Minimum take home income to live on your own?

[DA-LION-619]

Your job/work is also a factor that needs to be considered, public transport isn’t an option in some instances.

 

[thestaggy]

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.

Yes, I feel a lot of people posting are missing my question and these are small things I factored in that add up. Treating yourself to one takeaway, a six pack and a haircut on pay-day is already around R400. That's not living excessively, that's the bare basics of living. All these little things are overlooked and add up.

If you are having to skimp on food or ask someone for help to cover an expense, can you really say that you can afford to support yourself?

 

[Pho3nix]

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.

Friend lives there. Most cars are Blessers

 

[thestaggy]

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.

Insurance and utilities though? Savings/emergency funds?

Then the small things such as a haircut and toiletries. The occasional item of clothing.

I would also factor in a bit of entertainment, a braai or night out.

Petrol seems very optimistic as well. I put R500 in my car today and that will last me about 3 weeks of going to and from work with no weekend driving.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Then the small things such as a haircut and toiletries. The occasional item of clothing.

I usually budget those things under a miscellaneous category, say R500. Reason being that you don't buy those things every month, but as you need them maybe every 2nd month or so.

In a pinch you can also save on haircuts by buying a cheap machine and just taking it off. Woman have it worse than us when it comes to personal care. They have to fork out substantially more...

 

[HavocXphere]

"Minimum" is kinda hard in a country full of shacks & I don't think we all have the same idea as to what constitutes minimum in that sense.

I reckon if you're intentionally eating an unbalanced diet due to cost considerations then something is probably wrong though

a haircut on pay-day is already around R400. That's not living excessively, that's the bare basics of living.

bru what kind of haircuts are you getting?

 

[cr@zydude]

Insurance and utilities though? Savings/emergency funds?

Then the small things such as a haircut and toiletries. The occasional item of clothing.

I would also factor in a bit of entertainment, a braai or night out.

Petrol seems very optimistic as well. I put R500 in my car today and that will last me about 3 weeks of going to and from work with no weekend driving.

No insurance, utilities included in rent, the idea is to show how low I could go.

Thus, no savings, toiletries included in groceries and certainly no braais or nights out.

I work from home, so average less than R500 per month on petrol.

 

[heartbroken]

I need to start eating less. The food budgets in this thread are quite impressive!

 

[Toxxyc]

I would LOVE to see someone guy R1,000's worth of groceries for a month. Make that R1,500. Groceries have gotten **** expensive, and unless you're going to end up eating cheap **** like pap or noodles every day, you won't make it work. A frigging can of deo spray costs over R30 already. A bag of washing powder is over R30 per kg (and it GOES). ****'s gotten VERY expensive. We try to eat non-expensive in our house, shop after deals and groceries are R6k a month MINIMUM. Month-start groceries with mostly cleaning stuff and things that should last a month is a R3k trip.

 

[backstreetboy]

Insurance and utilities though? Savings/emergency funds?

Then the small things such as a haircut and toiletries. The occasional item of clothing.

I would also factor in a bit of entertainment, a braai or night out.

Petrol seems very optimistic as well. I put R500 in my car today and that will last me about 3 weeks of going to and from work with no weekend driving.

You don't need household insurance. Only car insurance (third party etc.). Madness these days to not cut your own hair as well since paying R100 almost monthly because they don't cut it short at all is crazy. My five year old Philips hair cutter is already paid for by now and the one I had before that I've since passed on to family. Toiletries aren't that expensive as well. Get a few wash cloths you can use as toilet paper etc.

I would LOVE to see someone guy R1,000's worth of groceries for a month. Make that R1,500. Groceries have gotten **** expensive, and unless you're going to end up eating cheap **** like pap or noodles every day, you won't make it work. A frigging can of deo spray costs over R30 already. A bag of washing powder is over R30 per kg (and it GOES). ****'s gotten VERY expensive. We try to eat non-expensive in our house, shop after deals and groceries are R6k a month MINIMUM. Month-start groceries with mostly cleaning stuff and things that should last a month is a R3k trip.

Prefer the Omo Capsules at just R73 for 24 https://www.checkers.co.za/All-Departments/Household/Cleaning/Laundry-Detergent-and-Fabric-Softener/Washing-Tablets,-Capsules-and-Pods/Omo-3X-Power-Capsules-24-Pack/p/10640525EA. Washing once a week two packs will last the whole year almost.

 

[airborne]

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.

Not many places in SA that you can find a half decent rental for R5k a month, even a kotch single room "studio" granny flat is normally above that. And R1000 on groceries is going to be really grim.

More like R2000-2500 for groceries minimum and that's not splashing out at all.

The price of food has skyrocketed, like really gone crazy. A normal size bottle of black cat peanut butter is now R37 :

Black Cat Smooth Peanut Butter 400g | Peanut Butter | Jams & Spreads | Food Cupboard | All Products | Pick n Pay

www.pnp.co.za

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Get a few wash cloths you can use as toilet paper etc.

 

[backstreetboy]

Yes, I feel a lot of people posting are missing my question and these are small things I factored in that add up. Treating yourself to one takeaway, a six pack and a haircut on pay-day is already around R400. That's not living excessively, that's the bare basics of living. All these little things are overlooked and add up.

If you are having to skimp on food or ask someone for help to cover an expense, can you really say that you can afford to support yourself?

"Minimum" is kinda hard in a country full of shacks & I don't think we all have the same idea as to what constitutes minimum in that sense.

I reckon if you're intentionally eating an unbalanced diet due to cost considerations then something is probably wrong though



bru what kind of haircuts are you getting?

Selective quoting? I've been charged R200 for a haircut before anyway.

 

[HavocXphere]

Selective quoting?

Not intentionally.

Yeah I can see food booze and a haircut being 400

 

[3WA]

More like R2000-2500 for groceries minimum and that's not splashing out at all.

In a survival situation, you could get by on R400 a week for groceries (that's R1.6k per month).

A kg of meat at R100 - should give you enough daily protein.
R100 for fruits and veggies.
R100 for breads, flour, cheese, etc.
That leaves R100 for odds and ends.

 

[Zurg]

I think what's clear is that people have their own definition of what minimum is. The price of food is insane these days.

I don't know how I'm going to survive once I complete my studies.

 

[Zurg]

In a survival situation, you could get by on R400 a week for groceries (that's R1.6k per month).

A kg of meat at R100 - should give you enough daily protein.
R100 for fruits and veggies.
R100 for breads, flour, cheese, etc.
That leaves R100 for odds and ends.

Bread is already close to R20, cheese is like R40/50. A person living alone would need what a loaf (16 slices) a week?

 

[beefymoocow]

In a survival situation, you could get by on R400 a week for groceries (that's R1.6k per month).

A kg of meat at R100 - should give you enough daily protein.
R100 for fruits and veggies.
R100 for breads, flour, cheese, etc.
That leaves R100 for odds and ends.

I’m on discovery and my net cost for groceries is about R1000 for 4 people. Mostly buy chicken and sometimes prawns. For protein.

 

[3WA]

I’m on discovery and my net cost for groceries is about R1000 for 4 people. Mostly buy chicken and sometimes prawns. For protein.

Sure, but this is a case of saving money by being rich. Poor people aren’t going to pay that R300 a month to join Vitality (I'm also a Vitality and eBucks user).

 

[3WA]

Bread is already close to R20, cheese is like R40/50. A person living alone would need what a loaf (16 slices) a week?

I buy a cheddar at about R30 each week. Perfect size for me. Not really a bread eater but flour is cheap and can make bread, pizza, rotis etc. Otherwise, rice is always a winner.