cost of living for a family

We have been living abroad for a few years now and we are hoping to return to Ireland pending a job.

My question is what do think I need to earn to get by, I am married with two children (newborn & toddler). I would be the only one working as our children are too young for my wife to work.

I estimated I'd need to earn about 2k a month. I have done up a monthly expenditure below. I would love to hear from people with families earning something similar and how they cope.

Mortgage (we own a house) 660
Utilities and internet 175
Food 450
Nappies and formula 130
Car insurance and tax 100
Petrol 220
House tax 7.50
Bin charges 20

Thanks

Moonbeam

I have a 5 year old,3year old,a 6 week old and a 16 month old.

Mortgage - our biggest cost

Nappies,wipes formula - 100
Car Insurance and tax 1200(for one car)
utilities and internet - about 250-300.(4 bed 1970s semi) less for a smaller more energy efficient house)
food - about 300
petrol - depends on your commute
bins - 20

Thanks Moonbeam.

Your utility bills are per month or every 2 months?

hoodwinked

we pay rent, it's higher than your mortgage,
have only one child though, no nappies or milk.


per month we pay:
Utilities and internet 250 (electric, gas, broadband for a 2 bed apartment)
Food 400
Nappies and formula 0 (but we used spend about 200p/m between new teeths for bottles and dummies, and nappies, powders, milk...etc)

Car insurance and tax 500 per year.
Petrol 100 (one car 998cc, also its €1.51 per litre unleaded here)
Bin charges 0 (it's included in our rent)

galah

Have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month old. Our mortgage is higher,but other expenses are

130 esb (4 bed house, electric n solid fuel heating)
50 for fuel for house
60 broadband n landline
45 home insurance
60 car insurance (per month, two cars)
40 car tax (two cars)
100 fuel for cars, diesel
180 health insurance
About 400 to 500 for food n nappies and general shopping (no formula tho)
20 (i think) bins
50 for mobiles

160 year for Tele licence
20 month for pet insurance
20 month for international phone calls (family abroad)
Plus childcare, not applicable to you tho.

Think that's it. Scary where the money goes...

Thanks for the replies.

Utility bills are a lot higher than I expected. Still seems manageable, if a bit tight.

Moonbeam

Deleted User wrote: »

Thanks Moonbeam.

Your utility bills are per month or every 2 months?

per month and only counting one internet connection,Gas and electricity. Higher in winter and lower in summer.

How Strange

2 adults, 1 3 year old and 1 13 month old

Electricity €175 every month.
For electricity in an apartment which includes storage heaters. I think the payment plan spread over 12 months is much better than getting hit with high bills every two months. Especially that huge one just after Christmas!

Food €500 per month including nappies and wipes

Diesel €140 max

Motor tax €550 per year

Car insurance €350 per year paid over 10 months

Health insurance €1100 per year over 12 months

Contents insurance €230 over 10 months

Service fees €700 over 12 months

UPC TV and broadband €45 per month

TV licence €160 over 12 months

Mortgage €580 per month

Creche €1470 per month

Typically we put €4k into our joint account to cover everything and any bit left over always gets swallowed up with something.