Yes but when you come home from work on the first day after renting you'll come home toa pile of burnt timbers, although if you're Canadian you might just get away with it. Certainly not if you speak with an English accent.
You can live in a small village in Wales, but if you try to leave, one of those big white bouncing balls will capture you and take you back, and you'll never find out who Number 1 really is!
That moment when you look at the rental prices in an estate agents in London and think 'that's not too bad', then notice it is per week, not per calendar month 😱
We’re quite friendly up north you know, you might like us if you tried. Also if you want to budget £250 for food then it’s your money and you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Hope you and your family are staying well, thank you for the video
Not round some areas of Peterlee they are not. I have nearly had my teeth kicked in several times in Easington till they find out my family was a mining family from there.
@@gordonlawrence1448 I spent the first twelve years of my life growing up in Murton and my Dad’s family’s from Shotton and you have a valid point, choosing the right location is very important
Pub.. "Where are the toilets please? Just there Sir" Wetherspoons.."Where's the bog? Half a mile down there, take a left, up 3 flights of stairs, past the lion cage, down the spiral staircase, double back on yourself, go right, bounce across the trampolines and click your heels 3 times"
@Liam Ward We used to have one in the city where I live that was a converted ex-bank and it had loads of character: lots of little wood panelled semi-private rooms that had originally been the offices, and you passed the enormous metal vault door on the way to the gents. Though it had originally been a Midland Bank, Wetherspoons ran the place as one of their Lloyds Bars, (confusing, I know, but they did that with many of their smaller premises.) Since then it has been sold off and has opened as a Yates' Wine Lodge.
My rent is £348.00 per month for a large 1 bedroom flat in a converted pottery factory, canal side and 5 minutes walk into the city centre. This is in the Midlands.
It doesn't necessarily follow that the further north you go, the cheaper it gets. I'm originally from York My monthly rent would probably get me a room in a shared house there.
I love your videos because they are so unprofessional. I know that sounds like a diss but bare with me. All the other comparison videos I watch are so polished and well presented with good production values and, well, fake. Yours are lovely and genuine.
Alanna seems to have this strange impression of the North of England, that it's akin to spending your summer in the Arctic Circle, when effectively, the average temperature in Kent isn't very different to that in Northumbria! Also, the difference in rainfall: There is a difference in average rainfall figures in different areas of England, but this seems more to be that it differs between the Western side of England and the Eastern side, more than between North and South, and that's even when you take into account that Norfolk (the driest place in England,) lowers the average for the East, and parts of Cumbria (the wettest place in England,) raises the average for the West; so rainfall in Kent is probably on a par with just about any other area in the East of England (excluding Norfolk of course,) EVEN the North East!
@@DaveBartlett Very true. I also think it's tied in with her Morrisonsaphobia... she thinks every shop up here's a Morrisons. In fact I think her phobia's so bad she on meds for it, and it's in her prescriptions allowance calculations. PS Morrisons are great. And no, this reply is not sponsored :)
Love your ethos of avoiding big chains (Costa, Wetherspoons); I do so myself as much as I can to help the small independants and keep the high street going.
Alanna's personality really makes her stand out from other RUclipsr covering similar topics. Also, it is the main reason I subscribed and support her channel.
Thanks for making this video as it does help people who are considering going to work in UK. I've been away from UK for about 10 years and it is scary how much things have gone up in that time.
I know what you are saying about Wetherspoons, but I live in Maldon in Essex, and before Wetherspoons came here, all the pubs were expensive and dirty. When Wetherspoons took over an existing pub the poured over a million pound into extending and improving it into a really nice pub. Then all the other pubs suddenly upped their game. Now all the pubs in Maldon are quite nice and we’ve got Wetherspoons to thank for that.
Alanna, Good video. Interesting how much you pay/month and the differences in communications costs (internet and cell phone)! You didn't really elaborate on the Council Tax, is this some sort of city property tax? I can't explain why I enjoy watching you chat about stuff, but I do. Must be the beautiful smile and lovely manner you have. Thanks for sharing.
with prescriptions if you have more than one medication per month its cheaper to get pre pay certificate which is about £110 a year and really worth it. Also Orcado its really overpriced, but if you like it . they do sell some really nice food including Marks and Spencers so i see the attraction
An excellent explanation. Excluding alchohol I spend about £200 a month on my supermarket shop. If your £250 per month includes alcohol then it is not so bad.
@@gerrymccartney3561 He Philip is talking crap , nothing like that at all , a lot less than that if one is sensible about $85.00 per week for my Wife and i .here in Queensland
@@AdventuresAndNaps Very useful to know I am tempted to get one now for when cinemas re-open. I get free tickets with Vitality but my nearest cinema that I can use with that is over 40 miles away.
I am British but living in Saudi Arabia for the past 23 years and these prices are eye watering and heart breaking... Looks like I'll never move back..
Exactly what I was thinking. I left England 31 years ago for Sydney. I now live in Kazakhstan and I live as well as this young lady for just US$800 a month (and I don't have anyone to share the costs with).
That was a fun one. Took me back to when I moved to New York because a lot of the questions were the same. The solutions are different but it’s the mindset that is the same.
Wow - some big costs there Alanna! I rent a similar-looking two bed flat up in Lancashire for £600 a month, so around half what yours costs. My monthly grocery shop is a measly £100 a month too - I'm an Aldi regular!
I moaned when the price went over £1 and before that over 10 shillings (50p). at least one can still get a 500ml can for £1.50 in a supermarket if one likes the cheap stuff.
I went to a pub in Sussex the other day now they are open, they were doing drinks on tab and I didn't think to ask about prices, at the end of the night went to pay up, the pints were 5 fucking 60.
@@goggler2 No pound a pint nights then that was the normal price, my first ever non legal pint (at15) was 2s. 10p in todays currency and in the saloon bar. 1/9d in the public bar. A neighbour was playing darts in there so was hiding from him. A posh pub as well, Free House.
Hi Alanna, have you managed to get to a pub garden since they reopened? Your efforts to keep British cider orchards thriving is much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
I am from London originally, with family in Kent,but now live in Edinburgh. We live in a family size 2 bed flat 10 mins walk from the centre with views of the castle from the living room. We also have a back garden (shared). We pay £840 pm rent. Also in Scotland Council Juice (water) is included in your coucil tax (no water meter). We spend about £250 a month on food. I used to spend way more at the local Waitroses and Sainsbury's but since realising the quality of most things at LIDL was higher than those shops it's dropped to next to nothing.
As a 25 year old man who lived with his parents up until 6 months ago when i bought a flat in the south east of England his topic is of great interest to me. The rental prices around here start at £550 a month (my mortgage is £390 a month) i have set my finances up as an account that pays bills (all monthly direct debits) which is the account i get paid into. Then i put £500 a month into a spending account. And then i put anything over the amount i need for bills into a savings account (i work shifts so my income can go up quite a lot some months). Your budgeting system is very precise and kind of intimidating to a mere beginner like myself.
Interesting. I've lived in the US most of my life, but I have UK as well as US citizenship and am thinking of retiring to the UK. Good to have even a vague idea of the cost of living in one region of the UK.
Strange how I nodded off early afternoon on my day off, only to wake up thinking of cheese, pickles and crusty bread. (maybe cider too. Ahem!) Must be a Tuesday! Nice video Alanna, with some eye opening prices for some. But try living around Oxfordshire!
