[jackclarke1995]

When I say live off, I don't mean just the absolute basics. So obviously rent, food, electricity and water. But also things like internet, car related costs, and stuff like that.

[seanfromtheblock]

This completely depends on where you live, whether you have to support anyone and what your definition of comfortable is.


For me, I know that my dad lives comfortably in the high 20ks, so I'd say around there.

[theonefrombrum]

Probably about 30k would be adequate for most people.

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by seanfromtheblock)
This completely depends on where you live, whether you have to support anyone and what your definition of comfortable is.

Definitely this. Council tax and rent are huge factors and it depends on whether you'd want holidays and things like that.

[M4LLY]

£30k sounds cool

[sconter]

15-18kish

[EGjeff]

Just did a rough calculation as I was bored and curious.

Assuming this is a single person, on low wage, living to a tight budget in a small shared house or flat, not in London - with no car, not taking into accounts any tax credits etc.

Earn gross £15,000, take home around £12,700

Council tax - group a/b, £1300 per annum, but with many rented properties advertised this is included in the rent so we'll ignore this.

Rent / bills - lets say £150 a week, £7200 annum
Food - £160 per month, £1920 per annum
Toiletries / cleaning materials / toilet roll etc - £20 month, £240 annum
Phone bill - £20 month, £240 annum

I'd say that covers essentials, leaving:
£3100 per annum
£258 month
£64.50 week

Obviously that is bare bones living with food and bills, no new clothes etc. You could do it on £15k, you wouldn't be saving anything or doing much socially, but it's do-able. £20k for a single person in a shared house or flat would be comfortable in a basic sense and allow you do still do things and treat yourself occasionally.

[iPhone]

£45K

[katyness]

Since I have an obsession with shoes... about 45 to 50k

[Herr]

If it is just myself, I'm pretty sure I could live off £26k per annum easily even if I had a job in Central London.

[I<3LAMP]

Well I'm on 20K with debt, sharing my flat with one other in Zone 3 London and I still haven't paid off my debts yet.

I'd say 30K so I could afford to drive, pay off debts, prevent any new debts and afford a holiday/treats without having to eat noodles and baked beans for 2 weeks of every month.

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

At the moment I'm on minimum wage, full time, earning £12,000 a year on an Industry placement before uni.

So that equals out to about £900 a month after taxes.

I pay £335 a month for a single room in a shared house, all bills included.

I don't have a car, as I live close enough to the town centre that it's just a 10/15 minute walk to the shops.

I spend about £10/£15 a week on food (tesco own brands, not buying lots of junk, only buying what i'll actually eat, etc)

My phone bill is £15 a month.

Other costs include train tickets, days to London to visit friends, tolietries, other essentials etc.

I go to the cinema every few weeks, buy a new piece of clothing occasionally, and I don't go out a lot because I don't have anyone in the area to go out with.

I'm also trying to save about £300-£400 a month for uni living costs.

I would say it's 'comfortable', but I'm not a massive spender anyway. It's certainly doable and I could do a lot more, buy more expensive food, buy more clothes, books, music etc.

But a single person, living in a house share, on full time minimum wage and being careful with their money can certainly be 'comfortable'.

[combbrah]

80k/year

[The_Jakal]

It all depends. Some people live comfortably off of £15k/year where as some struggle on £30k/year.

It's hard not to spend to what you earn and a lot of people say that unless they get a huge pay rise they never see much difference.

[Historophilia]

It'll depend on a lot of things.

Whether you're single or have a family or are supporting a partner who doesn't work, whether you are in private rented accommodation or have a council house or housing benefit.

It'll also depend on where in the country you live, you could live off less in the north-east of England than you could in London for example.

[hannah_dru]

(Original post by Historophilia)
It'll also depend on where in the country you live, you could live off less in the north-east of England than you could in London for example.

Exactly, I was on the bare minimum when I lived in the North up until a few months ago and I was fine. Now I'm in Greater London (albeit with a better salary) it's changed completely.