jamstorr86 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hello folks, I have followed the HPC site for a while now, but never contributed to the forum. I was just looking for some guidance regarding how much people pay for Utility Bills as well as other Household outgoings on a month basis. I may be buying my first home (with Cash!) but need some advice before I do so regarding how much I need to set aside for bills. With recent price hikes it would be interesting to see how much of a household's income is taken up by said bills and such. How much do you spend each month on; Gas/Electricity Water Food Other ? Thanks James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efdemin Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hello folks, I have followed the HPC site for a while now, but never contributed to the forum. I was just looking for some guidance regarding how much people pay for Utility Bills as well as other Household outgoings on a month basis. I may be buying my first home (with Cash!) but need some advice before I do so regarding how much I need to set aside for bills. With recent price hikes it would be interesting to see how much of a household's income is taken up by said bills and such. How much do you spend each month on; Gas/Electricity Water Food Other ? Thanks James Uh, how big a house are you talking about? A footballer's blingy mansion will be a lot more expensive to run than a 1 bed flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadbeef Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 What do you mean by "how much to set aside for bills"? Sounds like you're planning to buy outright (no mortgage), but then also pay for bills out of your savings too? FWIW our 2 bed flat's bills cost about £200/month including council tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamstorr86 Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 sorry, I should have been more specific. It is a 3 bed detached. Someone is giving me and my Girlfriend some money so we can buy outright. But I will still need to pay for bills and such with my monthly income. I am just trying to go into this with my eyes wide open, rather than getting hit by bills that are a lot more than what I first expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hello folks, I have followed the HPC site for a while now, but never contributed to the forum. I was just looking for some guidance regarding how much people pay for Utility Bills as well as other Household outgoings on a month basis. I may be buying my first home (with Cash!) but need some advice before I do so regarding how much I need to set aside for bills. With recent price hikes it would be interesting to see how much of a household's income is taken up by said bills and such. How much do you spend each month on; Gas/Electricity Water Food Other ? Thanks James Annual costs, two non-smokers in a rented 3 bed house, South West London, -Rent, £26,400 -Gas, Electric, Water, £2,200 -Food, Drink, Groceries, £8,100 -Council tax, £2,100 -Household insurance, £600 -Petrol (2 cars) and transport, £3,700 -Car insurance, £1,250 -Car servicing and tax, £1,300 -TV (License fee and Virgin), £750 -Repairs (including appliance replacement), £1,100 -Misc household, £1,500 -Cleaner, £2,000 Total £51,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberbrown Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hello folks, I have followed the HPC site for a while now, but never contributed to the forum. I was just looking for some guidance regarding how much people pay for Utility Bills as well as other Household outgoings on a month basis. I may be buying my first home (with Cash!) but need some advice before I do so regarding how much I need to set aside for bills. With recent price hikes it would be interesting to see how much of a household's income is taken up by said bills and such. How much do you spend each month on; Gas/Electricity Water Food Other ? Thanks James So you're going straight from living at home to buying your own home with never having rented somewhere in between? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pent Up Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 So you're going straight from living at home to buying your own home with never having rented somewhere in between? What's the problem with that? It's what I'll be doing once house prices fall some more. No point wasting money on rent when I can get it cheap at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradbury Robinson Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 We're currently renting at £600/month (three bed semi) and each pay into a 'house account' £650, so £1300/month. I'd estimate that this is probably about £150-£200/month more than is needed for the fixed cost bills but we put the rest in as a contigency fund. So bills wise we are proably paying out around £500-£600/month dependig on what we buy each month. This includes: Council Tax TV Licence Gas Electricity Water Contents Insurance Telephone Line Telephone Usage Internet Shopping Cash Withdrawals Dos not include anything car related or buildings insurance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warwick-Watcher Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Annual costs, two non-smokers in a rented 3 bed house, South West London, -Rent, £26,400 -Gas, Electric, Water, £2,200 -Food, Drink, Groceries, £8,100 -Council tax, £2,100 -Household insurance, £600 -Petrol (2 cars) and transport, £3,700 -Car insurance, £1,250 -Car servicing and tax, £1,300 -TV (License fee and Virgin), £750 -Repairs (including appliance replacement), £1,100 -Misc household, £1,500 -Cleaner, £2,000 Total £51,000 Sounds about right - substitute mortgage for rent and add in some commuter costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamstorr86 Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 We're currently renting at £600/month (three bed semi) and each pay into a 'house account' £650, so £1300/month. I'd estimate that this is probably about £150-£200/month more than is needed for the fixed cost bills but we put the rest in as a contigency fund. So bills wise we are