It was actually really interesting to hear your breakdown as I live in Kent too. I pay £550 for a one bed flat, tax is cheaper as I am a single person residence. I pay £20 a month for internet, about £40 a month electricity, i have gas too. I used to have a car but then disability got in the way so I have to use public transport but I do get a free bus pass so, silver linings! I must admit I spend probably half what you do on food but then I smoke so I spend money on that. I don't drink though, or go to the cinema and I rarely get take out but coffee is my downfall! So we have similar outgoings. People do say to go up north but I love Kent and was born and raised here and will never leave.
Hmmm, car vs bus. The car gives you the freedom to go when and where you want to go, and maybe more expensive, but very handy in winter time, so you leave from home in the dry and warmth, and not have to walk to the bus stop, hang about there in the wind and rain until your bus arrives, and then the walk from the bus stop to you place of work. In a car, you travel just about from door to door without getting web and miserable....:) I would choose a car over a bus any time, even if it does prove to be more expensive, but much more convenient....
We are lovely, here in the North, you know, Alanna. Yes, you're living on the edge of a post-industrial town often, but within 20 mins you're in the countryside and taking in all that fresh air. The transport isn't wonderful, but not horrible either. We're not Mordor, or the Morlocks!
Blimey 100k closing in. Digging the matching Green theme going on. Mad how much it all adds up to each month and quite scary, but hey we only here once might as well fill up that trolley with nom noms and enjoy :) Have a cool week Alanna.
Food is really expensive and just climbs in price as time goes on. £250 per month isn't too bad for using a non budget supermarket. I usually go to Lidl and really notice a big difference in price going to the big four supermarkets that is much more costly.
I honestly dont understand this sentiment I keep seeing about "food being really cheap in the UK". Like...it isnt? Lol. Especially if you want quality ingredients. I mean, yeah, you *can* get a food shop of Tesco basic items for dirt cheap but you get what you pay for, and you fill your body with rubbish. Whereas when I lived in both France and Spain for a bit, you can get wonderful fresh fruit veg meat, cheese etc for half the price as in the UK. IMO, snacks and processed food is cheaper in the UK, but proper whole foods are more expensive, because most of it is imported. And let's not even compare food prices to USA lol. It's crazy good value over there.
Most TV is funded by adverts, historically the BBC has no adverts and instead you pay annually as noted. You should get a SIM-only contract for your mobile with a standing-order to your bank or credit card. These start at £5/month or less depending on how much data.
One of the best places where money goes further is Liverpool. The cost of living is really affordordable here. I know I'll get a few jokes but it's not bad at all up North.
You could literally buy a house for what you're spending , in North Wales , You would feel at home in North Wales , Geology is similar to Canada , the people are super friendly , the cost of living is half the price of Kent , the scenery is amazing . wonderful coastline . or consider Cornwall , Devon
Omg go to aldi!!! U can get curry powder and spices as well as peppers and onions and garlic. Perfectly easy curry. As well as more exotic seasonal foods like pac choi (idk how to spell) and chillies. YOU CAN COOK SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE MONEY IF YOU BUDGET PROPERLY!!! (Seriously tho, aldi's costs pennies for good food)
USA here. Agree go to Aldi/Lidl. Get the basics. Here they are one of the cheapest by price but still have good quality. At least here Aldi has both our great Wisconsin cheese but lots of EU imported cheese. And it's cheaper than at the main grocery marts. I live in Wisconsin which is probably the cheapest food market in the USA for Americans. Try the cheap outlets-- it frees up more money for trips and booze!!!
Another great video . You do a fantastic job of explaining the nightmare of council tax and our lovely TV licence or TV tax and you were truthful on costs of food it is always more than you think . Please can you mention petrol and diesel prices next time plus MOT testing costs . Please keep the videos coming best wishes .
I'm sure you already know, council tax is for all the services, waste collection, fire brigade, sewage, police, street lights, parks, libraries,etc and is paid by the property size not by how many live there and the TV license goes to the BBC to cover all it's costs, so you get ad free TV and Radio...100k getting closer!
Except the PCBBC is getting rather unwatchable these days with all the rubbish programmes they put out, so I rarely watch it, even though I get charged a monthly fee to watch it and all the other channels, who make their money by adverts (which I hate), so I think the PCBBC should also run adverts to pay for its own output, and stand on their 'own two feet' by a subscription service.....:)
Thank you so much for making this video! Im hoping to try move to Canada next year (even tho this is for England it was still very helpful!) ive been researching a lot, but because im young i dont know much about how much things cost, so this is really useful! This video was great, thank you so much for making it, it's genuinely really helpful!
We used to have TV licences here in Australia covering our ABC, but the licences were discontinued several years ago. When we did have the licences, they only covered one purchased TV per household. Extra TV's or rented TV's were completely exempt.
@@Trillock-hy1cf The radio licence was always in with the TV licence, since 1945, one only paid it as a separate licence if one did not have a TV. It was abolished as a separate licence as it cost more to collect and issue than the licence cost as so few separate ones issued by the 70's.
It’s day time, it looks like the weather is decent there judging by the light in the living room, why aren’t you drinking a cider?? That’s borderline criminal. 🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦
Prescriptions: If you have a chronic condition that requires regular meds you can buy a prepayment certificate that covers you for an unlimited number of prescriptions. £108.10 for a year. That 10p makes all the difference to the public finances.
Additionally, if you have an ongoing, rest of your life condition like diabetes, you can also get an exemption card that means you don't pay for your prescription.
@@DaveBartlett Yes, I'm now 61 and only just found that out but the last time I got a prescription it must have been something like 25 years ago so I'm thinking of doing some minor damage to myself so I can benefit.
Rents are much cheaper in the North, anything from half Alanas £1150, Ilkley and Wetherby in WestYorkshire are nice places and the people are friendlier, cheapest pints up here too. Mobile contacts are dirt cheap, £20 for 100g. Ocado is great but expensive, pretty much the most along with Waitrose.
Just for a rental comparison - I'm in the North-East of England, am a cheapskate, living in a "really bad" area, and pay £350PCM for a 3 Bed Mid Terrace.
@@jrd33 To be fair, about 50% of the houses around me are currently empty/boarded up, and nobody local will touch them. Even buying a house around here starts at £15K - no heating or plumbing (stolen), no windows or doors (other than steel sheets) things are getting better, but very slowly, and prices are on the rise
I thought £250 a month was a lot, until I started thinking about what I spend, and how all those little treats like duck breasts, lamb, fresh shellfish etc , add up, and yeah, we all love our food 🥘
Just to put this in perspective you can get a two bedroom place to rent in Peterlee for less than £300 a month. That alone is a saving of a bout £200 per week. Also my bills (all of them) come to a total of £60 per month. £24 gas and electricity combined, £19 unlimited internet, £6 5000 minutes 5000 texts and 3 gig data, water rates and council tax (I get the disability discount as I cannot work).
Re: TV Licence. You don't have to pay for the TV Licence if you don't watch live TV/BBC iPlayer. We cancelled our TV Licence a few years ago and put that money towards Netflix and the occasional month of Amazon Prime. The TV Licence people send you harassment letters every once in a while but they've got no power to do anything.
@@nicksimmons7234 They are one tv company that do not have adverts to raise funds for the programs but force the public to pay whether or not they actually watch any of their programs. The law is "if you watch or record live tv" you have to pay the BBC. Also to rub salt into the wounds they have recently made pensioners pay for a licence when this was previously free.
