Reply to: Monthly bills - it costs a lot to live in the UK

[EternalOptimist]

Just add the word "contractors" right after "Many" and before "are" and I think you have hit the nail on the head!

Mailman

Aye it's true.
I was on the dole for ten years bringing up my daughter on my own.
so if anyone wants help in fiddling the lecky, let me know
I fitted into contracting like a hand in a glove

[Mailman]

Many are border-line illegal, or dodgy in some way...

Just add the word "contractors" right after "Many" and before "are" and I think you have hit the nail on the head!

Mailman

[BoredBloke]

You should feel ashamed of yourself with all that cash being spent on you and your family when there are a lot of hard working families stuck at home having to watch Jeremy Kyle of a plasma telly which is now approaching the end of its warranty period. I think the govt should increase taxes so that those who choose not to work can enjoy a lifestyle which is at least as good as those who choose to work. It's only fair!

[Xenophon]

My cost of living is well over 3000 a month and i lead a pretty basic family existence, nothing flash like a big house or German cars.

I support 2 Kids, 2 cars, 1 wife, 1 house and myself.

Bills: 500 a month.
Mortgage: 1000 a month.
Groceries: 400 a month.
2 Cars: 400 a month.
Wifey's allowance: 500 a month (Mostly spent on clothes and girly things)
Clothes (for me and kids): 100 a month
House maintenance + appliance/furniture replacement: 200 a month (maybe alot more than this over the total period of home ownership).
Holidays: 200 a month.
Eating out and takeaways: 200 a month.

You're just like me. Except I don't have the wife. Or the children.

Oh dear, I really ought to curtail my spending...

[Iron Condor]

My cost of living is well over 3000 a month and i lead a pretty basic family existence, nothing flash like a big house or German cars.

I support 2 Kids, 2 cars, 1 wife, 1 house and myself.

Bills: 500 a month.
Mortgage: 1000 a month.
Groceries: 400 a month.
2 Cars: 400 a month.
Wifey's allowance: 500 a month (Mostly spent on clothes and girly things)
Clothes (for me and kids): 100 a month
House maintenance + appliance/furniture replacement: 200 a month (maybe alot more than this over the total period of home ownership).
Holidays: 200 a month.
Eating out and takeaways: 200 a month.

[basshead]

Ah, cheers basshead. Nice not to be the only one!

Yep, £201 for a four bed semi. Damn you Castle Morpeth!!!

[Xenophon]

Same here

Ah, cheers basshead. Nice not to be the only one!

[DS24]

Mine is over £200 per month.

Disgraceful!

Mine's £130 a month, but it's only got five bedrooms so I suppose that accounts for it.

[basshead]

Mine is over £200 per month.

Same here

[realityhack]

Makes no difference that is still very cheap council tax.

You're right - it is. Just checked the rates on my council's website - and I have my latest bill with me. I'm paying about £60 a month less than I should be. But that's what they're invoicing me for, so that's what I'm paying.

Hmm. Anyway - should it be an error and they come calling for more, I can cover it. Even with the 25% discount that's still not explained. The rates changed recently when my housemate moved out, to this new one.

[Xenophon]

That's cheap council tax.

My council tax is about £100 a month.

Mine is over £200 per month.

[SueEllen]

Charged as if living on my own as the fiancée is a student.

Makes no difference that is still very cheap council tax.

The cheapest place for council tax is Wandsworth, South West London. Band D charge is £681.

There as I'm paying one of the highest rates in the country - then again I get to live very near a nice park and the river Thames.

[BoredBloke]

Ahhh... that'll do it I thought maybe you had 4 teenage daughters or something...

Get one of these

http://safield.co.uk/internet-phone-...lls-p-614.html

My daughter was spending ages on the phone to her mates and ran up a big bill so I spent £6 on one of these. It locks onto your phone line and you tell it what numbers you want it to allow through. Ours is set to all numbers starting 01, 02, my wifes mobile and mine. That's it. We are on the sky talk thing so we get free calls and all others are barred.

[realityhack]

That's cheap council tax.

My council tax is about £100 a month.

Charged as if living on my own as the fiancée is a student.

[realityhack]

Mortgage free I take it then. House/contents insurance?

Wasn't including rent or insurances. Add that and we're up to £1,386.

Still, I'm managing to save quite a lot at the moment. The house prices in my area are a tad prohibitive, so as I'm not a millionaire I'll wait for a while (and consider moving away) before buying!!