Minimum take home income to live on your own?

[thestaggy]

I've been job hunting recently and something that struck me is the sort of salaries on offer and it left me asking how in the heck are people living?

I know very few single people that live on their own (relationships of convenience seem common or roommates) and quite a number of families that stay together (parents/adult kids in the garden flat as an example). In my area, which is solidly middle class in the south of Jo'burg, a single bedroom townhouse starts at R6,000 and once you start throwing in rates and water/lights you are looking at around R8,000 - R9,000. Then insurance, transport (petrol, car installments) and food, the basics before you actually start living and saving.

By my rough guesstimate you would need a minimum take home of R15,000. Then I found this article that said the average salary for Q2 2020 was R21,455 (a figure that has been decreasing since 2019). The numbers don't look good for a single person.

 

[SZN]

/sub'd

 

[6spdmanual]

They don’t, but you honestly just need to live within your means. Maybe it’s just me, but R21K a month while living by yourself is more than enough to get by. Enough with some savings even. You just need to be truthful with your situation and live off that.

 

[TheChamp]

They don’t, but you honestly just need to live within your means. Maybe it’s just me, but R21K a month while living by yourself is more than enough to get by. Enough with some savings even. You just need to be truthful with your situation and live off that.

Indeed it is, the trappings of expectations to live the part is what usually brings people down.

 

[Lupus]

99k is that enough.

 

[3WA]

In order of priority (post-tax income to survive and maybe have a little joy):

 

[TedLasso]

Today I went to this estate called Kikuyu in Midrand. What struck me was some of the cars parked in the designated parking bays. I saw an BMW i8 and some very posh cars which appear equivalent to probably the price of the house. My point is people can also make what looks like stupid decisions.

Side note: - rather glad that I don't have to live in those these types of estates anymore. Was shitting myself that I would get clamped as I could not find the visitor parking bays.

 

[RunningFromFat]

In order of priority (post-tax income to survive and maybe have a little joy):

I wonder what's your diet like? I would have thought 2grand minimum.

 

[3WA]

I wonder what's your diet like? I would have thought 2grand minimum.

Numbers were hypothetical - I haven’t tried living like that in a long time. But I think you could do under R2k for one person for a few months. I went with R400 per week.

 

[thestaggy]

They don’t, but you honestly just need to live within your means. Maybe it’s just me, but R21K a month while living by yourself is more than enough to get by. Enough with some savings even. You just need to be truthful with your situation and live off that.

R21,000 before or after though? 21k take home and you should live a pretty good life.

R5,500 rent for a pretty average townhouse in my area
Rates are around R1,000
Water/electricity is dependent on you, but give or take another R1,000
Insurance is a must in South Africa, so that's anywhere from R1,000 - R2,000 (or more) depending on your age and content.
Car instalments (mine was R1800 for an entry level Opel Corsa) and I use about R1,000 worth of petrol per month. Sure some folks will save here by using public transport

You are looking at around ~R12,000 just to have somewhere decent to stay and get yourself to work. Now you have to feed yourself, put a bit away for savings/emergencies, buy toiletries, get a haircut and of course you would like to have at least one night out with friends/family. Then data/internet, a phone contract. It all very quickly adds up, even the small amounts.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

R21,000 before or after though? 21k take home and you should live a pretty good life.

R5,500 rent for a pretty average townhouse in my area
Rates are around R1,000
Water/electricity is dependent on you, but give or take another R1,000
Insurance is a must in South Africa, so that's anywhere from R1,000 - R2,000 (or more) depending on your age and content.
Car instalments (mine was R1800 for an entry level Opel Corsa) and I use about R1,000 worth of petrol per month. Sure some folks will save here by using public transport

You are looking at around ~R12,000 just to have somewhere decent to stay and get yourself to work. Now you have to feed yourself, put a bit away for savings/emergencies, buy toiletries, get a haircut and of course you would like to have at least one night out with friends/family. Then data/internet, a phone contract. It all very quickly adds up, even the small amounts.

You wouldn't be paying rates if you're renting though...

 

[surface]

Today I went to this estate called Kikuyu in Midrand. What struck me was some of the cars parked in the designated parking bays. I saw an BMW i8 and some very posh cars which appear equivalent to probably the price of the house. My point is people can also make what looks like stupid decisions.

Side note: - rather glad that I don't have to live in those these types of estates anymore. Was shitting myself that I would get clamped as I could not find the visitor parking bays.

Waterfall, isn't it? I think those are mostly apartments - 100m2 for 2 million - I have no idea why anyone would pay this price.

 

[surface]

They don’t, but you honestly just need to live within your means. Maybe it’s just me, but R21K a month while living by yourself is more than enough to get by. Enough with some savings even. You just need to be truthful with your situation and live off that.

yes, I would live off 21K a month on my own as I am rather cheapskate.

 

[cr@zydude]

It massively depends on lifestyle, I think that this is my minimum:

Rent 5 000
Hospital plan 1 700
Groceries 1 000
Cellphone contract 100
Internet access 300
Netflix 100
Petrol 500

Total 8 700

Call that R9 000 take home minimum.

 

[netstrider]

You could live comfortably off R12k take-home, at least I did several years back when I was single, had no debt and rent was R5k.

I drove an old Citi Golf that was given to me though, but it allowed me to save money.

If you are going to buy a car I would say R15-17k minimum.

Depending on your age, of course. Since if you start saving at 20, then 10-15% of gross income is recommended for retirement alone.

Once you hit 30, that number is roughly 30% of gross income if you did not start saving early.

EDIT: Some people are neglecting small things like R100-R150 haircuts, clothing, a beer here and a takeaway there.

I always include clothing and such in my budget, even though you're not likely to buy new clothes every month - you have to at some point.

 

[B-1]

You can live pretty cheap if you have to:
R2500 room in a comune
R1500 food
R1000 transport
R500 airtime, data, toiletries etc
R500 savings

 

[3WA]

Here's my 28m2 home at R5.5k a month. At least I'm living among the rich in Emmarentia.

Apartment / flat to rent in Emmarentia - Johannesburg

Small Upmarket Semi Furnished Studio Apartment with modern finishes available for rent. Apartment has travertine tiles; built in cupboards; fitted with blinds on windows; kitchenette with cupboards and bar fridge; modern bathroom with shower. Use of laundry room on property. Secure parking. Rent...

www.property24.com

 

[ArmatageShanks]

I lived decently about a decade ago with R1400 a week.

Rent was R2200 for an incredibly small 1 room flat kind of backyard thing, neat though. Car was R500 a month bought with family help, remaining just over R2500 was plenty drink Black Label and eat noodles. Although I did manage to suip the whole R1400 on payday a couple of times as expected

 

[3WA]

I lived decently about a decade ago with R1400 a week.

Rent was R2200 for an incredibly small 1 room flat kind of backyard thing, neat though. Car was R500 a month bought with family help, remaining just over R2500 was plenty drink Black Label and eat noodles. Although I did manage to suip the whole R1400 on payday a couple of times as expected

Phew. Back in '08 my scholarship paid R3.3k a month. I had to find a working girl and she bailed me out a few times.

 

[SAguy]

As long as you can pay your rent anything else you can figure out in a desperate situation.

13 years ago I was living off R300 a month for food and electricity, my staple diet was rice added to packet of soup to make it go further. Not that anyone would ever want to live like that, but you find a way when you've got no choice.