5:12 What goes into the tank determines how well the engine runs, and the better stuff tends to cost more, so don't be ashamed of having a relatively high food bill. That being said, there are ways to get more bang for your buck (or, if you forgive the British slang, "nosh for your dosh") without resorting to eating junk. Vegetable co-ops are well worth signing onto, and can be found in most parts of the UK nowadays. We pay about £60 per month for a weekly bag of organic vegetables, and they taste even better than supermarket organic brands. Also, knowing how to portion and stretch things - especially meat (any vegetarian and vegans are already onto a winner, financially) can help to save money. I should also say that for the last month, I haven't bought any eggs, owing to having bought chickens. It's a massive commitment, needing lots of preparation, so only do it if you have the means and wherewithal, and are prepared to research keeping fowl beforehand. Ironically, getting take-aways or eating out can cause your food bill to skyrocket. (I realise you have budgeted for such things separately, but it's perhaps too easy to fall into the trap of spending more than you need for food if you eat out or get takeaways/deliveries.) 8:15 Council tax can be a political thing, so if you feel yours is too high, consider whether the parties you vote for in local elections will cost more or less if they win majority control of your council... 13:16 and 14:25 Alanna, I have come to regard you very highly, but for saying these things, you have just jumped about 800% higher in my admiration! I too love the independents. I too detest Wetherspoons and all they stand for. I shouldn't get political, but since their boss backed Brexit, and in light of his treatment of staff when the first lockdown began, I have vowed never to set foot in one again. No disrespect to any that drink there and like them, but I wouldn't even do it if you paid me. Having mentioned Brexit and lockdowns, I suppose I cannot resist saying that I wonder what figures you would come up with if you remake this video a year or five years from now. Even if the Brexit doubters are proved wrong, and the value of the pound hasn't been permanently tanked by pulling out of the EU, the Covid debt could be upon us for decades, and that could mean higher taxes, rampant inflation.... Norway, Switzerland and Iceland are already high tax, expensive countries, though their people seem happy enough with their lot that they endure such high cost of living. I can only hope that we may learn to do the same if we end up in their financial bracket. To end on a more positive note: 6:45 I already am subscribed, so I hope you won't take it personally - even if you do....
Tips to reduce your costs: 1) Food. I spend less than half what you do and eat really well. Buy Super Market Own instead of brands. You'll halve your costs. Many own brands are actually made in the same factory as the well known brands and are identical except for the packaging and price. Others ARE different but not necessarily worse, in fact sometimes I think they're nicer. At least give them a try. What have you got to lose? Cook from fresh. Don't use ready meals. Don't buy takeaways or eat out (except as a treat). Cooking isn't that hard (these days there are loads of online recipes and how to videos) and like everything the more you practise the better and quicker you get. You can also make your meals to your own taste and it's much healthier as it won't contain all the extra, fat, sugar, salt, preservatives and other nasties you get with processed food. Some people say cooking takes too long, but I can knock up something really tasty in 20-30 mins. Also cook enough for several meals in one batch, freeze what you don't use and reheat it later. A quick ping in the microwave and you're ready to go. 2) TV. Use Freeview and the free players like iPlayer, ITV hub, 4play, UKTV play, etc. Do you really need Sky, Netflix or Amazon TV when there are loads of free channels? (And do you really want to give your cash to the tax dodging bastards who own them?) Plus if you're patient most things come to freeview/youtube, etc eventually. 3) Before buying anything do your research and shop around. Too many people can't be bothered and waste loads of money. Before buying anything I use the rule of three (no not the one from American pie!). Basically I divide things into three categories: i) Essentials. Stuff you can't do without. ii) Things that are useful, but you could manage without it if money is tight. iii) Luxuries/indulgences. Everyone likes a treat from time-to-time but be honest with yourself that that's what it is. e.g. Food staples like rice, pasta, fruit, veg, milk and tea are essentials. Chocolate is an indulgence. So is a takeaway. Have them as an occasional treat, but not everyday. Everything in moderation is a good policy. A good technique is to limit indulgences by only allowing them as a reward. e.g. After finishing a project or completing that job you've been putting off, etc. Once I've decided whether the item is essential, etc, I ask myself whether I need: i) Top quality. ii) Mid range. ii) Or can get away with cheap and cheerful. If your going to use something a lot it's often better value to pay a bit more to get something that will last, but if not consider something more basic. 4) Share costs with friends. Buy second hand. Check out the charity shops, freebay, gumtree, etc before buying new. I've picked up top of the range stuff that's in mint condition for next to nothing doing this. 5) For Utilities, broadband, etc stick a reminder in your phone for when the contract ends and then hunt around for the best deals each year. Don't bother with price comparison sites as many companies don't sign up to them, just do an internet search and check Money saving expert for the latest deals. Also try haggling with your current provider. They may give you a better deal to keep you. 6) Do you have to drive everywhere? Could you walk, cycle, use public transport or car share instead? 7) I live in a two bed terrace and spend about £60/month on gas, electric and water. Shop around. Put in decent insulation and layer up in winter. Buy thermals, a fleece undersuit or even a sleeping bag suit instead of whacking the heating up. 8) NEVER listen to ads. Think of all sales/marketing people as legalised conmen trying to get your money by selling you crap you don't need or want. Only a gullible idiot would fall for that and you're not one of those. Are you?
@Nicky L Sorry if it comes across that way but it's written as someone who's been through times when money was extremely tight e.g. after being laid off, and also seeing a number of people get into a real mess through being clueless with money. Working to a tight budget doesn't have to be joyless, there are plenty of things you can do for free and in fact sharing costs with friends, exchanging favours, etc helps your social life and skills. The fact is lots of people waste money or get sucked into a materialistic mindset and keeping up with the Jones, or indulge in retail therapy when depressed and get into a mess that way. Thinking before you spend gives you more spare cash to enjoy life, which was the point of my post.
We were surprised the first time we went to London with how cheap the mobile plans were. We paid about £20 for a pay as you go and got I believe 10 GB. It was great for the week we were there. No worry about wifi. In Canada that would be like $60-70 CDN.
Went to Tesco yesterday and spent £42.50 for a weeks shopping including 3 bottles of wine..... Merlot £3.99 per bottle.... But drank 2 bottles last night!!!! so might have to buy some more!!!!! Awesome as ever Alanna.... :-)))) xx
On prescriptions its worth bearing in mind that if there's a particular point of the evening where you rattle when you jump up and down, you can get a pre-payment certificate. That costs a little over £10 a month and allows you to get as many items as you need to on prescription. Very useful if you have a number of ongoing or chronic health complaints. And GP visits are free, as is emergency care. As a non-citizen there is a cost associated with some healthcare andf hospital treatment, BUT the rates are extremely reasonable when compared to countries like the US.
Thank you for another great vlog; it really does add up and you haven't even touched on clothes or eating out (not that we have been able to do that in recent memory!). And then there are sneaky Amazon purchases.... Thank you again 👍
Usually quite eye opening when you break it all down like that and work it out. Just as well cheese is so cheap over here? . Getting closer to the 100k subs ... been here since the 20k days, vids as good as always, highlight of my week.
