deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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. . .and I just want your opinions really.
For one reason and another, my girlfriend who still lives with her parents, might have to rent somewhere whilst their parents find a bigger property.
Anyway, she will be earning approximately £1,500 a month pre tax, NI etc. She thinks she'll be able to manage to rent, but places around our way are quite expensive really.
I know this is a personal question for some people, but how much were you earning monthly when you first started renting, how much rent did you pay, and what sort of luxuries did you have to go without, just to live?
I understand if people don't want to disclose their financial information etc, just want to get opinions!
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Ive not been in the position of having to rent, but do live on my own and all I can say is...
Whatever she ends up paying for rent, you can probably double it again for what she will need to spend to live off aswell (food, bills, furniture/utilities/etc.) I think most people who have never lived on their own really underestimate their other costs and end up struggling because of it.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Exactly my thoughts and what I told her.
I said to try and get somewhere with bills all inclusive, so she can really budget every month.
Anyone else have opinions?
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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food is the killer, atleast it is for me. Ends up being the same as all my other bills added together. I dont even buy that much from what I can tell when its back here 
Renting is dead money aswell, if there was any chance she'd be best trying to either share the rent and save the rest towards a deposit on a house or staying somewhere free and saving!
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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Its certainly possible to do it on that salary but she'll need to be very careful. There's no great amount of maths to it - just be prudent and she'll be fine.
Does she have any debts at the moment?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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No, no debts luckily. No credit cards, no overdraft etc.
The only trouble is, this job is a 9 month contract (covering maternity leave) with the possibility of being kept on etc, but she did get the job through an agency, so they should keep her updated!
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Anyone else?
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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I started renting at 16 with a friend, £500 pcm house where we paid £250 each plus bills which worked out at £350. I was taking home £800 a month and managed fine, but then i was sharing.
It depends on her rent tbh, if its £250/300 a month then yes she will manage. If its £500 a month and she is paying it herself then there is no way she will manage.
She will probably have rent, water, gas, leccy, council tax, sky, internet, mobile/home phone, food, fuel, car insurance, car repairs/tax. Then going out money, clothes, make up, shoes etc etc
Its very hard the first time you move - and me personally, wouldnt ever do it on my own!
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
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quote:
Originally posted by Ally
I started renting at 16 with a friend, £500 pcm house where we paid £250 each plus bills which worked out at £350.
£100 a month on half the bills and food  Did you not eat?!
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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thats not including food cosmo, council tax, internet, phone and water/gas/leccy that covered
I lived on £15 a week food shopping, mainly on beans on toast with a bit of cheese. Sometimes spagetti, and sometimes my poor mother would take pity on me and take me to sainsburies where i considered good food a luxury
Although i was spending £50 a week on cigarettes!!!!!
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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Now i spend £40 a week on 2 of us which feeds us well, with food and litter for 3 cats included in that. I dont smoke anymore which saves an awful lot of money as well!
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Tom
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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It's harder than you'd imagine. She would be better off sharing with someone (you) maybe?
The outgoings for my flat are around £750 before food and that's rent, utilities council tax and tv licence.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Naaa I won't be able to afford to live with her, as I'm at Uni. The only way we would manage is if I bought food every month, but then I'd be working 14 hours per week in a shitty Spar shop to buy food.
Thanks for all your advice guys, I'll let her know.
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Mark Petty
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Registered: 26th Jul 01
Location: Bournemouth Drives: Suzuki gsf600
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imo I would never rent. Her money would be paying someone elses mortgage.
But I know its difficult sometimes getting a mortgage etc so if she really needs to do it and has no where else to go then she will have to rent.
Can't she live with you?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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No, I still live with my parents and drive to Uni the days I have to be in. I'd struggle to fit a double bed in my room too, without losing lots of floor space!
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Mark Petty
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Registered: 26th Jul 01
Location: Bournemouth Drives: Suzuki gsf600
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quote:
Originally posted by deano87
No, I still live with my parents and drive to Uni the days I have to be in. I'd struggle to fit a double bed in my room too, without losing lots of floor space!
Surely though loosing abit of floor space is better than your gf struggling to live 
I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind getting extra cash for doing nothing.
Another option is a small studio flat
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Brett
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Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
food is the killer, atleast it is for me.
I bet
...and deano, my advice, at your age don't live with your bird. Live a little!
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by loafofbrett
...and deano, my advice, at your age don't live with your bird. Live a little!
There's that as well 
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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What about getting a place on an interest only mortgage?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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I don't think she's ready to take such a big step at the moment. This job is only for 9 months anyway as she is covering someone on maternity leave, so she'll want to wait till she has something permanent.
Also, she chop and changes career ideas a lot, so making a big commitment wouldn't be wise imo.
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cunningham
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Registered: 25th May 05
Location: Lochore, Fife
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surely her mum and dad have to understand that shes in temp employment and wouldnt be correct to just chuck her oot?
rented once for 6 months and would never do it again why line someone elses pockets
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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They won't be chucking her out. They just have to downsize for a bit, and can only find somewhere a few miles from where they live and my girlfriend works.
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