How does a single person earning around £13k per annum survive comfortably and if so, how???

Question

curious and cold

Answer 1

you flat with other people to share costs, don't buy stuff you don't need, be very disciplined and make the most of bargains and sales. you can eat cheaply and healthily too if you shop smart. there are websites that should be able to help you if you do a bit of research.

Answer 2

Your question is too broad. How old a person for example. My state pension and a small private pension come to about the figure you mention. I mana ge quite comfortably.. My house is fully paid for so have no rent or mortgage. At my age no great need for new furniture or appliances . As long as my TV gives a good picture why keep upgrading etc. My utility bills,gas .electric, water.TV.phone,house and car insurance are covered by my private pension.so my state pension covers day to day expenses like food,cleaning materials, papers, petrol, the odd clothes, birthday presents and so on, and I usually have a bit left over. I appreciate that a younger person who has to pay rent or a mortgage and have fares to work possibly would find life more difficult. There again 13K is a pretty lousy wage isn't it in this day and age I was earning hat back in the 1980's which is why I could afford to buy my house .. You should get training or skills to earn at least 25 to 30 k a year to be able to have a decent standard of .life. Don't know what you do but I would not work for £250 a week . That is a bare minimum wage for no skills whatsoever ..

Answer 3

Well I'm single, in my late fifties and have a decent standard of living on less than £10,000 a year. I am able to do this as my mortgage is all but paid off (currently paying £8 per month!).

The question is too vague. There are many persons living on this income or less. Some have a decent life, others struggle.

The deciding factor is how much of the £13,000 is left for discretionary spending after covering all the unavoidable costs?

£13,000 gross gives about £890 per month. The largest expense is likely to be housing. This will vary considerably depending on where in the country you live. In central London it would probably not be possible to exist on this income. But then, most jobs there pay much more than that. Elsewhere it is feasible to pay for housing and leave enough to have a comfortable standard of living.

Other than living in the right place I suppose the best advice is to buy what you need for a comfortable life, not what the advertisers tell you you need.

Answer 4

Budget everything and write everything you spend in a little book. Always make sure when you get your wage to cover your bills first (ie rent, gas etc) and then put a little aside for a rainy day. The rest then divide by 4 - if you get paid monthly and that is your budget for the week. Take out that money and that money only at the begining of the week and leave the cards at home. Make a menu plan for the week to help with food costs. If you make up more than one portion of stuff (like a spag bol or a veggie curry) then that can be frozen for later. Use your local library for books and to rent out films. Exercise freely by walking lots or having a kick about in thepark with friends. Invite friends round for a drink or for a meal instead of going out. For holidays make the most of cheap offers in the sun paper or visit friends who live in different parts of the UK or hunt on line. Clothes try cheap shops like Primark or Charity shops.

You could get a second job........ or a job that pays more.

I know it's not easy!

Answer 5

If that is British pounds you are quoting, it is much more than US dollars. A single person in the US could live on that much US dollars quite easily since I think it takes about 2 1/2 dollars to equal one pound. However, I don't know what the British cost of living is, so it might be enough for a single person there, but not enough for a married couple.

Answer 6

You may be entitled to tax credits (if your over 25 working 30 hours plus - or if your 16 or over and have a child) You might be entitled to some housing benefit if you rent, also council tax benefit. Why not go to your local Citizens advice bureau and ask for a benefit check?

Answer 7

I earn the minimum wage plus overtime supplemented by a forces pension and if I didn't drink and gamble(both sensibly) I would be loaded but I do both so life is a bit chancy but I like it that way

Answer 8

Try and budget, look for ways to save money whether it be shopping or gas or electrical suppliers.

Also think about more qualifications to get a better job with more money. Also sell some stuff on Ebay to try and get some extra money in.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

I hate to have to tell you this but I have a married son who has two children and he only earns he same amount! You don't survive comfortably on this amount of money, you exist. There are a lot of us about who exist on that amount of money, or less.

Answer 10

Dont buy a car dont buy a house dont get married live in with your parents you will be quids in.