Great video. I've never really done this comparison. Amazing how it all adds up. You didn't include new game costs or things like Steam subscriptions? Guessing 'Spoons won't be sponsoring a video anytime soon :)
She,s a spendthrift! Try the discount companies..i.e. Aldi and Lidl, also Asda do a cheaper line called smart price! I can live on £70.00 per week including rent ,gas and electricity, my broadband @ £23.00 per month , telly license £15.90 per month, my food bill is approx £ 80.00 per month , Council tax £39.00 per month.... You live extravagant!
@@MoviesNGames007uk I,m a senior citizen,so must economise, you should shop around, maybe try open air markets, don't be ripped off ! You might even save a few ££££...
When I was in Canada, was shocked at price of internet/cable, but then again Canada is MASSIVE and they isn't much competition, which is why the price is so high.
It’s nice to see you support small business, very important if we are to avoid the big faceless corporations taking control of every aspect of our lives.
Thanks for another interesting video Alanna. I can relate to the food costs and there's absolutely no need to be embarrassed about it - I like my food and tend to buy more premium brands (so call me a food snob!) but if that's what I like and I economise elsewhere so who cares!! God I miss my Odeon cinema pass too, although they really are great value if you're a regular - seems like I'm in a cultural chasm since covid, especially as I don't have Netflix either😁
enjoyed this, can't believe 250 a month lol.. in the Midlands a 2 bed house in posh area was 500 a month. I live on an island down south and only 675, 2 bed flat lol...
Our local has quite small screens ( 2 smallish, one bigger) but is £3 during the week or £4 at weekends. But it is run by lovely people, and basically everybody goes there rather than to our local Odeon... For once, it is the big chains that are being priced out of the market. I think that is awesome.
you can get a sim only deal on your mobile that's about £10 a month with most providers. deals like that you can cancel at any time. would save you a lot of hassle
Those rent prices seem unreal as someone from Oldham (north Manchester). Rent prices are rising still even here, but 1100/mo is unimaginable to me on what I earn for a full time job. Like you said though, it's split between two people so that's 550/mo /person, but honest to god that's what I pay for my own flat just for me not split with anyone else. That's in a flat in north Wales by the way. Mind-blowing how much prices go up further south 😲
Hello Fellow Unlimited Cineworld card holder!!! I once bought 2 pints of beer in London, handed over £10 and foolishly waited for change when in reality the barman was waiting for more money 🤦♂️
Amazing how I’ve lived in Britain my whole life but Alana has the rare skill of making things we already know still very interesting!
Thank you so much!
same here
I could listen to that voice all day
@@stezo2k I have listened to that voice all day 😂
If you don't mind living in Wales, you can rent a small village for £1100 a month.
Yes but when you come home from work on the first day after renting you'll come home toa pile of burnt timbers, although if you're Canadian you might just get away with it. Certainly not if you speak with an English accent.
@@rayjennings3637 "Come home to a real fire - buy a cottage in Wales!" was a popular joke for a while.
You can live in a small village in Wales, but if you try to leave, one of those big white bouncing balls will capture you and take you back, and you'll never find out who Number 1 really is!
@@DaveBartlett Lost on so many people watching this right now....
You’ve obviously never been to Cardiff
Alanna's "real" monthly cost of living in England:
75% for cheese and cider
25% for everything else
😂
Cheese might be cheap in the UK, but birth control is free! We have our priorities in reverse - It should be cheese that's free - Sex is so overrated!
So often cider makes the difference between needing cheese or birth control.
I would say more like 85% Cheese + 10% Pub ... what are we trying to say about our beloved Hostess.
@@charlestaylor9424 Good quote!
I'm retired.
Mortgage/rent - £0
Holidays - £8000
Pubs - £8000
Well.......I've got to have a hobby. 🤣
And, good on ya!
That moment when you look at the rental prices in an estate agents in London and think 'that's not too bad', then notice it is per week, not per calendar month 😱
😩
I used to work in Kensington.... It was crazy
We’re quite friendly up north you know, you might like us if you tried. Also if you want to budget £250 for food then it’s your money and you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Hope you and your family are staying well, thank you for the video
Thank you so much!!
Not round some areas of Peterlee they are not. I have nearly had my teeth kicked in several times in Easington till they find out my family was a mining family from there.
@@gordonlawrence1448 I spent the first twelve years of my life growing up in Murton and my Dad’s family’s from Shotton and you have a valid point, choosing the right location is very important
Pub.. "Where are the toilets please? Just there Sir"
Wetherspoons.."Where's the bog? Half a mile down there, take a left, up 3 flights of stairs, past the lion cage, down the spiral staircase, double back on yourself, go right, bounce across the trampolines and click your heels 3 times"
Yeah, so true
😂
@Liam Ward We used to have one in the city where I live that was a converted ex-bank and it had loads of character: lots of little wood panelled semi-private rooms that had originally been the offices, and you passed the enormous metal vault door on the way to the gents. Though it had originally been a Midland Bank, Wetherspoons ran the place as one of their Lloyds Bars, (confusing, I know, but they did that with many of their smaller premises.) Since then it has been sold off and has opened as a Yates' Wine Lodge.
@@DaveBartlett Yeah, lots of lovely rooms in nice buildings... put the toilets closer and a sofa in the furthest room away?
@Liam Ward Didn't you notice the similarity between their menus?
My rent is £348.00 per month for a large 1 bedroom flat in a converted pottery factory, canal side and 5 minutes walk into the city centre. This is in the Midlands.
So basically what ur saying is... it don't exist 😂😂😂
Mine is £400 for a 3 bedroom semi detached house, front and back garden, private driveway in Durham
@@crystalkirlia4553?
It doesn't necessarily follow that the further north you go, the cheaper it gets.
I'm originally from York
My monthly rent would probably get me a room in a shared house there.
@@jaw2112. Not originally, but I've been here for a loooong time 😊.
I love your videos because they are so unprofessional.
I know that sounds like a diss but bare with me.
All the other comparison videos I watch are so polished and well presented with good production values and, well, fake.
Yours are lovely and genuine.
I'll take it as a compliment!
Wow, you didn't have to be so emphatic about not moving North, not ever, NEVER EVER! You could give us a complex :)
😂
I know right! What the heck is wrong with the North?! How very dare you 😂
I was born in the north but my life started in the south.
Alanna seems to have this strange impression of the North of England, that it's akin to spending your summer in the Arctic Circle, when effectively, the average temperature in Kent isn't very different to that in Northumbria!
Also, the difference in rainfall: There is a difference in average rainfall figures in different areas of England, but this seems more to be that it differs between the Western side of England and the Eastern side, more than between North and South, and that's even when you take into account that Norfolk (the driest place in England,) lowers the average for the East, and parts of Cumbria (the wettest place in England,) raises the average for the West; so rainfall in Kent is probably on a par with just about any other area in the East of England (excluding Norfolk of course,) EVEN the North East!
@@DaveBartlett Very true. I also think it's tied in with her Morrisonsaphobia... she thinks every shop up here's a Morrisons. In fact I think her phobia's so bad she on meds for it, and it's in her prescriptions allowance calculations.
PS Morrisons are great. And no, this reply is not sponsored :)
Love your ethos of avoiding big chains (Costa, Wetherspoons); I do so myself as much as I can to help the small independants and keep the high street going.
Every Tuesday, when I hear the "Hi everyone! It's me" intro, it makes me happy - I love these videos and look forward to them 😊
Very much enjoying the dry, self-deprecating, dare I say “very British” humour in these videos.
Alanna's personality really makes her stand out from other RUclipsr covering similar topics. Also, it is the main reason I subscribed and support her channel.
