Originally Posted by minhan

My two kids currently take piano, football, swim and Taekwondo as after school activities. We eat home cook food most days. Currently, we only have 1 car as I don't work and my husband works from home.

The thing is my in law lives in Wirral and I don't think my husband can find a job with his skill so we will have to settle somewhere that he can travel to London. We know it's expensive to live in London so a house with decent size for family of 4 will be good. We spend about 2000 USD per month for our food and utility bills.

I'm not British so have to get health insurance.

Originally Posted by Expatrick

Figures from 2013, per month, 2 adults, GBP -

Rent & council tax, small (700 sq ft, 2 bed) cottage: 856
Gas & electric: 100
Water & sewage: 34
Internet / landline: 35
TV license:12
Dental plan (for 2): 44
Cars (*2, MX5s, 10 years plus), my commute 66 miles round trip, OH 10 miles: 400
Food, toiletries, household, plonk etc: 500
Clothes, shoes: 75
Entertainment: 150
Holidays (equiv monthly): 250
Insurances: 45
Contingency: 50

Total: 2551 (I think!)

Originally Posted by morpeth

interesting. half of 400 pounds is 200 pounds or roughly 250$ or $3000 a year. if phone, internet, electricity, water, garbage in Midwest in area I was in was only $100 a month combined, then that is $150 a month, for food, medical, car maintenance , car insurance,household supplies and everything else for a couple (OP said a couple). Now electricity/water was much higher than that but lets look at the $150 per month figure. We for family of 4 $100 a week on food but we didn't eat packaged or frozen foods and we liked to eat well and healthy, so perhaps for a couple instead of dividing that figure in 2, lets divide into 3, $33 a week or $143 a month. But lets say someone considers eating junk low quality food is acceptable and only $25 a week for food for 2. Or $108 per month.

So we arrive at ( and still excluding petrol) :

$100 for phone, electricity, water, garbage
$108 for food
-------
$208
$250 ( "one could live on half" that amount quoted -400 pounds - for a couple- and not being even frugal it is written or the figure is "crazy expensive")
-------
$42 The Difference- to cover car insurance, car maintenance, any clothing needs, any medical care premiums or prescriptions, toiletries. And then I didn't figure cable TV that some find a necessity.

I have to admit I find it hard to believe a couple could live like that in the USA (or UK) comfortably without being extremely frugal. I must be missing something. $42 a month left over for a couple doesn't sound a like very much to me. what am I missing ?

Originally Posted by sam60

Thanks for all the feedback, Infact I’m relocating to the Preston / Blackpool area so less expensive that the South. I suppose my question is now ....how much should I budget for electric/gas in a studio / one bedroom flat? Water rates?mobile/tv/internet package connection?

Originally Posted by JMW634

So, a bit of good news for you. As a landlord I can tell you, you should not need home insurance the landlord cover's that or should do, if not take it up with the council it's not your responsibility.
Forgot to say, don't ask for a smart meter whatever you do they are a rip off.

Originally Posted by michaelr711

Where exactly did you find combined bills of $100 in the Midwest?? I live in a one bed apartment in the Midwest and my electric alone is $100...



I'm so sorry to hear that!!