How much to allocate for rent on 32k per year?

Hi, we will be moving in February- to North England- Manchester or Leeds or possible the York area. We will be renting. How much would/ should we allocate for rent on a salary of 32k per year? (We may get 34k, or more but not sure) We are a family of 4- I am a SAHM. Our kids are 2 and 5. We could manage with a 2 BR for the time being... My question is, what should our limit be for monthly rent, to comfortably afford the other expenses in our life?

In addition, what other expenses do you pay? For example, how much are utilities on a 2 or 3 BR terraced home? What other expenses should I account for? (I already know about the TV license! )

Thanks

Penny

Hi,
This question is too vague - it really depends on how you as a family wish to live. Do you want to live in the cheapest area of all? maybe one in the middle of the range? or do you want a top range place? from that check the pricing and see if it fits with your income and how much you wish to spend for what you'd like in terms of other elements you wish to have in your lives.

Same with the costs - you need to research pricing for whichever type of property you end up with or have a shortlist for - there's no set amount you should be paying, as everyone/family is different.

As for utilities, I guess the ones we ALL have to pay are Council Tax and electricity and Water. Any others are dependant if your property has them ( Gas, Oil fired heating, Septic tanks etc) or if you want them i.e telephone, TV, internet service, mobile phone, satellite telly etc. I guess other elements that you 'need' are insurances.

theres lots of threads on this board as well as others to find out everything you ask in terms to research for your own circumstances.

Good luck!

Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

I just want to live in a clean, safe area. Not necessarily the cheapest. What I was wondering, was whether £600 per month is a reasonable amount for rent. This is how much I have budgeted for the rent. I was wondering if it would be do-able to pay £600 per month on 32k a year. Not really asking what that amount would get me, just wanted to know if we would have enough leftover for "life" after paying that amount. Maybe someone in northern England can answer this.

Maybe the question is, are we going to be skint living on 32k per year, if our rent is 600 per month.

Thanks

morning & welcome to UKY.  when i first moved here i tried to figure out the same thing.  something i really didn't anticipate was my salary vs. what i actually took home.  you can use this website:

http://www.listentotaxman.com/

now you won't know your tax code so i'm not 100% you how best to advise you to use this site.  as a very rough number £36,000 year will give you an annual take home of £26,000 or £2,100/month. 

Then you can use that final number to start your budget.  perhaps draw up a budget with gas, electric, food (you can go to Tescos.com and "do" a weekly shop to get a feel for what your weekly/monthly food bill will be), going out, entertainment, savings, etc.... that'll give you a better idea if your family can afford £600/month in rent.

Thanks, that helps!

I am in York and pay less than £400 a month for a 2-bedroom flat not far from the city centre.

But it is just my husband and myself.