Thanks for making this video as it does help people who are considering going to work in UK. I've been away from UK for about 10 years and it is scary how much things have gone up in that time.
I know what you are saying about Wetherspoons, but I live in Maldon in Essex, and before Wetherspoons came here, all the pubs were expensive and dirty. When Wetherspoons took over an existing pub the poured over a million pound into extending and improving it into a really nice pub. Then all the other pubs suddenly upped their game. Now all the pubs in Maldon are quite nice and we’ve got Wetherspoons to thank for that.
Yeah, but the owner is a w⚓.
@@janetgraham-russell4476 😂🤣! That might be true, but I don’t care when it’s good value!
@@janetgraham-russell4476 he hates the remainer filth
I don’t go there because of the owner. Useful if caught short without a public toilet though . Neverspoons app can suggest independent alternatives.
@@nickclarkuk fair dos, but I will say, I have never had a bad pint in a Wetherspoons and I’ve sent back plenty in independent pubs!
Alanna, Good video. Interesting how much you pay/month and the differences in communications costs (internet and cell phone)! You didn't really elaborate on the Council Tax, is this some sort of city property tax? I can't explain why I enjoy watching you chat about stuff, but I do. Must be the beautiful smile and lovely manner you have. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much!
@@dank9561 Thanks for clarifying.
with prescriptions if you have more than one medication per month its cheaper to get pre pay certificate which is about £110 a year and really worth it. Also Orcado its really overpriced, but if you like it . they do sell some really nice food including Marks and Spencers so i see the attraction
An excellent explanation. Excluding alchohol I spend about £200 a month on my supermarket shop. If your £250 per month includes alcohol then it is not so bad.
Food here in Australia for 2 persons is about 200 quid a week!
@@philipdevenish9416 Gulp!
@@gerrymccartney3561 He Philip is talking crap , nothing like that at all , a lot less than that if one is sensible about $85.00 per week for my Wife and i .here in Queensland
Lol 50£ on alcohol per month, what a sad life...
Don't forget that the unlimited card gets you discount on snacks too, definitely one of the best things I pay for each year!
So true! I totally forgot, it's been so long 😩😂
@@AdventuresAndNaps Very useful to know I am tempted to get one now for when cinemas re-open. I get free tickets with Vitality but my nearest cinema that I can use with that is over 40 miles away.
...and the 'discount on snacks' makes them still what percentage above normal shop prices?
I am British but living in Saudi Arabia for the past 23 years and these prices are eye watering and heart breaking... Looks like I'll never move back..
Its still reasonable in Durham
@@ronrichardson3103 worth a try
Exactly what I was thinking. I left England 31 years ago for Sydney. I now live in Kazakhstan and I live as well as this young lady for just US$800 a month (and I don't have anyone to share the costs with).
how’s the cost of living in SA?
Wait, what? That's very cheap... Especially compared to london. Most people on an average salary can very comfortably afford 1100 a month all in...
I do all my food shopping online, then I go up the ‘big Tesco’s’ for a ‘weekly big shop’ ...we’ve all done it 😂
That was a fun one. Took me back to when I moved to New York because a lot of the questions were the same. The solutions are different but it’s the mindset that is the same.
Wow - some big costs there Alanna! I rent a similar-looking two bed flat up in Lancashire for £600 a month, so around half what yours costs. My monthly grocery shop is a measly £100 a month too - I'm an Aldi regular!
When you spoke about your "pub" budjet I was thinking back at your beer drinking episode and how you nearly lost you cookies.
😂
Omg Alanna, that must be Ocardo prices?? My tesco weekly shop including beer is £35-£45 for me. So around £150 a month. Eeek 😏💷
You seem so happy there. Your warm smile makes my day.
Don't pay the TV licence. I lived in the UK for 7 years and never paid it 🤣
You are now on the radar Al haha
Nice try MI6
@@User37717 I live in Australia
People are moving to different countries all the time so I think this upload offers a broad financial understanding of outgoings for England. Liked.
UP NEXT on Adventures and Naps: 100k subscribers! :)
RUclips Silver "Play" button soon on it's way to you - well done Alanna!
Good for you for sticking up for the little guy,may you continue your life in England happy and engrossing
I'm in Cornwall and am 33, I remember when pints were £1 something in local pubs, the prices are ridiculous now!
I moaned when the price went over £1 and before that over 10 shillings (50p). at least one can still get a 500ml can for £1.50 in a supermarket if one likes the cheap stuff.
I went to a pub in Sussex the other day now they are open, they were doing drinks on tab and I didn't think to ask about prices, at the end of the night went to pay up, the pints were 5 fucking 60.
Inflation
Cant imagion Pubs dong Pound a Pint nights anymore.
Anyplace under £4 is pretty rare and cheap these days.
@@goggler2 No pound a pint nights then that was the normal price, my first ever non legal pint (at15) was 2s. 10p in todays currency and in the saloon bar. 1/9d in the public bar. A neighbour was playing darts in there so was hiding from him. A posh pub as well, Free House.
Hi Alanna, have you managed to get to a pub garden since they reopened? Your efforts to keep British cider orchards thriving is much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! Haven't been to the pub yet.
You have to be very organized and disciplined to map out a monthly budget and stick to it. Alanna is an excellent accountant...💰
I love my budget! Could be a video on its own!
You just did a video on your budget. And thank you for that. I enjoyed it.
I am from London originally, with family in Kent,but now live in Edinburgh. We live in a family size 2 bed flat 10 mins walk from the centre with views of the castle from the living room. We also have a back garden (shared). We pay £840 pm rent. Also in Scotland Council Juice (water) is included in your coucil tax (no water meter). We spend about £250 a month on food. I used to spend way more at the local Waitroses and Sainsbury's but since realising the quality of most things at LIDL was higher than those shops it's dropped to next to nothing.
I'm from Japan.England is very culture and live have enjoy.
As a 25 year old man who lived with his parents up until 6 months ago when i bought a flat in the south east of England his topic is of great interest to me. The rental prices around here start at £550 a month (my mortgage is £390 a month) i have set my finances up as an account that pays bills (all monthly direct debits) which is the account i get paid into. Then i put £500 a month into a spending account. And then i put anything over the amount i need for bills into a savings account (i work shifts so my income can go up quite a lot some months). Your budgeting system is very precise and kind of intimidating to a mere beginner like myself.
It's expensive, especially here in Kent!
Moved from Essex to Shropshire, my rent stayed the same, but the property was twice the size :)
Interesting. I've lived in the US most of my life, but I have UK as well as US citizenship and am thinking of retiring to the UK. Good to have even a vague idea of the cost of living in one region of the UK.
Love your videos. So true! Me being a foreigner as well I relate to pretty much everything you said, especially the car insurance.
Thank you so much!!
Last time I went to the pictures, it cost half-a-crown for a seat in the balcony.
That was a theater not a cinema...
and correct me if I'm wrong...
Shakespeare was directing the actors?
Trade in your jam jars
half a crown.....you must of had an ice cream as well at that price
Thats expensive,did you steal the crown from Buckingham palace? 😅 🤣🤣
@@devilsadvocate1597 When I was a kid Saturday morning pictures was 6 pence old money lol
Strange how I nodded off early afternoon on my day off, only to wake up thinking of cheese, pickles and crusty bread. (maybe cider too. Ahem!) Must be a Tuesday! Nice video Alanna, with some eye opening prices for some. But try living around Oxfordshire!
