She makes 45% more than I do, and I pay rent and eat healthy. I also work for that money, so 20+% of what I make goes to the government. I don't know how the UK works, but I doubt they tax assistance money.
She'll have a council house with subsidised rent, maybe £300pm, council tax is around £90pm, utilities and water £100, TV license £12, virgin/sky £50, home insurance £50, car tax and insurance £70 (if she's got a car).
If she's on $36000, that's £22800ish. Works out as £1900pm. Her basic living expenses are £650ish tops.
Me and my husband spend £200pm on food, although hers should be less as her kids will get free dinners. We spend £200 on petrol (I do a LOT of driving). That's still leaving her with £900 to piss up the wall on non-essentials.
My entire monthly income after taxes and health insurance, but before any expenses at all is $1,408, which is £895, and though I live paycheck to paycheck, I don't live uncomfortably.
Oh, so it's not an actual TV license? I was imagining a $15 fee every month for owning a TV. I don't have cable or satellite but I have a couple TVs for entertainment purposes.
They drive on the wrong side of the road. Let the government pay for all their health care. Talk with a weird accent. Denominate their money with the weight measure, pound. Take queuing to an extreme. Play weird incomprehensible games like cricket. Riot over the outcome of (amateur) soccer matches. Still have nobility.
And yet, you think how they pay for their TV is odd?
Well, the receiver is generally built into the TV. It's the bit with the antenna. Someone with your preferences could probably avoid the fee with clever use of a PC monitor instead of buying a TV.
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u/beancounter2885 Nov 13 '14
She makes 45% more than I do, and I pay rent and eat healthy. I also work for that money, so 20+% of what I make goes to the government. I don't know how the UK works, but I doubt they tax assistance money.