Renting a house/ flat

[cwspellowe]

I'd agree with all the above, renting a place escpecially isn't cheap and I doubt you'd have much in the way of comforts with your current income.

Linzi doesn't work, she stays home with the wee man, and my recent increase in salary means we don't get working tax credits any more. I've an uncapped bonus which is great when you're working and on top form, but have a bad month and my earnings can drop by £4-500 which is the difference between an amazing month and a scrimping month.

Rent £475
Council Tax Band B £130 (we lucked out on this, town centre but property was last valued when it was fire damaged and needed rebuilt, shoud be band E)
Gas/Electric £100
Home insurance £15
Virgin Media £50

Other non-house related bills but ones to consider

Mobile bill £30
Hire purchases (TV for instance) £70
Car insurance £56
Food shopping (Me, Linzi, wee man) £250
Fuel (varies, I have a work van I use most of the time) £40

OK you can cut some of them down, like the Virgin bill could be down to £20 a month if it was really basic, food shopping could maybe be halved if we bought Value stuff and less fancy crap like fresh coffee, Hire Purchases are something we agreed on over 2 year deals but a luxury in our eyes with an option to return if we become financially stuffed.

That's £1200 straight away though. Considering my basic wage is £1300 a month after tax, I can afford to run the house myself, but if I get one big unexpected bill or something we're looking pretty skint for the month. Bonuses help a lot in my work but there's no guarantee of a bonus each month so I have to look at bills based on my basic wage.

Truth be told, I really think you'd struggle on your current income. Our place isn't even that expensive in the grand scheme of things, a two bedroomed town house 10 miles outside Glasgow.