Thank you for watching!
It was actually really interesting to hear your breakdown as I live in Kent too. I pay £550 for a one bed flat, tax is cheaper as I am a single person residence. I pay £20 a month for internet, about £40 a month electricity, i have gas too. I used to have a car but then disability got in the way so I have to use public transport but I do get a free bus pass so, silver linings! I must admit I spend probably half what you do on food but then I smoke so I spend money on that. I don't drink though, or go to the cinema and I rarely get take out but coffee is my downfall! So we have similar outgoings. People do say to go up north but I love Kent and was born and raised here and will never leave.
That's really interesting!! I wasn't sure how relatable my numbers would be to others, but it seems ours are similar! Thank you for sharing!!
@@AdventuresAndNaps Yeah but @gem lives on her own, so she's paying £550 in Kent whereas you're paying £1100 :P
Hmmm, car vs bus.
The car gives you the freedom to go when and where you want to go, and maybe more expensive, but very handy in winter time, so you leave from home in the dry and warmth, and not have to walk to the bus stop, hang about there in the wind and rain until your bus arrives, and then the walk from the bus stop to you place of work. In a car, you travel just about from door to door without getting web and miserable....:)
I would choose a car over a bus any time, even if it does prove to be more expensive, but much more convenient....
We are lovely, here in the North, you know, Alanna. Yes, you're living on the edge of a post-industrial town often, but within 20 mins you're in the countryside and taking in all that fresh air. The transport isn't wonderful, but not horrible either. We're not Mordor, or the Morlocks!
😂 I know, I know!
love the morlocks reference. TIMELESS classic. straight over the heads on most folk in this chat
I've been to Birmingham, I'd rather have gone to Mordor.
@@charlestaylor3027 Every time I've been to Manchester I think "It can't be as bad as I remember" and every time it is!
@@charlestaylor3027 you may have a point there
Blimey 100k closing in. Digging the matching Green theme going on.
Mad how much it all adds up to each month and quite scary, but hey we only here once might as well fill up that trolley with nom noms and enjoy :) Have a cool week Alanna.
Thanks so much!!
Food is really expensive and just climbs in price as time goes on. £250 per month isn't too bad for using a non budget supermarket. I usually go to Lidl and really notice a big difference in price going to the big four supermarkets that is much more costly.
I honestly dont understand this sentiment I keep seeing about "food being really cheap in the UK". Like...it isnt? Lol. Especially if you want quality ingredients. I mean, yeah, you *can* get a food shop of Tesco basic items for dirt cheap but you get what you pay for, and you fill your body with rubbish. Whereas when I lived in both France and Spain for a bit, you can get wonderful fresh fruit veg meat, cheese etc for half the price as in the UK. IMO, snacks and processed food is cheaper in the UK, but proper whole foods are more expensive, because most of it is imported. And let's not even compare food prices to USA lol. It's crazy good value over there.
Most TV is funded by adverts, historically the BBC has no adverts and instead you pay annually as noted. You should get a SIM-only contract for your mobile with a standing-order to your bank or credit card. These start at £5/month or less depending on how much data.
One of the best places where money goes further is Liverpool. The cost of living is really affordordable here. I know I'll get a few jokes but it's not bad at all up North.
I thought I saw a superhero the other day when a man ran past me wearing a cape. Turns out it was a scouser who hadn't paid for his haircut.
@@dank9561 Keep looking in the comments.
You could literally buy a house for what you're spending , in North Wales , You would feel at home in North Wales , Geology is similar to Canada , the people are super friendly , the cost of living is half the price of Kent , the scenery is amazing . wonderful coastline .
or consider Cornwall , Devon
Omg go to aldi!!! U can get curry powder and spices as well as peppers and onions and garlic. Perfectly easy curry. As well as more exotic seasonal foods like pac choi (idk how to spell) and chillies. YOU CAN COOK SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE MONEY IF YOU BUDGET PROPERLY!!! (Seriously tho, aldi's costs pennies for good food)
That means having to cook. A forgotten video chore.
USA here. Agree go to Aldi/Lidl. Get the basics. Here they are one of the cheapest by price but still have good quality. At least here Aldi has both our great Wisconsin cheese but lots of EU imported cheese. And it's cheaper than at the main grocery marts. I live in Wisconsin which is probably the cheapest food market in the USA for Americans. Try the cheap outlets-- it frees up more money for trips and booze!!!
Another great video . You do a fantastic job of explaining the nightmare of council tax and our lovely TV licence or TV tax and you were truthful on costs of food it is always more than you think . Please can you mention petrol and diesel prices next time plus MOT testing costs . Please keep the videos coming best wishes .
I'm sure you already know, council tax is for all the services, waste collection, fire brigade, sewage, police, street lights, parks, libraries,etc and is paid by the property size not by how many live there and the TV license goes to the BBC to cover all it's costs, so you get ad free TV and Radio...100k getting closer!
Council tax does take into account how many adults live in the property. You get a 25% discount if there is only one adult resident in the property.
Except the PCBBC is getting rather unwatchable these days with all the rubbish programmes they put out, so I rarely watch it, even though I get charged a monthly fee to watch it and all the other channels, who make their money by adverts (which I hate), so I think the PCBBC should also run adverts to pay for its own output, and stand on their 'own two feet' by a subscription service.....:)
@@Trillock-hy1cf ...the BBC is not all about TV.
@@xneurianx ...true enough, but it still costs more per person than if two or more live there.
@@jeffgraham6387
I know, and radio as well, and that is a bit better than the PC rubbish TV shows that litter the iPlayer...
Thank you so much for making this video! Im hoping to try move to Canada next year (even tho this is for England it was still very helpful!) ive been researching a lot, but because im young i dont know much about how much things cost, so this is really useful! This video was great, thank you so much for making it, it's genuinely really helpful!
It's all good pal, thanks so much!!
The tv license funds the BBC, that’s why there isn’t any ad breaks In between the programs
There are numerous ads on the BBC for their own programmes. They used to advertise their own DVDs as well.
We used to have TV licences here in Australia covering our ABC, but the licences were discontinued several years ago. When we did have the licences, they only covered one purchased TV per household. Extra TV's or rented TV's were completely exempt.
@@RGC198
We used to have to pay for a licence to listen to the radio, but that (thankfully) got scrapped back in about 1971....:)
@@Trillock-hy1cf The radio licence was always in with the TV licence, since 1945, one only paid it as a separate licence if one did not have a TV. It was abolished as a separate licence as it cost more to collect and issue than the licence cost as so few separate ones issued by the 70's.
Over the air broadcast is free in the US, but we get pummeled with commercials to make up for it.
Auto boxes used to cost you at least £600 to order when buying your car. Learning to drive a manual means you can drive anything, anywhere.
The struggle of living on your own!
Great vid Alanna..I'm sure this will be helpful to some people ..Many thanks ..
It’s day time, it looks like the weather is decent there judging by the light in the living room, why aren’t you drinking a cider?? That’s borderline criminal. 🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦
Thanks for being courageous with a very personal topic... money 😉 very well presented and interesting!
Thank you! 😃
we need to start a go-feed-me campaign fo alanna.
Prescriptions you can in england buy for £108 a prescription prepayment card that covers the cost for 12 months
That covers ALL prescriptions too.
