this normal or am I spending a lot?…Ive never reallt thought about it before. Hmmm

Originally posted by boyface
Man, this has kinda shocked me….after I pay rent, bills, cc's, council tax etc etc, I blow about £700 a month on just going out and buying stuff like records etc etc. Is this normal or am I spending a lot?…Ive never reallt thought about it before. Hmmm

I get through about the same amount.

Originally posted by nick2
I get through about the same amount.

Thats cool then, that'll do me.

I have, after paying rent bills etc etc, survived on less than a fiver a week, on many occasions....walk to work, cheap noodles, beans, value bread etc etc

I know if I got in a hole I can see it through, I've done it more than once....it's boring tho'.

Originally posted by boyface
Thats cool then, that'll do me.

I have, after paying rent bills etc etc, survived on less than a fiver a week, on many occasions....walk to work, cheap noodles, beans, value bread etc etc

I know if I got in a hole I can see it through, I've done it more than once....it's boring tho'.

Yeah, I can live on £20 a week if I have to, usually the last week of the month, if I could do that all month I would be loaded.

Originally posted by nick2
Yeah, I can live on £20 a week if I have to, usually the last week of the month, if I could do that all month I would be loaded.

Yeah me too. I know a guy who wrote a song about such a thing actually. To anyone who was at the secert gig in Sheffield they may know this...but anywhere, it's by MJ Hibbett, the guys ace, so buy his stuff...oh, and here's the lyrics...I bet alot of people can relate to this

http://www.mjhibbett.net/songs/paydayisl.htm

Originally posted by t020
May I ask what the £1,400 a month on bills is made up of exactly?

General house bills, mortgage, car loan, loads of life insurance policies, savings etc.

Me working shifts doesnt help cos it means there's someone in the house most of the time using gas, leccy etc. Plus 3 kids who insist on calling mobiles before 6pm grrrrrrr!!

For just £20 per year or £10 for students you could become a member of Sheffield Wildlife Trust & know you've spent your hard earned money wisely.

You'll be making a real difference to Sheffield; your own environment, receive news & updates about our projects & nature reserves, have the chance to influence the Trust and get regular information on special events, all at less than £2 per month!

For details visit: www.wildsheffield.com

Accomodation= zilch- living at home
food= £3.00 a day 5 days a week so £15
travel= £1.60ish a day 5 days a week so errr £8.00
going out= minimum- £10 so err
phone credit =£5

15+
8
10
5
=
£38
thats bad then cos i get £35 a week wages
:gag:

teh above is deffo a bare minimum

£35 a week
your being robbed.

By the way there are 7 days in a week.

yeh but i go to college 5 days a week. I only work 7 hours a week £5 an hour only times college permits

The minimum I could live on at the moment is about £700 per month, which would cover my rent, essential bills/insurance, travel to work and food. However, if I lost my job for example, I could survive on less by moving cheaper accomodation, shopping at Netto and selling my car.

What I've found, working in the bank, is that very few people actually know how much they're spending each month. It can be a very sobering excersie to go through ones direct debits and credit card bills and work out how much you do actually waste each month.

Originally posted by Andy
The minimum I could live on at the moment is about £700 per month, which would cover my rent, essential bills/insurance, travel to work and food. However, if I lost my job for example, I could survive on less by moving cheaper accomodation, shopping at Netto and selling my car.

What I've found, working in the bank, is that very few people actually know how much they're spending each month. It can be a very sobering excersie to go through ones direct debits and credit card bills and work out how much you do actually waste each month.

waste is an interesting word, how do you define wasted?

I spend money on things that i don't need. For example, going for a drink with friends. Could live without it, but i certainly wouldn't call it a waste.

I'm probably unusual in that I have a budget which tends to be fairly accurate, when things don't balance up to what I was expecting at the end of the month I can normally pinpoint one or two unusual spends that cause the discrepancy (often car related!).

Originally posted by Cyclone
waste is an interesting word, how do you define wasted?

I spend money on things that i don't need. For example, going for a drink with friends. Could live without it, but i certainly wouldn't call it a waste.



I'd class things like paying for gym membership as waste, if you hardly ever go. Or doing what I do and eating out often simply because I can't be bothered to cook.

I often see people who are monthly insurance premiums for warranties which they didn't even know they had. Mobile phone insurance is a common one - I often see people who have a direct debit for a few pounds each month for mobile phone insurance that they don't know they have. Sometimes they don't even have the phone any more.

Originally posted by jjrobbins
Well my total outgoings are about £1000, that's including my massive Mortgage, Tax, Elec, Gas, and the usual odds and sods.

This leaves with about £300 (max) a month. I have not started yet (Splitting with ex and I'm taking on the house) but I think it's going to be a struggle

Has anyone got advise to give me on how you budget? I need to make sure I do not slip into debt!

My thoughts are with you... I was in this situation just over a year ago unfortunately i failed... I just couldnt afford to keep the house going single-handedly... It was partly down to my ex taking money away from me... should he have still been paying £60pw i would have managed no worries... It happens i guess...

Good Luck... :)