OriginalSunshine

Folks - I'm looking for ideas on how much income we would need for day to day living a comfortable life (eg 1 hol / year in summer) back in the U.K.

We have prob saved enough to buy outright a reasonable house in the Dorset/Devon area, along with a second hand car. We have also saved enough to put away for kids uni education (if they go), at least fees at current rate.

But we are two adults and two school aged kids, and we would still need jobs for living expenses.

As we've been away for almost 20 years I feel like a politician who doesn't know the cost of a loaf of bread! We left as students and would be coming back with kids so our lifestyle has shifted somewhat as well

So in the usual grand scheme of expat lifestyles, planning for if we return, what kind of monthly take home (either singly or double) would be a target for a middle class life, given the above?

Thanks in advance for any advice,
OS

not2old

Living in a town rural somewhere in Dorset/Devon, house & car paid for, band B council tax, 4 mobile/cell phones, internet & TV (on a bundles package), all insurance in, utility bills, kids go to regular schools, hols each year, a few days eating out or fast food, movies etc - middle class lifestyle - I'd set the budget at least £2000/mth. The variables can be, groceries, clothing & personal care or whatever to add to the budget

for reference

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Bournemouth


.

Editha

Try the minimum income calculator.

I think it is more accurate than Numbeo which depends on unchecked data entries from the public making it subject to riro errors (rubbish in, rubbish out).

You can adjust the figures on the minimum income calculator to reflect your position (no mortgage etc.). Although it calculates minimum income, it will give you an idea of what you need for a 'middle-class' lifestyle.

feelbritish

I did a complete analysis of everything we spent for a retired couple over one year. Our monthly expenses were £1126.00. We are frugal, not eating out much just budgetting £100/month for entertainment. No coffees or take aways. We own a 3 bed house and pay band D council tax (unless you are in a small flat band D is average) we have no mortgage. This amount does not take into account our holidays and overseas trips. We do not use mobile phones much only use pay as go around £10/every 2 months. OH retired so does not pay for prescriptions. Having a family increases your costs dramatically as they want extra activities and lots of clothes and non essential groceries. Rents are high in Dorset, cheaper in Devon but not much work. I would budget £2500.00/month to include holidays, clubs and other activities.

christmasoompa

If it helps at all, our regular living expenses (minus our mortgage) are below, we're also a family of two adults and 2 children. We do have quite high costs as our house is large, so things like electricity bill and council tax will be higher than yours I'd imagine, but it might help give you an idea at least.

Electricity - £275 pcm
Council tax - £250pcm
Food/groceries - approx £100 a week (includes dog and cat food too, plus cleaning products)
Water - approx £120 a year
Car insurance - approx £400 a year for both of us (1 4x4 and one estate car)
Car tax - approx £480 a year
Broadband and phone - £15pcm
Clothes - approx £800 per year for everything including school shoes, winter coats etc.

We don't spend a lot on other things, don't do days out unless they're free or cheap usually, and don't eat out much either, so I haven't included those. We also don't have paid tv or anything like that, so again minimal costs there compared to some.

I've not included children's activities, because that will be very dependent on what yours do. Mine do a lot (riding, ballet, rugby, tennis, swimming, etc), but that's not true of everyone.

So I'd agree with the suggestion above of about £2000pcm if you want to be able to save a bit and have a nice holiday or two a year. You could do it for less if your children don't do many activities or you don't eat out often.

HTH.

OriginalSunshine

Wow - you guys are awesome!

That is all incredibly helpful! Thank you

OriginalSunshine

This reckons 2k minimum as well.

It's quite scary considering that's not an average take home....

Editha

I'd think 2k was about right. The West Country has high water charges compared with elsewhere, and you are likely to spend more than average on petrol if you are living in a rural area.

Mummy in the foothills

With no mortgage we live on £1200 a month and do quite well.

Electricity and Gas - £95 pcm
Council tax - £122pcm
Food/groceries - approx £100 a week
Water - £64 every three months
Car insurance - approx £140 me and £180 Dh per year
Car tax - $200 per year
Broadband and phone - £30 per month high speed fibre and BT tv and sports
RAC £132 a year three cars with homestart
House insurance £ I forget but it's a lot less than we paid in US
Cell phones x2 £20 a month unlimited texts 500 talk mins and data
Pool membership for Dd £21 a month
Gym for me £29 a month
Life insurance £16 a month
Petrol £80 a month sometimes less.

OriginalSunshine

Gosh that's quite a difference, just because it's north wales

not2old

MITFH @ post#9

With what you posted, these appear to standard expenses. Would there be other expenses that you've not mentioned for items such as .... personal care, clothing, medical/dental, travel, eating out, entertainment, other?

Pistolpete2

MIFH numbers seem fairly normal - we live in Dorset and though it would be a reach for us to stick to 100 quid a week for food (we drink wine and are foodies* and I visit the pub) and we have no car, they seem fair. The TV programmes that state that there is just as much nutrition in frozen food as in fresh can most certainly help to keep costs down as can staying away from anything other than standard frozen broccoli.

Our contract for Gas and Electricity comes in at around 50 per month year-round (stove is gas) for a three bedroomed place. We use a Lakeland dryer for clothes when the sun isn't out and get a laundrette service dry once a week (5 quid for a big bag).

Water is expensive here too, and costs about 450 per annum if metered.

Dental hygienist costs 80 quid for two visits a year here.

*we feel it would be a loss not to eat the local seafood from time to time

OriginalSunshine

Sorry - why the broccoli emphasis?

Pistolpete2

Because the major supermarkets now supply traditional wrapped fresh broccoli and also purple sprouting, broccolini and tenderstem broccoli and the latter three are much much more expensive.

Tesco Metro here just introduced the tenderstem broccoli (I believe they come in from Kenya) and they almost immediately went to special reduced as they were too 'rich' for the average wallet in spite of being packaged so that the price APPEARS reasonable.

Iceland is just up the road where they have frozen broccoli often at less than a pound per kilo bag.

ASDA have fresh Cavolo Nero in a decent-sized bag which goes a long way and is cheaper and better quality than in the local weekly market.

I only mention this perceiving that broccoli (along with kale and kale-type) is an important staple.

At Tesco, these are broccoli prices per kilo:

Heads 1.17
Loose 1.13
Tenderstem 9.48
Organic tenderstem 12.50
Frozen broccoli florets 1.23

Note that under pressure from certain TV celebs, who have understood the plight of vegetable farmers, Morrisons have led the way in introducing less-than-perfect veg which was previously dumped. This can help to cost-cut.

OriginalSunshine

Oh dear god

I'm going to have such a shock!