Prescriptions: If you have a chronic condition that requires regular meds you can buy a prepayment certificate that covers you for an unlimited number of prescriptions. £108.10 for a year. That 10p makes all the difference to the public finances.
Additionally, if you have an ongoing, rest of your life condition like diabetes, you can also get an exemption card that means you don't pay for your prescription.
@@lwaves And that includes the deadly 'rest of your life condition' of being over 60 - at which point your scrips also become free of charge!
@@DaveBartlett Yes, I'm now 61 and only just found that out but the last time I got a prescription it must have been something like 25 years ago so I'm thinking of doing some minor damage to myself so I can benefit.
Rents are much cheaper in the North, anything from half Alanas £1150, Ilkley and Wetherby in WestYorkshire are nice places and the people are friendlier, cheapest pints up here too. Mobile contacts are dirt cheap, £20 for 100g. Ocado is great but expensive, pretty much the most along with Waitrose.
Just for a rental comparison - I'm in the North-East of England, am a cheapskate, living in a "really bad" area, and pay £350PCM for a 3 Bed Mid Terrace.
Wow, that's really cheap. Houses in Derbyshire start at about £500 and I thought that was good value!
@@jrd33 To be fair, about 50% of the houses around me are currently empty/boarded up, and nobody local will touch them.
Even buying a house around here starts at £15K - no heating or plumbing (stolen), no windows or doors (other than steel sheets) things are getting better, but very slowly, and prices are on the rise
@@ethilin81 Wow, that sounds grim. Good luck!
In Coventry you can rent a 3 bed terrace for £350-400 PCM close to the city center and in an o.k area.
£1100 rent for a flat? Wow. I'm glad I live up north, I pay £450 a month on a 2 bed end terrace with back garden, shed and driveway!
Cool!
I thought £250 a month was a lot, until I started thinking about what I spend, and how all those little treats like duck breasts, lamb, fresh shellfish etc , add up, and yeah, we all love our food 🥘
Just to put this in perspective you can get a two bedroom place to rent in Peterlee for less than £300 a month. That alone is a saving of a bout £200 per week. Also my bills (all of them) come to a total of £60 per month. £24 gas and electricity combined, £19 unlimited internet, £6 5000 minutes 5000 texts and 3 gig data, water rates and council tax (I get the disability discount as I cannot work).
Re: TV Licence. You don't have to pay for the TV Licence if you don't watch live TV/BBC iPlayer. We cancelled our TV Licence a few years ago and put that money towards Netflix and the occasional month of Amazon Prime. The TV Licence people send you harassment letters every once in a while but they've got no power to do anything.
The BBC are such bullies - I hate them so I no longer watch live tv either.
@@cathrynbagley8005 why do you hate them so much?
@@nicksimmons7234 They are one tv company that do not have adverts to raise funds for the programs but force the public to pay whether or not they actually watch any of their programs. The law is "if you watch or record live tv" you have to pay the BBC. Also to rub salt into the wounds they have recently made pensioners pay for a licence when this was previously free.
@@cathrynbagley8005 Tory government made then pay for it.
You can fill in a form online saying you don’t need a licence, for whatever reason, and they won’t send you the letters or bother you at all.
5:12 What goes into the tank determines how well the engine runs, and the better stuff tends to cost more, so don't be ashamed of having a relatively high food bill. That being said, there are ways to get more bang for your buck (or, if you forgive the British slang, "nosh for your dosh") without resorting to eating junk. Vegetable co-ops are well worth signing onto, and can be found in most parts of the UK nowadays. We pay about £60 per month for a weekly bag of organic vegetables, and they taste even better than supermarket organic brands. Also, knowing how to portion and stretch things - especially meat (any vegetarian and vegans are already onto a winner, financially) can help to save money. I should also say that for the last month, I haven't bought any eggs, owing to having bought chickens. It's a massive commitment, needing lots of preparation, so only do it if you have the means and wherewithal, and are prepared to research keeping fowl beforehand.
Ironically, getting take-aways or eating out can cause your food bill to skyrocket. (I realise you have budgeted for such things separately, but it's perhaps too easy to fall into the trap of spending more than you need for food if you eat out or get takeaways/deliveries.)
8:15 Council tax can be a political thing, so if you feel yours is too high, consider whether the parties you vote for in local elections will cost more or less if they win majority control of your council...
13:16 and 14:25 Alanna, I have come to regard you very highly, but for saying these things, you have just jumped about 800% higher in my admiration! I too love the independents. I too detest Wetherspoons and all they stand for. I shouldn't get political, but since their boss backed Brexit, and in light of his treatment of staff when the first lockdown began, I have vowed never to set foot in one again. No disrespect to any that drink there and like them, but I wouldn't even do it if you paid me.
Having mentioned Brexit and lockdowns, I suppose I cannot resist saying that I wonder what figures you would come up with if you remake this video a year or five years from now. Even if the Brexit doubters are proved wrong, and the value of the pound hasn't been permanently tanked by pulling out of the EU, the Covid debt could be upon us for decades, and that could mean higher taxes, rampant inflation.... Norway, Switzerland and Iceland are already high tax, expensive countries, though their people seem happy enough with their lot that they endure such high cost of living. I can only hope that we may learn to do the same if we end up in their financial bracket.
To end on a more positive note: 6:45 I already am subscribed, so I hope you won't take it personally - even if you do....
It's not so bad up North Alanna we're friendly and there's lovely countryside up here still love your videos
Tips to reduce your costs:
1) Food. I spend less than half what you do and eat really well.
Buy Super Market Own instead of brands. You'll halve your costs. Many own brands are actually made in the same factory as the well known brands and are identical except for the packaging and price. Others ARE different but not necessarily worse, in fact sometimes I think they're nicer. At least give them a try. What have you got to lose?
Cook from fresh. Don't use ready meals. Don't buy takeaways or eat out (except as a treat).
Cooking isn't that hard (these days there are loads of online recipes and how to videos) and like everything the more you practise the better and quicker you get. You can also make your meals to your own taste and it's much healthier as it won't contain all the extra, fat, sugar, salt, preservatives and other nasties you get with processed food.
Some people say cooking takes too long, but I can knock up something really tasty in 20-30 mins. Also cook enough for several meals in one batch, freeze what you don't use and reheat it later. A quick ping in the microwave and you're ready to go.
2) TV. Use Freeview and the free players like iPlayer, ITV hub, 4play, UKTV play, etc.
Do you really need Sky, Netflix or Amazon TV when there are loads of free channels? (And do you really want to give your cash to the tax dodging bastards who own them?) Plus if you're patient most things come to freeview/youtube, etc eventually.
3) Before buying anything do your research and shop around. Too many people can't be bothered and waste loads of money. Before buying anything I use the rule of three (no not the one from American pie!). Basically I divide things into three categories:
i) Essentials. Stuff you can't do without.
ii) Things that are useful, but you could manage without it if money is tight.
iii) Luxuries/indulgences. Everyone likes a treat from time-to-time but be honest with yourself that that's what it is.
e.g. Food staples like rice, pasta, fruit, veg, milk and tea are essentials. Chocolate is an indulgence. So is a takeaway. Have them as an occasional treat, but not everyday.
Everything in moderation is a good policy. A good technique is to limit indulgences by only allowing them as a reward. e.g. After finishing a project or completing that job you've been putting off, etc.
Once I've decided whether the item is essential, etc, I ask myself whether I need:
i) Top quality.
ii) Mid range.
ii) Or can get away with cheap and cheerful.
