Typical expenses when you get your own place

The exact type and cost of household bills you have to pay depend on your type of accommodation, lifestyle and how careful you are with your money. We've listed here some of the bills that most people pay ...

• Rent
• Council Tax
• Gas and/or electricity bills
• Water rates
• Phone bill - landline or mobile
• TV licence
• Food
• Toiletries
• Cleaning/household goods
• Travel costs
• Clothing

These are the basics. You might also pay for:

• internet connection
• emergency repairs
• socialising
• car: fuel, road tax, insurance
• home insurance
• repayments on existing loans
• gym membership
• hobbies
• special occasions - birthdays, Christmas etc.

So, living by yourself can be pretty expensive! If you are thinking of leaving, work out if you can afford it first. Find out the costs of all these things locally and use the budget planner to decide if you can afford it.

Staying at home isn't always free either! Most parents will ask their children to contribute to the household income once they are earning money - click here to find out more about paying 'board' to stay at home.

If you are already living by yourself and are struggling to make ends meet, use our budget planner to think about where you could save money. You might also be eligible for a crisis loan or other loan/grant.

Back to Money Matters