
So before I review my monthly spending I thought that I would let you know my monthly budget. This reflects the changes that I have made since discovering FIRE e.g. cutting food costs, beauty treatment costs and increasing savings.
Household Bills

Firstly, about £1550.00 comes out of my account into our joint account. Currently I am paying the mortgage and most of the household bills and my partner is spending the equivalent on the renovation of the house. At present this money is split as follows:
Mortgage | £560.00 |
Mortgage overpayment | £550.00 |
Council Tax | £244.00 |
Water | £49.00 |
Gas and electricity | £96.00 |
TV licence | £13.00 |
Broadband and line rental | £26.50 |
Charity donation | £6.00 |
Budgeting for annual expenses

I then have a personal account into which I transfer £300.00 at the beginning of each month in order to save towards annual car expenses and other regular payments. The money in that account is split as follows:
Car service | £20.00 |
Car tax | £2.50 |
MOT | £3.50 |
Car breakdown | £5.10 |
Car insurance | £16.00 |
House insurance | £12.00 (this is towards half of this) |
Travel insurance | £7.20 |
Hair cuts | £10.00 |
Eyebrow waxing | £6.00 |
Dental check-up | £1.20 |
Opticians check-up/new glasses | £13.50 |
Physiotherapy appointments | £96.00 |
Holiday fund | £100.00 |
Saving and living

That leaves about £815.00. I have direct debits into two savings accounts totalling £435.00, so I am down to £380 to live on for the month. This is divided as follows:
Food | £140.00 (this is for my half) |
Petrol | £120.00 |
Toiletries | £7.50 |
Professional membership | £24.00 |
Mobile phone | £10.00 |
Pilates classes | £40.00 |
Miscellaneous | £40.00 |
Now, I have some added income every month as I get paid mileage from my company for travelling. It varies from month to month, but can be from £100 to £250. This allows for some extras in this tight budget or adds to my savings at the end of the month.
I will let you know how January has gone in a couple of weeks!