I was talking about this with my business partner yesterday. We both earn much less than £35k, mainly due to being self employed, and things can be a struggle sometimes but we manage. We don't need a car, seldom eat out, are careful about wasting electricity and gas so have low utilities bills, we shop frugally and do lots of cooking from scratch, we bring lunch in with us to work, and neither of us spend a huge amount on clothes. I am not sure how I would be able to spend £35k per year now, as I've got so used to living carefully.
I've gone back to living in the manner I did when I was a kid, when my parents had to support themselves, me, my brother and my mum's parents on just my dad's salary. Eating out and getting a take away has become a treat instead of the regular occurance it used to be when I was earning a lot, the dryer is NEVER used, and we manage.
Vicky
