On the breadline

[creampuff]

I had to pay about £3,000 on various one-off expenses over the last month.

Now I'm on the breadline (well not really, but I'm living from payday to payday).

Just wondering how long it takes fellow PH bretheren to save up £3000?

I guess the answers could vary wildly and somebody on a high income with a lot of expenses could take a lot longer to save £3000 than someone who is frugal with few fixed expenses and on a lower income.

[Craikeybaby]

When I took the 2 year lease out on my last car I set up a £250 standing order to my savings account for my "new car fund", so on that basis 1 year, but could have cut down in other areas to save quicker if needed.

[TREMAiNE]

I can put away £300 from each pay check, so a shade under a year for me - but that's if I sacrifice and live like a tramp.

[DannyScene]

I'm 23, The most money I have ever had was when I got a Christmas bonus a few years ago so had £1500 in the bank(that's with my monthly wage included), that soon went and I live payday to payday every month and have done as long as I can remember

I've never had a job that earnt over 1k per month after tax, I was close 3 years ago but left that job to start an apprenticeship which saw me back on minimum wage so 12k per annum for the past 3 years, this however is due to change as I have been signed off and am hopefully going to get a pay packet worth 1200 a month after tax, I will feel positively minted when that comes in

So in response to your question it would take me over a year definitely

I imagine some PHers can save that in a month hah

[kiethton]

Living normally (if no un-expected bills) - 6 months
Living really frugally - 4 months
Being smart - 5 mins (have and offer to switch my Ex egg card for 0% fee and the full balance to draw on the then 0% CC and 18 months before it reverts)

24 years old - just above average income, living with parents but paying rent, own food and Student loan etc.

Edited by kiethton on Thursday 10th October 13:58

[Garvin]

DannyScene said:

. . . . . . .I imagine some PHers can save that in a month hah

[CampDavid]

Garvin said:

DannyScene said:

. . . . . . .I imagine some PHers can save that in a month hah

I wondered who'd be smug enough to post that first.

My outgoings are pretty small and, fortunately, work is pretty solid at the moment so a few weeks is viable.

At 24 it'd have taken me about a year.

[Garvin]

CampDavid said:

Garvin said:

DannyScene said:

. . . . . . .I imagine some PHers can save that in a month hah

I wondered who'd be smug enough to post that first.

My outgoings are pretty small and, fortunately, work is pretty solid at the moment so a few weeks is viable.

At 24 it'd have taken me about a year.

Ooooh, smug eh! Conjures up visions of that Harry Enfield character with the West Midlands accent and the struggling BIL!

[J4CKO]

Probably about two months if nothing else comes up, but it invariably does. Always keep some to one side as a "reserve", not proper savings but a float.

[Snowboy]

I get the impression PH covers all social strata from those who have never seen £3k through to those who would spend that on a bottle of wine.

[topless_mx5]

I can see this thread turning into a willy waving contest.

[J4CKO]

Snowboy said:

I get the impression PH covers all social strata from those who have never seen £3k through to those who would spend that on a bottle of wine.

I dont do too bad but bought a bottle for £2.99 from Aldi, it was a little rough but have had worse.

[LukeR94]

topless_mx5 said:

I can see this thread turning into a willy waving contest.

It already has....

[Slow]

J4CKO said:

I dont do too bad but bought a bottle for £2.99 from Aldi, it was a little rough but have had worse.

They make £2.99 wine?

[EK993]

Purity14 said:

After a year, you will want more.

You will get 1500 per month.

You will want more.

You will get 2000 per month.

You will want more.

No matter how much you earn, if you get 100k per year or less; then your living arrangements, cars you drive and the desire for better things will always 'get you.'

You lead will always end up at the same place. - You'll still feel poor, and want more.

This is true

[Adenauer]

My Dad's bigger than your Dad.

GO!!

[DannyScene]

EK993 said:

Purity14 said:

After a year, you will want more.

You will get 1500 per month.

You will want more.

You will get 2000 per month.

You will want more.

No matter how much you earn, if you get 100k per year or less; then your living arrangements, cars you drive and the desire for better things will always 'get you.'

You lead will always end up at the same place. - You'll still feel poor, and want more.

This is true

Extremely, I've experienced it already

It is the same drive that pushed me to take a pay cut and begin an apprenticeship as my earning potential really has risen once I'm signed off very soon

[anonymous-user]

Standard savings with no cut backs it would take me 6 months

Trying a bit harder 4 months

[Grimezy93]

I'm so glad I came across this thread, it was only earlier I was googling about salaries and came across a thread on overclockers which I ended up reading the whole of. Felt like a failure in life already and I'm only 20: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=... - at least some of you guys seem more on my sort of level.

For me, £3000 would take me around 6-7 months. I can save £500 per month providing nothing crops up i.e. Birthdays, car bill, me being stupid. I'm 20, earn 17k per year, live at home but pay rent, not many expenses other than the usual though. Still find it an absolute pain to save though, I always have around £1000 tucked away but I can never really manage much more than that..

[Council Baby]

Adenauer said:

My Dad's bigger than your Dad.

GO!!

Too many steins and wurst. Fat .