How do people afford stuff?!

Everyone around me is going on expensive holidays, buying new cars, buying new phones, getting a mortgage, spending £200 on a handbag, going travelling, getting their hair done, getting their nails done... You name it. HOW DO PEOPLE AFFORD THIS STUFF?!

I work 40 hours a week and after rent, gym membership, travel, bills, driving lessons and savings (a modest £150 a month) I have very little left.
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What am I doing wrong?

After this starting point, take action and work towards being free from the need to work for someone else. Grow your income gradually over a few years by setting up multiple streams of passive income which will bring in income whether you work or not.
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This is more of a semi-rant and also a total first world problem so no need to tell me that.

Everyone around me is going on expensive holidays, buying new cars, buying new phones, getting a mortgage, spending £200 on a handbag, going travelling, getting their hair done, getting their nails done... You name it. HOW DO PEOPLE AFFORD THIS STUFF?!

I work 40 hours a week and after rent, gym membership, travel, bills, driving lessons and savings (a modest £150 a month) I have very little left. I shop at aldi, I buy my clothes in charity shops, I can't afford to upgrade my phone beyond the £18 I current pay a month, a holiday is a distant concept, I cut and dye my own hair. In fact the only real 'extra' thing I can afford is train tickets to visit my partner once a month.

I'm constantly having to turn down invitations to visit friends from uni, I rarely go on nights out, if I go for dinner I'll get the cheapest thing available.

Yet there are people I know who earn less than I do who have nice things, they have new cars, ipads, expensive clothes. They randomly decide to go to Paris one weekend and off they go.

It's slightly depressing that after 6 years of university and finally getting a decent job, I still can't afford anything.

What am I doing wrong?!

Perhaps they're not saving as much as others


Just sounds like low pay. I'm guessing <£1500/mo? Or perhaps your rent is a large % of your income.



Pretty much this. Either start saving for investments, start a business or start freelancing.

Maybe they earn more than you?

I feel the same sometimes, until I realise my friends are getting £7 an hour working in a shop and I'm at University so makes sense they'd have more money than me.

How much is your rent?

But these are people who even have the same wage as me. I know some people who are on minimum wage and still splashing out. Who knows maybe they're dealing drugs or something.

£425

This is more of a semi-rant and also a total first world problem so no need to tell me that.

Everyone around me is going on expensive holidays, buying new cars, buying new phones, getting a mortgage, spending £200 on a handbag, going travelling, getting their hair done, getting their nails done... You name it. HOW DO PEOPLE AFFORD THIS STUFF?!

I work 40 hours a week and after rent, gym membership, travel, bills, driving lessons and savings (a modest £150 a month) I have very little left. I shop at aldi, I buy my clothes in charity shops, I can't afford to upgrade my phone beyond the £18 I current pay a month, a holiday is a distant concept, I cut and dye my own hair. In fact the only real 'extra' thing I can afford is train tickets to visit my partner once a month.

I'm constantly having to turn down invitations to visit friends from uni, I rarely go on nights out, if I go for dinner I'll get the cheapest thing available.

Yet there are people I know who earn less than I do who have nice things, they have new cars, ipads, expensive clothes. They randomly decide to go to Paris one weekend and off they go.

It's slightly depressing that after 6 years of university and finally getting a decent job, I still can't afford anything.

What am I doing wrong?!

This is more of a semi-rant and also a total first world problem so no need to tell me that.

Everyone around me is going on expensive holidays, buying new cars, buying new phones, getting a mortgage, spending £200 on a handbag, going travelling, getting their hair done, getting their nails done... You name it. HOW DO PEOPLE AFFORD THIS STUFF?!

I work 40 hours a week and after rent, gym membership, travel, bills, driving lessons and savings (a modest £150 a month) I have very little left. I shop at aldi, I buy my clothes in charity shops, I can't afford to upgrade my phone beyond the £18 I current pay a month, a holiday is a distant concept, I cut and dye my own hair. In fact the only real 'extra' thing I can afford is train tickets to visit my partner once a month.

I'm constantly having to turn down invitations to visit friends from uni, I rarely go on nights out, if I go for dinner I'll get the cheapest thing available.

Yet there are people I know who earn less than I do who have nice things, they have new cars, ipads, expensive clothes. They randomly decide to go to Paris one weekend and off they go.

It's slightly depressing that after 6 years of university and finally getting a decent job, I still can't afford anything.

What am I doing wrong?!

That's pretty good. I'm probably going to sound rude doing this, but let's examine the actual numbers:

You take home £1300 a month according to your earlier post.

£425 goes on rent. Leaves £825. (Does this include bills????)
£150 for savings. Leaves £725.
Let's say food and your phone bill costs £150 a month. Leaves £575.
Miscellaneous could be £200 a month (essential items, memberships or contracts, travel and so on). This will almost certainly be an enourmous overestimate, but I'm playing it safe here.

You are left with almost £100 a week.

Where is this money going? Over a few months that could afford a holiday. You could spend it on nice stuff. That culd easily cover nights out.

Have I missed something here?

Rent doesn't include bills which average £30 a month, more in winter.

I'm paying £200 + a month on driving lessons. So that's the miscellaneous money gone already. I'd be paying similar for a car so I don't see this as an exception particularly.

I'm having to spend around £40 per week (return train ticket of £5.20 plus bus on other side return of £2.20)on travel because of aforementioned lack of car. (this is despite having a railcard). I spend an average of £30 a week on food.

Three-weekly trips to visit partner averaging around £50 for train ticket.

If you take away all that plus other stuff that comes up: birthday presents, the odd night out, a few bits and bobs. It doesn't leave much.

Ok fair point. I do see ways for you to cut down costs though:

1. Move closer to your job. Get a place within cycling distance (3 mile radius typically) or within walking distance (1 mile radius). Estimated saving: £160 a month.
2. Visiting your partner three times a week is quite frequent. Try cutting it down to once a week and use video calls to stay in contact during other times? Estimated saving: £120+ a month.
3. Try your best to lower the food bill to £25 a week. Most people can manage on less than £20 a week by cooking at home a lot. Estimated saving: £20 a month.

Overall saving: £300 a month.

I can bet your friends aren't doing all three of the above, and that is why they may have more money leftover.

1. Where I work is pretty rural, I live in the closest city. The places near are posh villages and seaside resorts which are expensive to rent. Plus I would rather be poor than live in the arse end of nowhere! What's annoying is its literally a 20 minute journey, but because it's so hard to get to I have to use a combination of trains and buses.

2. Haha I meant every three weeks! There's no way I'd be able to do that 3 times a week!

3. Duly noted, I do cook all my meals from scratch but tend to end up buying snacks on my way home from work which all adds up.

I was worried those would be the answers for 1 and 2. I actually have never heard someone use the term three-weekly before so I googled it and it came up with three times a week


At least now it is clear where other people are getting the money from that you aren't.

I guess moving to another job isn't an option? This is your dream job, it has a lot of potential for personal growth and promotion, and it is relaxing? If no then find one with a better location or a higher pay.

Have you considered freelance work on the side? Can boost your income by a bit.