If your going to use something a lot it's often better value to pay a bit more to get something that will last, but if not consider something more basic.
4) Share costs with friends. Buy second hand. Check out the charity shops, freebay, gumtree, etc before buying new. I've picked up top of the range stuff that's in mint condition for next to nothing doing this.
5) For Utilities, broadband, etc stick a reminder in your phone for when the contract ends and then hunt around for the best deals each year. Don't bother with price comparison sites as many companies don't sign up to them, just do an internet search and check Money saving expert for the latest deals. Also try haggling with your current provider. They may give you a better deal to keep you.
6) Do you have to drive everywhere? Could you walk, cycle, use public transport or car share instead?
7) I live in a two bed terrace and spend about £60/month on gas, electric and water. Shop around. Put in decent insulation and layer up in winter. Buy thermals, a fleece undersuit or even a sleeping bag suit instead of whacking the heating up.
8) NEVER listen to ads. Think of all sales/marketing people as legalised conmen trying to get your money by selling you crap you don't need or want. Only a gullible idiot would fall for that and you're not one of those. Are you?
Thats literally a blog in the comments section.
@Nicky L yeh exactly. Gotta indulge sometimes! Each to their own i guess.
@Nicky L Sorry if it comes across that way but it's written as someone who's been through times when money was extremely tight e.g. after being laid off, and also seeing a number of people get into a real mess through being clueless with money.
Working to a tight budget doesn't have to be joyless, there are plenty of things you can do for free and in fact sharing costs with friends, exchanging favours, etc helps your social life and skills.
The fact is lots of people waste money or get sucked into a materialistic mindset and keeping up with the Jones, or indulge in retail therapy when depressed and get into a mess that way. Thinking before you spend gives you more spare cash to enjoy life, which was the point of my post.
I don't have anything to say this week but here's a comment anyway
Thank you!! ☺️
Helps the al gorithem as they say.
In that case, I'll comment too!
@@barmybee61 good comment
@@dave_h_8742 thx
We were surprised the first time we went to London with how cheap the mobile plans were. We paid about £20 for a pay as you go and got I believe 10 GB. It was great for the week we were there. No worry about wifi. In Canada that would be like $60-70 CDN.
You're absolutely right!
£250 per person for food? £500 a month to feed two people? What are you eating?!
£250 for two people is on the steep side!
@@EaterOfBaconSandwiches £200 a month for one person? £50 a week?
That's just ridiculous.
She shops at Marks & Spencer’s simple as 🤣
Went to Tesco yesterday and spent £42.50 for a weeks shopping including 3 bottles of wine..... Merlot £3.99 per bottle.... But drank 2 bottles last night!!!! so might have to buy some more!!!!! Awesome as ever Alanna.... :-)))) xx
£250/month for food! You should defo try out some of the food budget challenges :P
That sounds too hard 😂
Food is the one product that’s relatively cheap in the UK as-well 😭😭
@@AdventuresAndNaps seriously, go to aldi!!! Food is so cheap!!!
All that cheese and cider can get expensive.
Food being expensive was the most shocking thing for me when I became an adult
On prescriptions its worth bearing in mind that if there's a particular point of the evening where you rattle when you jump up and down, you can get a pre-payment certificate. That costs a little over £10 a month and allows you to get as many items as you need to on prescription. Very useful if you have a number of ongoing or chronic health complaints. And GP visits are free, as is emergency care. As a non-citizen there is a cost associated with some healthcare andf hospital treatment, BUT the rates are extremely reasonable when compared to countries like the US.
The Northeast of England is the real England, best people in the world man HA`WAY.
Thank you for another great vlog; it really does add up and you haven't even touched on clothes or eating out (not that we have been able to do that in recent memory!). And then there are sneaky Amazon purchases.... Thank you again 👍
I hereby leave my compulsory comment. Good video btw.
Thank you!!
Usually quite eye opening when you break it all down like that and work it out. Just as well cheese is so cheap over here? . Getting closer to the 100k subs ... been here since the 20k days, vids as good as always, highlight of my week.
Thank you so much pal!! Really appreciate it ☺️
This is a nice comment 😊
Thanks! 😃
Great video. I've never really done this comparison. Amazing how it all adds up. You didn't include new game costs or things like Steam subscriptions?
Guessing 'Spoons won't be sponsoring a video anytime soon :)
Are you eating gold? 🤣😘
😬😂
She,s a spendthrift! Try the discount companies..i.e. Aldi and Lidl, also Asda do a cheaper line called smart price!
I can live on £70.00 per week including rent ,gas and electricity, my broadband @ £23.00 per month , telly license £15.90 per month, my food bill is approx £ 80.00 per month , Council tax £39.00 per month....
You live extravagant!
@@georgejob7544 I spend close to £100 on food alone
@@MoviesNGames007uk I,m a senior citizen,so must economise, you should shop around, maybe try open air markets, don't be ripped off ! You might even save a few ££££...
Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle residents will regularly pay over 1k a month.
Rent seems a lot down south. Northerner here, my mortgage is only £330 on a 3 bed semi detached.
Rental houses are around £500-600 currently though!
Never be ashamed of enjoying food. Food is love, food is life. x
Another great video. Another thing to remember is that the salaries are also much higher in the London/Kent compared to the rest of the UK. X
That's a good point!
Move to Smarty. You can get exactly what you are getting now, but for only £6, still using Three as the network operator. £4 more cheese/month.
When I was in Canada, was shocked at price of internet/cable, but then again Canada is MASSIVE and they isn't much competition, which is why the price is so high.
That's very true!
Live in the SW and your rent will be around £500-600 pm a little more if you choose the countryside.
It’s nice to see you support small business, very important if we are to avoid the big faceless corporations taking control of every aspect of our lives.
Thanks for another interesting video Alanna. I can relate to the food costs and there's absolutely no need to be embarrassed about it - I like my food and tend to buy more premium brands (so call me a food snob!) but if that's what I like and I economise elsewhere so who cares!! God I miss my Odeon cinema pass too, although they really are great value if you're a regular - seems like I'm in a cultural chasm since covid, especially as I don't have Netflix either😁
So true! Thanks for watching!
enjoyed this, can't believe 250 a month lol.. in the Midlands a 2 bed house in posh area was 500 a month. I live on an island down south and only 675, 2 bed flat lol...
Our local has quite small screens ( 2 smallish, one bigger) but is £3 during the week or £4 at weekends. But it is run by lovely people, and basically everybody goes there rather than to our local Odeon...
For once, it is the big chains that are being priced out of the market. I think that is awesome.
And an extra pound for 3d...
Great video, love how clearly you broke everything down!
Thanks so much for watching!
you can get a sim only deal on your mobile that's about £10 a month with most providers. deals like that you can cancel at any time. would save you a lot of hassle
Those rent prices seem unreal as someone from Oldham (north Manchester). Rent prices are rising still even here, but 1100/mo is unimaginable to me on what I earn for a full time job. Like you said though, it's split between two people so that's 550/mo /person, but honest to god that's what I pay for my own flat just for me not split with anyone else. That's in a flat in north Wales by the way. Mind-blowing how much prices go up further south 😲
Hello Fellow Unlimited Cineworld card holder!!!
I once bought 2 pints of beer in London, handed over £10 and foolishly waited for change when in reality the barman was waiting for more money 🤦♂️
I've been there 😂 And then nearly cried when I saw the real bill!