How much is enough to live on temporairly?

Thanks julia_atlanta for the info. I will def note to be aware of internet pics not necessarily being accurate...I used to do casting in LA and funnily enough rarely do people look like their pics, maybe like 7 outta 10 lol.

As for expenses, this is what I have so far:
Rent 900 -950
Gas& Electric 100
Water 20
Cable, Web Landline 65
Cell Phone 50 (for/DH)
Council Tax (includes trash)   120
Commute   220
Food 300
Spending roughly 300 btw 2 adults
Misc expenses 100
Leftover for savings --750?

We're not big on nightclubs or anything like that as we have a 4 yr old. We go out to dinner maybe twice a month and same would go for going to a pub. Also, my salary alone will be minimum 2200 GBP after taxes monthly. Once my husband begins working we expect to add at least an additional 1100GBP after taxes monthly to our income. The above numbers are based on DH's additional salary. We'll need to live frugally until he finds work although we do have quite a bit of savings to help with that.

Your budget is very similar to ours, but we'll be up near Wanstead.  We're hoping that my husband gets a job for a similar income but we'll be on my 2200 gbp until then.  The difference is that we have US debt to deal with also and tithe to our church.  I'm interested to see what advice you get.

I'm not sure where £100 for gas/elec comes from...we pay £45 though I am quite careful with switching off lights, etc.  And this is for a 2 bed flat.

Tooting can be hit & miss - if you want green feel, stay away from the high road and try and find stuff near the Common.  If you stay within Wandsworth borough, your council tax will be only £60/month rather than £110-120 of other adjacent boroughs, so you can afford slightly higher rent, if you see what I mean?  Just a suggestion.

Pictures will be VERY deceiving.  Also think about things like have central gas heating, which is generally much cheaper to run than forced air or electric.  There's trade-offs everywhere...

Andrea -- What on average did you pay in Wimbledon? We're looking for a 2 bedroom with garden but nothing fancy...thanks, Kelly

Aless -- Another poster mentioned I should budget 100GBP a month for gas/electric, although maybe she/he meant for the winter months? We're usually pretty good about trying to conserve, turning off lights, etc. I wasn't aware that council tax in Wandsworth would be that much cheaper and as you suggested, yes we could afford a higher rent bugdet if that is the case. Actually, we can afford more now but I'm a bit frugal and would rather put that extra money into savings rather than rent...seems like I may have to bite the bullet there though. How does the rest of my budget look?

Littlecakes -- when are you moving? We are very lucky in that we sold our home last year and paid all our debt off and had a bit left over for savings. Prior to that I would have had to deal with student loans and the like, ugh. I may put my budget up on the "money" board and see what I find out. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Best on your move!

Littlecakes -- when are you moving? We are very lucky in that we sold our home last year and paid all our debt off and had a bit left over for savings. Prior to that I would have had to deal with student loans and the like, ugh. I may put my budget up on the "money" board and see what I find out. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Best on your move!

We are moving on Jan 10th!

Another poster mentioned I should budget 100GBP a month for gas/electric, although maybe she/he meant for the winter months?

It can vary depending on where you live, which company you are with for the utilities, how much gas/electric you use etc. - this past year, my flatmates and I each contributed £100 per month towards bills... £300 in total. That £300 per month covered gas/electric, water, council tax, phone line, broadband and digital TV for our fairly large 3-bed flat with no double glazing.

We paid 1500gbp for a 2 bedroom, 10 minute walk from station (halfway between station and the Village), didn't include council tax, cable, gas/electric/water, phone. It was a nice apartment, but no garden of our own, and it was 1 bath, and small. And it was an average price. Most of my friends in Wimbledon paid around the same for the same size flat.

Aless -- Another poster mentioned I should budget 100GBP a month for gas/electric, although maybe she/he meant for the winter months? We're usually pretty good about trying to conserve, turning off lights, etc. I wasn't aware that council tax in Wandsworth would be that much cheaper and as you suggested, yes we could afford a higher rent bugdet if that is the case. Actually, we can afford more now but I'm a bit frugal and would rather put that extra money into savings rather than rent...seems like I may have to bite the bullet there though. How does the rest of my budget look?

Littlecakes -- when are you moving? We are very lucky in that we sold our home last year and paid all our debt off and had a bit left over for savings. Prior to that I would have had to deal with student loans and the like, ugh. I may put my budget up on the "money" board and see what I find out. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Best on your move!

Gas/electric is definitely cheaper in the summer than the winter. I think we pay about £80pm in a 3 bedroom semi detached with no double glazing. We pay by direct debit so EDF calculate a monthly fee which they adjust up or down every year depending on our usage. Doesn't hurt to budget more, though. If your gas heating packs up, you might have to resort to electric fan heaters which are a VERY expensive way to heat your house.