proably paying out around £500-£600/month dependig on what we buy each month. This includes: Council Tax TV Licence Gas Electricity Water Contents Insurance Telephone Line Telephone Usage Internet Shopping Cash Withdrawals Dos not include anything car related or buildings insurance! Well I am just thinking about Gas/Electricity, which according to money supermarkey shoud cost me about £90 amonth direct debit, and that is estimating high electricity use. Water, I was expecting to pay around £20 a month Council Tax - for the house I may buy is £130 a month Insurance wise, I would just pay outright Telephone and internet I would get free because I work for BT I am shocked that a few of you are quting so high! maybe I should rethink moving out then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradbury Robinson Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Food, Drink, Groceries, £8,100 £675/month on shopping?! I know it's a bit pricier down south but surely it can't be that much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the stig Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Have i wondered into MSE?!?! Per month: Gas - Don't have it Electric - £80 - covers extra usage in winter - economy 7 storage heaters Water - £25 (meter) Food - £300 for me, wife and kid Drink - only i drink, prob £100 per month Council tax - £120 (10 months) Household insurance - Don't have it. No mortgage so haven't bothered. Life insurance - £20 Petrol - £200 TV (License fee and Virgin) - £60 Per year: Car insurance - £500 Car servicing and tax - £300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Shouldn't the full EPC show you the bill usage?> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamstorr86 Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Have i wondered into MSE?!?! Per month: Gas - Don't have it Electric - £80 - covers extra usage in winter - economy 7 storage heaters Water - £25 (meter) Food - £300 for me, wife and kid Drink - only i drink, prob £100 per month Council tax - £120 (10 months) Household insurance - Don't have it. No mortgage so haven't bothered. Life insurance - £20 Petrol - £200 TV (License fee and Virgin) - £60 Per year: Car insurance - £500 Car servicing and tax - £300 These numbers are a bit more what I was expecting. I am figuring £100 amonth for combined gas and electricity (which I am quoted on the comparison sites for medium gas and high electricity usage) Its a modern 3 bed detached house, so I don't suspect it will be too much, especially since I have read on other forums of people with old cottages spending less than £100 on heating and electricity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamstorr86 Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Shouldn't the full EPC show you the bill usage?> It says it is a Band E. which is apparently Average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lagarde's Drift Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Sounds about right - substitute mortgage for rent and add in some commuter costs. Really..... that's more than most household net income. That's just nuts. The op will be better off asking on mse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 whatever the government says, my gas bill has doubled in the last 12 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkshock Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 so you are buying a house for cash and then asking how much you need to put aside for bills interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profitofdoom Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 3 bed semi: Council Tax £75 (Didnt crack on about MrsP and got a discount) Elec/Gas £50 Water £20 Insurance £00 - I don't bother Grub £150 - my mate has 5 allotments buy veg from him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 It says it is a Band E. which is apparently Average. I thought a full EPC showed actual figures - not just the silly bar charts. E might well be average but it doesn't mean it's cheap to heat. Does it have loft insulation, cavity wall, DG, etc etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 2 non smokers fy8 mews rent 700/month gas 45/month electric 197 per quarter council tax 1530 D band house ins contents only 11/month with tesco dog ins 31/ month pet plan car ins 2 cars about 300 each per year car tax about 200 each a year probably lots of other things I've forgotten too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Annual costs, two non-smokers in a rented 3 bed house, South West London, -Rent, £26,400 -Gas, Electric, Water, £2,200 -Food, Drink, Groceries, £8,100 -Council tax, £2,100 -Household insurance, £600 -Petrol (2 cars) and transport, £3,700 -Car insurance, £1,250 -Car servicing and tax, £1,300 -TV (License fee and Virgin), £750 -Repairs (including appliance replacement), £1,100 -Misc household, £1,500 -Cleaner, £2,000 Total £51,000 Rent, 3,300. Gas electric water, 750 Food, drink 1,200.(for 2) CT, 1,250. Household insurance 0 Car insurance (2) 420. Car MOTs and tax. 345. TV, don't have. Repairs 15 (a new kettle) Misc. household 0. Cleaner, 0. Total 7,280. (leaving 10k for saving and 2,720 for the unexpected.) Without rent it would cost us 3,980 to live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamdamosuzuki Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 one bed semi detached bungalow -Mortgage, £5,028 -Gas, Electric, Water, £1200 -Food, Drink, Groceries, £1200 -Council tax, £1284 -Household insurance, £192 -Petrol, £1820 -Car insurance, £450 -misc car inc. tax, £900 -TV (License fee), £145.50 -Phone &Broadband,£414 about 1000-1100 a month, plus another 600 to I spend on other non essential stuff. I save approx 500 pcm, which I believe is prudent, although impossible for many (myself included) for large periods of your life. Reality is 800 goes to pay all the essentials by DD. I do most of my own cooking and don't buy mega fancy stuff, though the occasional nice steak etc. Looking at that I'm really lucky. Mortgage is potentially the killer for ANYONE in this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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